Every week, we encourage you to let your guard down, crawl out of the indie rock bunker, and embrace your guilty pleasures. You’re welcome…
Phil Collins: Five reasons why he seems to have that invisible touch.
1. “In the Air Tonight”
Do you re-MEMBA? Twenty-five years on, Phil?s voice has become a parody of itself, but this is still a pretty badass song. And that?s before the drums kick in. If you haven?t seen the original Miami Vice pilot, we suggest you check out the sequence that features this song. Then go ahead and sneak it back onto your iPod where it belongs.
2. The Sinead O?Connor Awards
SNL sketch (1991) in which Sinead O?Connor presents Phil Collins with ?The Award for Embodying Everything I Despise About Material Success.? Such a classic, it?s not even available on YouTube.
3. “Land Of Confusion”
Take the beat from ?People Are People,? a bit of paranoid, Reagan-era nuclear angst, add some puppet dinosaurs, and you get one of the best videos of all time. And while Little Richard (or is it Prince?) eating his own tongue like a hot dog remains one of the most disturbing things we had forgotten we ever saw, it?s puppet Phil who makes the whole thing go. Watch the band sequences ? he is carrying puppet Mike Rutherford?s ass!
4. Drummers Who Also Sing
Oh, and who?s your choice? Ringo Starr?
5. He Cares About Stuff
For most artists, being in the original Band Aid would have been enough. But not Phil Collins. He?s written songs raising awareness of homelessness (?Another Day In Paradise?), chorophobia (?I Can?t Dance?), and immigration reform (?Illegal Alien?). It is not much fun being an illegal alien. You are goddamn right Phil, you are goddamn right.
But seriously, got an idea for It’s OK To Like…? E-mail tips at stereogum.com.
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My rebuttal is simply 2 words:
SOUTH PARK
I am a sucker for Philly, and Peter Gabriel. they sound the same. Even Phil’s work on Tarzan was good. And Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes”…. what can I say I am sucker for the scene with the boom box in “Say Anything” but who isnt?
was it not okay to like phil collins? why didn’t anyone tell me?
You’re forgetting the best Phil jam ever. Easy Lover.
AND…it did not contain 1, but 2, PHILS. Phil Collins with Philip Bailey.
Gem!
Drummers who also sing? I’ll take Levon Helm, thanks.
Oh, and that SNL sketch? Fantastic, especially Chris Farley as Carnie Wilson.
drummers who sing?
my choice:
um, DON HENLY
“Easy Lover” is my #1 karaoke duet choice.
Phil broke up with his second wife via fax. But that’s not really a reason why it’s OK to like him I guess?
He also gave David Crosby a bunch of money to get out of legal and health troubles…Phil Collins …whatta man.
I saw him in the 6th grade. It was a kick-ass show.
Has anyone else noticed that James Mercer (Shins) looks exactly like Phil, expecailly in the above picture?
I embrance my inner-Phil love, as long as I’m alone.
Sussudio!
In the modern era of album art, anyone who plasters their face (close-up, no less) on every album cover deserves some darts thrown at them.
*except 1996′s Dance Into the Light, at which point he (and thus the cover) was already irrelevent.
I, for one, will be first in line for the Phil Collins/Genesis reunion tour coming to the US this fall.
Reason No. 23: his playing on (and production of) Frida’s “I Know There’s Something Going On”
This is great! His latter day output is a bit generic, but in his 80′s heyday he was the man. That Genesis record (Invisible Touch) is unbelievable. Acts today would kill to have that many hits on one record.
Also, for guilty pleasures that should be cool I’m going to have to nominate Huey Lewis & The News.
Other drummers who also sing? Levon Helm much?
Phil Collins has been my secret sing-along for YEARS! That guy rules. I still don’t know if I’ll enjoy him in public, because I do not like him in an ironic way at all.
nooooooo! you dont understand my hatred for phil collins. when i was a kid my parents and my friends parents would get together and for HOURS ON END listen to “in the air tonight” always turning it all the way up at that ridiculous little drum break. i think they were stoned.
In the air tonight sucks. they played it before some of our soccer games to pump us up, but the end result was lots of hate for phil collins
godheadSilo’s version of “In The Air Tonight” ranks up there with Faith No More’s take on “Easy” as one of the finest covers ever. That drum break rulz.
Don Henley, though? Completely reprehensible.
30 Rock had a great Phil Collins exchange last week-
Tracy Morgan: I’ma make you a mix tape. You like Phil Collins?
Alec Baldwin: Do I have two ears and a heart?
I have to agree with Alec here…
Gallagher also noted that Phil Collins said he’d leave Britain for Switzerland if the Labour Party won the 1997 general election, and commented in the Daily Mirror, prior to the 2005 general election, “Vote Labour. If you don’t and the Tories get in, Phil is threatening to come back from Switzerland and live here ? and none of us want that.”
How about his production and drumming on HOWARD JONES’ “No One Is To Blame” from the late 80′s?
Stellar.
By the way, I could understand why a lot of people frown on his newer work but Phil’s first few releases are really fine pop-rock albums.
godheadSilo’s version of “In The Air Tonight” ranks up there with Faith No More’s take on “Easy” as one of the finest covers ever. That drum break rulz.
Don Henley, though? Completely reprehensible.
Gallagher also noted that Phil Collins said he’d leave Britain for Switzerland if the Labour Party won the 1997 general election, and commented in the Daily Mirror, prior to the 2005 general election, “Vote Labour. If you don’t and the Tories get in, Phil is threatening to come back from Switzerland and live here ? and none of us want that.”
I’ll give you Levon Helm, not Don Henley.
the video for land of confusion is the coolest, weirdest thing ever. how about picking up the heads out of the swamp, and they’ve all got cords and veins and stuff dangling out of the necks? that is way creepier than anything marilyn manson and his yellow contact lenses could muster. true weirdness always comes wearing a suit, i think.
Ugh… PLEASE STOP WITH THESE STUPID ILLUSTRATED HEADINGS! – it makes your blog seem like a shitty tabloid entertainment weekly/gawker site meant for tweens. Did Jason put you up to this?
Levon Helm is so obvious though were’s the karen carpenter love? Didn’t sonic youth tell us we could love them unironically? My number one reason it’s cool to like phil collins is that he played both live aids which shows he’s dedicated to his craft as well as for the reasons you mentioned.
No, it isn’t.
As an observer of love’s failings Collins beats out the Boss again and again, reaching new heights of emotional honesty on “In Too Deep”; yet it also showcases Collins’ clowny, prankish, unpredictable side. It’s the most moving pop song of the 1980′s about monogamy and commitment.
I’ve seen popular blogs address their readers in a condescending way before, but this really takes the cake. Stereogum is issuing actual edicts now!
When you come down out of your ivory tower, feel free to eat a dick, Stereogum.
I’d be too afraid that liking Phil Collins would turn me into a prog-rock loving dick like my ex-boyfriend.
He used to claim that Phil Collins songs followed him in public places, even on our first date.
I didn’t like Phil Collins before but I fucking hate him now.
Finally, after all my years of dreading the day someone browsed through my mp3 player and found the early Phil Collins albums, it’s ok to admit I love his music. And, really, Why doesn’t anybody stay together anymore?
It’s OK To Like… Phil Collins -
No it’s not. and it has nothing to with the amount of hits he’s had. He sucks, period. In fact his output & success in the 80′s can be attested directly with that decades lack of self examination and shallowness.
of course it’s okay to listen to Phil. go now, go and listen to “That’s All”. that’s all.
Hey, Todd, ask Miranda.
I dedicated “A Groovy Kind of Love” to a girl at my 8th grade dance. I was fucking cool.
My choice for drummers who sing is Grant Hart. But I still like Phil Collins.
During the otherwise inoffensive wankfest that Jann Wenner foisted on Rolling Stone to mark Ahmet Ertegun’s passing, there emerged the choice nugget that Atlantic had inflicted Collins on the world. At a stroke, the Stones, Zeppelin, Ray Charles, Coltrane, all of this retreated into the background. The man’s only response on first hearing “In The Air…” was to ask Collins to turn the guitars up? And not burn the studio down?
One of the coolest tributes to Phil Collins is the chapter dedicated to his music in Bret Easton Ellis’s “American Psycho.”
Ah Stereogum, becoming more corporate with every passing day…
Phil Rules
Phil Rules
His head is rounder than Karl Pilkington’s.
Drummers who sing? I’ll take that dude from the Romantics.
check out this video of We Are Scientists taking the stage to/covering “Against All Odds”
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wAXlvzNXdHQ
meh, i could take it or leave it. i’d probably have to be drunk or otherwise intoxicated.
Where this post fails: Phil Collins does the soundtrack to Disney’s Tarzan. And wins an Oscar. ’nuff said.
Where this post succeeds: “It is not much fun being an illegal alien. You are goddamn right Phil, you are goddamn right.”
OK. Seems everyone’s forgetting the best singing drummer EVER: Kelly Keagy from Night Ranger. Yes, the man who MADE the band cooler by placing his drumkit at the side of the stage. “Goodbye”, “Sister Christian”… The New Classics!!!
And let’s not forget he played some amazing drum parts on Brian Eno’s “Another Green World” and “Before And After Science”.
Check out “No One Receiving”, “Energy Fools The Magician”, “Sky Saw” and “Over Fire Island”. Genius.
His head is rounder than Karl Pilkington’s.
please return the bob pittman/aol/mtv money. this sucks.
Jesus. This blog really has gone and jumped the fucking shark. Hey kids! It’s *hip* to be square! Aren’t our new drawings cute?
Phil Collins is a fucking ponce…
Listen up all you pre-teen/post-teen indie snob fucks with your golden thumb up your white little assholes….go buy Phil’s album “No Jacket Required” and crack open a beer and dance like nobody is watching….you might actually realize it IS ok to smile…and you will probably get laid too!!
Phil is cool. His solo output ranges from mediocre to really crappy, but he is still cool. Ever heard his work with Brand X? You will be converted.
Kudos to stereogum for helping indie snobs get over themselves. Remember when listening to music was just fun, and you didn’t need to worry about your “cred”. I dig Phil, and Elton, and Rod… I saw Neil at the garden last year and would so much rather spend a show among soccer moms losing their collective shit then a bunch of jaded fucks slightly nodding their heads.
4. Drummers Who Also Sing
How about…
Moe Tucker?
Sebastien Grainger of Death From Above 1979?
Also, the only reason why it’s almost ok to like Phil Collins is his contributions to Brian Eno’s albums.
Drummers who sing: no one has yet mentioned Andy Sturmer from Jellyfish?! He even drummed and sang standing up, man!
good one bob…I was hoping someone would bring up the Eno production credits. That’s always my half serious/half joking justification for turning up a Genesis track. Philly had some cred back in the day, so I don’t what the hell happened to him in the 90s. And yes, the drumming and singing thing fucking rules.
What about “Jesus he loves me”. Awesome song and melody, and great satire! It’s on my MP3 for sure…
Levon Helm is fucking amazing
Don Henley is HARDLY a drummer! Now Kelly Keagy from Night Ranger? There’s a singer/drummer!
However, I’ll take Carter Beauford anyday! He only sings backup, but compared to what he’s playing? It’s the $hi+!
oh, if only Spitting Image were still doing videos….sigh…
Drummers who sing: Dennis Wilson.
Guilty Pleasure: Rod “The Mod” Stewart. At least pre-Atlantic Crossing.
I didn’t realize until watching that excellent ‘Miami Vice’ clip how much Phil tears shit up at the end of that song.
I didn’t realize until watching that excellent ‘Miami Vice’ clip how much Phil tears shit up at the end of that song.
how bout him producing and singing and playing on Howard Jones “No one is to Blame”? Phil Collins…underrated as usual
1. Levon Helm!!!
2. Jay Osmond > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A326pE_kPYQ <
3. Karen Carpenter could keep a beat.
Please, please, PLEASE don’t forget about “Easy Lover.” I don’t care who you are. That song is the best – don’t front.
And it’s TOTALLY okay to like Hall and Oates!!!
i’m not sure i understand why people have to be told it’s ‘okay’ to like someone. i like who i like, and there’s nothing guilty about it! i don’t need anyone’s approval to enjoy whatever music, movies, etc. that appeal to me! grow up, people! you have a right to your opinions no matter what some narrow-minded people say! and you shouldn’t feel guilty about it!
i’m not sure i understand why people have to be told it’s ‘okay’ to like someone. i like who i like, and there’s nothing guilty about it! i don’t need anyone’s approval to enjoy whatever music, movies, etc. that appeal to me! grow up, people! you have a right to your opinions no matter what some narrow-minded people say! and you shouldn’t feel guilty about it!
oh, and by the way, r. schreiber, you’re a moronic bigot. just thought someone should mention that.
oh, and by the way, r. schreiber, you’re a moronic bigot. just thought someone should mention that.
Phil is an incredible musician- perhaps one of the more original drummers ever. He had a gig besides Genesis, because remember everyone, it took Genesis a long, long time to get to where Invisible Touch was welcomed at radio like a burst of fresh air during a heat-wave…
They were called Brand-X and they were sort of a rock/jazz fusion, mostly instrumental band. Check em out.. Listen to Mr. Collins drum. Amazing.
Now my beef is that he became a muppet-like slug as he got famous. The last straw was the album covers. The first one ..ok.. but come on, there are artists who need work.
But somehow, with all the effort that went into keeping 3 gigs going simutaeneously….Brand-X, Genesis and Phil, Inc., I guess I can understand why he just went with his face. At least it was simple and always available.HaHa..
The Genesis ReUnion could be bigger than FallOutBoy.
Phil? Absolutely love him! But another drummer who sings….how about Karen Carpenter?
Singing drummers? Even though he doesn’t do it much as he use to, Dave Grohl is the best. And I haven’t seen any better than Peter Criss belting out “Black Diamond”, hell yeah.
MAMA track#1….off Genesis self titled album…that satanic laugh still makes me curdle 25 years later, that takes balls to write and record a song like that!
Okay, Phil is still cool..
Have you heard of a kick ass band called,
KILL HANNAH…..
their awesome..start with a search for their single, “lips like morphine”
or “scream”.
just my 2 cents
dbyrd812@aol.com
I always say “Huey Lewis Can Do No Wrong”. And on Phil, I am thrilled that he composes music now. That is a real musician.
I have always liked Phil Collins but Simply Red is my all time favorite from 80′s era.
England rules in the 80′s.
Mama!!!!!
TU!!!!! I just luv “In the Air” plus “Miami Vice was & still is my Fav, along w/Magunm PI, No remakes will ever make it what it was! Remember that Hollywood! Thanks 4 putting this on! I LUVED IT!!!!
well, since you said it’s okay…
http://440.ptvn.net/2007/01/beaches-part-i.html
My pick for drummers who also sing…Dave Groehl from Foo Fighters. I love his voice!! When it comes to Phil Collins, I’ve always liked him, and was never ashamed of admitting it to anyone. I saw the Invisible Touch tour at the Three Rivers Stadium (no longer standing) in Pittsburgh. I was only about 16 or 17, and to date, it was one of the best things I’ve ever experienced in my concert-going life! Love Mama, That’s All, Taking it all too Hard, great songs.
My pick for drummers who also sing…Dave Groehl from Foo Fighters. I love his voice!! When it comes to Phil Collins, I’ve always liked him, and was never ashamed of admitting it to anyone. I saw the Invisible Touch tour at the Three Rivers Stadium (no longer standing) in Pittsburgh. I was only about 16 or 17, and to date, it was one of the best things I’ve ever experienced in my concert-going life! Love Mama, That’s All, Taking it all too Hard, great songs.
Ahhhh..Phil is my favorite.
When I was younger I said I would meet him, he would fall in love with me and we would be married. I even told my husband he was my second choice. Imagine my suprise when he married a girl with my name!
He is so funny looking he is cute, kind of like a puppy. But who looks, when he is so talented…”but seriously” that man has music in his very being. I don’t care what is cool; that is what makes ME so cool. Individual style, personal taste,and total disregard for what “they” think has made me happy, healthy and pretty darn wealthy. Sure I enjoy many kinds and genres of music but I keep my favorites, too. When I’m happy I listen to Sususudio and when I clean my house I put on “No Jacket” album. When I am bummed Mr. Collins can match my mood or cheer me up. His music comes in my ears and out my arms and legs. “I can’t dance?” Ha, I was a professional dancer, and then to decompress I often went to blow off steam and unwind by listening to Phil.
He was good w/ Genisis, better on his own.
So, Is it okay? you betcha! Do what feels right for you and let him do what is right for him.
And no, he is NOT homosexual…Even if he was, would that make him any less gifted?
Phil? Take, take me home. Cuz I DO remember. You’re the best!
“God If I Saw Her Now” is a fucking beautiful song. Brings me to tears.
“Buster” is still secretly one of my favorite movies. My ex-boyfriend and I watched it once and he didn’t get it. Dummy.
I believe you have overlooked the number one reason that Phil Collins is cool. In 1985, he played at BOTH the US and UK Live Aid concerts in the same day. Now, that’s pretty badass!
From Wikipedia:
“In 1985, Collins was invited to perform at Live Aid, Bob Geldof’s charity concert, at both Wembley Stadium in England, and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia in the U.S. He accomplished this by performing earlier in the day at Wembley as both a solo artist and alongside Sting, then boarding a Concorde to perform his solo material, and drum for Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton in Philadelphia.”
I’ve been a Genisis fan since the Peter Gabriel eraand I remember the day that I walked into a Tower records store and saw that he had a solo album…I was hooked. The only thing that upset me about Phiil was when he chose to leqave Genesis….but now all is forgiven as they are reunited and touring. Long live Phil…(I leave with “In the air tonight” starting in the background.
As for drummers who sing….I’ve got (2) not yet mentioned: #1. Mickey Dolenz of “The Monkees”, and
the drummer from “Rare Earth”..(don’t know his name.)
p.s. Trivia. The very first music video featured The Monkees!!! Micheal Nesmith, former guitar player of the group is still active in music video production.
someone SHOULD really learn how to spell!… I mean: “HENLY”
Phil, I think that your Great, you have a wonderful voice and your music is so easy to sing along to….Please make some more music and don’t ever give up………
“That’s all” got me hooked. After that I discoverd the glory of early genesis, particularly “Selling England by the Pound”. I loved everything released until Tarzan. F-ing N-Sync. you lost me there phil.
but that doesn’t spoil 2 1/2 decades of glory.
It’s cool to like Phil Collins because HE’s GOT AMAZING TALENT…”Something in the air” haunts me. All his music is awesome.
I have been a huge fan of Phil Collins since I was about 5 years old. I bought his greatest hits CD a couple of years ago and I can listen to it over and over (listening to it right now). He is a great songwriter & singer. He is funny at times (Sussudio or I can’t dance), serious at times (Another Day in Paradise); in-love at times (One More Night), and out-of-love at times (In Too Deep, Against All Odds, althtough the song could be considered both). All very convincingly in my opinion. He may sing & write a lot of love songs but they sound like they are from a man’s perspective. Phil Collins is the best.
I have been a huge fan of Phil Collins since I was about 5 years old. I bought his greatest hits CD a couple of years ago and I can listen to it over and over (listening to it right now). He is a great songwriter & singer. He is funny at times (Sussudio or I can’t dance), serious at times (Another Day in Paradise); in-love at times (One More Night), and out-of-love at times (In Too Deep, Against All Odds, althtough the song could be considered both). All very convincingly in my opinion. He may sing & write a lot of love songs but they sound like they are from a man’s perspective. Phil Collins is the best.
I’d vote for Dave Clark as a drummer who also sings (and stands!).
Phil Collins in his day was a charming, funny little bastard of an entertainer.
I heard Genesis’ “Illegal Alien” for the first time on the radio in 20 years today, and couldn’t help but laugh my ass off!
Oh, how times have changed! If that song was published today, it would never reach radio for fear of offending all the left wing-nut liberals out there! Though a silly little ditty from the 1980′s (I think it came out in 1983), it really blended well with those times, when people were proud of themselves, but with a sense of humor.
I vaguely recall the video too, Phil Collins with his black Mexican hat crooning to the camera. Today such behavior is considered arrogance. Keep in mind Genisis spoofed Ron and Nancy Reagan just as liberally with the “Land of Confusion” video.
Those were the days…That’s when you know you are getting old!