In the Air Tonite

Lil' Kim, Phil Collins

About In the Air Tonite

"In the Air Tonite" is a reworking of Phil Collins' 1981 single "In the Air Tonight" recorded by American rapper Lil' Kim for the R&B/hip hop Phil Collins tribute album Urban Renewal. The song, promoted as a duet between Collins and Lil' Kim, was released in 2001 as the second single from the album. The song's accompanying music video combines scenes from the original video with new scenes featuring Lil' Kim. The single has been certified Platinum in Germany by the IFPI.


Year:
2001
4:00
129 
#2

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What we gonna do right here is go back (go back)
Way back (way back)- back into time (into time)

[Chorus]
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, Oh Lord

[Lil' Kim]
Keep stealing the shit
Killing the rhyme
The Queen stay poppin' the wine and cockin' the nine
For those who think they stoppin' my doe

want to copy my show, wha
I'm switchin' my flow, can't take it no mo'
Oh you think I'm playin' around
I'm layin ya down

Album drop, new millennium shuttin' it down
Better off givin' it up, I'm rippin' it up
Spendin' money, livin' it up, not giving a f*ck

Hotter than toast, Runnin' the coast
Makin' niggas catch the Holy Ghost
I'm realer than most, wha
The trendsetter, the Brooklyn repper

You know the routine
Smoke you like a ciggarette-are
You've been out in a bit
why'all still talkin' shit

Ain't that a bitch?
What part of the game was this?

[Lil' Kim singing]
Millions I'm holdin'
Drop tops rollin'
Diamonds on my neck
And Bentley ballin'
Me and my niggas gettin' high all day
Straight to the top, 'cause we on our way

[Lil' Kim rapping]
Comin' for why'all, comin' for why'all
That's right I got something for why'all
Something for why'all, wha
God bless me, look at all I've been through
It's my time, I can feel it, can't you?

[Chorus]

Can you feel it coming in the air tonight?
Oh Lord, Oh Lord

[DJ Clark Kent]
JM, JM
Lil' Kim, Lil' Kim
PC, PC
Clark

[Phil Collins]
Well I remember..

[Lil' Kim]
... back when it used to be the eighties
Said the world gon' end in 2000 (that's crazy)
I'm the only thing to fear
For the new year

New year, and if BIG was here (woo)
Get the fans, we the ones to talk
We die real on the streets
So watch where you walk

And you can find me, usually
Talkin' dirty to a cat thugged out
Or even kinda nerdy
Lil' Kim, Lil' Cease and JM

Taking over like a plague on a town
All why'all can do is pray and watch it go down
Like when the ball drop
My fam's all I got, we keep it gangsta

Comin' for why'all, comin' for why'all
That's right I got something for why'all
Something for why'all, wha
God bless me, look at all I've been through
It's my time, I can feel it, can't you?

[Phil Collins]
Well, if you told me, you were drowning
I would not a lend a hand
I've seen your face before my friend
But I don't know if you know who I am

Well I was there and I saw what you did
Saw it with my own two eyes
So you can wipe off that grin
I know where you've been
It's all been a pack of lies

[Phil Collins]
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, Oh Lord

I can feel it coming in the air tonight
Oh Lord
And I've been waiting for this moment
All my life
Oh Lord, Oh Lord

[Clark Kent]
Lil' Kim, Lil' Kim
JM, JM

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Phil Collins

Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO (born 30 January 1951) is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist, and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist. more »

20 fans

Written by: Phil Collins

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


17 facts about this song

Release & Reception
"In the Air Tonight" was released internationally on 5th January 1981. - The song received positive reviews from music critics, with many praising its haunting lyrical and musical composition.
Chart Performance
The song peaked at No. 19 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in the United States. - In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.
Song Composition & Inspiration
"In the Air Tonight" was composed and produced by Phil Collins himself. - Written during Phil Collins' divorce from his wife, the song’s lyrics provide a dark, intense cryptic narrative that resonate with themes of betrayal and anger.
Music Video & Visual Concept
The music video for the song comes with eerie visuals which capture the song's brooding energy. - It features Collins alone in a room with a strange, ghost-like presence moving behind him.
Live Performances
Collins usually performs "In the Air Tonight" at his concerts using a drum machine for the iconic drum intro. - During the live performances, the audience anticipates and often cheers for the distinctive drum break.
Urban Legends & Misinterpretations
An urban legend arose around "In the Air Tonight" claiming that Collins wrote the song about a man who watched another man drown and didn't help. - Although many believe this, Collins has always maintained that the song was about his anger and frustration during his divorce and doesn't have any specific story behind it.
Cover Versions & Pop Culture References
Numerous artists have covered "In the Air Tonight," including Joe Cocker, Nonpoint, and Lil' Kim. - The song has made its way into popular culture as well, featured in various TV shows, movies, and commercials – including the Miami Vice pilot episode and in a Cadbury's Dairy Milk advertisement.
Legacy
"In the Air Tonight" is often considered Collins' signature song. - The track is best known for its drum break towards the end, which has been described as "the most startling pop percussion break of all time."
Song Production
"In the Air Tonight" was released as the lead single from Phil Collins' debut solo album, "Face Value," in 1981. - It is arguably Phil Collins' most well-known song, given its significant airplay and inclusion in numerous film and television soundtracks over the years.
Chart Success
Despite its unnerving ambiance and lack of a traditional pop chorus, the song was a commercial success, reaching No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. - It remains one of Collins's best-loved tracks and still receives regular airplay today.
Song Lyric Controversy
There have been numerous interpretations and rumors surrounding the lyrics to "In the Air Tonight." Many believed that it was about a drowning incident that Phil Collins witnessed, which the artist himself has debunked. - The haunting lyrics are actually about the anger and pain Collins felt during his divorce from his wife, Andrea Bertorelli.
Iconic Drum Break
Perhaps the most distinctive element of "In The Air Tonight" is its haunting, sudden drum break. This memorable drum sequence comes just under four minutes into the song, surprising the listener. - The drum break has been heavily sampled in other songs, most notably in the rap genre.
Live Performances
During live performances, the song is generally played with dark and dramatic lighting effects to enhance its atmospheric quality. - It is a staple in Phil Collins's live shows and is often used to open his concerts.
Music Video
The music video, just as the song, is dark and moody. It shows Collins against dark backgrounds and intermittently with shining light, emphasizing the song's dramatic feel.
Use in Media
"In the Air Tonight" is a pop culture staple having been used in numerous movies and TV shows, the most famous probably being the premiere episode of the 1980s TV series Miami Vice. - It has also been used in commercials, including a notable Cadbury’s chocolate advertisement featuring a gorilla playing the song's iconic drum break.
Cover Versions
Several artists have covered "In the Air Tonight," including heavy metal band Nonpoint for the movie Miami Vice and R&B artist Brandy for the TV show Empire.
Achievements
In 2007, Mike Tyson's rendition of "In the Air Tonight" in the film "The Hangover" led to a resurgence in the song's popularity and its re-entry into the UK Singles Chart. - In 2016, "In the Air Tonight" was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry, signifying sales of over 600,000 copies in the UK.

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