Cranking up the oldies on Lake Shore Drive

Don’t judge me, people. [READER]( In the last few days, it’s become unavoidably clear that I may be the only person in my orbit who admits to knowing the song named after Lake Shore Drive. This realization became obvious after several conversations on my podcast about Mayor Lightfoot’s opposition to Alderman David Moore’s proposal to rename the outer drive for Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, the man who founded Chicago. The city, not the band. A distinction, I realize, is perhaps unnecessary to make. As I’m pretty sure no one thinks du Sable founded a rock 'n' roll band. But, just in case . . . Somehow the song has become synonymous with opposition to Moore’s proposal. And so, proponents of the latter feel compelled to trivialize the former to undercut the validity of Mayor Lightfoot’s opposition. [[Illustration of Ben Joravsky]]( guest professed not to know the title of the song, even though it’s named for the drive. So, if you know one, you know the other. Just saying. A second guest said she thought Steve Goodman wrote it (he didn’t). And a third said she’d never heard of the song, staring at me with incomprehension when I mentioned it, as though I’d suddenly started speaking in Flemish. I must admit—for a moment I considered pretending I too knew nothing of the song. Like I was in on the joke. As opposed to being the old guy the joke was on. But I couldn’t do it. That would be a lie. And at my age—what’s the point? Not only do I know the name of the song—"[Lake Shore Drive]( And not only do I know the name of the group who sang it—Aliotta Haynes & Jeremiah. But I like it. When it comes on the oldies station, I crank up the volume and sing along. There, I said it. Oh, the truth is so liberating. In this regard, it’s much like "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie," a song I never tire of hearing, even though I’ve heard it at least several thousand times. And as long as I’m bearing my soul . . . There was a night back in 1981, when I was driving down Lake Shore Drive at four o’clock in the morning and the song came on the radio. And I got so excited, thinking, oh, my God, it’s like I’m in the song. Don’t judge me, people. But like I always say—you can’t rewrite history. I mean, you can. But you shouldn’t. You are who you are and that’s what makes you who you are and who you will be and so on and so on and scooby dooby dooby. Speaking of [great songs]( I still love, though I’ve heard them a million times before. That said . . . There’s no way, absolutely no way, I’d vote against Alderman Moore’s proposal, if by some bizarre quirk I actually was an alderman. I mean—I may be an old nerd who listens to the oldies station. But this old nerd has his standards. [Ben Joravsky [signature]]( Happy Pride Month! Celebrate with the Reader and receive a FREE Reader Pride hat with your donation of $50 or more. This campaign is running from now until June 30. [Get yours while supplies last!]( [Andrew Davis]( on Monica Ortiz [Dmitry Samarov]( on Ride Share [Ben Joravsky]( on the Cubs Wrigleyville uniforms [Rummana Hussain]( on colorism State Senator [Rob Martwick]( on the elected school board [Ben & Dr. D]( on Mayor Lightfoot’s Shining moment [The Ben Joravsky Show]( [Listen to The Ben Joravsky Show]( [Chicago hip-hop duo Udababy tap the energy of the Why? Records collective on their debut album]( By [Leor Galil]( [@imLeor]( [Hyunhye Seo of Xiu Xiu makes her cryptic solo debut with Strands]( By [Joshua Minsoo Kim]( [@misterminsoo]( [The city’s first food equity council works to feed everyone]( The group is reexamining food distribution through a racial equity lens while fighting for long-term systemic change. By [Sharon Hoyer]( [Ride Share explores the dark side of the gig economy]( A former cabbie talks to writer Reginald Edmund about his new play at Writers Theatre—and the real-life experiences that inspired it. By [Dmitry Samarov]( [(Re)Introducing Sparks]( Ron and Russell Mael get their due in Edgar Wright’s The Sparks Brothers. By [Kathleen Sachs]( [Issue of Jun 10 - 23, 2021 Vol. 50, No. 19]( [Download Issue]( (PDF) 1971 Chicagoans have relied on the Reader for trusted alternative coverage of our city. The Chicago Reader is now a 501c3 nonprofit organization which means our survival is in your hands. In order to continue to be your trusted alternative voice of Chicago, we need your help. If you can donate just $5 today, we can show the world that community funded, independent journalism is the future. [DONATE TODAY!]( [View this e-mail as a web page]( [@chicago_reader]( [/chicagoreader]( [@chicago_reader]( [Chicago Reader on LinkedIn]( [/chicagoreader]( [chicagoreader.com]( [Forward this e-mail to a friend](. Want to change how you receive these e-mails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](. Copyright © 2021 Chicago Reader, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Chicago Reader, 2930 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 102, Chicago, IL 60616