Philip David Charles Collins better known as Phil Collins, was born in Chiswick, London, England. He spent much of his early entertainment career as an actor and model. He played the "Artful Dodger" in the West End production of Oliver! alongside the actor who would play the role in the movie version, Jack Wild. Collins’ interest in music and the drums came when he played in a stage school band called “The Real Thing.” He then joined another band called “Flaming Youth,” which recorded an album that garnered critical acclaim but disbanded shortly after. Collins later auditioned for Genesis, taking over vocals from Peter Gabriel when he left the band in 1975. After separating from his first wife, Collins recorded his first solo album, Face Value. The album was well received and Collins started to become a household name after the song "In the Air Tonight" was featured on the popular television show Miami Vice. His third album No Jacket Required produced multiple chart hits and won several awards. Collins was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010. In honor of his 62nd birthday, here is a Top 10 list of Phil Collins songs.
10. “You'll Be In My Heart” is a song from the 1999 Disney animated feature Tarzan. It appeared on “Tarzan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack.” The song spent nineteen non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the Adult Contemporary charts and peaked at #21 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song’s lyrics talk of Collins being there for his sweetheart at her most vulnerable with lines like, “Come stop your crying/It will be alright/Just take my hand/Hold it tight/I will protect you/From all around you/I will be here/Don't you cry/For one so small,/You seem so strong/My arms will hold you,/Keep you safe and warm/This bond between us/Can't be broke/I will be here/Don't you cry.” Collins’ vocal tone made the lyrics even more believable as a sweet love song.
9. “I Wish It Would Rain Down” – Off his fourth studio album, 1989’s …But, Seriously, this track features guitar play from the legendary Eric Clapton. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song’s lyrics have Collins singing about aching for a woman who just wants to be friends with lines like, “You know I never meant to see you again/and I only passed by as a friend/All this time I stayed out of sight/I started wondering why/ Now I, I wish it would rain down, down on me/Yes I wish it would rain, rain down on me now/You said you didn't need me in your life/I guess you were right/Well I never meant to cause you no pain/But it looks like I did it again.”
8. “In The Air Tonight” – Off Collins’ 1981 solo album Face Value the track was made popular when it appeared on the hit 80s hit crime drama Miami Vice. It peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was an international smash. It was also featured in the runaway motion picture hit 2000 comedy The Hangover, as Mike Tyson’s favorite song. Its ominous drum solo made it unique from other songs as well as its chilling lyrics such as, “I can feel it coming in the air tonight, Oh Lord/I've been waiting for this moment, all my life, Oh Lord/Can you feel it coming in the air tonight, Oh Lord, Oh Lord/Well, if you told me you were drowning/I would not lend a hand/I've seen your face before my friend/But I don't know if you know who I am/Well, I was there and I saw what you did/I saw it with my own two eyes/So you can wipe off the grin, I know where you've been/It's all been a pack of lies.” The lyrics combined with Collins’ deep voice caught listeners’ attentions as he sings of betrayal at its worst and definitive payback.
7. “Something Happened On The Way To Heaven” – Another track off of Collins’ 1989 album …But, Seriously, it peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and its lyrics speak of regret, not knowing what you have until its gone and apologies with lines such as, “We had a life, we had a love,/But you don't know what you've got 'til you lose it/Well that was then and this is now/And I want you back/How many times do I have to say I'm sorry/How can something so good go so bad/How can something so right go so wrong/I don't know, I don't have all the answers/But I/want you back/How many times can I say I'm sorry/You can run, and you can hide/But I'm not leaving less you come with me/We've had our problems, but I'm on your side/You're all I need, please believe in me.” Despite the remorseful lyrics, the song’s tone is pop-like and quite danceable, which is probably why it was such a hit.
6. “Sussudio” – A track off of Collins’ third studio album, 1985’s No Jacket Required, both the song and the album reached #1 on their respective US Billboard charts. Over the years, many have asked Collins what the title means, in response, Collins has said that he was just improvising lyrics to a drum machine track he had programmed: "suss-sussudio" was a wording that scanned well. He tried to find an alternative word to fit the rhythm, but decided to keep "Sussudio" as the song title and lyric. It’s one of Collins’ most famous songs and its theme is about a girl that Collins just can’t seem to get out of his mind and he croons his frustration with lines like, “There's this girl that's been on my mind/All the time, Sussudio oh oh/Now she don't even know my name/But I think she likes me just the same/Sussudio oh oh/Oh if she called me I'd be there/I'd come running anywhere/She's all I need, all my life/I feel so good if I just say the word/Sussudio, just say the word/Oh Sussudio.”
5. “Another Day in Paradise” – Yet another track off of Collins’ 1989 album …But, Seriously, the subject of the track is the persistent problem of homelessness in this country. It was released as the first single off the #1 album and became one of the most successful songs of Collins’ solo career. It won the Grammy Award in 1991 for Record of the Year and was also nominated for Song of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male and Best Music Video, Short Form. Since its release, it has been covered by many prominent artists like Brandy and her brother Ray J. The lyrics give listeners a musical image of the life of a homeless person with lines like, “She calls out to the man on the street"Sir, can you help me?/It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep,/Is there somewhere you can tell me?"/He walks on, doesn't look back/He pretends he can't hear her/Starts to whistle as he crosses the street/Seems embarrassed to be there/Oh think twice, it's another day forYou and me in paradise/Oh think twice, it's just another day for you,/You and me in paradise.” The musical illustration is striking as Collins’ somber voice adds to the horrid nature of this ever-present crisis.
4. “Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)” – Collins recorded this track for the 1984 movie of the same name, which starred Jeff Bridges, Rachel Ward and James Woods. A searing power ballad, it’s the quintessential breakup song as it asks an ex-lover to look at them now, post break-up and begs for a reconciliation, knowing all along that it’s hopeless. This track was Collins’ first #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been covered by many artists, most notable by songstress Mariah Carey and the boy band Westlife, whose version peaked at #1 in the UK in September of 2000. The song’s lyrics are heart-wrenching as Collins’ pleads for a reconciliation despite knowing its futile with lines such as, “How can I just let you walk away, just let you leave without a trace/When I stand here taking every breath with you, ooh/You're the only one who really knew me at all/How can you just walk away from me,when all I can do is watch you leave/Cos we've shared the laughter and the pain and even shared the tears/You're the only one who really knew me at all/So take a look at me now, oh there's just an empty space/And there's nothing left here to remind me, just the memory of your face/Ooh take a look at me now, well there's just an empty space/And you coming back to me is against all odds and that's what I've got to face.” How many people have felt this exact thing after a break-up, the bottomless void left by the other person?
3. “Two Hearts” – This track reached #1 in the US in 1989. Collins wrote the lyrics for the 1988 crime comedy Buster, which Collins also starred in. This and another promo single for the movie, “A Groovy Kind of Love,” both topped the US music charts. “Two Hearts” won the Golden Globe for Best Original Song and the Grammy Award for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television in 1989. The song also topped the US Hot 100 for two weeks and the US adult contemporary chart for five weeks. It’s a jaunty ditty with Collins’ singing about two people’s hearts beating as one, the ultimate expression of love. It’s loving sentiment combined with its danceable lyrics make it the perfect love song with lyrics like, “Two hearts, believing in just one mind/You know we're two hearts believing in just one mind/Cos there's no easy way to, to understand it/There's so much of my life in her, and it's like I'm blinded/And it teaches you to never let go/There's so much love you'll never know/She can reach you no matter how far/Wherever you are/Two hearts, believing in just one mind/Beating together till the end of time/You know we're two hearts believing in just one mind/Together forever till the end of time/She knows (she knows)/There'll always be a special place in my heart for her/She knows, she knows, she knows/Yeah, she knows (she knows)/No matter how far apart we are/She knows, I'm always right there beside her.” Knowing someone will always have your back, no matter what is a very comforting and loving statement.
2. “True Colors” duet with Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds – In 1998, Collins covered Cyndi Lauper’s monster hit off her second album for his compilation album simply titled …Hits. It’s a jazzy version of the original with R&B superstar Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds providing the backup vocals. The track peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. IMO, I adore Lauper’s version, but it’s a more somber take. Collins/Babyface’s rendition gives the lyrics a more hopeful vibe with their cool sounding vocals on lines like, “You with the sad eyes/Don't be discouraged/Oh I realize/It's hard to take courage/In a world full of people/You can lose sight of it all/And the darkness, inside you/Can make you feel so small/But I see your true colors/Shining through/I see your true colors/And that's why I love you/So don't be afraid to let them show/Your true colors/True colors are beautiful,/Like a rainbow.”
1. “One More Night” – Off of Collins’ 1985 album No Jacket Required, it was Collins’ 2nd US #1 hit following “Against All Odds.” It peaked at #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, was #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Chart and at peaked at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock chart. Its lyrics speak of Collins pleading for one more night with his beloved. Collins’ voice throbs as he sing lyrics beseeching his love not to leave him with lines such as, “Please give me one more night, give me one more night/One more night cos I can't wait forever/Give me just one more night, oh just one more night/Oh one more night cos I can't wait forever/I've been sitting here so long/Wasting time, just staring at the phone/And I was wondering should I call you/Maybe you’re not alone” Collins’ questions himself throughout the song, should he call her? Has she already moved on? These are all questions everyone has felt at one time or another but this song brought them to light musically and gave listeners a chance to hear Collins’ thoughtful piano play along the vulnerable side of his vocal range.