Here we go guys, In this incredible article, we will be looking for the greatest best songs about Chicago you can’t ignore. As we all know, Chicago, a Windy City, has inspired countless songs every year. Chicago gave us many inspirational and real musicians. From blues to jazz, hip-hop to rock, Chicago has produced and influenced a wide range of music.
So, without wasting our time let’s scroll up the page and see a few special songs that pay tribute to the city of Chicago, honoring its spirit and its people.
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1 – Dear Chicago – Ryan Adams
- Album: Demolition
- Released: 2002
- Artist: Ryan Adams
- Genres: Pop, Rock, Country
2 – My Kind of Town – Frank Sinatra
- Artist: Frank Sinatra
- Genres: Jazz, Vocal/Easy Listening
- Composed by Jimmy Van Heusen, with lyrics by Sammy Cahn.
- Nominations: Academy Award for Best Music (Original Song)
3 – Take Me Back to Chicago – Chicago
- Take Me Back to Chicago is a compilation album by Chicago released in 1985
- Released on January 1985
- Recorded on August 1973 – May 1980
- Genre – Pop, rock, jazz fusion
4 – Sweet Home Chicago – Robert Johnson
- “Sweet Home Chicago” is a blues standard first recorded by Robert Johnson in 1936.
- The song has become a popular anthem for the city of Chicago
- Artist: Robert Johnson
- Genre: Blues
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5 – Homecoming – Kanye West
- Album: Graduation
- Artist: Kanye West, Chris Martin
- Released: 2007
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
- Nominations: MTV Video Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Video, Teen Choice Award for Choice Music: Rap/Hip-Hop Track
6 – Born in Chicago – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
- Artist: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
- “Born in Chicago” is a blues song written by Nick Gravenites.
- Released: 1965
- Movie: Blues Brothers 2000
- Genres: R&B/Soul, Rock, Blues
7 – Somewhere on Fullerton – Allister
- Released: 2002
- Artist: Allister
- Album: Last Stop Suburbia
- Genre: Rock
8 – Chicago – Frank Sinatra and Nelson Riddle
- Artists: Frank Sinatra, Nelson Riddle
- Song: Chicago
- Genres: Pop, Jazz
9 – Lake Shore Drive – Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah
- Artist: Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah
- Album: Lake Shore Drive
- Released: 1971
- Genres: Rock, Folk
- Songwriter: Skip Haynes
- Producer: Scott Gibbs
10 – Via Chicago – Wilco
- Album: Summerteeth
- Artist: Wilco
- Genres: Alternative/Indie, French Indie, Pop, German Pop, Rock
11 – Tonight, Tonight – The Smashing Pumpkins‘
- “Tonight, Tonight” is a song by the American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins.
- Written by the band’s frontman, Billy Corgan
- Genre: Alternative rock
- Songwriter: Billy Corgan
- Producer: Flood, Alan Moulder, Billy Corgan
12 – Meet Me in Chicago – Buddy Guy
- Released: 2013
- Artist: Buddy Guy
- Album: Rhythm & Blues
- Genre: Blues
13 – Chicago – Sufjan Stevens
- Album: Illinois
- Released: 2005
- Artist: Sufjan Stevens
- Genres: Alternative/Indie, Folk
- Recorded in five different versions by Stevens himself.
14 – Chicago – Graham Nash
- Released: 1971
- Album: Songs for Beginners
- Artist: Graham Nash
- Reached number 35 on the US Billboard Hot 100
- In Canada, “Chicago” peaked at number 19
- Genres: Children’s Music, Rock, Folk
15 – In the Ghetto – Elvis Presley and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Artists: Elvis Presley, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Album: If I Can Dream
- Genres: Pop, Rock
16 – Sweet Home Chicago – The Blues Brothers
- Released: 1980
- Movie: The Blues Brothers
- Artist: The Blues Brothers
- Genres: R&B/Soul, Children’s Music, Gospel, Blues
17 – Hard to Say I’m Sorry – Chicago
- Released: 1982
- Album: Chicago 16
- Artist: Chicago
- Genres: Soft rock, Pop, Rock
- Nominations: Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
18 – The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace
- Artist: Paper Lace
- Album: And Other Bits of Material / First Edition
- Released: 1974
- Genre: Rock
- In 1974, reached number 3 in the UK charts, and number 2 in Canada
- Featured in a Season 1 episode of That ’70s Show.
19 – You’re the Inspiration – Chicago
- “You’re the Inspiration” is a song written by Peter Cetera and David Foster
- Peter Cetera re-recorded the song for his 1997 solo album You’re the Inspiration: A Collection
- Artist: Chicago
- Album: Chicago 17
- Genres: R&B/Soul, Rock
20 – Lake Shore Driving – Duran Duran
- Album: Big Thing
- Released: 1988
- Artist: Duran Duran
21 – Pulaski at Night – Andrew Bird
- Artist: Andrew Bird
- Album: I Want to See Pulaski at Night
- Released: 2013
- Genre: Alternative/Indie
22 – Chicago – Michael Jackson
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Album: Xscape
- Genre: Dance Pop
- Songwriter: Cory Rooney
- Producer: Cory Rooney Timbaland, Jerome “J-Roc” Harmon
23 – Chicago – Bryce Fox and Win and Woo
- Artists: Win and Woo, Bryce Fox
- Album: Chicago (Remixes)
- Released: 2017
- Genre: Dance/Electronic
24 – Back to Chicago – Styx
- Released: 1990
- Album: Edge of the Century
- Artist: Styx
- Genres: Pop, Rock
25 – If You Leave Me Now – Chicago
- Released: 1976
- Album: Chicago X
- Artist: Chicago
- Genres: Soft rock, Rock
- Songwriter: Peter Cetera
- Producer: James William Guercio
26 – Bad Bad Leroy Brown – Ace Cannon and Jim Croce
- Artists: Jim Croce, Ace Cannon
- Album: Secret Love
- Genre: Rock
- Ranked two weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1973
- Billboard ranked it as the No. 2 song for 1973.
27 – Will You Still Love Me? – Chicago
- Artist: Chicago
- Album: Chicago 18
- Released: 1986
- Genres: Pop, Seasonal, Rock
- Written by David Foster, Tom Keane, and Richard Baskin,
- Produced by Foster.
28 – Angels – Chance the Rapper
- Artist: Chance the Rapper
- Featured artist: Saba
- Album: Coloring Book
- Released: 2016
- Nominations: MTV Video Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Video
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
29 – Crook County – Speedknot Mobstaz and Twista
- Artists: Speedknot Mobstaz, Twista
- Featured artists: Newsense, MC Newsense
- Album: Mobstability
- Released: 1998
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
30 – Dialogue – Chicago
- Artist: Chicago
- Album: Chicago V
- Released: 2019
- Genre: Rock