Phil Collins » Tracks » In The Air Tonight

Phil Collins – In The Air Tonight (5:31)

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About This Track

In the Air Tonight is a song by Phil Collins which first appeared on his 1981 album, Face Value. It was the first single of Collins’ solo career, and remains one of his best known hits.

The recording is notable for its atmospheric production and macabre theme. Released in January 1981 in the UK, the single was an instant hit, quickly climbing to Number 2 in the Singles Chart. It was also an international hit, reaching the top 20 on the Billboard Chart in the summer of 1981.

“In the Air Tonight” remains, alone among Collins’ solo oeuvre, a popular selection on many classic rock radio stations. It is the song most often associated with Collins’ solo career, and he has performed versions of it at many events, notably at Live Aid, where he played the song on the same calendar day in both Philadelphia and London. He also performed the song at The Secret Policeman’s Ball.

The lyrics of the song take the form of a dark monologue directed towards an unnamed, possibly prominent person.

Musically the song consists of a series of ominous chords played over a simple drum machine pattern (the Roland CR-78 Disco-2 pattern, plus some programming); processed electric guitar sounds and vocoded vocals on key words add additional atmosphere. The mood is one of restrained anger until the final chorus when an explosive burst of drums releases the musical tension, and the instrumentation builds to a thundering final chorus.
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Albums featuring this track

  • Hits
    Phil Collins Play
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  • Face Value
    Phil Collins Play
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  • ...Hits
    Phil Collins Play
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  • Hits
    Collins, Phil Play
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  • tabletopdrummer

    Mike Tyson WISHES he could play the drum fill on this, RIP the knob off and turn it up !!! Phil Rocks !

    4 hours ago

  • tvwatcher30

    my mom blasted it in her 77 monte carlo when i was 4 it set me on a rock path 4 ever.

    last week

  • HampstaSandwich

    I've been waiting for this drum solo, for all my life. OH LORD!

    17 days ago

  • doctorjmo

    nfl players warm up to this on da field!!!

    17 days ago

  • chrismax18

    this is one if not the best and favourite song of mine by phil, the man himself wrote this song about the anger he felt after divorcing his first wife Andrea in 1979. He was so devastated that he left Genesis for a short time. All the original songs on the Face Value album, including the followup hit "I Missed Again," were at one time intended to be "messages" to his first wife in an attempt to lure her back to him. The lingering tension caused by the divorce led Collins to the title, as these negative feelings were "In The Air," and effecting not just the couple getting divorced, but the entire family.

    19 days ago

  • CreamCrazy

    Starts off dark & brooding... almost haunting as Phil is stuck through the divorce of his first wife; then when the drum fill breaks in it's Phil's release from that divorce... he is now free of that dark place, just like we are when we listen to this awesome song!

    21 days ago

  • Jareth_Emiel

    One of my favorite all time songs.....

    last month

  • silversurfer250

    Collins wrote this song about the anger he felt after divorcing his first wife Andrea in 1979. He was so devastated that he left Genesis for a short time. All the original songs on the Face Value album, including the followup hit "I Missed Again," were at one time intended to be "messages" to his first wife in an attempt to lure her back to him. The lingering tension caused by the divorce led Collins to the title, as these negative feelings were "In The Air," and effecting not just the couple getting divorced, but the entire family. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1198 (Ed. Note: Anything you else you hear that this song might be about is an Urban Myth...)

    last month

  • TWHsr

    Listen to this as often as I can. Love it. All his songs is good. always have liked him. Memories of Miami Vise.

    last month

  • ann4rchie

    HANGOVER :D

    last month

  • zeimerman

    these percussions - every time WOW :)

    last month

  • lady_zerbonia

    I love his music

    last month

  • redtidefred

    air tonight,man........

    last month

  • SOUNDARSENAL

    I cum in the air every night.

    last month

  • thegoalissoul

    When I hear "The pain still grows..." Anything I am doing is ignored for what is upcoming. [2] !! For sure - every time!

    last month

  • ozeanherz

    good song for sex, with soo many mamories

    March 2012

  • DreamGirl807

    but does anyone really knw wht ths song is really about n the true meaning behind it? I DO!!!

    March 2012

  • truckerbernd

    immer wieder gut !!!always the really best !!

    March 2012

  • Psychedalex77

    dat drum fill

    March 2012

  • Rockinfreddy

    Pamm pamm,pamm pamm;-)))

    March 2012
See all 772 shouts

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