Rankings / Metro

The Sound of Chicago

United States · #5 origin · 16 Velvet Rock tracks

Combined (3:1)
951.9
US score
88.2
UK score
46.2
Attributed artists
65

Signature decade 1980s · era-distinctiveness 1.83 · score per artist 14.6

Decade fingerprint

1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020

Top artists

  1. 1Michael Jackson315.6
  2. 2Kanye West131.2
  3. 3Chicago63.8
  4. 4R. Kelly54.8
  5. 5Earth, Wind & Fire42.1
  6. 6The Jackson 531.2
  7. 7Richard Marx30.6
  8. 8Juice Wrld24.6
  9. 9Bob Newhart15.8
  10. 10Quincy Jones14.4
  11. 11Herbie Hancock13.5
  12. 12Styx10.8
  13. 13Jody Watley10.3
  14. 14Survivor10.3
  15. 15The Smashing Pumpkins10.3

Signature songs

  1. 1“Stronger” : Kanye West · UK / US #1 (2007)
  2. 2“Billie Jean” : Michael Jackson · UK / US #1 (1983)
  3. 3“Hey There Delilah” : Plain White T's · UK / US #1 (2007)
  4. 4“I Believe I Can Fly” : R. Kelly · UK / US #1 (1996)
  5. 5“Eye of the Tiger” : Survivor · UK / US #1 (1982)
  6. 6“You Are Not Alone” : Michael Jackson · UK / US #1 (1995)
  7. 7“Ignition (Remix)” : R. Kelly · UK / US #1 (2003)
  8. 8“Lucid Dreams” : Juice Wrld · UK / US #2 (2018)
  9. 9“Beat It” : Michael Jackson · UK / US #1 (1983)
  10. 10“If You Leave Me Now” : Chicago · UK / US #1 (1976)
  11. 11“Don't Give Up on Us” : David Soul · UK / US #1 (1977)
  12. 12“Hard to Say I'm Sorry” : Chicago · UK / US #1 (1982)
  13. 13“I'll Be There” : The Jackson 5 · UK / US #1 (1970)
  14. 14“Love Me Not” : Ravyn Lenae · UK / US #2 (2025)
  15. 15“This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race” : Fall Out Boy · UK / US #2 (2007)

Chart-topping #1 singles

“Carnival”
2024
Kanye West
US
“Rapstar”
2021
Polo G
US
“Godzilla”
2020
Juice Wrld
UK
“I'm the One”
2017
Chance the Rapper
UK / US
“E.T.”
2011
Kanye West
US
“Run This Town”
2009
Kanye West
UK
“American Boy”
2008
Kanye West
UK
“Hey There Delilah”
2007
Plain White T's
US
“Stronger”
2007
Kanye West
UK / US
“Gold Digger”
2005
Kanye West
US
“Cha Cha Slide”
2004
DJ Casper
UK
“Slow Jamz”
2004
Twista
US
“Slow Jamz”
2004
Kanye West
US
“Wonderful”
2004
R. Kelly
UK
“Ignition (Remix)”
2003
R. Kelly
UK
“Stand Up”
2003
Shawnna
US
“I'm Your Angel”
1998
R. Kelly
US
“Blood on the Dance Floor”
1997
Michael Jackson
UK
“I Believe I Can Fly”
1997
R. Kelly
UK
“Boom Boom Boom”
1995
The Outhere Brothers
UK
“Don't Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)”
1995
The Outhere Brothers
UK
“Earth Song”
1995
Michael Jackson
UK
“You Are Not Alone”
1995
Michael Jackson
UK / US
“Bump n' Grind”
1994
R. Kelly
US
“Black or White”
1991
Michael Jackson
UK / US
25 of 68 #1 singles · click a column to sort

Velvet Rock

16 Master Tape tracks by Chicago artists: That's the Way of the World (Earth, Wind & Fire) · After the Love Has Gone (Earth, Wind & Fire) · What Cha' Gonna Do for Me (Chaka Khan) · Hard to Say I'm Sorry (Chicago) · Human Nature (Michael Jackson) · You're the Inspiration (Chicago) · Glory of Love (Peter Cetera) · Liberian Girl - 2012 Remastered Version (Michael Jackson) · I Just Can't Stop Loving You (feat. Siedah Garrett) - 2012 Remaster (Michael Jackson) · Man in the Mirror - 2012 Remaster (Michael Jackson) · Human Nature (Michael Jackson) · Fantasy - Single Version (Earth, Wind & Fire) …