Video of the Week: Do They Know It’s Christmas?

 

Video of the Week: Phil Goes Country

 

Video of the Week: Phil vs. Henry Mancini

 

Video of the Week: One More Night (Elvis version)

 

Video of the Week: Don’t Lose My Number

 

High Art

Dear Phil Collins,

I was just listening to your hit album “No Jacket Required,” and your duet with Sting on “Long Long Way To Go” got me to thinking (again!): have you ever thought about doing a classical album? I know they don’t use a lot of drum kits in classical music, but you’re not a shabby keyboard player and of course there’s the singing. Sting did that album of lute songs, Billy Joel wrote some piano sonatas, Paul McCartney even made an opera or something!  Once again, I think you could best any of these fellows with your exquisite sense of taste and decorum.  Perhaps you could even develop a musical theater stage adaptation of your song “Don’t Lose My Number.”  For years people have wondered who Billy is and why you didn’t want him to lose your number.  Here’s your chance to tell the story!

Stay Classy,

Your Fan.

 

Video of the Week: The Living Years (Version subtitulada)

 

…But Seriously (Pt. 2)

Dear Phil Collins,

I’ve got another covers album idea for you: an album of all socially conscious songs in the style of your touching “Another Day In Paradise.”  Some ideas:

(1) Fast Car – Tracy Chapman

(2) The Way It Is – Bruce Hornsby and the Range

(3) My Name Is Luka – Suzanne Vega (or “Luke” maybe?)

(4) What About Me – Moving Pictures

(5) The Living Years – Mike + The Mechanics (assuming he doesn’t mind!)

(6) Man In The Mirror – Michael Jackson

(7) She’s A Beauty – The Tubes

My lunch break is over but I bet I’ll think of some more.  I’m telling you — this could be a hit-making machine (that will help make the world a better place).

Think about it.

Love, etc. etc.,

Your Fan.

 

…But Seriously

Dear Phil Collins,

I’m just full of advice for you, Phil!  Discussing your cover of the Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows” on your first solo album “Face Value” led me to thinking about all those great cover albums people are doing these days.  Like Michael McDonald’s “Motown” series, Mark Kozelek’s “Tiny Cities,” Babyface’s new “Playlist,” and Mandy Moore’s beloved “Coverage.”  You should do that!  I’m thinking an all-Tropicalia album, contemporary electro (I bet you could really liven up some Peaches tracks with the Earth, Wind, and Fire  horns!), Miami Bass (it’s time for a comeback!), or maybe that Crunk Juice the kids keep talking about.  Sky’s the limit!  I think this could be a huge hit for you.  Rod Stewart is churning out “Great American Songbooks” faster than people can buy them, but I think people are more likely to take you as seriously as you deserve to be.  Especially once they realize what a great R&B singer you can be.

If you cover, they will buy.

Always on your mind (I hope!),

Your Fan.

 

Video(s) of the Week: You’ll Be In My Heart

Apparently in honor of the aforementioned Phil Collins reference on “Lost,” some enterprising fan has created a Kate and Sawyer make-out montage set to Phil Collins’s “You’ll Be In My Heart.”  Don’t remember that song?  That’s because it’s from the soundtrack to the 1999 animated Disney film “Tarzan.”  Yes, apparently Tarzan needed a love theme.  It’s Phil at his truly treacly worst.   

I don’t understand who these people are with nothing better to do than create montages of their favorite TV show. There are also a small fortune of “Lost” love montages set to “Against All Odds”: Jack and Kate, Charlie and Claire, Penny and Desmond. If I had the time I’d make one for Walt and Vincent.  Or the love-rhombus of Locke and Boone and Shannon and Sayid.