Composición musical de ritmo lento, instrumentación suave y carácter íntimo y expresivo, de asunto generalmente amoroso. Composición poética tradicional del norte de Europa, de estrofas iguales entre las que se intercalaba un estribillo y que solía contar de manera sencilla sucesos legendarios y populares.
Chicago es, junto con Blood, Sweat & Tears (BS&T), la banda más representativa de lo que se dio en llamar Jazz Rock. Se fundó en la ciudad de su mismo nombre, en 1967, aunque inicialmente se denominó Chicago Transit Authority, nombre que debieron recortar por problemas jurídicos con el ayuntamiento de la ciudad. El grupo aún permanece en activo en 2007.
La banda estuvo integrada, inicialmente, por Lee Loughnane (trompeta), James Pankow (trombón), Walter Parazaider (saxos, flauta), Robert Lam (voz, piano, órgano), Terry Kath (guitarra, voz), Peter Cetera (bajo, voz) y Danny Seraphine (batería, percusión). Al contrario que BS&T , Chicago mantuvo esta formación bastante estable, a lo largo de su historia.
[Terry]
Are you optimistic
'Bout the way things are going?
[Peter]
No, i never ever think of it at all
[Terry]
Don't you ever worry
When you see what's going down?
[Peter]
Well, i try to mind my business
That is, no business at all
[Terry]
When it's time to function
As a feeling human being, will your
Bachelor of arts help you get by?
[Peter]
I hope to study further
A few more years or so. I also hope
To keep a steady high
[Terry]
Will you try to change
Things, use the power that you have
The power of a million new ideas?
[Peter]
What is this power you
Speak of and this need for things to
Change? I always thought
That everything was fine
[Terry]
Don't you feel repression just
Closing in around?
[Peter]
No, the campus here is very, very free
[Terry]
Does it make you angry
The way war is dragging on?
[Peter]
Well, i hope the president
Knows what he's into, i don't know
[Terry]
Don't you ever see the starvation
In the city where you live, all the
Needless hunger all the
Needless pain?
[Peter]
I haven't been there lately
The country is so fine, but my
Neighbors don't seem hungry 'cause
They haven't got the time
[Terry]
Thank you for the talk
You know you really eased my mind
I was troubled by the shapes
Of things to come
[Peter]
Well, if you had my
Outlook your feelings would be
Numb, you'd always think
That everything was fine
[Group]
We can make it happen
We can change the world now
We can save the children
We can make it better
We can make it happen
We can save the children
We can make it happen