"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. The song won honors for Foster and Cetera from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1986 in the most-performed songs category.

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 R&B vocal group Az Yet.

History Peter Cetera stated in a 2004 interview that "You're the Inspiration" started out as a song for Kenny Rogers: Cetera then changed some of the words and recorded the song with Chicago for their Chicago 17 album.

Composition and recording Cetera's younger brother, Kenny, provides background vocals on the original recorded version by Chicago.

Kat Caudill, writing for American Songwriter magazine says the song "expresses love by telling someone they inspire you . . ."

Reception Billboard said that it was "somewhere between a hymn and an anthem."

In an article for Stereogum, Brad Shoup calls "You're the Inspiration" the "powerhouse" of the Chicago 17 album. "colored with squelchbass, tastefully splashed with cymbals, garlanded with bland strings. The chorus keeps feinting at a key change."

According to Parade Entertainment and News Editor, Lizzy Buczak, "It quickly became one of the band’s signature songs, with heartfelt lyrics, impressive chord progressions and harmonies, and a chorus that emphasized Chicago’s comeback, all while introducing them to a new generation of listeners."

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 strumming his bass, which is flipped upside down.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1984–1985)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) 43

Year-end charts Chart (1985)PositionUS Billboard Hot 10037

Certifications

Peter Cetera feat. Az Yet version

In 1997, Peter Cetera re-recorded "You're the Inspiration" for his solo album You're the Inspiration: A Collection. Since Cetera had featured earlier in the year on R&B group Az Yet's cover of "Hard to Say I'm Sorry", they collaborated on a remix of Cetera's solo recording of "You're the Inspiration", which was released as a single. This version reached No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 29 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Like Az Yet's "Hard to Say I'm Sorry", this version was also produced by Babyface.

Music video The music video for Peter Cetera and Az Yet's "You're the Inspiration" was directed by Steven R. Monroe and filmed at Westward Beach (Malibu, California).

Track listings "You're the Inspiration" – 4:07 "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" – 3:13

Charts Chart (1997)Peakposition

Cover versions Hawaiian singers Willz and Maile recorded a reggae version of "You're the Inspiration" in 2022, with an accompanying music video. Daily Reggae called it a "brilliant island spin" on the song, and featured it as the "song of the day" on the Daily Reggae web site. Their version made it into "Hawaii's Top 10", and peaked at number four on that list. The song also made it to number five on the "Reggae Global Top40".

In other media In 2026 the song was used during a scene of Ted Lasso (season 4, episode 2 of ). Lizzy Buzcak of Parade magazine writes, "[It] plays softly in the background . . . during a heartfelt and pivotal moment as Jason Sudeikis’ Ted reconnects with best friend/soulmate/fellow coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) at the pub upon returning to England to coach the AFC Richmond women’s soccer team. In an article for Decider, writer Nicole Gallucci terms the use of "You're the Inspiration" "an absolutely iconic scene-setter". The episode first aired on Apple TV on August 12, 2026.

The song was featured in the 2025 film Novocaine. According to director Dan Berk, the song was one of the directors' first choices for a scene, serving as a "funny juxtaposition" to the "insane violence" on screen. He added that the song was the most expensive license in the movie - they were made to "pay a lot" because of the type of scene it would be played over.

The song was featured in promotional television advertisement for the 2017 NFL Super Bowl, titled "Super Bowl Baby Legends", which "imagines what Mike Ditka, Michael Irvin, Vince Lombardi, Joe Namath, Bill Belichick, Marshawn Lynch and Von Miller may have looked like as babies -- mustaches, sunglasses, stud earrings and all."

In 2013 Brigham Young University (BYU) basketball team put out a video of three of its members—Tyler Haws, Luke Worthington and Skyler Halford—lip-syncing to the song. Rob Dauster noted it for NBCSports because, "There isn’t much in this world that I find funnier than a couple of big-time collegiate athletes sitting in a field and awkwardly full-body lip-syncing to an ‘80s love ballad."

See also List of Hot Adult Contemporary number ones of 1985

References

External links