Our favourite piano-related Phil Collins moments

"Do you like Phil Collins? I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke." So begins one of the most commonly-quoted pieces of commentary about the legendary Phil Collins, this particular piece uttered by the fictional Patrick Bateman, as played by Christian Bale in the film American Psycho. The Genesis drummer has been in the news recently, as there has been talk of a return to music for him. This has led us to think about our favourite Phil Collins moments involving use of pianos. So, retelling them in chronological order...

 

A pot of paint and brush is spotted on a piano!

Collins' first single and, indeed, big hit as a solo artist was, of course, the now legendary 'In The Air Tonight' in 1981. He wrote the song in anger at the failure of his first marriage after his wife, the Canadian Andrea Bertorelli, had an affair with a painter and decorator. Later, when Collins performed the song on Top of the Pops, there was a pot of paint and brush on top of his piano. A mere coincidence? Actually, according to Collins, it was. But it was a pretty remarkable one!

 

The chances of overlooking these piano sounds are against all odds...

Another song that he wrote in frustration at his failed first marriage is the classic power ballad 'Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)'. In 1984, this became his first number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and among its most distinctive features is its piano tracks, which were recorded in New York to accommodate Collins' tour with Genesis at the time. The particularly piano-driven opening and closing segments of the song are probably among the most distinctive and memorable parts of any love songs in history.

 

It's not everyday that you hear a piano solo like this

Collins is, of course, famous for his many love songs - we have already mentioned one above - and 'Everyday', a ballad that was released as a single in 1994, is - by our reckoning, at least - one of the most beautiful he has ever recorded. We consider it particularly notable for opening with a piano solo that helps to set the reflective tone for the rest of the song. Listening to this piano solo can give you an idea of what amazing sounds can be made with, for example, Yamaha pianos.