-
Play on Mog
Yes, it scrobbles! Learn more
-
Play on Spotify
Yes, it scrobbles! Learn more
-
Play on Rdio
Yes, it scrobbles! Learn more
-
Play on Hype Machine
Yes, it scrobbles! Learn more
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.
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.
Send Ringtones to Cell Similar Music
Play Phil Collins RadioWith: Genesis, Mike & The Mechanics, Bryan Adams, Lionel Richie and more…
People who listen to this also like
| Track | Duration | Listeners | ||
| Phil Collins - Another Day in Paradise | 5:21 | 286,057 | ||
|
|
Phil Collins - One More Night | 4:44 | 170,224 | |
|
|
Toto - Africa | 6:16 | 440,146 | |
|
|
Genesis - Land Of Confusion | 4:47 | 193,086 | |
|
|
The Police - Every Breath You Take | 4:13 | 628,789 | |
|
|
Mr. Mister - Broken Wings | 5:18 | 243,430 |
Albums featuring this track
-
Hits
Phil Collins
Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.99
- 7digital $12.99
- iTunes $11.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $5.72
- eBay Search
-
Face Value
Phil Collins Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $6.37
- 7digital $8.99
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $6.41
- eBay Search
-
...Hits
Phil Collins Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.99
- 7digital $12.99
- iTunes $11.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $5.69
- eBay Search
-
Hits
Collins, Phil Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
Shouts
-
DirtyIntentions wrote:
Uuuuuugh.......
-
kenet87 wrote:
One of the things i loved about Genesis, was that their tracks were on average 5-10 minutes long and i couldn't imagine them being shorter. just awesome. Phil is amazing solo and/or with the band. just adore him.
-
cullyitfc wrote:
oh so good!!!!
-
MajorTomNbg wrote:
hold on...[2].... remembers me to "Miami Vice Soundtrack" , cars & Phil´s amazing drums ;-)
-
wmcfaul wrote:
excellent
-
billymacrae wrote:
this track reminds me of the old days, when I used to skim over the alps in a purple rocket balloon. Yeah, you know the days - when Jim and I ate half a buffalo before morning, and then sat back and watch the wombats jumping in the distance. Smooth.
-
roger505 wrote:
Try this online personal station,you'll love it...enjoy your own music,oh yeeeah.
-
ocolinerze wrote:
<<<3
-
Chocolate_Ti wrote:
This is one of the best songs EVER!!!!
-
lawdog2004 wrote:
I am old...remember hearing this on Miami Vice first...still stands the test of time though :-)
-
Earforthemuzic wrote:
hold on...
-
dandymark wrote:
AMAZING !!!!
-
Forosis wrote:
Gandalf payin' bass \m/
-
gibeti wrote:
This have class
-
booboo48178 wrote:
i agree, this song is a classic and i love the drums in it although i think i was very young when it first hit, i still love it
-
NewJerz25 wrote:
Classic
-
sivetoblake wrote:
the production on this song alone is epic!
-
oldiesfanjohn wrote:
Phil and his drumming,epic
-
Buelah wrote:
Dark. Moody. Intense. First it simmers, then boils over. A classic masterpiece.
-
DerPhil2 wrote:
so gut !
Track Stats
1,931,959 Scrobbles
408,307 Listeners
Recent Listening Trend
Listening Now
-
Medwed
Scrobbling now from Last.fm Radio (OctoberSA’s Library Radio)Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight
Top Listeners
-
VsegdaSToboi
Top Listener
-
Dyna_05
Top Listener
-
edfowler
Top Listener
-
moniaaa182
Top Listener
Recent Activity
-
neroesque added In The Air Tonight to his Loved Tracks. 41 minutes ago
-
hwanlv added In The Air Tonight to hwanlv’s library. 45 minutes ago
-
hwanlv added In The Air Tonight to the playlist. 45 minutes ago
-
zorck added In The Air Tonight to his Loved Tracks. 1 hour ago
-
ohh1972 added In The Air Tonight to ohh1972’s library. 2 hours ago
-
Daryl_Jones, silversurfer250 and justcelsius loved Phil Collins – In The Air Tonight. 2 hours ago
-
rajarr70 added In The Air Tonight to rajarr70’s library. 5 hours ago
-
Nwier, Phalina83 and leasinglegal loved Phil Collins – In The Air Tonight. 5 hours ago
-
leasinglegal tagged In The Air Tonight with ‘meiklejohn’. 7 hours ago
-
kclintonroa, MikesDmusic, BenSiser and 10 other people loved Phil Collins – In The Air Tonight. 8 hours ago
Related Journals
-
In Defense of Phil Collins
by mediathink |
6 Mar 2011
| 1 comment
-
Top 10 singles released in 1981
by fakehead |
12 Dec 2010
-
Back Of 1980's
by Onlygleb |
24 Sep 2010
| 11 comments
