Another one of my favorite Chicago songs, “Long Lost Friend” is a beautiful ballad from 2006’s Chicago XXX that reminds of being at a wedding reception with couple dancing to it as their song.
When I listen to this, I see that couple cheek to cheek in their wedding clothes, and the setting is of an outdoor reception on a breezy spring day. This song truly speaks to anyone who feels like they have fallen in love with their soulmate.
Written by Jay DeMarcus, Brett James and Jason Scheff, “Long Lost Friend” is about finding love with someone you’ve developed a strong connection with, a person you can’t without because love has bonded the two of you for life. More than that, the song is about falling for someone who gives you a familiar vibe, as if you have known this person forever – but they’ve only really been in your life for a short time. The couple has so much in common with each other and this draws them closer together.
As for the music, I believe everything was done perfectly. The instruments are mixed very well with one another, but I particularly love the drumming. The beat builds up on “Long Lost Friend,” like a quickening heartbeat, from a slow tempo to a joyous mid-tempo rhythm as the song continues. The piano melody throughout is also beautiful; the horns are powerful and amazing. Scheff’s voice is, as always, on point.
As with “Love Will Come Back,” I love the country/rock mixture of this song. Collaborating with Rascal Flatts in the studio helped take it to another level. The results have no imperfections, as both the lyrics and the music are amazingly executed. That’s why “Long Lost Friend” remains one of my favorite Chicago ballads, and a song I never get sick of.
