What song sounds like summertime in Chicago? Here’s what you told us

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