In 1970, Genesis was looking for a new drummer. It would be their fourth drummer in three years. Phil Collins, nineteen-years-old, showed up at the audition early. There were other drummers ahead of him, so he had a swim while listening to the other drummers audition. When it was finally his turn, he sat down at the drum kit with such confidence that Peter Gabriel, the singer, would say he knew right then and there that Collins was a great drummer. Collins killed the audition and would be their drummer for the next 25 years -- and would ultimately take over on lead vocals when Gabriel left the band. After a long tour in Canada, during which his marriage broke down, Phil Collins returned to an empty life. He was sad, angry, depressed and lonely. He had a home studio and put his all into writing and recording songs. This is one of the songs he wrote and recorded. Now, you oldies, like me, sit back and take a trip down memory lane. You youngsters who think you know what music is, prepare to have your socks blown off. It's 7 mins long, has a hell of a build up, 5 mins of intense, slow foreplay then POW, ORGASM. Sound up LOUD and Enjoy. The most amazing thing is that this song was recorded 40 yrs ago, in the 80's. This concert was in 2004, he was 53 yrs old.

The guy standing on the stage with his eyes closed is legendary bass guitarist, Leland Sklar. In addition to playing for Phil, Leland has worked with James Taylor, Carole King, Toto, and many other artists

Hey it's the 77 year old grandma, This is one of the greatest intros I have ever heard, the intensity of anticipation, as it grows to Phil finally starting to sing is so immense. Then he sings the song in a steady atmosphere of suspense, until he Hits the drums and everything explodes. Music is a atmosphere changer, a mood changer, and can actually cause emotions to flare up and cause a feeling of euphoria. As an intercessor I use a lot of Rock music for spiritual warfare, works great. Loved your reaction.

Phil Collins and Roger Taylor, the only artists I know of that can sing at the same time as they’re belting it out on the drums. Incredible!

This for me was the ultimate BEST LIVE VIDEO ever !!!!!!! It still amazes me to hear him belting out that song while playing the drums …….. like WHAT !!!!!!!! Omggggg 😘

With this song I destroyed my hi-fi system in my car 40 years ago. You can guess three times at which point. 😂😂. ✌️😎🇩🇪🇪🇺💯

Almost 40 yrs since this came out....4 decades!! Man this shows that good music stands the test of time. Timeless E P I C classic!

He was 53 years old when he did this concert in Bercy, Paris in 2004. Truly an amazing performance by Brad Cole (keyboards, synthesizers, Vocoder), Daryl Stuermer (6 String Guitar), Leland Sklar (Bass Guitar), Chester Thompson ("Rhythm" Drums) and Phil himself (vocals, drums). And I think what you were referring to when you talked about the reverb and the ambience of the song was Brad Cole (the keyboardist) on the Vocoder and synthesizer--he kind of played and mimicked the words just as Phil sang them; it was a surreal effect. Truly one of the finest live performances of our lifetimes. I recommend the entire concert this came from (At Last: The First Farewell Tour) as the whole thing is fire.

Oh my Lord!! This was Phenomenal!! The passion that he projected with this song is unbelievable!! Totally Awesome!! Love your surprised reaction with this song and with Phil Collins!!

the anticipation on this is hard enough on the recordings. live in concert is actually stressful!

This is the kind of reaction a user looks for ... Excellent reaction brother 👍

Old school greatness! I love how he makes you wait and builds anticipation. Love it!!!

No there is not a segment of Phil Collins In The Air Tonight on anyone's playlist except for Phil Collins!! No one can touch This Song they cant even imagine touching this original version but " Phil ".

That there was not just an average concert performance. That was a piece of art and excellence delivered as a gift to the world by Phil Collins and his fellow musicians, and the entire stage production team. 👍🏾👍🏾🎁 #Inspiration

The most iconic drum part in the history of Rock👏👏👏

This has become my favorite live performance of all time. It's made doubly good because my favorite bass player, Leland Sklar, is on stage, too. 🎉

You'll never be sorry for listening to anything by him!!!! HE ROCKS!!!

Best drum riff EVER!! Great reaction

Love,love love this man and his voice and drums! This song is a wonder! So many hits this man had,my favorite Youlle be in my heart,and others like one more night,and against all odds,saw this man in concert,he no longer can drum and sits in a wheelchair to sing but the voice is still there,at live aid he was the only person to sing both at the wembeley stadium,but in the US as well as he hopped the Concorde to sing at both!!!Amazing amazing drummer,to bad he cant play anymore,you can react to his songs anytime and Ill be here,just not for awhile as my mom died yesterday,she was 100 years old,have to go to wisconsin next week for her funeral,so hope i dont miss much

This has got to be one of the best live performances ever......the album track has to be listened to LOUD and with headphones on to get the true effect .....such a treat ....morning coffee and watching ur face listening to Phil Collins......🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶

Heck yeah. Awesome choice. Enjoy. Anxiously waiting for the beat to drop lol. Thanks.

Best live performance ever!!

One of my favorite all time songs. Enjoyed watching you react to it.

Great Reaction. Really love this song, is Hard but fun on Drums. I Love Phil Collins, talented guy and great person. Another Day in Paradise is also something you should see. Phil Collins was friends with Queen, that made me happy. Also Roger could've been the Drummer for genesis, but he declined so Phil Collins took the place. If Roger wouldn't have declined this world would lack of huge history parts of Music xD. Phil Collins and Roger Taylor are my favorite Singing Drummers :D.

As a teen, I loved to listen to this with headphones and in the dark!

No one can top this! No one!!

I enjoyed this a lot.Thanks for sharing this and great reaction !! 💙👍

I saw this same performance live in Florida on his "First Final Farewell Tour"...simply AMAZING in person...the whole show was fantastic!!!! He ran around stage without seeming to get tired at all...and actually SANG (not synced like many current stars) and he sounds exactly like his albums in person....this is a legend for sure :) *if you aren't doing the drums/singing with him by the end, there's something wrong with you

OMG....what an awesome performance! I'm 74 yrs old and I still get goosebumps when I watch this video. He's so awesome!!! Love you Phil! 💖💖💖

Haunting song!!!

This is a classic! My first time watching or listening to it live. Pretty awesome.

Best Phil Collins song, EVER. Loved your reaction.

Very glad you reacted to this epic live performance. Your comments were full of knowledge- especially on the effects added to his voice. I saw a reaction long time ago where the reactor said it is auto tuned so he got a lot of anger and criticism in the comments :) I love literally every Phil song! If I had to choose my favourites- they would be “Against all odds” and “Can’t stop loving you”

this song is ANTICIPATION + KILLER DRUMS = MASTERPIECE

Phil Collins in an interview in 2006: I was angry, I was miserable, I was sad. You know, I was depressed without my family around. The lyrics were all improvised, I don’t know what it’s about. More people say to me what it’s about. I can promise you it isn’t about what you think it’s about. Because I don’t know what it’s about. There’s a lot of anger in there but I didn’t ever mean for it to be that way. It was just spontaneous lyrics so I wasn’t afraid to show my feelings. On the original demo the drums just come in. I recorded them at my house. The drums just enter, as you know drummers busy themselves. So by the time we got around to recording it I just did a fill into it. The take before would have been something different, the take after would have been something different. We just decided to keep that take. It was real luck.

Love your reaction! Even when you have heard the song before you have NOT heard it until you hear this Epic performance!!

This video, along with Heart’s Kennedy Center tribute to Led Zeppelin, are my favorite videos on KZfaq. You really get a feel for actually being in the audience, which is great right now when we are limited to what we can because of COVID.

Glad you liked it. I thought you might. :)

I LOVED this reaction!!! It's dangerous when it comes across my radio when I'm driving. The drum solo comes on, and my poor steering wheel 😂 Thanks Hap, ✌️ ☮️ 🥷

One of the best live performances by anyone ever! - Now play it a second time so we can watch you play "Air Drums"!

I’m blabbering too! Passion passion PASSION! Love watching you getting into a song Hap!! Rock it honey!!♥️

I love that you love this song. Has been one of my favorites since it came out! I love him!

Not bad for a drummer who sings a bit.... :)

Thank you for this! I love this song! I suggest you react to "Mama" when Phill was with Genesis. Greetings from Portugal 🙏💕

I love this video..I've watched it over an over...he's awesome

GOOD MORNING! A PERFECT TUNE TO WAKE UP TO, EXCELLENT! LOVED IT! THANKS AWESOME REACTION AS ALWAYS HAP3. Have a Great Day 🌞👩‍🎤🙏

I love this live version! It's the best! Such a good reaction HAP! 🔥

This song is the original, Phil wrote it about his first divorce.

Definitely know what you mean!🎼❤️🇦🇺

Extraordinary

Honey ♥️love your reactions. Hi from San Diego California. U have to react to Bob Seger's music. TURN THE PAGE might be a good start. 🙋‍♀️👏👏

That guitar lic whaling thru out the atmosphere is awesome. It’s compliments the story line.

When Phil nd the drums collide

He's in for a real treat as I was; watching this video first time; Phil Collins is an amazing; the hype to get u to him singing is amazing; he's got tital control of the crowd

He wrote the song and it was a hit for him in the early 80's. One of the greats. Listen to it on the album and then live hardly any difference.

I love his voice so much. My mother and I adore this song very much:)

Master at his Craft

I'm so glad u enjoyed this icoic song, this live performance is superb, the build up, the anticipation as we all knew what was coming but it was better than the audio. 😁

Not bad for 53. There are no words.

ive seen million of these reactions and it never get boring watch pp[l when the drums come in lol....my most favourite song of all times....thanx for doin this one

Excellent Reaction! 🙌🏻👏🏼

Your reaction was epic!!!!

This is the perfect version of this song...

We absolutely love Phil in the USA from him being the band Genesis to his successful solo career! The man is phenomenal! Love your channel Hap! 😀🎶

Great job!!

Wow!! Great reaction! The vocals sound so haunting almost. It’s such an iconic song. We all know that drum beat is coming but still have to wait to see it. Phil has so much talent and it’s nice to see him still being played today! 🌻

Hey Hap3! How ya doin' man? I see you are reacting to one of Genesis' best, Phil Collins! You're awesome with the words you come up with! This live version has a tremendous buildup: Simple but extremely effective in the delivery...They know their "intensification" capability on how to draw you in, and then Phil going to the drums to play!! Awesome!!

9:09 that pure “stank” face shows it all mate it’s like “yeah this is nasty but I love it!!”

This song was first made big in the states when it was aired with the opening movie of "Miami Vice" The song was played while the heroes were driving to what might have been their deaths in a gun fight . The show won a whole bunch of awards for the scene and Phil Collins became a house hold name in America.. check out Miami Vice in the air tonight, it's got great cars and geat tension

Seeing the restrictions is priceless; mine was too; Phil is brilliant

You are the best Hap!! I’ve enjoyed Phil Collins songs so many years! He was also at Live Aid I believe. His daughter is the beautiful actress Lily Collins

Fantastic !

Great reaction. 👍 My new hobby on KZfaq is watching reactions to this video.

Noice! Love it :-)

The intensification... it's almost like you can feel it coming in the air tonight ;)

And there you have it. Great singing & drumming. Phil & Roger greatness.✨You should do Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” it’s getting close to Halloween.

Hot Phil and his super hot voice!

Don't that just make you smile...🙂🙂🙂👍

this was so epic in miami vice in movie and in original series

Epic performance from a multitalented artist! Thank's for an interesting reaction. Another musically supertalented artist you should explore is Prince. He could play several instruments, sing, produce, dance. He wrote Nothing Compares 2 U. Check out his version at Paisley Park 1999.

Check out "The way it is by Bruce Hornsby and the range " you'll recognize the tune ( also sampled by Tupac). Great song, great message.

20,000 fans, Paris, 2004.

First time I heard this was September 1984. It was on the television series Miami Vice. The second part of the the 2 part premiere. Best STUFF ever! The first episode had everyone talking and the second blew everyone away with the scene including this song. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Y8d9dt2Dz5m3qZs.html

A great 'How it's made' Phil collins video is his duet with Phillip Bailey on"Easy lover". He's much younger but SOO funny too! Helectopering in & such. I'm a 69 YO "HAPAHOLIC"!

ביצוע מדהים❤❤❤❤❤❤אהבתי את התגובה שלך🤘🤘🤘👍👍👍🫶

☮️💜.

Phil didnt wear his pants down around his knees either!!

When you start mouthing the words it is a dead giveaway that this wasn't the first time you have heard the song.

It was a rage song about his divorce. And the drop beat is one of the best ever!

Phil's concerts sold out a year ahead of concert time!!!

It's like he was stalking those drums.

Recommend Doobie Brothers What a Fool Believes (live)

The good reaction! Please! React The band "Black veil brides". The song "Fallen angel "!

Great reviews maybe sometime Paul McCartney Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End live Japan 2013 6:55. TY.

Did u caught the drums coming up from under the floor..

Phil is not doing well right now. We all hope for a recovery.

By Dire Straits. Sultans Of Swing.

Hip hop doesnt hold a candle against 70s bands!!!

This song is about divorce his wife. True story. AMAZING

P.S. Phil wrote this when he and his wife were going through a divorce..:(