In the Air Tonight

Phil Collins

About In the Air Tonight

"In the Air Tonight" is the debut solo single by the English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins. It was released as the lead single from Collins' debut solo album, Face Value, in January 1981. Collins co-produced the single with Hugh Padgham, who became a frequent collaborator in the following years. The song was an instant hit, quickly climbing to No. 2 on the UK Singles chart but was held off the top spot by the posthumous release of John Lennon's "Woman". It was also an international hit, achieving top 10 status in Australia, New Zealand and several European territories, reaching No. 1 in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Sweden. It peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and was later certified Gold by the RIAA, representing 500,000 copies sold. The song's music video, directed by Stuart Orme, received heavy play on MTV when the new cable music video channel launched in August 1981. "In the Air Tonight" remains one of Collins' best-known hits, often cited as his signature song, and is especially famous for his drum break towards the end, which has been described as "the sleekest, most melodramatic drum break in history" and one of the "101 Greatest Drumming Moments". The song was ranked at number 35 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the 80s" in 2006. In 2007, Mike Gruss, former columnist for The Virginian-Pilot, referred to the song as a "soft rock classic." 


Year:
1991
94 
#2

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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
Can you feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord, oh Lord

Well if you told me you were drowning, I would not 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, I 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

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

Well I remember, I remember, don't worry, how could I ever forget
It's the first time, the last time we ever met
But I know the reason why you keep your silence up, oh no you don't fool me
Well the hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows
It's no stranger to you and me

I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord
Well been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord
I can feel it in the air tonight, oh Lord, oh Lord
Well I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord
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
I can feel it in the air tonight, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord
Well I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord, oh Lord

I can feel it in the air tonight, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord
Well I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord

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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


8 facts about this song

Song Background
"In the Air Tonight" is the debut solo single by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins. It was first released as a single in January 1981, then appeared on Collins' solo album, "Face Value."
Song Performance
Known for its iconic drum breakout towards the end, the song is often used to highlight moments of intensity in various forms of media.
Chart Success
The song reached number 2 on the UK Singles chart and number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. It has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Popular Rumors
Despite a popular urban myth that propounds the song being about Phil Collins witnessing a traumatic event, Collins himself has stated that the song was written during a dark time of his life, specifically his divorce, but it doesn’t pertain to any specific real-life event.
Iconic Drum Fill
The mythical drum solo that comes in midway and breaks the quiet tension is still celebrated and viewed as one of the most iconic drum fills in pop music. However, it is often inaccurately cited as being played on a "drum machine," when it was actually played live by Collins and then heavily processed using gated reverb.
Commercial Use
The song has appeared in numerous commercial platforms, notably in the "Gorilla" advertisement for Cadbury chocolate, and as part of the soundtrack for the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
Live Performances
During live performances, Collins does not sing and play the drums at the same time. Instead, he starts the song singing at the front of the stage and then moves to play the drums when it's time for the drum fill.
Song's Rendition
The song was famously covered by the band Nonpoint for the film Miami Vice in 2006, introducing it to a new generation.

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    In the Air Tonight

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1981

    Billboard #19


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