Throughout his career, whether solo or with Genesis, Phil Collins captivated audiences with a range of styles and sounds. What set him apart was the raw emotion embedded in his songwriting.
From deeply personal experiences to broader narratives, Collins knew how to make listeners feel, connecting through relatable, heartfelt lyrics. His understanding of emotion, combined with his intuitive approach to instrumentation, allowed him to create music that resonated deeply with fans.
The Balance of Emotion and Instrumentation
For Collins, music was not just about lyrics, but how the entire composition fit together to enhance the emotion of the song. If he was writing something sad, the instrumentation reflected that sadness through minimalism.
In more aggressive or frustrated tracks, he would let the drums take the spotlight, adding intensity with powerful fills and energetic arrangements. His ability to seamlessly blend emotion and sound is part of what made his songs so impactful.
The Challenge of Singing Tony Banks’ Lyrics
Despite his prowess as a musician and songwriter, Collins often found it difficult to perform songs written by Genesis bandmate Tony Banks. Banks had a penchant for writing with metaphors, which sometimes left Collins feeling disconnected from the material. One song in particular, ‘Domino’ from the 1986 album Invisible Touch, stood out as a struggle for him.
Collins admitted he found it awkward to sing the song because he didn’t fully understand the lyrics.
“I used to think, ‘How do I sing this thing about double glazing? How do I sing this and convince an audience?’” he shared.
As Collins became more personal and introspective in his own songwriting, singing lyrics that felt disconnected or abstract made the experience uncomfortable for him.
The Struggle of Singing Inauthentic Music
This challenge of performing someone else’s work is not unique to Collins. Many artists who pour themselves into their music find it difficult to relate to songs they haven’t written or that don’t align with their personal experiences.
Bruce Springsteen, for example, faced a similar issue when he was asked to record an album of covers. He scrapped an entire album because the songs didn’t feel authentic to him.
For musicians like Collins and Springsteen, authenticity is a crucial aspect of their artistry. While this creates music that resonates powerfully with audiences, it also makes them more selective about the songs they perform.
In the end, for artists like Collins, singing music that doesn’t come from a place of personal truth can be more difficult than creating a hit song.
