Regular readers will be aware that I have excellent taste in all things (fezzes, cakes, Facebook friends, small clay pipes, cockrings, etc). I also have particularly good taste in music, which is a fact so obvious that it requires neither proof nor substantiation. It has thefore been a very tricky couple of days, marred by the horrible realisation that I know every single lyric of each of the following songs:
That's All (Genesis)
Turn It On Again (Genesis)
In Too Deep (Genesis)
Abacab (Genesis)
Follow Me, Follow You (Genesis)*
I even know exactly how the weird timing goes in Turn It On Again. You know, the "I ... I ... get so lonely when she's not there" bit. That fact alone makes me want to vomit into my own lap with shame.
In fact, so sure am I that I know it that I shouted "he got THAT wrong, the twat!" at the performance of a Genesis tribute band in France earlier this summer. (A Genesis tribute band who were, I am happy to tell you, staying at the house of my parents; apparently Tony Banks visited the keyboard player at home and in his honour, the keyboard player baked a keyboard made of biscuits; but that's another story.)
We were driving back from Quebec's fashionable Montreal earlier with a car full of carrots when a very good radio programme came on the radio, so we listened to it and commented on what a good radio programme it was. They played a bit of Against All Odds which merely served to increase my overall concern about my lyric-memory realising, as I did, that I also knew all the lyrics to that as well.
And here's the thing. If you think Collins is a twat, or if you are a Gabriel-era Genesis lover who holds Phil Collins personally responsible for making a band that were already quite embarrassing so embarrassing that admitting you know all the lyrics to Turn It On Again pales by comparison, you should listen to the radio programme too. It is about a woman who was dumped writing a love song. Collins gives her advice. You will also discover some astonishing information about his contribution to Genesis - and may end up quite liking him! (Or at least wanting to send him a birthday card, for reasons that will become clear.)
Here is the programme. It is called This American Life. The bit I am talking about starts about 5 minutes in, and it is a bit that somehow makes knowing all the lyrics to In Too Deep vaguely alright (if you like PCP).
* Genesis is not the only appalling one in my repertoire. You would be astonished. I know I am.
15 comments:
I think you must have forgotten the only good use for a Phil Collins track:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbLr2NEV_7o
The other evening, Supper's Ready unaccountably fired up out of my internet speakers and Justine appeared at my side singing every word. Twenty years and I never knew.
A thing like that, well, it changes everything.
Those who hate Phil, hate him because HE IS MORE LIKE THEM than most celebrities. C'mon - apart from being seriously productive and talented, he has no pretensions of being a celebrity. He happens to be one, but apart from being able to sing pretty well and play drums with groove in strange time signatures, he happens to act like the somewhat fun doofus with his heart on his sleeve and a goofball sense of humor who occasionally embarrasses himself publicly but ends up likable just the same. He strives to have no image except who he happens to be. Think his relationships went worse than yours? That his putzery in public has been worse than yours? Think again. Oh yeah - he makes a lot of money and fills stadiums with music lovers of every age and degrees of sophistication - people LIKE his twinkies (questionable metaphor). And people hate that.
...oh yeah. I wish MY wife would spontaneously sing epic prog-operas....and thigh-drum with me to Apocalypse in 9/8. Then I wouldn't feel so lonely.
oh yeah 2: Great, classy, funny, genuine interview, Starlee.
Oh! I heard that too! Phil Collins is hilarious! T.A.L. is one of the best shows on NPR.
I'll see your Phil Collins and raise you one Toto and Steely Dan.
Jonathan - at least it was the OK Genesis. (Apparently. Although I dislike all of Genesis' work.)
Special K - yes, isn't it?
Jali - Nowt wrong with Steely Dan. Boston?
Mortcola - are you a close personal friend of the Collins?
This is strange. Just lately I have caught Little Mlle B playing a Phil Collins song not once, but twice. she says "it's because of the Cadbury's advert" but I think that's no excuse.
And now you!
:head in hands:
NWM, I can't believe you still have Phil Collins up here. I have given you an award! People will be coming over here to look around! Go over to my place to see what it's all about.
We must remember PC's crimes!
There wasn't a single album made during the eighties that wasn't ruined by having PC produce/write/arrange a song on it with his over reverbed drum sound and over dubbed vocals and let us not forget the balding mullet. Some things are simply unforgiveable no matter how many years ago. PC must be punished.
Pffft. Knowing Phil Collins songs is lightweight stuff. Me, I was indoctrinated at an early age with a. folk songs of a depressing nature b. humorous novelty songs of an even more depressing nature c. every musical that did not include what my mother considered "racy" content. Which means that this weekend I found myself humming something that went "Do you remember the good years in Cannaan? The one flea fly flew up the flue AAAAAAND boiled that cabbage down!"
And me, I know every word to all Queen songs. I think it is a thing one can blame on the parentals. (Sorry monkeymother).
I listened - poor Phil, its seems money can't buy you love.
Sam
Right On. Thanks for reminding me of This American Life. jpm.
Post a Comment