Classic Western songs about the sea: recommended popular tracks

Edge of the OceanStick Figure

Stick Figure – “Edge of the Ocean” (Official Music Video)

Stick Figure, a reggae-dub band from the United States, was formed in 2005 by Scott Woodruff.

With a DIY spirit and an inventive sound, they have secured a solid place in today’s reggae scene.

The ballad featured on their 2022 album “Wisdom” carries themes of fresh starts and hope, marked by a gentle rhythm, soothing melodies, and lyrics that symbolize new beginnings.

The music video, filmed in April 2023 on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, visually conveys the song’s theme of harmony with nature through stunning views of the Nā Pali Coast.

Fusing reggae, dub, and electronica in a distinctly Stick Figure style, this track is perfect for relaxing by the ocean or for anyone embarking on a new chapter in life.

The WaveR3HAB x Lia Marie Johnson

R3HAB x Lia Marie Johnson – The Wave (Official Video)

This is a track produced by R3hab, released in 2018 and featuring Lea Marie Johnson from Hawaii.

He originally specialized in hard-hitting EDM and was a pioneer of bounce, known for its up-and-down energy and roots in Melbourne, but he incorporated the 2018 trend of mid-tempo bass music.

The sound, which creates a big build-up and showcases the vocals and lead synth, is also widely used in dance-pop that charts on the US rankings.

SUMMER PARADISE feat. Taka from ONE OK ROCKSimple Plan

Simple Plan – SUMMER PARADISE feat. Taka from ONE OK ROCK

An open, summery pop-punk number set against a seaside backdrop has come to life through a collaboration between Canada’s Simple Plan and Taka from Japan’s ONE OK ROCK.

Released first in Japan in March 2013 as a special version of a track from the 2011 album “Get Your Heart On!,” the song charms with a breezy sound that weaves in elements of reggae and ska punk.

Inspired by vocalist Pierre Bouvier’s love of surfing, the track centers on themes of relaxed moments by the ocean and summertime memories—making it a perfect fit for summer drives, beach trips, and festivals.

Under The SeaThe Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid: Under The Sea (Cover Version)

Disney’s hugely popular film The Little Mermaid, based on The Little Mermaid fairy tale.

In one scene from this 1989 release, “Under the Sea” is sung to keep Ariel, the protagonist who longs for the human world, from leaving the ocean by extolling the wonders of life under the sea.

With its cheerful melody and lyrics proclaiming that “the fish in the sea are happy,” it’s a song that perfectly suits the ocean.

Octopus’s GardenThe Beatles

Octopus’s Garden (Remastered 2009)

Octopus’s Garden, a Beatles track from the classic album Abbey Road.

The real charm of this song lies, above all, in the fact that Ringo Starr—the band’s drummer—wrote it and sings it, don’t you think? When it comes to “the sea” and the Beatles, Yellow Submarine also comes to mind, and that’s another very famous piece.

Its comical lyrics, inspired by an octopus living in the ocean, are especially striking! The pastoral, pleasantly soothing melody brings a sense of peace to the heart.

With playful sounds like fuzz guitar and bubbly deep-sea noises woven in, it’s a song you can enjoy almost like a children’s tune!

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Murakami Shinpei

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