Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)

Phil Collins

About Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)

"Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" (also titled "Against All Odds") is a song by English drummer, singer and songwriter Phil Collins. It was recorded for the soundtrack to the 1984 film of the same name. It is a power ballad in which its protagonist implores an ex-lover to "take a look at me now", knowing that reconciliation is "against all odds" while considering it worth trying. The single reached No. 2 in the United Kingdom, while it peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, the first of seven US No. 1's for Collins in his solo career. "Against All Odds (Take a Look At Me Now)" also topped the charts in Canada, Ireland, and Norway. The song has been covered by several singers, some versions of which have been successful in both the US and UK markets. The song has twice reached No. 1 in the UK singles chart: the pairing of Mariah Carey and boyband Westlife, in September 2000, and then again by Steve Brookstein, the first winner of The X Factor, in January 2005. 


Year:
2007
3:25
260 
#2

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How can I just let you walk away,
Just let you leave without a trace?
When I stand here taking every breath with you, ooh ooh
You're the only one who really knew me at all

How can you just walk away from me
When all I can do is watch you leave?
'Cause we've shared the laughter and the pain
And even shared the tears
You're the only one who really knew me at all

So take a look at me now
Well there's just an empty space
And there's nothing left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face
Ooh, Take a look at me now
Well there's just an empty space
And you coming back to me is against the odds
And that's what I've got to face,

I wish I could just make you turn around
Turn around and see me cry
There's so much I need to say to you
So many reasons why
You're the only one who really knew me at all

So take a look at me now
Well there's just an empty space
And there's nothing left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face

Now Take a look at me now
'Cause that's just an empty space
But to wait for you is all I can do
And that's what I've got to face

Take a good look at me now
'Cause I'll still be standing here
And you coming back to me is against all odds
It's the chance I've got to take
Take a look at me now

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


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: Phillip David Charles Collins

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Artist Origin
"Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" is a song written by British singer Phil Collins. - Mariah Carey and Westlife have each covered the song separately, each achieving considerable chart success.
Collaboration
Later, Mariah Carey and Irish boy band Westlife collaborated to produce a version of the song.
Original Release
The original song was released in 1984 by Phil Collins, serving as the main theme for the movie of the same name.
Carey's Version
Mariah Carey's version, produced by herself and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, was released in 1999 as a part of her studio album "Rainbow".
Westlife's Take
Westlife covered the song in 2000 for their second studio album, "Coast to Coast." Their version peaked at number 1 in the UK Singles Chart.
Carey-Westlife Collaboration
The Mariah Carey-Westlife collaboration was released in September 2000 and also hit the number 1 spot in the UK and Ireland.
Carey's First UK Number One
This collaboration marked Mariah Carey's second UK number one single, her first being "Without You."
Collins' Reaction
Phil Collins has stated that he was not pleased with Mariah Carey's rendition of the song.
Awards
Despite the controversy, the song has won several awards. For instance, the Carey-Westlife version won the Smash Hits Poll Winner's Party award for Best Video of the Year in 2000.
Multilingual
Westlife's Mark Feehily sang parts of the song in Italian during the Italian leg of their "Where We Are Tour" in 2010.
Chart Rankings
Phil Collins's original version peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, while Mariah Carey's version only reached number 11 on the same chart prior to her collaboration with Westlife.
Music Videos
The music videos of all three renditions of the song differ greatly. Phil Collins’s focuses on clips from the film “Against All Odds”, Carey's version is shot in Capri in a beautiful mansion, and Westlife's video is set in a desert. The Westlife with Mariah Carey version involves both parties singing in separate locations, and the video combines these sequences.
Cover Versions
Apart from Mariah Carey and Westlife, the song has been covered by several other artists worldwide, including Steve Brookstein and Postal Service contributing to its popularity.

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1984

    Billboard #1


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