"In the air tonight ..."
is a song with a true story by his accounts? Explain.
2007-02-10 13:27:02 · 14 answers · asked by djtzclark 3 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
Yes, this is a very common rumor
No, it's not true and Phil Collins has been trying to dispell these rumors for years now.
Let me give you a couple of quotes on In The Air Tonight from Phil Collins himself.
This quote comes from the Classic Albums - Face Value DVD/VHS cassette from 1999:
"When someone says, 'Now, tell me Phil, what is it really about?', I say I don't know. I have no idea becuase I made it up as I went along ... I didn't know what I was singing about. I mean obviously, when you're going through a divorce, all kinds of things run through your mind. There's anger, there's bitterness, there's hurt, you know. And all that stuff is in In The Air Tonight. Menace, you know. Finally losing your temper at the end when the drums come in."
This one comes from Phil Collins' appearance on VH-1's Storytellers in 1997:
".....(In The Air Tonight) is a song with many faces. And the truth is, is that I don't what it's about. The way I write lyrics is I open my mouth and I see what comes out. And I was going through an unpleasant divorce and I guess I was very angry, I was very bitter, I was very upset, and I think you can probably tell that from the song. But all these stories, it's like Chinese mysteries. Whenever I come to America, I hear a new bit. There's this person who reckons that I saw someone drowning, and I witnessed the thing, and then I invited the guy to come to the concert, and sat him down in the front row, and sang this song. All I did was write the song really! But anything you hear, let it be said right here, right now, anything you hear about this song is not true."
Take care.. I hope this helps...
2007-02-10 13:30:43 · answer #1 · answered by Tricia B 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
there are alot of unsubstantiated myths about this song
a quote from collins:
I don't know what this song is about. When I was writing this I was going through a divorce. And the only thing I can say about it is that it's obviously in anger. It's the angry side, or the bitter side of a separation. So what makes it even more comical is when I hear these stories which started many years ago, particularly in America, of someone come up to me and say, 'Did you really see someone drowning?' I said, 'No, wrong'. And then every time I go back to America the story gets Chinese whispers, it gets more and more elaborate. It's so frustrating, 'cos this is one song out of all the songs probably that I've ever written that I really don't know what it's about, you know."
typical of his 80's out put..shallow..remember sususudio?
2007-02-10 13:31:38 · answer #2 · answered by pastorfuzz 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Phil denies the rumors,but the song is supposedly about a man who witnesses another man drowning.There was another individual there who did nothing to help the drowning guy.Again,Phil Collins strongly denies the rumors.
2007-02-11 00:48:26 · answer #3 · answered by Candi Apples 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love Phil Collins but I don't know the story. Sorry.
2007-02-10 13:31:20 · answer #4 · answered by *♥♫Hedy♫♥* 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Phil is awesome.I love that song. In an interview Phil said that story was a myth.
2007-02-10 13:34:06 · answer #5 · answered by C E 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I heard it was about phil trying to save a drowning friend but failed. That song is awesome, love the drums and his vocals are so eerie.
2007-02-10 13:30:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No-one can avoid the call of Collins. Everyone is a fan. It is inevitable.
2016-05-25 07:04:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Supposidly a true story about a friend that drowned.
2007-02-10 13:31:13 · answer #8 · answered by JAMI E 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This song is at least 26 years old.
2007-02-10 13:31:02 · answer #9 · answered by Pauly W 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've HEARD it's a story about some guy who watched his friend drown and wouldn't help him.
2007-02-10 13:29:12 · answer #10 · answered by Kiss My Shaz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋