Music of America: Illinois

What's up, friends? Today, we're checking out the midestern state of Illinois. Nicknamed The Land of Lincoln, the Prairie State, and the Inland Empire State, Illinois became America's 21st state when it joined the Union in December 1818. My husband and I have wanted to visit Illinois, especially Chicago, for several years, so I'm excited to learn more about this state. Let's look into our fact dump this week:

-Capital City: Springfield

-Area: 57,914 square miles (America's 25th largest state, right in the middle)

-Population: 12,719,141 as of 2025 (America's 6th most populated state)

-Big 4 Major League Professional Sports Teams (Baseball, Football, Basketball, Hockey): 5/4 (Cubs & White Sox for baseball, Bears for football, Bulls for basketball, and Blackhawks for hockey)

-Named College: University of Illinois (est. 1867, Urbana-Champaign, IL)

-State Bird: Northern Cardinal

-State Flower: Violet

-State Butterfly: Monarch Butterfly

-State Tree: White Oak

-State Mineral (instead of gemstone): Fluorite

-State Dog: Shelter Dog

-State Quarter: Released January 2003 (includes President Abraham Lincoln as a young man, along with a farm scene, the Illinois state outline, the Chicago skyline, and 21 stars)

As before, we'll be looking at artists that were born and bands that were established in Illinois. This is of course not all of them, but it's a great group to explore and learn more about.

Illinois, especially the Chicago area, has put out quite a bit of music, so here's a few honorable mentions:

Alison Krauss (Decatur, IL)

Chevelle (Grayslake, IL)

Ezra Furman (Chicago, IL)

Gretchen Wilson (Pocahontas, IL)

Ludacris (Champaign, IL)

Miles Davis (Alton, IL)

Sleeping At Last (Wheaton, IL)

The Smashing Pumpkins (Chicago, IL)

The Tossers (Chicago, IL)

Vertical Worship (Chicago, IL)

Let's get started!

My Savior My God by Aaron Shust (written by D. Greenwell)

Aaron Shust was born in Chicago, Illinois in October 1975. The Illinoisan music artist has been a fixture of contemporary Christian music since the mid-00's. A vocalist, guitarist, and pianist, Shust has performed genres such as CCM, Christian rock, and praise & worship. Throughout his twenty-one year career, he has released nine studio albums and won three GMA Dove awards. His song My Savior My God was originally featured on his 2005 album Anything Worth Saying and has been certified Gold by the RIAA. I've known this song since middle school, and it's still one I like to turn on and worship along with. Whether times are good or tough, the words of the chorus especially resonate with me.

I am not skilled to understand/What God has willed, what God has planned/I only know at His right hand/Stands the One who is my Savior/I take Him at His word and deed/Christ died to save me, this I read/And in my heart, I find a need/Of Him to be my Savior/That He would leave His place on high/And come for sinful man to die/You count it strange, so once did I/Before I met my Savior/My Savior loves, my Savior lives/My Savior’s always there for me/My God He was, my God He is/My God is always gonna be/My Savior loves, my Savior lives/My Savior’s always there for me/My God He was, my God He is/My God is always gonna be

Through the Fire by Chaka Khan (written by C. Weil, D. Foster, T. Keane)

Yvette Stevens, better known by her stage name Chaka Khan, was born in Chicago, Illinois in March 1953. The Illinoisan singer/songwriter is known by many as the Queen of Funk and has had a successful career as a solo artist as well as the lead vocalist for the band Rufus. A talented singer, Stevens has performed genres such as R&B, funk, pop, and disco. Over her fifty-six year career, she has released thirteen solo studio albums and won 10 Grammy Awards, as well as receiving a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Her cover of Prince's Through the Fire was originally featured on her 1984 album I Feel for You, peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #3, and is certified Platinum by the RIAA. Whether with Rufus or solo, this woman is a vocal powerhouse. My personal favorite song of hers is Like Sugar.

I look in your eyes, and I can see you’ve loved so dangerously/You’re not trusting your heart to anyone/You tell me you’re gonna play it smart, we’re through before we start/But I believe that we’ve only just begun/When it’s this good, there’s no saying no/I want you so, I’m ready to go/Through the fire, to the limit, to the wall/For a chance to be with you, I’d gladly risk it all/Through the fire, through whatever come what may/For a chance at loving you, I’d take it all the way/Right down to the wire, even through the fire

Down with the Sickness by Disturbed (written by D. Donegan, D. Draiman, M. Wengren, S. Kmak)

Disturbed is an Illinoisan heavy metal band. Formed in Chicago in 1994 under the name Brawl, they are known for the specific groove their music creates as well as David Draiman's absolute powerhouse vocals. Taking a hiatus from 2011-2015, they are known for genres such as heavy metal, hard rock, alt metal, and nu metal. The band's current lineup includes Dan Donegan (guitar, keyboards, programming, bass guitar, backing vocals), Mike Wengren (drums, programming, backing vocals), David Draiman (lead vocals), and John Moyer (bass guitar, backing vocals). The band has released 8 studio albums since 2000. Down with the Sickness was originally featured on the 2000 album The Sickness and has been certified 8x Platinum by the RIAA. This song is iconic, but it's not my #1 Disturbed song by a long shot. That honor goes to their cover of Sound of Silence closely followed by Stricken.

Drowning deep in my sea of loathing/Broken, your servant, I kneel, will you give in to me/It seems what’s left of my human side/Is slowly changing in me, will you give in to me/Looking at my own reflection/When suddenly, it changes, violently, it changes/Oh, no, there is no turning back now/You’ve woken up the demon in me/Get up, come on, get down with the sickness/Get up, come on, get down with the sickness/Get up, come on, get down with the sickness/Open up your hate and let it flow into me/Get up, come on, get down with the sickness/You mother, get up, come on, get down with the sickness/You fucker, get up, come on, get down with the sickness/Madness is the gift that has been given to me

Sugar, We're Goin Down by Fall Out Boy (written by P. Stumph, P. Wentz, J. Trohman, A. Hurley)

Fall Out Boy is an Illinoisan rock band. Formed in Wilmette in 2001, they are known for both their underground success as a punk rock group and for their later and current mainstream success in pop and rock music, as well as their unique song titles which have become a bit of a meme throughout the years. Taking a brief hiatus in 2009, they reformed in 2013 and are known for genres such as pop punk, pop rock, emo, and alt rock. The band's current lineup includes Patrick Stump (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, additional percussion), Pete Wentz (bass guitar, backing vocals), Joe Trohman (guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), and Andy Hurley (drums, percussion, backing vocals). The band has released 8 studio albums since 2003. Sugar, We're Goin Down was originally featured on the 2005 album From Under the Cork Tree, peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #8, and has been certified 9x Platinum by the RIAA. This is classic Fall Out Boy to the nth degree. It was awesome when it first released, and it's still awesome now.

Am I more than you bargained for yet, I’ve been dying to tell you/Anything you wanna hear ‘cause that’s just who I am this week/Lie in the grass next to the mausoleum/I’m just a notch in your bedpost, but you’re just a line in a song/Drop a heart, break a name/We’re always sleeping in and sleeping for the wrong team/We’re going down, down in an earlier round/And sugar, we’re going down swinging/I’ll be your number one with a bullet/A loaded God complex, cock it and pull it/We’re going down, down in an earlier round/And sugar, we’re going down swinging/I’ll be your number one with a bullet/A loaded God complex, cock it and pull it

If This Isn't Love by Jennifer Hudson (written by T. Thomas, B. Seals, T. Thomas)

Jennifer Hudson was born in Chicago, Illinois in September 1981. The Illinoisan singer/actress/producer/television presenter got her start on season 3 of American Idol and has made a name for herself in music, on screen, and on stage ever since. A gifted vocalist, Hudson has performed genres such as R&B, soul, gospel, and musical theatre. Throughout her twenty-two year career, she has released four studio albums and won 65 awards (including an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a SAG Award, 2 Grammys, and a Daytime Emmy). Her song If This Isn't Love was originally featured on her 2008 self-titled album and peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #63. I think JHud is absolutely amazing (see my American Idol Season 3 post), but this song was not it for me. As I've said before, I don't always resonate with R&B, but this song felt like it did not do her incredible voice justice.

I’m calling his phone up just to tell him how much/I really love him ‘cause he’s everything I want/He listens to me, cares for me, for me/So I truly believe/God has sent me an angel up from above/That’s gonna love me for life/Might as well be perfect/Only because it’s the only way I can describe, so/If this isn’t love, tell me what it is/‘Cause I could be dreaming or just plain crazy/if this isn’t love, tell me what it is/‘Cause I never felt like this, baby/If this isn’t love/L-O-V-E, what it means to me/L-O-V-E, oh, if this isn’t love/L-O-V-E, what it means to me/L-O-V-E, oh, if this isn’t love

Hurtin' (On the Bottle) by Margo Price (written by M. Price, J. Ivey, M. Fredson, C. Rose)

Margo Price was born in Aledo, Illinois in April 1983. The Illinoisan singer/songwriter/record producer/author has become known for her modern outlaw country sound. A vocalist, acoustic guitarist, pianist, and drummer, Price has performed genres such as country, Americana, outlaw country, and country soul. Throughout her thirteen year career, she has released six studio albums and been nominated for one Grammy award. Her song Hurtin' (On the Bottle) was originally featured on her 2015 album Midwest Farmer's Daughter. I started listening to Price a couple of years ago with her Strays albums, and her blending of country and Americana with psychedelic elements is really intriguing to me. Her vocals are unique, and I'm still definitely interested in new music she puts out.

I put a hurting on the bottle/Baby, now I’m blind enough to see/I’ve been drinking whiskey like it’s water/But that don’t touch the pain you put on me/I was veering for the white line of the shoulder/Faded lights all cast upon the wall/Baby, I know we’ve been getting older/But you’re never too old to learn to crawl

Because the Night by Patti Smith (written by B. Springsteen, P. Smith)

Patricia "Patti" Smith was born in Chicago, Illinois in December 1946. The Illinoisan singer/songwriter/poet/painter/author/photographer was a prominent feature in New York's punk rock music and is still a well-respected artist in punk music today. Proficient on vocals, guitar, and clarinet, Smith has performed and written for genres such as punk rock, art punk, proto punk, art rock, garage rock, pop rock, and spoken word. Over her fifty-nine year career, she has released eight solo studio albums, written or co-written thirty-six books, and had her album Horses inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The song Because the Night was originally featured on her 1977 album Outside Society and peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #13. I've only in the last two or three years started listening to Patti Smith, and while it doesn't always hit with me I have a lot of respect for the woman. She's absolutely a legend.

Take me now, baby, here as I am/Hold me close, try and understand/Desire is hunger, it’s the fire I breathe/Love is a banquet on which we feed/Come on now, try and understand/The way I feel when I’m in your hands/Take my hand, come undercover/They can’t hurt you now, can’t hurt you now, can’t hurt you now/Because the night belongs to lovers/Because the night belongs to lust/Because the night belongs to lovers/Because the night belongs to us

Illinois by Rick Pickren (written by C. Chamberlin, A. Johnston)

Illinoisis the official state song of Illinois. With lyrics written around 1890 by Civil War vet Charles H. Chamberlin and music composed by Archibald Johnston, the song was adopted as the state's regional album in 1925.

By thy rivers gently flowing, Illinois, Illinois/O’er thy prairies verdant growing, Illinois, Illinois/Comes an echo on the breeze, rustling through the leafy trees/And its mellow tones are these, Illinois, Illinois/And its mellow tones are these, Illinois/From a wilderness of prairies, Illinois, Illinois/Straight thy way and never varies, Illinois, Illinois/Till upon the inland sea stands thy great commercial tree/Turning all the world to thee, Illinois, Illinois/Turning all the world to thee, Illinois/Turning all the world to thee, Illinois

Renegade by Styx (written by T. Shaw)

Styx is an Illinoisan rock band. Formed in Chicago in 1972, they are well-known for blending a hard rock sound with a more acoustic feel, creating their own individual sound amongst other classic rock bands. Taking a hiatus from 1984-1990 and another from 1992-1995, they are best known for genres like progressive rock, hard rock, art rock, arena rock, and pop rock. The band's current lineup includes J.Y. Young (guitars, backing vocals, lead vocals, keyboards), Chuck Panozzo (bass guitar, backing vocals), Tommy Shaw (guitars, lead vocals, backing vocals, mandolin, banjo), Todd Sucherman (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Lawrence Gowan (keyboards, lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar), Will Evankovich (electric guitar, backing vocals, mandolin, keyboards), and Terry Gowan (bass guitar, backing vocals). The band has released 18 studio albums since 1972. Renegade was originally featured on the 1978 album Pieces of Eight and peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #16. My husband and I like to joke that this song is actually three different songs in a trench coat, but boy do I love it. It's such a classic, and even people who don't think they know the song totally do.

Oh, Mama, I’m in fear for my life from the long arm of the law/Lawman has put an end to my running and I’m so far from my home/Oh, Mama, I can hear you a-crying, you’re so scared and all alone/Hangman is coming down from the gallows, and I don’t have very long/The jig is up, the news is out, they’ve finally found me/The renegade who had it made, retrieved for a bounty/Never more to go astray, this will be the end today/Of the wanted man

I hope you found some great music from this special part of the country today. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!