"IN THE AIR TONIGHT" PHIL COLLINS (1981)

This month, I’m looking back at movies and tv shows to rediscover songs that graced the screen. The scenes and the music are inseparable. They’re engrained in our heads and our hearts. And they’re proof that the best music we have doesn’t exist in isolation. It attaches itself to a moment or an experience. #SceneSongs

Show: Miami Vice

Before the mainstream pop tendencies of No Jacket Required came this Phil Collins anthem that became larger than life without crushing the charts. It was a dark period in his personal life, and the musical explorations in the song reflected the prog DNA of Peter Gabriel and early Genesis that we don’t typically associate w/Collins’ solo career. The song became larger than life in one of the greatest scenes in television history, occurring in the pilot episode of Miami Vice. Nearly a full minute goes by with no dialogue. The scene almost entirely takes place in a car. Crockett and Tubbs, barely saying a word. Phil Collins saying everything that needs to be said.

The power of “In The Air Tonight” can be boiled down to two moments, both revolving around the percussion. First, the creepy, ominous drum machine in the opening, a peculiar instrument of choice for a drummer. And second, the explosive drum barrage at the 3:40 mark, which is arguably the most famous drum break in music history. One showed Collins’ reclusive, detached persona, the other revealing an outburst of emotion. Deeply personal, but something music fans could feel on their own. Absolutely brilliant.

“I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT FOR ALL MY LIFE, OH LORD, OH LORD.”

"IN THE AIR TONIGHT" PHIL COLLINS (1981)

After spending an entire month looking back at the 80’s, I realized one thing. I need more. Luckily, a couple of fellow music fans on Twitter came up with the brilliant idea to highlight #30DaysOf80sMovieSongs during the month of April. I couldn’t resist at the opportunity to keep going, to keep listening, and to keep celebrating the decade that has meant more to me than any other from a musical standpoint. Each day I’m playing a different soundtrack favorite on the Mental Jukebox.

Movie: Risky Business

Before the mainstream pop tendencies of No Jacket Required came this Phil Collins anthem that became larger than life without crushing the charts. It was a dark period in his personal life, and the musical explorations in the song reflected the prog DNA of Peter Gabriel and early Genesis that we don’t typically associate w/Collins’ solo career. The song became larger than life in one of the greatest scenes in television history, occurring in the pilot episode of Miami Vice. It also made an appearance in the eighties flick Risky Business.

The power of “In The Air Tonight” can be boiled down to two moments, both revolving around the percussion. First, the creepy, ominous drum machine in the opening, a peculiar instrument of choice for a drummer. And second, the explosive drum barrage at the 3:40 mark, which is arguably the most famous drum break in music history. One showed Collins’ reclusive, detached persona, the other revealing an outburst of emotion. Deeply personal, but something music fans could feel on their own. Absolutely brilliant.

“I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord, oh Lord.”

"IN THE AIR TONIGHT" PHIL COLLINS (1981)

Inspired by Albumism, I’m doing my own version of Flying Solo with individual tracks. Band breakups and hiatuses are never fun, but these solo jams were defining moments in my life’s soundtrack.

Before the mainstream pop tendencies of No Jacket Required came this Phil Collins anthem that became larger than life without crushing the charts. It was a dark period in his personal life, and the musical explorations in the song definitely reflected Peter Gabriel and early Genesis.

The power of the song can be boiled down to two moments, both revolving around the percussion. First, the creepy, ominous drum machine in the opening, a peculiar instrument of choice for a drummer. And second, the explosive drum barrage at the 3:40 mark, which is arguably the most famous drum break in music history. One showed Collins’ reclusive, detached persona, the other revealing an outburst of emotion. Just absolutely brilliant.

“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.”