Feelin' Stronger Every Day

Album: Chicago VI (1973)
Charted: 10
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Songfacts®:

  • "Feelin' Stronger Every Day" was written by Peter Cetera (vocalist, bassist) and James Pankow (trombones, percussion) of Chicago. It was released as a single from their two-time multi-platinum album Chicago VI.
  • In a 1991 interview, Peter Cetera said that while the song is about "both healing and moving on after the end of a relationship," it could just as well apply to the dynamic wave of success that Chicago was riding at this time. This was their second #1 album on the US album charts, their third two-time platinum album, and they would yet have two more consecutive #1's on the US album charts. This song comes right at what many could argue was the peak of their career, although even the lowest of Chicago's career could pass for moderate success for other bands.
  • James Pankow just happens to have composed both of the album's single hits; the other one is "Just You 'N' Me." Robert Lamm (keyboardist, vocals) usually was the group songwriter.
  • A live version also appears on 1999's Chicago XXVI - The Live Album.
  • 1973 was a busy year for Chicago - their manager, James William Guercio, produced and directed the film Electra Glide in Blue, which had many Chicago members in minor roles as well as featuring Chicago on the soundtrack. The film, being a motorcycle flick shot in Monument Valley, Arizona, has had some small cult following. In order to ensure the budget could afford a good cinematographer, Guercio accepted a salary of just one dollar for directing.

Comments: 13

  • Carl Lafong from DcIf you listen really closely to this studio performance, you will hear that Cetera sings, "the best thing to happen to you, the WORST thing to happen to me." The lyric sheet is wrong. In live performances after the late-1970s, he would change the lyric to be more positive.
  • Roy from New York CityLove this song, but the lyrics always make me a bit sad. They describe a person who was dumped trying to cheer himself up and move on, until he admits at the end: "the best thing to happen to you (i.e., the breakup) is the worst thing that happened to me." Unfortunately, I know this feeling well...
  • Sean from ChicagoWhat's the deal with the current version of the band performing *only* the last part of the song in concert? It kind of destroys the meaning, doesn't it? And the buildup is gone. Such a shame they do it that way.
  • Chuck from South Fork, ColoradoMy sister, her husband and me saw Chicago with Steely Dan on May 27, 1973 in Atlanta Fulton County stadium. The setlist does not show Question 67 and 68 which was played twice at this show. Final encore was Feeling Stronger Everyday, First time played to a "live" audience. Awesome Show!!
  • Gcm from Charlotte, NcWhen I listen closely, I swear Cetera sings: "The worst thing that happened to me" in the last verse...
  • Jeffery S Trusewicz from Wyandotte MichiganJohn from Montreal. I agree with your comments. But if you look at the official lyrics it doesn't appear. You are correct. It's similar to Barbara Ann by the Beach Boys. Spontaneous comments are "scratch it Carl, scratch it" and " Magic Ashtray".
  • John from Montreal, CanadaHoward, if you listen carefully at the choruses in the end part you can hear them sing "jumping jack flash it's a gas gas gas" a couple of times.
  • Bryan from Atlanta, GaHoward in Levittown, Pa, are you sure you're commenting about the right song? This ain't no ballad. Quite the opposite.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 17th 1973, "Feelin' Stronger Every Day" by Chicago entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #75; and on August 12th it peaked at #10 (for 2 non-consecutive weeks) and spent 16 weeks on the Top 100...
    Was track five of side two on the group's fifth studio album,'Chicago VI', and the album reached #1 (for 5 non-consecutive weeks) on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart...
    One other track from the album also reached the Top 100, "Just You 'N' Me", it peaked at #4.
  • Lewis H. Drake Jr from Gardena, CaHoward, the other lyrics at the end is, "You know I'm alright now."
  • Howard from Levittown, PaThis sounds like the beginning of what would be Chicago's ballad style. It would be heard again in hits like "Wishing You Were Here" and "Baby What A Big Surprise." It wasn't all David Foster, although he put the gloss on it, like it (as millions did) or not.
  • Howard from Naperville, IlAt the end of the song, there are complimentary lyrics to "feeling stronger every day...". Any ideas?
  • Reg from Kemptville, On, -A very energetic song. I still have the 45.
    The best thing recorded after Chicago Transit Authority
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