Songwriter Reacts to Chicago - Make Me Smile (MADE ME SMILE!!)

[@ree3.]

Danny Seraphine at 4:23 beating that drum kit like it owed him money

[@SG-js2qn]

Terry Kath was channeling his inner Ray Charles on the vocals there.

[@NAIATHEDRAGON]

💫💫💫🎶🎶🎶

[@landiahillfarm6590]

Makin this guy smile since 1970!! It never gets old!

[@George-kv6gm]

Lead guitar Terry Kath was the leade singer on this one. Great!

[@jenniferfoster1692]

A masterpiece of a song...everything about it is perfection.

[@todderickson2435]

My favorite song, from my favorite era, of my favorite band in the history of EVER! Thank you. 😊

[@deborahstrickland9845]

Most of those guys in this band had college music degrees. They knew what they were doing.❤️

[@NAIATHEDRAGON]

No surprise

[@jamesnorrisbarrett8927]

that snare! Danny Seraphine is such an underrated drummer, drives this song from beginning to end

[@christopheryochum3602]

Thanks for mentioning Danny Seraphine, a master at fills. My favorite drummer.

[@neilmartin99]

Early Chicago is phenomenal

[@careyareaparanormalenergyr9355]

First time I heard this, I became a lifelong Chicago fan. Still get chills listening to these greats!

[@binslick1000]

When my dad first heard this song, he thought the lead singer was black. I told him he was the white guitar player: the drums, the horns, the vocals, just an Extraordinary song-a masterpiece.

[@charlesmarkley220]

The end of this reminds me of riding off into the sunset of a western movie a after the hero was victorious. Great!

[@craigw1911]

"Make Me Smile" is the opening track of a seven song suite, "Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon", on Chicago's eponymous second album. The record company spliced together "Make Me Smile" and the suite's closing reprise "Now More Than Ever" to make the single release of "Make Me Smile". Trombone player James Pankow wrote the suite for a girl in West Virginia that he was dating at the time.

[@danastearns7939]

They write ALL their own music! The horn section and keyboard/piano have music degrees - from schools in Chicago. I believe the pianist, Robert Lamm, had an interest in becoming a concert pianist. So these guys know music!. This song is one of about 3 or 4 songs that run together in sections (see Chicago II album) and is often referred to as: a Ballad for a girl from Buchannon" all written by the trombonist- James Pankow. Lamm, Pankow and Cetera (singer, bass) were all inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017; the original band inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016. They are one of the most successful rock group in RIAA history, (2nd to The Beach Boys)selling over 100m records (23 gold, 18 platinum, 8 double-platinum) and 20 top ten singles. The first rock group invited to perform at Carnegie Hall, selling out the concerts for a week! Jimi Hendrix told the woodwinds player, Parazaider, that "the horn section sounds like one lung and your guitar player (Kath) is better than me". If you like/enjoy horns, they really jam in the song "Questions 67 & 68) which is on their first album - CTA.

[@infernalmachine8417]

Epic is the correct description of Chicago

[@edwardcrews2952]

Gosh, I miss Terry Kath. Rest In Peace

[@FUBAR1986]

Such an uplifting song makes the soul feel good

[@NAIATHEDRAGON]

1000%

[@markrowett8168]

Danny kills on the drums!

[@lisarainbow9703]

"Dialogue" from the Terry Kath era of Chicago is fantastic. Also recommend, "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" from early Chicago..

[@neilmartin99]

Love that one.

[@michaelmolowitz9350]

Dialogue is great but it seems no one knows about it

[@thomastimlin1724]

@@michaelmolowitz9350 Should have been a single, maybe Edited down for radio time.

[@thomastimlin1724]

Dialogue is still really timeless too.

[@jhnstn1]

@@thomastimlin1724: It was released as a single with a very bad edit between the chorus and PTII. Check out some of the isolated videos of PT II with no horns or keys. Kath/Cetera/Sererphine were doing straight-up power trio stuff there. Also check out What's This World Comming To, the last song they recorded with all three vocalists taking a part.

[@CPACK1]

Chicago was one of my favorite bands back in the day.

[@joelliebler5690]

CHICAGO in The early days were above just about everyone else.So many unforgettable tunes

[@NAIATHEDRAGON]

🔥🤜🤛

[@yvette9181]

Heres a little fun fact for you... Chicago's horn section played on The Bee Gees "Too Much Heaven" along with "Search, Find". Chicago is the best horn band by far. I've seen them 7 times by themselves and with collaborating bands and will see them again this August in California. Love them!!

[@rwilson7197]

Love this song... had this album! Noone ever reacts to "Wake Up Sunshine" also on this Chicago album. It is super positive.❤

[@karlfittinger7140]

That is an edited for radio version of make me smile. You need to get the album Chicago II and hear the whole album side. It was written]n as a suite (And is still introduced and played that way by Chicago in concert). If you listen close top that edited version some of the transitions aren't great, Because that isn't how it was meant to be listened to. Do yourself a favor and get the album and hear the whole thing.

[@robincochran7369]

💯

[@kbrewski1]

Agree, I posted in his 25 or 6 to 4 reaction to listen to the whole Ballet for a Girl in Buchannan Suite to really hear the whole essence of Chicago. This radio edit cuts out too much.

[@oldmanghost219]

I also posted the Tanglewood version probably with a link to get the whole 14 minutes because it too is cut.

[@NAIATHEDRAGON]

@@kbrewski1 Is that the 12:45 second one?

[@snakeinthegrass7443]

This song definitely can make me smile every time. Early Chicago were absolute beasts musically. Sadly they went pop / soft but gladly they recorded the early magic for us to enjoy. Love your reactions bro ✌🏼🤘🏻

[@NAIATHEDRAGON]

I gotta check out their newer stuff and much love!!

[@joelliebler5690]

When Terry died so did that bluesy, jazzy, rock style of music.

[@loadedorygun]

as I’ve heard it said, Peter cetera got locked in a hallmark store one weekend and that was pretty much it

[@timetravellingone]

Check out their fairly unknown "Stone of Sysiphus" album from 1994, found the CD at a used record store and it's not bad

[@akadros310]

@@loadedorygun hilarious hahaha

[@oldmanghost219]

From Chicago's 1st Album - "Questions 67 & 68" This song really made me stand up and notice Peter's vocals Also "Prologue/Someday" includes the Vietnam war protest chant that transitions into the song Someday.

[@Rock_Snob]

Let’s not forget that Chicago opened for Jimi Hendrix Experience multiple times!

[@NAIATHEDRAGON]

🎸🔥🎸🔥

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Absolutely love everything about this one. And another one of theirs with similar energy and another really positive message, and it will make you want to move for sure, is called, Feeling Stronger Every Day. Studio version preferably.

[@NAIATHEDRAGON]

Thanks Steve!

[@stanleynykaza9042]

Thanks for doing my favorite Chicago song ! Also please check out the IDES OF MARCH song VEHICLE and a band called CHASE ,song GOT TO GET IT ON Live !.............both have great horns and soulful singing.

[@clarkgardner7175]

First time I saw Chicago was 1970. Last time was 2019 with Earth Wind and Fire. Still touring, still great. Three original members, same exact sound. Too many hits to name.

[@LINDA-jy3ov]

Magnificent!!

[@viacrucis2509]

Chicago is a deep deep dive.

[@browsman2328]

Drummer laying down some very complicated and skilled techniques in this one.

[@beadybaby]

My favorite love song.

[@jdog560]

I’m sure a bunch of other people commented this but you have to listen to the entire ballet that this song was pieces together from

[@timbriere2325]

Better than Disney anyday.

[@beeseewill2407]

Please do the studio version of Chicago's "25 or 6 to 4","Colour my world",and "Saturday in the Park",

[@myownchannel247]

Terry Kath on guitar and vocals. R I p

[@daviddragavon7555]

You know this was part of a suite : " Ballad for a girl in Buchanan," which had two singles in it. This one and the prom is time slow dance song: "Color my World". You should hear the whole thing. Try South California Purple or I'm a Man". They had a 4 album box set called Live at Carnegie Hall. I really liked it because of the sound quality. I saw them in 1972 & 73. (I am, a finely aged cheese 🧀) who ever said their drummer was underrated was damned right. All that music from like a Neal Pert cascade of drums kit? No, Danny played a standard drum kit, like you'd get from Sears as a starter, woof! Good job with your insights, youngster!

[@wendyt7958]

Ah yes the great Terry Kath years. When he died, he took the soul of the band with him

[@marksanders8028]

Good reaction ( on earth as it is in heaven ).

[@garya7893]

You are putting out some great tunes Try Grand Funk Railroad Inside Looking Out live # guys that Rock their asses off you will love it

[@melanieredfield9736]

One of the best ever!! It's crazy that a 3-piece garage band could rock out & bring on the funk like that. I was still too young to see them live but theirs was the first album I ever bought. Heard that after they played Shea stadium, engineers were brought in because the crowd actually shook the bleachers loose! 👍

[@NAIATHEDRAGON]

Screenshotting this right now!

[@snakeinthegrass7443]

@@NAIATHEDRAGON Yes to Grand Funk live Inside Looking Out. Absolute fire!!

[@suecook1326]

Yes, have to agree about Grand Funk Railroad. Only 2 bands ever sold out Shea Stadium in NYC. One was the Beatles... and the other was GFR but Grand Funk sold out 2 weeks faster than the Beatles!! Have to subscribe to your channel as I love your deep diving into Chicago. Great reactions! Other greats to check out is Jethro Tull and some Meat Loaf is theatrical music!!

[@andywalker8064]

Chicago, Blood Sweat and Tears, Earth Wind and Fire. We'll never see their like again. Which is a damned shame. Tower of Power still around, but the big sound of a power band is a dying style.

[@ilonafann8348]

I was thinking the ending to a cowboy movie riding in the sunset!

[@oldmanghost219]

WRONG. Make Me Smile is only part of a 12 minute song and you can hear where the cut is made at the end. The real name is - "Ballet for A Girl In Buchannon" - The 1970 Tanglewood version is FIRE. 14 minutes. & includes the other cutout "Colour My World" That they played at school dances and proms. Terry (Guitar) sings lead in both parts. Robert (Keyboard) sings lead in the "Now More Than Ever " part. AM radio was standard in cars back then which made it king and AM only allowed up to 3 minutes per song., so the record company cut & spliced 2 songs out of it. The band didn't know until they heard it.

[@torrencecullen3877]

New Sub, great review for a classic!

[@timetravellingone]

Pre "Fosterized" Chicago

[@1bigrowdy]

Try Introduction the first song on their debut album .Easily a sound track exposing you to every instrument and musician in the band

[@LINDA-jy3ov]

Studio Great For This Song !! You Never heard Of. CHICAGO??

[@bikerbud3903]

Chicago "Now" is there most great song.

[@thomastimlin1724]

This kind of music was nicknamed "jazz rock" because of the horns. The ending has alternating 5/4 measure, then 4/4 measure, with all the triplet stuff thrown in...get some untrained pop stars and hip hop people today try to write that complicated and you will not find them. These guys were badass pros. After their guitar player and bluesy R and B type singer Terry Kath died in early 1978, the band was lost, then rejuvenated with a new sound in the 1980's, but many of us hated the over the top production and reverb that buried the horns, and the constant power ballad stuff...it wasn't the same band anymore, good, but NOT the same.

[@deborahstrickland9845]

❤️👏

[@tjsogmc]

You should check out Blood, Sweat, and Tears "Lucretia MacEvil" the extended version. They make Chicago look like the Diet Coke of horn bands.

[@lauramcintyre483]

Blood Sweat and Tears were second rate. There is no comparison. Chicago is simply the best.😊

[@tommayrant2279]

This should humble other musicians more than the Iron Sheik's camel clutch.

[@sandyshoenberger2697]

Always thought most of Chicago were band geeks.

[@roberormonde]

And theres so many today how suck