#JenniferConnelly • #80s • #80sMusic • #80sMusicHits • #80sMovies • #PhilCollins • #InTheAirTonight
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"In the Air Tonight" is the debut solo single by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins. It was released as the lead single from Collins's debut solo album, Face Value, in January 1981.
Collins co-produced "In the Air Tonight" with Hugh Padgham, who became a frequent collaborator in the following years. It reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart behind the posthumous release of John Lennon's "Woman".
It reached No. 1 in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Sweden, and the top 10 in Australia, New Zealand and several other European territories. It reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and reached No. 2 on the Rock Tracks Chart, 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 its 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".
In 2006, the song was ranked at number 35 in VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the 80s".
In 2021, it was listed at No. 291 in Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
Lyrics:
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 this silence up
No, you don't fool me
The hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows
It's no stranger to you and me
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 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 all my life, oh, lord, oh, lord