Phil Collins... IN THE AIR TONIGHT | Vocal Coach Reaction/Analysis | the art of the slow build 

As a bassist, I’m so glad Leland Sklar got even just a brief moment on camera. That man is a living legend. Thousands of credits to his name over a 50+ year career.

here is something to think about that I have not seen anyone comment on. from the moment he is at the top of the stage, walks down the stairs, walks across the stage, up the stairs, finally gets to the drums is the exact time he needs to be at the drums. that in its self is awesome

It’s no wonder he was sounding so intense and “angry”, given his life events at the time! This is one of the most emotionally intense performances EVER!

Imagine hearing this song and loving it for forty years and now seeing it like this.

I've been listening to this song for nearly 40 years. TO THIS DAY when he does that drum fill i get goosebumps. Every. Damn. Time.

Phil. Collins is a legend! This song! Damn.

The walk from the very beginning of the song ending at the beginning of the drums is a masterpiece of timing and artistry

Arguably the most iconic drum fill of all time. Its just legendary.

Phil Collins ❤ played for many Legendary Bands That asked him to play drums for many albums. ❤ Also many people have no idea he had a Perfect Pitch and A High Level of Artistic talent ❤

This song has been giving me chills since it was released in1981. The vocoder brings out Phil's hurt and anger caused by his divorce. That image of Leland is classic! This live version is powerful. Thank you Julia, for reacting to it.

I'm 62 years old I grew up with Phil and genesis he is and always will be THE BOSS

Not only do you have two different rhythms to deal with(the mind and the body), but on a drum set, you have four different rhythms going in the body. One for each of the limbs. And, it is amazing how, no matter how hard he bangs, there is no stutter or hiccup in the voice. An amazing musician.

I love that lock on Phil's face when we first see him font on. He came to play. And he delivered.

People who are exceptional at what they do like Phil are born with that potential. The average person could work at being an incredible artist all their life and be somewhat good but some people are born wired with the potential.

Phil is one of the best drummers and vocalists I've ever heard or have seen live.

I think I've watched EVERY reaction to this song and NOBODY has yet to not smile at that drum drop!!!!! I've noticed that the bass guitar doesn't start until his drumming started!

He’s double playing the drums btw.. as in he is hitting each drum with two sticks at once for each note whilst singing.. he’s a drumming god.

Phil Collins a true legend!!!

The way he hits that same note each time while drumming at the end... that's control. Amazing.

The production and the artists are beyond unreal Thank You Phil for all the amazing music 🙂

This man had that crowd in the palm of his hands his stage presence is outstanding

I love this live version. The person who looks like Gandalf in meditation is the wonderful Leland Sklar, bassist extraordinaire, eyes closed, feeling the vibe…..He has described that tour as being one of the highlights of his career…and the thrill of being onstage with that amazing band.

I cried. I knew what was coming and still got goosebumps. Wow

tears of joy...tears of sadness...gasps of amazement. WELL DONE. Thanks

There is a reason that In The Air Tonight got back to #2 on iTunes just from reaction videos decades after it first came out. It is a very powerful song.

It's a "love letter" to his ex. As noted below, Phil never asked to be a vocalist. But when Peter Gabriel left Genesis, they went through a lot of frustrating auditions with Phil trying to show the applicants how these songs should be sung. Finally, his bandmates decided they were wasting their time trying to find a new vocalist, when he was already there.

This specific performance will still be watched for centuries to come. The way the performance builds up totally captures the audience who probably have listened to it well over 100 times. Should be part of all music degrees - how to capture an audience...

The look on your face at the buildup, the climax, and the finale has been the same throughout all the ones who have listened to this masterpiece for the first time...heck...every time.

Everyone who heard this song in the car in the 80's and 90's can remember playing airdrums on the dashboard at least once. Greatest drum-beat-drop in Pop-History.

One of the very few drummers that sets up his drum kit left-handed.

Those Drums just make it!!!❤❤❤

I can't stop watching this performance. It is like eating peanuts. I am just addicted. What is going on? It's like Collins has somehow tapped into the soul of the universe. It flows so naturally!

You understated how many rhythms he was dealing with when playing and singing. You have to remember that not only are his hands doing something that contradicts what he's doing rhythmically with his vocals, but also each of his feet are doing something rhythmically different as well.

The electronic layer on the vocals is being produced by the keyboardist who is using a Vocoder and singing in parallel with Phil on certain sections.

I have watched this video dozens of times. I am amazed how Phil is going for a causal walk, yet he arrives at his drum kit at the exact correct moment for the drum riff that is known worldwide. He does not miss a beat. An epic video. Take care lady and have a great 2024!!...

It’s an experience and it’s moving even still 40 years later for me. It is such a connection to source. Building building….it’s awesome!

Holy Sh*t Indeed... A Grand Master of Music

Flawless as usual . my absolute favourite Phil Collins

What a genius,what a legend.God bless Phil Collins

Seeing "Light-Bulb Julia", when you found out it was about his divorce was the best!!! Such a relief. Even though this is a year old and I was sure you knew by now, and even though even though I'm watching you in a video, I was still have the need to yell at my screen. Like in a cheezy horror flick where you what to yell "TURN AROUND!!" "LOOK BEHIND YOU!!". But what was fun was that even though you didn't have the word "divorce", you were having all the appropriate emotional responses. Its like you knew, without knowing. Great video Julia!!!! Stay safe! Stay health! 😄🥰😛

One of the best songs ever made. Just legendary. When that drum hits, goosebumps every time.

He is a legend. I like watching first time reactions. It reminds me when my dad played Genesis and Phil or Peter Gabriel all the in the car growing up.

One word reaction-=MASTERPIECE.

To sing and play drums is not easy and he made it look so easy and flawless. What a legend, and I was so fortunate to go see him in concert. He is a great artist and song writer.

One of the best produced videos of all time….has everything.

What I find most fascinating about this performance is that this is his biggest hit. It's a song everyone is anticipating. And they do a long, slow build before he even comes on stage. And once he does step on stage, he's moving slowly... As a result, we *feel it coming*. Very effective.

It’s incredible how watching you enjoy this iconic performance of a Collins classic, actually not only enhanced my love of this song but provoked an emotional response in me. Excellent.

Thanks Julia for your expert knowledge...the guitar actually sounds like its empathizing with the heart's cry in Phil's voice.

The way that you get in an almost euphoric state is mesmerizing. This song can easily do that, but allow yourself to go there was truly epic. Thank you for letting us see that.

One of the finest live performances of any song anywhere

Phil Collins’ live version of this song is always consistent…and the best version of it

This is by far and away the greatest live performance of any song , EVER !. It's incredible !

First of all, Phil Collins is an amazing writer and music-creator. He creates stories with both music and lyrics, and both is worldclass. "You'll be in my heart" will always be one of my three favourite songs, and it was the main reason why I started loving music as young. He is pure talent, dedication, hard work and self-believe. Phil Collins is a legend, in the true meaning of the word. L-E-G-E-N-D. For me he is THE best music-creator in history. Second, he is soooo strong at coordination and rythm. Of course everything he does is pure worldclass, but coordination and rythm are standouts for me, it's one of the most visable places he shines when compared with other legends. He is just above and beyond all others. Thrid, great reaction, again. It's amazing when you take time to explain the more technical stuff, and for me it's especially when it's about singing. Please continue being amazing with reactions and explanations 🙂 All the best from Denmark.

Not only is his voice instantly recognizable, but that beautiful Gretsch concert tom kit frequently barked out from different artists' songs during the 80s, prompting the normal reaction, "Oh, Phil's on this song." A perfect kit for one of the greatest progressive drummers to have ever played.

Phil knows how to phrase his music, every thing he sings. Also his timing is flawless. Well, after all he is a drummer!

This is why he's a legend.....I love this song....I can listen to it all the time, it's that good.... especially the live performance version.

The keyboardist--I cannot recall his name--is singing along using the Vocoder in those parts with the electronic voice.

this concert was in 2004 at the POPB "Palais Omnisport de Paris Bercy" France, a 17 000 capacity venue now called "Accor Hotels Arena", and let me tell you that the whole show was AMAZING

Julia, I very much enjoyed listening to your technical breakdown of Phil's performance, both drumming and singing. I've heard this song since it was first released, but hearing it through your reaction gave me a new level of appreciation. Thank you for this highly informational and valuable video.

Phil has been playing drums since he was 5 years Young 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

OK who else can't help but do the Air Drums when Phil gets going? Every time I hear this song I am just waiting for that moment!

As I heard the story, this was made after divorce with first wife I believe, who was unfaithful with a repairman in one of their homes. Thus the words "if you'd be drowning, I would not lend a hand" or "I was there and I saw what you did", etc. Story also goes that during few years after that, on live performances, Phil placed a paint bucket somewhere on stage as a "symbol" when this song was sung. Unfortunate event, but it gave birth to one of the most epic song of all times. I also recall one man tell how he and his father went to one of Phil Collins' show and he saw him sing this song and play drums, as well as many other songs like this and he was amazed, he asked his father, how can he play drums and sing songs, with full energy from start until the end, how does he do it? And his father answered "Because he's Phil Collins". Perfect answer.

To sum up, this was one hell of a performance. And to think it was live in front of 80,000 people, then you really begin to appreciate just how masterful it was. On another note, the whole of the album Face Value, from which this song came from, was said to be “inspired” (for want of a better word), by a particularly traumatic divorce that he had gone through.

#11:15 That lead guitar’s “crying” is epic, groundbreaking, and emotion inducing! Anyone who has a true passion for music, has got to stop and wipe a tear away at just the sound of the weeping of that guitar.

Now, at 58 of age and being a Genesis fan my whole life, I can appreciate how great Phil Collins is as a composer, arranger and singer. And performer. 🥰🎶🖖

Back in the days of the Both Sides tour, there was a 20 minute break in the middle of the show. Some generic background music was playing the whole time, but as the break went on we could slowly hear the In The Air Tonight drum machine over the background music. For 20 minutes there was a slow rise in volume on the drum machine and slow decrease in the background music. The break was over when Darrell hit his chord.

He is a legend. Period. ❤

So allow us to review...Phil is a master of his craft. I agree with you. Most people could not do one of these things, much less both at same time. Brilliant video. Thank you for your insights and love.

Yes, a very, very long time. He was the drummer for Genesis before going solo in 1980. In the two times I saw him live, his ability to sing while drumming goes back over forty years. When Against All Odds won the Oscar for Best Song, he was in the audience. The Academy Awards had Ann Reinking perform his song. He wasn’t able to perform his own song, as he was in the US on the wrong visa. When I saw his tour after, he joked about that incident. First, he said “I had a song that was used in a film. (The crowd goes wild), he then joked that we didn’t know he wrote the theme to Deep Throat. After the joke he says “Ann Reinking can’t be here tonight, so I guess I’ll have to do this myself. He then breaks into Against All Odds. His performances have always been stellar. Also, yes, I believe it was about his divorce.

Every time I watch this performance, as the climax hits, I'm teary eyed and sniffly. Just incredible. I had heard this song dozens of times before seeing this live video and I'm blown away.

FUN FACT: Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney and Phil Collins are the only musicians to have sold over 100 million albums as a solo artist and member of a group.

he is absolutely awesome!!!!!!!! i would love to see him in concert.

The “vocoder” sound just makes me nostalgic for the 80’s.

It's always amazing to me how much soundboard engineers are overlooked in there ability, they can make or break a show.

a true pop wizard, master of synth and using layers

It´s still unbelievable how many goosebump moments a single song can give me. Every single time it kicks up a notch it hits me. The moment he finally hits the drums: I´m done.

Many people dont know before he was a solo artist he was the face of a band called Genesis, he an amazing artist and song writer, and is still to this very day as part of my top 5 favourite artists

Damn, quite unimaginable for me, that there are so many people out there who haven't heard a certain kind of "old" music before ... I'm feeling old ... just old ... like the Highlander must have felt. No, no, no, don't ask me: "Who's the Highlander?" !!!

Have always thought this was very menacing, evokes darkness and builds to release anger. Saw this concert he was brilliant

What makes this version stand out to me is that his tone is -- at an emotional level -- so personally connected to the story being told that the physical release of that drum fill is so satisfying. It's like he is slamming and locking every door that leads to something incredibly painful (relationship drama). Bridge burning cathartic soul cleansing. Done. All done. No turning back. So empowering to cut that cord of mental and emotional entanglement. The perfect resolution to a very satisfying build. Even without specifically spilling all the tea, it all comes together in the end.

When you look up the meaning make sure it's Phil's version. Many urban myths followed this song re: the drowning man. Phil wrote this during his divorce to his first wife. He was angry and saddened and wanted her back...at that time. By the time the album came out he had met his second wife. 😎

I’ve watched about 20 reaction vids to this performance. Yours is , by far, the best. Talk about visceral!

"I Feel Like It's Building To A Colossal Battle, The End Of Something" You're absolutely right on Both parts of that: Phil Collins Wrote This song While he was in the midst of a extremely bitter divorce case with his wife at the time and writing this song was a type of therapy for getting those aggressive feelings out

As a musician / singer you will know exactly the Lyrics, Tunes & Drums = Emotions = Goosebumps all the way 💥💥Damn amazing 👏 😍

Unlike many singers, Phil's singing vocal is the same as his talking, both in pitch and nasality. This song builds from pissed to enraged, which he was when he wrote it. A man he was paying a fortune to redecorate, was doing extra duty. So it's betrayal. Along with Jan Hammer, Phil personified the 80's from the time of Miami Vice, in which this song reigned, the era of aesthetics. The 80's refuses to die as witnessed by a resurgence in the genre. The Midnight, along with ever-increasing new-wave artists represent the best of that. Well worth a listen.

This is one of the best tunes ever composed in the Rock Music. Absolutely majestic and beautiful.

Genesis as a band loves to create an ambiance, using textures and dynamics to effect drama. Clearly Phil was part of those choices and brought them with him, particularly in this performance. This is a master using all his 'tricks' to manufacture tension and a sinister presence and foreboding. Brilliantly subtle. As Collins walks the stage you feel he is a panther on the loose looking for his prey. Primal.

Showman. Singer. Drummer. Fan since Genesis and he STILL gives me goosebumps ❤

Especially this performance of In the Air Tonight is like musical theater to me. The build in the music, his walk around the stage all lead to an explosion. You can feel all his emotions leading to that final fight that leads to life changing decision.

Had to pause in the "intro" to comment. This song has THE. BEST. DROP! Love this one!

Without a doubt a masterpiece of a live performance.

I so love watching you kids reaction to the song it doesn't matter what generation you've been in this still is the song your reaction was beautiful

Phil was the drummer for Genesis when Peter Gabriel was the lead singer. When PG left, Phil took over as the lead and arguably made Genesis how most remember them today. Phil Collins was one of my pop idols growing up as his timber was one identified with, along with Steve Perry. Those guys could just reach out and touch you with their vocals. Being classically trained and recorded, for some reason, the transition was easy for me. I can't forget the guitar work here also. He speaks with his technique from the extended vibrato notes to the slide down to end the phrase. I love the B Roll. Btw, the Aussie Ginger flow is on point 🤣

I use this song in class. I'm a Spin instructor, and I use this song as a slow climb that suddenly erupts into a powerful effort, running up hill. That beat drop really gets people going... and everyone knows the song, so they anticipate it. This song will never go out of style. Phil's the man.

Being there was amazing. I was lucky enough to see this tour twice.

i have watched tons and tons of in the air tonight reaction videos, but i have to say, julia, this, and your take, is THE best reaction and breakdown of probably one of the best live performances ever, by anyone. i was a bit hesitant to start watching when i saw the 37 min plus timestamp, but i am so glad i stayed. you knew/suspected/felt the buildup, you seemed to understand that this song was something very personal, very heavy. and then you took the time to follow up on your suspicions, and checked in to this song's background. no one has ever done that. i knew the background about this song, as it is one of my all time favourites, and now, through you, 100's of thousands more do, too. peace from canada.

The electronic sounds in this live performance takes the place of the harmonies that were in the recorded version. Love this song .. both versions!

When I was in highschool, the music teacher would play this every year at an assembly. We had an upper deck to the gym. 1920s built. And at. 18:07 all 1000 of us STOMPED our feet to the drum in. It's something I'll always remember. The sound was incredible.

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). It was performed in front of 20,000 + people at the "Palais Omnisport de Paris" and truly was, if not the greatest, close to the greatest live performance ever. The vocoder you correctly mentioned, was performed by Brad Cole--I've seen him do it on this song a number of times over the years that Phil has performed this song. Anyway, this track is from his "Finally... The First Farewell" Tour and this particular concert in Bercy started with an amazing "Drums, Drums & More Drums" track performed by Phil and his other drummer, the previously mentioned Mr. Thompson. Incidentally, this track ("In the Air Tonight") was the 17th in the tracklist sandwiched between Separate Lives and Dance Into the Light. Phil had the energy he had in this song all the way through to the end of the concert (as did his musicians). Now that he can no longer drum, his son NIcholas plays drums almost as well as the old man did--literally--Phil is 70 now. His son is on the Domino tour with Genesis currently. Oh and of course, his daughter Lily is rapidly becoming a famous actress in her own right. So, he's still doing alright I suppose (tongue in cheek).

That drum riff is an icon of 80s music. Most anyone who grew up during the 80s instantly recognizes the drum riff from this song. Phil Collins is a master among us.