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Top Ten Chicago Songs

Chicago is a classic rock band. I have always loved their songs, especially their biggest classics as they represent some of the pinnacles of 70s and 80s rock numbers as well as power ballads. This band has so many great, wonderful songs. Here, I ranked their ten best numbers with three honorable mentions.

10. Love Me Tomorrow

Though far from their best songs, Love Me Tomorrow represents what the band does best which is a powerhouse refrain that is beautifully sung and done in that terrific power ballad style which I adore. It’s a strong choice for the tenth slot.

9. Once in a Lifetime

Pretty much everything that I said above also applies with this particular song. The song is wonderfully song and so memorable, but what takes it over the edge against the previous entry is an overall catchier, fun tune.

8. Man to Woman

Man to Woman is even better in how instantly memorable and infectious it is. Again, all of these songs are only great in refrains so far, but what a powerful chorus Man to Woman has. It’s an underrated Chicago number for sure.

7. Victorious

This one is even more underappreciated which is frustrating as it needs to receive much more attention how good it is. Yes, Victorious per usual has great vocals in it, but it also is one of the songs here that you can listen to on the loop how irresistibly catchy it is.

6. I Don’t Wanna Live Without Your Love

The eighties truly were a tremendous period for Chicago, and this is one of the best representatives of their quality output from this decade. The song is not only incredibly catchy, but it’s also hugely entertaining in its entirety, not just in its chorus, and it’s one of those numbers that are instantly memorable from the moment you hear it.

5. The Only One

The Only One is one of my newer discoveries, and I am so glad that I finally found it. It’s a number that I think I’ve heard many times before in some movie, and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. It features such an authentic choice for a transition to chorus which itself is unabashedly catchy and easy to sing to, but the transition is also original and unique. Both of its vocals are superb too.

4. Hard to Say I’m Sorry

This is one of those sadder, more poignant numbers from the usually much more vibrant Chicago, and I don’t mind as this diverse subject matter made them authentic. Hard to Say I’m Sorry is heartbreaking and sweet in its lyrics, and also gorgeously sung. It’s such a tender song that to me is even better in its verses than in its refrain which says a lot for its apparent quality.

3. If You Leave Me Now

Everything I said above applies to this classic too, but to an even larger degree as If You Leave Me Now is an undisputed classic of any music or band out there, and by far one of the 70s crowning achievements. It’s iconic, it has been used in movies so many times naturally so, and it’s so tender, so indescribably beautiful in its lyrics, and oh so perfectly sung. It’s a masterpiece that has aged wonderfully.

2. Chasin’ the Wind

This masterpiece is probably one of the best power ballads of all time. Yes, Chasin’ the Wind is through and through a gorgeous piece of music with such terrific vocals and an instantly memorable, highly appealing tone to it. It also has amazing lyrics and it simply sounds incredible, seamlessly shifting from one vocal to an entirely different one.

1. Look Away

For the love of me I cannot understand how this masterpiece is not appreciated more by the general public. But I don’t care ‘cause in my opinion Look Away is not only the best Chicago song of them all, but easily one of the greatest ballads of the eighties which says so damn much. The vocals are astonishing, the lyrics are so incredibly heartbreaking in their details that you can picture what he is singing throughout, and of course the entire song is both catchy and grandiose. I adore it to pieces.

Honorable Mentions:

We Can Last Forever – This is another very catchy, cool song that isn’t the most memorable among these other classics, but it’s very much deserving of an honorable mention.

Holdin’ On – This one is gorgeously sung. What it lacks in memorability, it more than makes up for in its grandiose quality and its singing.

Explain It to My Heart – This is my last honorable mention which is less memorable than others, but still very catchy and appealing.