In The Air Tonight (5:31)
1,094,575 plays (237,864 listeners)
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.
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Albums featuring this track
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Serious Hits ... Live!
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The Very Best of MTV Unplugged, Volume 2
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Legends: Ultimate Rock Collection: Crank It Up
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Shouts
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fatnmad wrote:
"I love this part" *drum* *hit that fat bastard* © Mike Tyson
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Badboyarsch wrote:
Geiles Musikstück von Phil denn coolen Jung
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nullachick wrote:
Oh, some night time memories !
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Ritterstern wrote:
Der Absolute Klassiker man kann den Titel auch etwas lauter anhören ;-)
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bastigo wrote:
In The Air Tonight - Final hour of the year 2009.
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Nita_Fairytale wrote:
I love ~In The Air Tonight~ since 1981
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WalesBells wrote:
Simply amazing
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petericebear wrote:
Best song ever!
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edel-sonny wrote:
I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord And I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord ... it`s a brilliant song.
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Dora117 wrote:
WOW I just love this song..............
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burulabeck wrote:
who doesn't?
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tattoo9876 wrote:
I love this song .
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goldmourn wrote:
i equate this song to my first love / serious long-term relationship - the music at night in a car driving fast through empty city streets late at night on a crossing-state-lines drive - his hand on my knee and the "i've been waiting for this feeling for all of my life..." in the car, those drums beating in my chest.
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who_dunnit wrote:
as near as it can get to a perfect masterpeice. the drums will still be known in a hundred years....
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Testeris wrote:
Simply amazing ;]
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JerryZola25 wrote:
the only decent phil collins album - shame as this was a grate album
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solartante wrote:
masterpiece for me!!!
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khalid23kiel wrote:
peace
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SirPsychoFlea wrote:
incredible atmosphere on this one, and that ending...wow!
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unreleased_ wrote:
Tonight... right.
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Recent Activity
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cumbiacaliente and Tom1809 loved Phil Collins – In The Air Tonight. 6 minutes ago
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martinisurfer added In The Air Tonight to the playlist. 2 hours ago
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morgenstern57 added In The Air Tonight to her Loved Tracks. 2 hours ago
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LION-MAN added In The Air Tonight to the playlist I is for...... 8 hours ago
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Cyn87 and clmason loved Phil Collins – In The Air Tonight. 10 hours ago
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JackCutter added In The Air Tonight to JackCutter’s library. 11 hours ago
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smokiy, seanmurphy07, Scottorocker and 4 other people loved Phil Collins – In The Air Tonight. 11 hours ago
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thy144 added In The Air Tonight to the playlist. yesterday evening
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thy144 added In The Air Tonight to thy144’s library. yesterday evening
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