by hil Collins has announced (again) that he is done with the music business, this time for good.
The former drummer and lead singer of Genesis and successful solo artist has a history of hearing problems as well as nerve damage and says now is a good time to stop.
To Collins I say ?It?s about time.?
Not that I don?t believe the musician has talent. On the contrary, I think his drumming was sometimes phenomenal, and his hits such as ?In the Air Tonight? and ?I Don?t Care Anymore? are classics in the rock music genre.
My problem is with Phil?s later career.
In the 1970s, Collins was the drummer for prog-rock act Genesis, known for its experimental sound and theatrical performances of its original lead singer, Peter Gabriel. When Gabriel left, Collins took over lead vocal duties and Genesis shot to the top of the charts with hits such as ?Misunderstanding,? ?Invisible Touch,? and ?Follow You Follow Me.?
Genesis? move to sensible pop (a conscious move by Collins) was forgivable because the music was good. Collins? solo career is another matter. After his masterpiece debut, Face Value, each subsequent solo album got cheesier and cheesier. 1988?s ?A Groovy Kind of Love? catered to corporate rock in the worst way, and the kindest thing I can say about his 1998 cover of ?True Colors? is that it is cringe worthy.
Collins deteriorated from a rock star to the King of Schmaltz, better suited for Disney soundtracks and senior living facilities.
Now, he says his latest album, 2010?s Going Back, will be his last.
I do agree with Collins on one thing.
?I look at the MTV Music Awards and I think, ?I can?t be in the same business as this,? he said. ?I don?t really belong to that world and I don?t think anyone?s going to miss me.?
I feel the same way about the MTV Music Awards, but I think he?s wrong about being missed. Those of us who still turn up the radio when ?Man on the Corner? comes on have been missing him for years.
I grew up listening to Genesis, and when GAbriel left…thought that was it. When Collins took over the group, truly, we all thought it was temporary. However, TRUE Genesis fans came to trust the new sound, and the music began to grow on us. The stories that Genesis told within their music, captured us. When Collins embarked on his solo career, he never held himself “above the crowd”, like musicians of the day. He always found time to get back “with his mates” and cut another Genesis album. In fact, their greatest success as a group occured while they were all delving into their solo careers. I disagree, however, with Fred’s comment about Collins going all “Schmaltzy”. His “No Jacket Required” album, let us not forget, won the Grammy for album of the year, and his songs “Sussudio”, “Something Happened on the Way to Heaven”, and “Take Me Home” are perhaps the greatest concert songs that I have ever witnessed. “Schmaltzy”…..I doubt it. A better word, or phrase for that matter, was that Collins brought forth to the masses appealing music that we all could sing to, as well as get up and cheer to. One thing I agree with….his music will truly be missed.
Thanks for the input Mike! I actually like much of the music on “No Jacket Required”….what I was calling “schmaltz” is mostly his contributions in the 90s and beyond….albums like “Dance Into the Light” and “Testify” and his Disney songs (shudder)…while I don’t necessarily see anything wrong with appealing to a wider audience, I AM disappointed to see someone go from “Misunderstanding” to the Brother Bear soundtrack, just like a band going from “Miracles” and “Jane” to “We Built This City.”