We asked readers what song sounds like summertime in Chicago. Here’s what you told us, lightly edited for clarity:
“‘Saturday in the Park’ by the classic rock band Chicago, of course. I can’t think of a better city of Chicago summertime song. … That song introduced … what it means to enjoy Chicago in the summertime not just to people around the country but around the world as well.”
— Alejandro Lugo, Park Forest
“Not so much the song but all house music. And stepping music.”
— Lisa Williams
“‘Lake Shore Drive’ by Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah is the most Chicago song. If you don’t love this song, you were never in Chicago.”
— Tony Galati
“Bill Withers’ ‘Lovely Day.'”
— Jeff Mossy Cade
“‘Summer in the City’ by the Loving Spoonful. The lyrics emphasize the heat we often experience on a Chicago summer day, ‘but at night, it’s a different world’ when it cools off a bit and there are plenty of places to take a date for entertainment or just enjoyable interaction with your special someone.”
— Paul Lockwood, Woodstock
“‘Go, Cubs, Go!’, written by Chicago’s very own, the late Steve Goodman.”
— Lynne Victorine
“‘The Night Chicago Died’ by UK band Paper Lace. The tune in its third line refers to ‘the heat of a summer night’ as well as popular city imagery, including mama crying, running feet and even Al Capone.”
— Craig Barner
“‘Hot Fun in the Summertime’ (by Sly and the Family Stone).”
— Valerie Vorres
“‘Santeria’ by Sublime.”
— Jason Pedrick
“War’s ‘All Day Music,’ because ‘Let’s have a picnic go to the park,’ ‘Down at the beach [y’all] partying down’ is what we like to do.”
— Luane Neosh