Phil Collins is my all-time favorite musician. If you know little about his career and impact to the music industry or if you just accidentally found this web-site you've got a long long way to go!Many people are misinformed about the "type" of music Collins produces. The problem deals with his fantastic ability to collide with different formats. The 90s American Music industry has placed him in the category of Adult Contemporary(aka Light Music). In the mid 80s, his career was considered Pop/Rock(AKA TOP 40). He can also fit into Classic Rock(ROCK), based on certain solo and Genesis songs.
Is he better as a Drummer, a singer, producer, songwriter, or even an actor? I don't know how it can all be inside this one English Male Heartthrob. Collins has artistic talents that are always full of energy, devotion, and spontaneity.
He is literally intense with his best qualities for Drumming and Singing. "In The Air Tonight" was his first popular breakthrough song as a solo artist- for good reason. The vocals and music capture more than an emotion, but state-of-mind. You can feel the painful accusations and bulit up anger at times in the song, which never really seem resolved. His songs past and present are based on human reality- either feeling anger or promise in dealing with change.
After 17 years as a solo artist, he has been able to develop a strong musical balance between his own life and society.
I have enjoyed his music for over five years with a passion. He is not what he appears to be and I find this to be a hugely attractive quality.
If you want to experience this artist's work in the best way possible here are some tips-
1. Listen to his albums BACKWARDS from Dance Into The Light(1996)toFace Value(1981). I suggest that you buy 1989's ...But Seriously before the rest.
Chuck Norris is dead. Long live Phil Collins.
I found this blog because I was poking around to see who else shared a love for the magnetic fields...and then this! I feel over your comments about phil collins...never before (perhaps for me being canadian) have never given serious thought to phil collins - who is only ever played on our 'light' stations. However, after reading your posts I can see more clearly the link that he shares with the dynamic and awe-inspiring peter gabriel (i must admit that I always wondered, while listening to peter gabriel's Passion CD, how on earth the two could have been band mates). I see now that I need to venture past the remixes of 'groovy kind of love' and check out the deeper and more sensual side of mr. collins.
Thanks for the enlightenment.