Quote:
Originally Posted by Cerek
I'm firmly in the Collins camp. Some of Gabriel's songs are....interesting...but I'm not a huge fan of any of them.
And I simply can't understand the perspective of the article's author when he says (paraphrased) "Gabriel's music with Genesis was so weird that sometimes I had no idea what he was talking about, but I still love it and it's deeper than anything Collins ever did."
Uh..if you can't even understand a song, then how can you like it better than one you do understand? Since Gabriel fronted Genesis in the 70's, his "weird music" might easily have had more to do with drugs than any "deeper meaning", but that's just my perspective.
I'm a huge fan of Collins. One of my favorite songs of all time is "That's All". It just has a really catchy hook that I can't fully explain-but at least I can understand what he was talking about.
It also came out in 1983-84, my first year far away from home at a major college, so ALL of the music from that year still has a big impact on me.
Songs like "True" by Spandau Ballet, "Take Me To Heart" by Quarterflash, "Turn Around Bright Eyes" by Bonnie Tyler and many others. That was also the year Cyndi Lauper burst onto the Pop Music scene. Lionel Richie was HUGE that year, as was Billy Joel. In fact, their two biggest songs from that year have a reverse effect on me. To this day, I still absolutely DESPISE "Uptown Girl" and "All Night Long", because the radio station I listened to them played them CONSTANTLY. Honostly, no matter WHEN I turned on the radio, one of those two songs would either be playing already, or would come on within the next 3 songs. I just got sick of them.
Oh, "Modern Love" by David Bowie is another favorite of mine from that year. But my absolute, all time favorite will always be "Melt With You", by Modern English.
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This is not a man on drugs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W35wt...e=1217867205.2
Literature was more of an inspiration than drugs. He was telling stories and playing characters. Many of the songs are not apparently obvious because they are taking a number of characters perspectives.
In this song, inspired by the Nursery Rhyme about "Old King Cole" he's a number of characters. Two girls near the start, and Old King Cole at the end. (Now Now Now!)
So while one may not understand completely what's going on, one can appreciate the depth of the work through partially understanding it.
In any case, this song is musically amazing. Genesis (Phil Collins included) were a band of astounding musicians. Breathtakingly brilliant. Many people grieve the pop transition because the focus seemed to shift from brilliant musical playing to a more business-like modality. Pop formats.
I mean Hackett was the first guy to tap guitar strings (Van Halen style) and string swipe ala (Malmsteen style). They were extraordinarily innovative musicians.
NOW, that innovation has moved on to bands like Radiohead for example. (Although Gabriel's solo work is still very innovative)
That said, I do enjoy the songs from Invisible Touch, but for different reasons. As a musician I am in awe of their early work. I mean they are 20 in this video... But awe, and emotional connection are two very different things. I emotionally connect with simpler songs. Thus I connect with Gabriel's "Secret World" more than "Music Box"