Single Review: Chicago by Hayley Brooke

 ​Hayley Brooke delivers a raw and emotionally potent experience with her ballad, "Chicago," a track that explores the agony of physical distance failing to alleviate emotional baggage. ​The production of "Chicago" is elegantly simple, a conscious choice that allows the weight of the lyrics and the performer’s voice to take center stage. The track begins starkly, featuring just the vocals and piano, setting a fragile, intimate tone. This piano work is the backbone of the song, consistently taking the lead and providing a mournful, yet beautiful, melodic structure. The addition of a subtle drum pattern provides a gentle, necessary lift, marking the emotional peak without overwhelming the vulnerability of the performance.


​ Hayley Brooke's vocals are powerful, perfectly embodying the sadness and heartbreak embedded in the narrative. Her delivery channels a deep sense of longing and frustration, particularly in the recurring sentiment, "I wish I left you in Chicago." The lyrics are profoundly relatable, moving from the specific, aching imagery of "too many shirts I’ve thrown away" and "too many songs that make me cry," to the broader theme of physical separation—"Now we’re two thousand miles away, You’re in the windy world, I’m in LA."​Ultimately, "Chicago" is a beautiful, classic-feeling ballad that uses its stripped-back production to amplify a universal tale of carrying unhealed wounds to a new beginning. It’s a powerful anthem for anyone who has ever tried to outrun their heartbreak only to find it was riding shotgun the whole way.




 Stream Chicago here! 


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