Say what you will about Chicago’s “You’re the Inspiration,” but it is one of those hits that’s highly unappreciated by many. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but to me it is a gem in the catalog that has done two great things for Chicago: 1. Brought them success in reaching a new audience. 2. It also helped them receive commercial success on the charts.
I once hated this standout track from 1984’s Chicago 17 too, but I’ve since learned to appreciate it for its lyrical simplicity and pop goodness. In fact, I have to admit that before 2004 (which is the year I became a Chicago fan), I thought “You’re the Inspiration” was really annoying. Then I heard the album in its entirety about three times. After those three times, my mind began to change. I started to like and appreciate it more and more. Eventually, this became my favorite Chicago album of all time.
What I like most about “You’re the Inspiration” are the lyrics. I am not an analyst in any sense but for me, as a listener, I assume it is about a lover (whether it be a spouse or a partner) telling or showing their significant other how much they love and are inspired by them with their actions and emotions. The lovers share a relationship bond of closeness and love. As for the actual meaning of the song itself, Peter Cetera doesn’t really give an answer. In interviews, he says the song was inspired by a trip he took in Italy looking at a painting of Michelangelo.
You can’t ignore that “You’re the Inspiration” happened to be a big hit for Chicago. As a kid, I remembered it was played on the radio constantly. I would hear it a lot at home, my mom’s car, the doctor’s office, and the grocery store. There wasn’t a place that didn’t play the song. It also helped Chicago 17 become one of Chicago’s most successful albums.
With that success came a different audience. A new audience of different generations that began to appreciate their later material, as well as their older material. Maybe “You’re the Inspiration” is just a ballad to some, but for others this song might have opened them up to a whole new world. It did for me.
