"You're the Inspiration" is a song written by Peter Cetera and David Foster for the group Chicago and recorded for their fourteenth studio album Chicago 17 (1984), with Cetera singing lead vocals. The third single released from that album, it reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1985, and also climbed to the top position on the adult contemporary chart at the same time. Peter Cetera re-recorded the song for his 1997 solo album You're the Inspiration: A Collection. That same year he also recorded a single version with the vocal R&B group, Az Yet.
Video You're the Inspiration
History
Peter Cetera stated in a 2004 interview that "You're the Inspiration" started out as a song for Kenny Rogers:
"David Foster called me up and he said, 'I'm in the studio with Kenny Rogers, and he would like you to write a song for him.' And I said, 'That's great! As a matter of fact, I'm leaving for Italy...' I was going to Europe for something. I don't remember [why]...and this was like nine o'clock in the morning. I said, 'I'm leaving for Italy tonight around five o'clock. I'll be there about two weeks, and I'll call you when I come back.' And he goes, 'No, no, no, he means, like, now.' (....) And so David was in the studio...and of course...you know, last minute. And so I said, 'Alright, well you come over here right now, and we'll see what we can do.' So in the midst of packing, David drove out to where I was then living. And we basically, in about three hours, came up with a little chordal structure for "You're the Inspiration," which it wasn't called that at the time. And we sort of made this little tape of this chord structure; I took it on the plane, [and] went to Italy. And, of course, lying in these beautiful baroque and marble rooms, and singing out the window...I was writing things about, 'Michelangelo you should know, Michelangelo.' And I came up with, oh...you're the inspiration! [So, I] came back with the words, worked on this melody, and came back and presented the song. And [Kenny] basically didn't have the time or didn't want to do it. Good for me!"
Cetera then changed some of the words and recorded the song with Chicago for their Chicago 17 album.
Maps You're the Inspiration
Personnel
- Peter Cetera - lead and background vocals, arrangements
- Bill Champlin - guitars, keyboards, background vocals
- Robert Lamm - keyboards, background vocals
- Lee Loughnane - synth bass
- James Pankow - keyboards
- Walter Parazaider - guitar
- Chris Pinnick - guitar
- Carlos Vega - drums
Additional personnel
- Michael Landau - guitar
- Paul Jackson, Jr. - guitar
- Mark Goldenberg - guitar
- Paulinho da Costa - percussion
- David Foster - keyboards, synth programming, synth bass (Moog), additional arrangements
- John Van Tongeren - synthesizer programming
- Erich Bulling - synthesizer programming
- Marcus Ryle - synthesizer programming
- Gary Grant - trumpet
- Greg Adams - trumpet
- Kenny Cetera - background vocals
In popular culture
Chicago's version is heard in a 2017 commercial for the National Football League that aired during halftime of Super Bowl LI on February 5, 2017. In the 2016 Tom Hanks movie, A Hologram for the King, the original Chicago version served as the "punchline" for a scene. Portions of the song were also played in the 2016 superhero film, Deadpool, journalist John Hugar of UPROXX calling the use of the song during the hero's battle with the main villain "one of many subversive moments" in the film. A cover of the song was used in the 2006 Nintendo DS rhythm game Elite Beat Agents. The song's first verse was featured in the eighth episode of the ninth season of the American black comedy sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The song was also used in the 150 episode of Criminal Minds Unknown Suspect which is the 12th episode of the 7th season.
Music video
The video depicted the band performing intercut with scenes of embracing couples of varying ages ranging from young kids to a couple resembling Billy Idol and Madonna at the time. Lead singer Peter Cetera is seen wearing a T-shirt from the British goth band Bauhaus. During his performance, Cetera is sitting the whole time.
Chart performance
Peter Cetera feat. Az Yet version
Track listings
- "You're the Inspiration" - 4:07
- "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" - 3:13
Charts
Music Video (Peter Cetera featuring Az Yet)
The music video for "You're the Inspiration" (Peter Cetera featuring Az Yet) was directed by Steven R. Monroe and was filmed at Westward Beach (Malibu, California).
Other recordings
- Covered by UK singer Elkie Brooks on her 1989 album, Inspiration.
- Covered by David Foster as an instrumental-piano version on his 1991 album, Rechordings.
- Covered by pop singer Stevie Brock on his 2003 debut self-titled album.
- Covered by Julian Miranda for the 2006 Nintendo DS game Elite Beat Agents.
- Covered by Relient K for inclusion on their 2011 album, Is for Karaoke.
- Recorded by CC & Lee on the 2009 album Gåva till dig.
- Covered by Jamaican Reggae group L.U.S.T. in 2009
- Covered by dance/pop singer Jon Alkalay in 2014
See also
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1985 (U.S.)
References
External links
- Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
Source of article : Wikipedia
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