Christopher Cross - Sailing (Live) [Remastered HD]

Christopher Cross performing his 1979 #1 single "Sailing" live on Italian TV show Discoring

Sailing was recorded in 1979, utilizing the 3M Digital Recording System, making it one of the first digitally recorded songs to chart. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on August 30, 1980. The song won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Arrangement of the Year, and helped Cross win the Best New Artist award. Produced by Michael Omartian, it features Tommy Taylor on drums, Andy Salmon on bass, Rob Meurer on electric piano, and Victor Feldman on percussion. In 1980, Sailing was released as a single in Latin America under the translated (en español) title "Navegando".

On the Howard Stern radio show, Cross explained that sailing with his friend got him away from the trials and tribulations of being a teenager. Cross said that if the guy had taken him bowling and he enjoyed it, the song could have become "Bowling."

This video of Christopher Cross performing "Sailing" was recorded for the Italian TV show Discoring. The footage, provided by @LouVDJOfficialItaly has been digitally remastered and features audio from Christopher's 2008 album "The Café Carlyle Sessions"

Stream Christopher Cross' 1979 debut self-titled album:

FOLLOW CHRISTOPHER CROSS

LYRICS
Well, it's not far down to paradise
At least it's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away
And find tranquility

Oh, the canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

It's not far to never never land
No reason to pretend
And if the wind is right you can find the joy
Of innocence again

Oh, the canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

Sailing
Takes me away to where I've always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
Soon I will be free

Fantasy
It gets the best of me
When I'm sailing

All caught up in the reverie
Every word is a symphony
Won't you believe me?

Sailing
Takes me away to where I've always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free

[Instrumental Bridge]

Well, it's not far back to sanity
At least it's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away
And find serenity

Oh, the canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Really, believe me

Sailing
Takes me away to where I've always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free

ABOUT CHRISTOPHER CROSS
Christopher Cross burst onto the music scene with his 1979 self-titled debut album produced by Michael Omartian. The lead single “Ride Like The Wind” spent 4 weeks at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was quickly followed up by Cross’ most popular single to date (and first #1 hit) “Sailing”, which later became known as the archetype for the Yacht Rock genre. In 1981, Cross became the first artist in Grammy history to win the “Big Four” most prestigious awards in a single night; Record of the Year (for the single “Sailing”), Album of the Year, Song of the Year (also “Sailing”), and Best New Artist. Later that year Cross released “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” which he co-wrote with Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer, Peter Allen, and was the title-theme for the 1981 film “Arthur” starring Dudley Moorre and Liza Minnelli. The song earned Cross his second #1 and the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 1981 Academy Awards. Cross’ sophomore album “Another Page” was released in 1983 and featured the singles “Think of Laura” and “All Right”. Cross has sold over 10M albums worldwide and his songs have been covered and sampled by NSYNC, Puff Daddy, Avant, Shirley Bassey, Dione Warwick, and many more.

[mshazzardmyself]

I met my husband at a club December of 85. He asked me to dance a slow song and I had just met him ...I said no... I wasn't letting a stranger that close. But we continue to talk and dance 🎶 Later that
evening we danced to Sailing... ❤ 12/13/85 we met. Married June 7 1986...🥰 Soon to be 38 years🎉

[guardingheroes]

Just what I needed tonight. Oct 25 2023 Paradise with Chris. Thank you for soothing my spirit tonight. It’s been a journey. I care for mom (77) who’s at stage 4 Alzheimer’s, my brother 100% disabled veteran, my nieces; a 4 yr old autistic nonverbal full spectrum little girl and her 6 yr old sister who’s ADHD, PTSD, ODD and abandonment issues. Yes, I care for all four under the same roof. This song made my spirit drift into paradise and out of the stress and demands while the song played. I REALLY needed that. 😢Thank you again and again Chris 🙏🏼🌺🌼🌸💜

[nardinyouryard]

His voice is so smooth. No accent, no quirky stylistic inflection, just pure vocal accuracy and delicacy. Really lets the music sing. So much respect.

[BunnyWatson-kw]

If you saw Chris as a stranger walking down a city street you would never imagine he had a singling voice like that.

[davidbenoit]

I was pretty young when this song came out. It was a pretty bad time of life, and this song was a huge blessing. Still is today. Thank you for sharing this.

[Choonzord]

That piano in the background, unbelievably beautiful

[TheZenith]

How lucky to be one in the audience that day.

[jessemurray]

One of several perfect examples of what is missing in the world today. Mainstream music that projects a tone of love is one.

[raymichaels]

Now this is what you call a MUSICIAN people! He doesn't even have to to try, he just extrudes complete perfection.

[welldone]

To be able to go back to those simple days and forget the now for the now is so messed up.

[WORLD]

what happened to music these days? this is so ridiculously great

[jeremyraglin]

One of the most iconic songs of all time.

[steventurner]

The 80's were such a great time ... This song brings back some very special memories about a long lost love from the UK.

[andrewwillis]

One of those true classic songs that forever stand the test of Time! As beautiful today as it was back then.

[chrisblay]

There’s something pure about this song and the way it’s performed.

[SeanGTM]

Not only a great singer, but an underrated guitarist as well.

[jk-califkid]

How do you find the joy of innocence again?

[jk-califkid]

What a great time in America, the 1980s. Christopher Cross was a legend. Love this little audience. You don't see these types of performances anymore. James Taylor had some little audience performances in the 1970s too.

[StellaFort]

My brother bought this cassette and a boom box for my sister when she was in a coma in the hospital after a horse accident. It took her 3 months to come out of it but she finally did. This was very therapeutic to her. She also loved the song "Ride like the wind".

[skyland]

This song was released about the time my parents split up when I was about 7 and I moved with my Mom to California. I remember staring out at the ocean watching people sailing and hearing this song wishing I could sail back to when everything was more normal...it gave me some hope that someday everything would be ok again. When I finally got a chance to actually go sailing I didn't like it all that much. lol Thank you so much for this song and this video!