Even though Phil Collins doesn’t receive the same level of hate as, say, Michael Bolton, he’s still someone that seems to get a lot of unreasonable hate. Even if his music sucked, which it doesn’t, his unassuming and friendly nature would be enough to forgive it. And plus–his music doesn’t suck! Well, it doesn’t always suck. While Phil has been stuck on autopilot for virtually two decades and might be best known for his treacly ballads and/or Disney themes, the fact of the matter is that there’s a solid decade and a half of work that at least kinda makes up for the “Brother Bear” soundtrack.
Here are five reasons why Phil Collins is secretly (or not so secretly, if you’re me) awesome.
1) Dude can sing his ASS off!
Remember about a year ago when Whitney passed away and everyone passed around an unadorned vocal take of “How Will I Know” and everyone kinda agreed that it was fantastic? This isolated vocal track from Genesis’ “Turn it on Again” is just as awesome, and let’s remember that Phil also played drums on this song. Dude is just shredding his throat, and it’s not like he laid back on every other song he recorded. He keeps up with some serious Eric Clapton wailing on “I Wish it Would Rain Down,” and also flexes his vocal muscle on songs like “I Don’t Care Anymore” and “No Son of Mine.”
2) He has a sense of humor!
Phil and Genesis made some of the most innovative videos of the ’80s, and the best ones were funny in addition to being groundbreaking. “Don’t Lose My Number?” Hilarious. “I Can’t Dance?” Cracked me up. “Illegal Alien?” Totally politically incorrect (a video like this would never be on MTV today) but still pretty damn funny. Even his appearances on “Miami Vice” (as a douchebag named Phil The Shill) were good. Granted, this could all be mitigated by “Buster,” but I’ve so far avoided seeing that movie.
3) Phil was a much better producer than you give him credit for!
“Strip” was one of the only worthwhile things to be released under Adam Ant’s name. Frida’s “I Know There’s Something Going On” is probably the only worthwhile thing to be released by a member of ABBA following that band’s split. We can’t forget about Howard Jones’ “No One is to Blame,” can we?
If you’re still not convinced, I have two words for you. Easy. Lover.
4) Phil had soul
Of course, there’s the aforementioned “Easy Lover.” Let’s also not forget that “Sussudio” hit the Top Ten on what was then called the “Black Singles Chart” on Billboard. His most recent album, Going Back, was a series of covers of the Motown songs that inspired him, not to mention the fact that his first top 10 hit was a cover of The Supremes’ “You Can’t Hurry Love.” Phil has even tipped his hat to hip-hop on a couple of occasions, supplying vocals to songs by Queen Pen, Lil Kim, and Bone Thugs ‘n Harmony.
Bone Thugs N Harmony Feat. Phil Collins Home by Robinho68
Also, you remember the R&B tribute to Phil Collins. Right?
5) Oh yeah, the man can play drums a little sumpin’ sumpin’.
5b) There was a Phil Collins appreciation day in Brooklyn a few weeks back. Even hipsters wreckanize, yo!
5c) Beardy Young Phil? Kinda cute, actually.
Woof, Phil Collins
7 comments
Jason says:
Mar 1, 2013
I’ve been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn’t understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins’ presence became more apparent.
I think Invisible Touch was the group’s undisputed masterpiece. It’s an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I’ve heard in rock.
Phil Collins’ solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite.
Angela says:
Mar 1, 2013
Totally did not know that he produced Adam Ant’s “Strip”. Wow. I like that song. Didn’t know about the Bone Thugs N Harmony thing, either.
I used to hear Phil’s solo stuff and his stuff with Genesis ALL. THE. TIME. as a kid. One of the first videos/songs I ever remember seeing/hearing on MTV was “Land of Confusion”. I used to love “Another Day in Paradise” (still like it, actually) because I was big on “songs with important messages” when I was little. I’ve always liked “I Wish it Would Rain Down”, and many of the other songs listed in the article.
So for all of that alone, I’ll always have a bit of a soft spot for ol’ Collins. Never really got all the scorn heaped on him, either.
Terje Fjelde says:
Mar 2, 2013
What a nice thing to do! And I agree, except with 5c. Unless all young people should be considered kinda cute, which they usually sorta are.
Big Money says:
Mar 3, 2013
It wasn’t just the youth. It was the overall look. He was a hipster before his time!
Big Money says:
Mar 3, 2013
I think he was just an easy target, and still kinda is. I put “Sussudio” on at work Friday morning and the guy sitting across from me was like “TURN GENESIS OFF.” I was like “it’s not Genesis, it’s Phil Collins.” So, I won, basically.
Les Maybe Sump'ms - Crash Safely says:
Sep 12, 2014
[…] we take off from the West Side piers on October 5th. Make sure to tune in. It’ll be a bit like Phil Collins in Live […]
Chris says:
Aug 6, 2019
Great artist! In his book it says one of only 3 artist to sell over a 100’million records as a solo artist and within a band. Pretty impressive! Not sure who the other two are? Lennon,McCartney??
The dudes a rock star! I do love all the old stuff though! If you still got it keep going!