Why Soft Rock Deserves Your Attention: A Documentary That Redefines A Misunderstood Genre

Soft rock had it all in the 1970s—chart dominance, cultural relevance, and devoted fans. Then came the '80s, and suddenly, the genre became the butt of every joke. But here’s what’s fascinating: love songs and melodic ballads never really disappeared. They just waited for their moment. Now, Sometimes When We Touch finally tells the story of how this musical movement went from king of the charts to cultural pariah, and eventually clawed its way back to relevance.

Three Episodes, One Epic Journey

The three-part documentary on Paramount+ breaks down soft rock’s trajectory with episodes titled “Reign,” “Ruin,” and “Resurrection”—each capturing a distinct era. The series features rare archival footage and candid conversations with the genre’s biggest names: Air Supply (masters of the power ballad), Kenny Loggins, Ray Parker Jr., Rupert Holmes, and Toni Tennille, among others. Contemporary artists like Sheryl Crow, Richard Marx, and John Ondrasik also weigh in, offering perspective on why they respect the craft behind these love songs.

The Origin Story You Never Knew

Ever wonder about the title track? Dan Hill wrote “Sometimes When We Touch” in 1973 with Barry Mann when Hill was just 19. Plot twist: he penned it to win back his girlfriend, convinced the ballad would convince her to drop the other guy. Spoiler alert—it didn’t work. She moved to the US with the other man anyway. Yet the song became a timeless soft rock staple, proving sometimes the best art comes from heartbreak that doesn’t turn out the way you hoped.

More Than Just Nostalgia

The documentary goes deeper than celebrity interviews. It dissects the Captain & Tennille partnership, highlights Ray Parker Jr.'s often-overlooked influence beyond the Ghostbusters theme, and explores how Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald shaped the singer-songwriter boom. You’ll also discover why hip-hop pioneer Daryl DMC Daniels credits jazz musician Bob James as foundational to rap’s very existence—a connection most people never make.

How A Genre Got Its Second Wind

What killed soft rock? And more importantly, what brought it back? The series credits an unlikely trio: 9/11 (which created demand for comfort and connection), Broadway’s embrace of romantic ballads, and hip-hop itself. A viral YouTube series popularized the term “Yacht Rock,” which sparked renewed interest, touring acts, and a whole new generation of fans discovering these timeless love songs. The documentary shows how cultural moments create space for previously dismissed art to be reconsidered and celebrated.

The Surprise That’ll Hit You

One revelation that stands out: the soft rock song with the most covers. Even devoted music fans won’t see that answer coming. Sometimes When We Touch excels at these moments—revealing how origin stories transform our relationship with beloved tracks and showing us why artists like Air Supply, Christopher Cross, Hall & Oates, Lionel Richie, and The Carpenters matter more than we’ve been willing to admit.

Bottom Line: Whether you grew up with these love songs or you’re discovering them for the first time, this three-episode run on Paramount+ proves soft rock wasn’t a guilty pleasure—it was a cultural moment worth understanding. The genre’s resilience tells us something deeper about why humans need melody, vulnerability, and hope wrapped in beautiful harmonies.

Stream on Paramount+