"It's actually come as quite a shock to learn just how many people don't like me." - Phil Collins

Phil Collins. Musical genius. Drummer of the ages. A man whose voice melts my heart when he sings!
As many of my friends know, I have a not-so-secret obsession with the music of Phil Collins. So I decided, that I can't claim to love his music and know absolutely nothing about him. So, I did my research on Mr. Collins and found some interesting stuff, some not so interesting, and some pretty funny stuff also. That's right folks - a blog post dedicated to Phil Collins. Now, if you're one of those people who he is referring to in the title of this blog post - "It's actually come as quite a shock to learn just how many people don't like me." - then do not feel the need to read further. If you are interested however, then here we go:

I'm not gonna lie, the first thing that popped up when I googled Phil was a news article titled - Phil Collins Turned Down Prostitute's Free Service Offer - This was not exactly what I was going for with this blog post - but decided to read it anyway. All I got from it was a really scary picture of him and that's about it. So, moving swiftly along...

Phil was born January 30th 1951 in London. His love for music came from a toy drum kit that he fell in love with. Phil has actually been quoted saying, "I'm not a singer who plays a bit of drums. I'm a drummer that sings a bit." Hence, why in so many of his songs we hear the classic Phil Collins drum solos - can't blame the man!
Phil has been married 3 times and is currently dating someone new - he mentioned that all of his ex-wives and current girlfriend get a long, quite bizarre, but I guess it would take a special kind of lady to marry Phil.
Now I could go over his awards and all that - but we'd be here all day - so lets skip that part and just say that the man is extremely talented.

Any of you seen 'The Hangover'? Remember the scene with Mike Tyson in the hotel room? Well, for your viewing pleasure - here it is:



Here's what Collins had to say about it:
"The greatest surprise for me is how some of my songs have had this amazing afterlife. Often when I bump into strangers on the street, they won't speak to me; they'll just act out the drum sequence from In The Air Tonight. That song just won't lie down. I knew nothing about the song being used in The Hangover (2009). Then a friend asked me, "Have you seen that movie where those guys steal Mike Tyson's tiger during a stag night in Vegas and they all end up singing In The Air Tonight?" When I saw it I thought it was hilarious"

Collins was even mentioned on one of my favorite TV shows, 30 rock, as Tracy Jordan offers to make Jack Donaghy a mixed CD. Tracy: "Jack, I'm going to make you a mixed tape. Do you like Phil Collins?" Jack: "Do I have 2 ears and a heart?"
[Truer words have never been spoken]

I read this quote before seeing the commercial he is talking about - but of course had to look it up and it's one of the greatest things I have ever seen:
"When the chocolate company first rang up about the advert, they asked whether I'd have any objections about a gorilla playing my drum parts. My attitude was, "If you can make that mad idea work, then good luck to you." Then it goes on to become one of the most popular ads of all time."



I watched a couple of interviews with him, and he is an interesting fella - sounds like he works hard and that's his main motivation not the "star" treatment or the feeling of being a celebrity - That gave me some respect for Mr. Collins.

"In the air tonight" is obviously his top hit - but my main favorites are: Take a look at me now, Easy Lover, Love don't come easy, and Two worlds

If you haven't really heard his music - I highly recommend checking it out - yes, some of it is cheesy, and he may or may not go a little overboard on the drums. But ain't no party like a Phil Collins party coz a Phil Collins party don't stop! ;)

Until next time,

-J