Look Away

Despite Chicago's jazz-rock origins, "Look Away" employs a straightforward diatonic palette typical of late-80s pop ballads. The iii chord adds a touch of harmonic sophistication, providing a wistful color that distinguishes it from a basic I-IV-V-vi pattern. The overall harmony serves the emotional narrative without drawing attention to itself.

Diane Warren, one of the most prolific songwriters of the late 1980s, wrote "Look Away" as a bittersweet narrative about receiving a phone call from an ex-lover announcing a new relationship. The lyrics explore the pain of letting go while putting on a brave face. Warren crafted the song with Chicago's evolving pop sound in mind, building on the commercial momentum the band had found after shifting away from their jazz-rock roots.

Written by hitmaker Diane Warren and produced by Ron Nevison, "Look Away" became Chicago's biggest single of the late 1980s, topping the Billboard Hot 100. The song captures the ache of watching a former love move on, wrapped in lush keyboards and Bill Champlin's emotive vocal delivery — a defining moment of the band's pop-era reinvention.