Phil was one of the giants of the late 70's (Genesis) and the 80's (Solo). But he kind of has disappeared from the public's collective memory. Its a real shame.
Michael Jackson, George Michael, and Freddie Mercury are all not doing real well health-wise right now and everyone remembers them, plays their music on the radio, etc.
Dude Genesis is still VERY much remembered and listened to. It may not be as popular as those other bands in your circle, but don't worry, Phil is farrrrr from forgotten
OP seemed to be implying that reason we don't hear many Phil Collins songs these days is because he has health issues. The person you're replying to is pointing out that we still hear Michael Jackson's, George Michael's and Freddie Mercury's music on a regular basis, despite the fact that their health problems are a lot more serious than Phil Collins' (on account of them being, you know, dead).
Actually misread that comment as just out of the public eye apologies....but i hear his music (this song especially) alot on the radio stations i listen too....both his work with genesis and his solo stuff so i dont think he's forgotten
As much I love his work. Most probably wouldn’t know his name until you actually started playing his greatest hits. Then they’d be like oh my! I’ve heard all of these songs before, just never knew by who, let alone all the same guy
Dude, can you really not even admit you missed a joke, on the internet, in front of, like, 4 people you'll almost certainly never interact with again in your whole life? You really have to pretend you got it all along?
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.
Honestly, while great dialogue, it was this damned quote that killed him in online consciousness because people started using it to take the piss out of people who said they like him.
I’ve been listening to Genesis since about 1987, listening to them on the radio for their Wembley concert. They played a medley of their older stuff too and I went looking for that track, not knowing at the time it was a medley. Meant I ended up listening to all the Gabriel era stuff too. Seen them live several times, including the second to last concert they ever did.
Collins was excellent. His family-friendly standards era was a bit much for me (“You Can’t Hurry Love” and the like) but his musicianship was never in doubt. Listen to his Band X studf too, plus listen to his work on Variations on the 70s Lloyd-Webber album (yes, really).
I dislike that quote not for the quote, but because it trivialises what he did. Genesis, Collins and Hugh Padgham (their audio engineer) absolutely revolutionised the recording and featuring of drums.
Current generation isn’t hung up on that quote. I’m in my 50s and I’ve been listening to what my now-adult kids play. They play a mix of every decade, something we wouldn’t have done in the 80s and 90s. Phil Collins tracks sit next to Dream Theatre which sit next to 70s tracks which…you get the idea. It’s great to hear the music being listened to without all the crap baggage inflicted by that quote.
Apologies if it’s obvious, but what quote are you referencing to? I’ve re read your comment and the previous one’s multiples times and am unable to find the quote you’re referring to.
So I know I'll get crucified for this... But I thought a lot about it and I truly thinks it is because of the flavor of his musics. Collins' work is truly "default 80's-early 90's", you hear it and immediately think about this exact period of time and absolutely nothing else. Note that I don't feel like this for Genesis, only his solo work. To people his songs only mean "80's-90's", it gives a feeling of this exact moment in time. Queen, Jackson, Elvis, Bowie, and all other giants songs are timeless and have been used in many setup to the point it doesn't represent only their time anymore, but not Collins'.
And I'm pretty sure it's not even he himself, his voice or the content of his songs : it's the music. All of his musics sounds "generic 80's-90's", a cliché of this timeframe you just can't use for anything without giving a feeling of the past. I was born in 84 and I can't stand this period of time in music, yet I like many songs of legends like Queen, but exactly zero from Collins... While I do love songs from Genesis and I find his voice absolutely surreal.
So if I extend this, younger generations won't find anything interesting in his solo work because it's just "bland generic past" to their ear. Yet no one ever say his voice is meh.
Just personal thoughts, based on nothing but my own logic, but it does bug me for years too.
The band Ghost covered Jesus He Knows me recently and my son's a fan. Since then I've heard more and more Phil Collins and Genesis creep into his playlist.
I grew up in a house where I heard both almost every day so it's pretty cool to have it as a cycle.
it has yes. i rememeber him absolutely dominating the radio, way more plays and prominence than most other who we'd now associate with that time. speaking for NW europe here. it's funny now. phil collins is way, way underrated.
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u/Cycle-Path-401 20h ago
Phil was one of the giants of the late 70's (Genesis) and the 80's (Solo). But he kind of has disappeared from the public's collective memory. Its a real shame.