City of Love

The release of 90125 in 1983 marked an unexpected turning point for Yes. With the return of Jon Anderson and Tony Kaye after more than a decade, and the arrival of South African guitarist Trevor Rabin, the album broke away from the experimental sound that had defined them. The production, more direct with pop touches, brought them to a mass audience without losing their progressive essence. Within that record, City of Love shines for its clean structure: an opening riff that repeats with subtle variations, almost like a bridge between the classical and the accessible. It is not the longest or most complex song on the album, but its catchy melody and the interplay between Anderson's vocals and Kaye's keyboards make it stand out in a work full of contrasts.

The album was recorded in United States studios with borrowed equipment, a detail that contrasts with the perfectionism they usually sought. The success of Owner of a Lonely Heart —the only number one hit for Yes on the US charts— propelled 90125 to triple platinum in that country alone. City of Love, though not a single, reflects that moment when the band balanced ambition and commercial appeal without betraying its identity. Listening to it today remains a reminder of how a change in lineup can redefine a band's sound without losing what makes it recognizable.