Sussudio: would've it been accepted if anyone but Phil Collins had sung it?

As would I

 

And interestingly enough, five threads on it here since 2004 - good catch!

 

It's kinda hard to parse this one, that far into their second/third act. I mean, we all admit that "White Rabbit" and "Somebody To Love" are always going to be the shadows looming over their career, and that happened (OMIGOD) half a century ago. Still, post-Gen-X/pre-Millenials comparing the circumstances in the front-end of their run, would have a real problem getting it. A lot of great songwriting in the '60s, but this troupe was neither a group of songwriters, or hitmakers...they were a "thing", a movement, a scene. Can't really compare Airplane/Starship with a guy who stepped out of his English Art-Band comfort zone 15 years later on the basis of a failed marriage. Really, apples and orangutans.

 

"Off of Portugal"

Yeh, 900 miles off the coast of Portugal!

 

Its part of the 80's, it was a huge hit, most that I knew loved it.

It sold, its bloody fun, wise up and shut up.

 

"Sussudio" ... megahit back in the day, catchy as hell but sounded a bit like "1999" to me. Dunno if it woulda had more critical appeal if sung by anyone else.

I read an article recently that Phil Collins is one of only two artists that have sold over 100 million albums as both a solo artist and as a principal member of a band (Macca of course being the other one).

In any case: awesome drummer, great songwriter, respect!

--Geoff

 

That seems pretty normal to me, it was tacky of the DJ to play that.

 

I know where it is, Mai...but they are a territory of Portugal, even if you only have to fly 2/3rds across an ocean to get there. ("Don't forget to gas-up when you land!").

 

I loved it and still do!

 

Aren't they Jefferson Airplane with a different name?

 

Why?

 

Those are two I'm not fond of either. The original of Groovy Kind Of Love though is a classic

 

Fun Fact: Phil recorded this song in the Stu-stu-studio.

 

Though many of us tried.

 

kind of, but the actual people in the Starship that recorded that had just one Airplaner left. In terms of hit writing, "White Rabbit" was both a top 10 hit and has remained iconic; guitarist Chaquico was one of four writers on 14 charting "Jane" and his "Find Your Way Back" was a top five "Mainstream rock" track, but only 29 on pop singles chart. That's about all they had going for them in hit-writing behind them.

 

I was just pointing out to those who don't know just how remote, and unconnected to Portugal, the Azores is.

 

I think Peter Gabriel would've never done a song like that, with all my respects.

 

It matters if that's the general perception, and there aren't many '80s singers considered more uncool by the general public than Phil Collins.

 

Not sure the meaning of the question, but
We Built This City Peaked at #1 on 11.16.1985
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now Peaked at #1 on 4.4.1987
Sara Peaked at #1 on 3.15.1986
...and of course, hitting #1 is a true sign of greatness
I was thinking "Miracles" but that's actually Jefferson Starship. Hmm, what if the cast of The Jeffersons did a cover version? Would that hit #1? Boggles the mind to think about it...

 

I think my appreciation for Phil stems from watching him and the other two remaining members of Genesis successfully hold it all together on stage a few times without Hackett and Gabriel back in late 70's early 80's. His solo career, those pop songs, have no effect on how highly I regard his talent.

 

Yeah, but the members of the band Starship didn't write any of those number one hits; all outside songwriters. Miracles was written by JS member Balin, no longer part of Starship.

 

Kinda. Only Grace Slick remained by then though.

Ed

 

But the OP was implicitly asking for people's opinions on Phil and on the song Sussudio, so aren't we allowed to give those opinions, and give them honestly? I don't think it's productive to call someone a "prog snob" just because they state that they dislike a certain song by a certain artist. People should not be required to prove their open-mindedness to pop by prefixing a post with "Hey, I like ABBA and I like the Monkees and I like Madonna" and list all the Phil Collins tracks they DO like before being allowed to say they dislike "Sussudio". Snobbery works both ways.

 

So would I, but that doesn't mean we have to like everything he put out, or that we are not allowed to criticise it.

 

I guess the so-called critics at RS didn't listen to much EWF, then.

I know. They were both around before you were.