Phill Collins

So today I wanted to re-watch my Phil Collins concert DVD "Finally the first farewell tour" and write my thoughts as I listen.

Selecting concert brings you of course to the start. You can also choose to play songs individually where it will jump to that portion of the concert. Phil Collins walks through to the stage, fans cheering and excitemenr doubling every second. Phil sits himself near a drum kit and immediately gets to work. After an introduction to his drumming skills, for those not familar with them, he is joined by another drummer. Before long we have 3 drummers battling it out. The concentration on their faces is evidence of their energy going into keeping timing, sound and more. If I was doing what they were my hands would be tired in a few minutes! They continued for minutes easily.

 I like how their drumming leads into the first song. Suddenly a familar tune plays and the singing begins, the crowd clearly no all too well what they are in for. "Something happened on the way to heaven" is the title of the song coming but not before Phil greets the audience in French. I like the story telling aspects to Phil's songs. I feel like I have been told to sit down and listen yet I have no intention of walking away anyway. "How can something so good go so bad? How can something so right go so wrong?" Phil is known for putting his experiences into his songs directly and I do not think this one is an exception. There is a clear defiance though, this song mentions not leaving 'till it's over and I remember a similar stance in another of his. Watching this song again for my review reminds me again how good it would be if Phil does tour again as some rumours seem to be pointing at. I love the energy emanating from the crowd and Phil effortlessly keeps it all going and intact. There is a guitarist who looks oddly like Barry Gibb which is interesting as it reminds me of two Youtube videos I discovered of Phil Collins playing for The Beegees.

Up next is an extremely familar song... "How could I just let you walk away?" With me now? Again, it has a similar message. In one sense perhaps Phil is telling the same story which is amazing considering how different the songs still are yet each song is also unique, telling of a different chapter in his life perhaps, the good, the bad but I think most commonly of all the struggles. "You coming back to me is against the odd but it's a chance I got to take." Again, that defiance I mentioned earlier. It is so nice to hear a singer sing live, no miming and sound so good. Of course there are those around still today. Avril Lavigne sounds brilliantly clear live, have a listen to her sing "When you're gone" live and play the piano at the same time, on Youtube if you are unsure. Phil has a very classic, no messing around style. He incorporates instruments, comedy and some other things into his concert but it is all at the right time. No dancing on his head to get someone's attention. If he ever decides to "dance on his head" it is not because he can but because it fits.

Ok, the next song is playing now. "Don't lose my number." This is a very catchy song, fast and also a message of not giving up. While Barry Gibb strums away on his guitar, the backing singers dance away clearly, genuinely enjoying themselves. Phil now looks like he is about to start hopping but instead transfers the energy to creating hand gestures to help you visualise his story and meaning. If you think he should be tired at act 4...well wait until an hour later when he is still bouncing around like a strange creature that somehow receives the energy back that he gives out.

Time for Phil to chat to the audience in France! Oh dear, thankfully there is a translation as he has got further ahead in his French than me! At this point you can clearly see Gandalf on the other Guitar.*

Tarzan! Well there is actually more than one Tarzan song and Phil sung at least two of them but this is "You'll be in my heart." Very clear messages with a great delivery and the continous assurance that "You'll be in my heart." "Don't listen to them 'cause what do they know?" Perhaps I should mention at this point that one of the backing singers looks like one of my brothers. Now that all the cameos have been mentioned it is time for the next song!

Here we have a slower paced song. "One more night." I think this might of been one of those songs Magic 105.4 (A british radio station) used to play at night during their "Mellow Magic" sessions and I can see why. It is soft and gentle and something you could listen to at night perhaps even fall asleep to not in a bad way at all. It is one of those songs I think I would listen to night on purpose actually, when you are trying to relax but still have thoughts to process, this song gets you thinking still, your last thoughts before you end the day. I would say the speed is perfect for that time of day (Night) actually.
"Give me one more niiiight?" You know the song, come on and sing along now :) Sorry I forgot your name but the trumpet guy is back...how people can hold their breath long enough to play that instrument I do not know...well done to you sir. As the trumpet sounds signal the end of the song, the singers give a last little push before finally stopping ever so gently.

While the beat of the next song starts I just wanted to tell you that on the back of the Dvd (Or my version anyway) you get a full list of not only features but every song and the order it is played during the concert. "Can't stop loving you" is a very "Storyfied" song. Close your eyes and hopefully you can easily visualise if not able to already. Why should he stop loving her, Phil asks? Why indeed. I think this is something some of us can relate to right? Ah the struggles of love! What I like is, you can hear this song and listen to it and understand it yet not be overwhelmed by the negativity of bad experiences in life, or that is how it is for me anway. It is like a softly written letter yet is honest all the same.

Phil now stares around the audience fiercely. "Hang in long enough" appears to be the next choice. It is not that long before Phil has all his backing singers walking after him. I do enjoy his physical manifestations of his singing. Please note my writing may keep pausing because I am enjoying the music so much! I like this, Phil is back on the front with his singers, leaning from side to side and then that is it! A massive round of applause and a zoom out courtsey of the cameras to show you just how many people are gathered here today.

Phil shows us his French again to lead into the next song. Now this song has been sung by others but I am not really keen on the other covers. "Don't be afraid. To let them show?" Can you guess? Yes. "True colours." With a nice input from the trumpet again at certain intervals. When he sings "Such sad eyes" I always feel the sadness, he is not just speaking words, he feels them and delivers straight to your door. The screen at the back has changed to a multi-coloured display to fit the song. Another crowd pleasing song.

Ah. This is one of my favourite- "Come with me." A song of ressurance again. "Hold my hand, it'll be alright?" What lyrics could be more innocent? I actually do not remember noticing the first time around that the display for this song is a picture of two hands reaching out to one another, remind me to pay more attention to it during each song. "I'll try and keep you safe, away from the heartache." ...."I'll do anything for you...don't be scared...lift your head." With a song like this, you could certainly have more positive thoughts in your head and a brighter mood after listening. As if to show he can do just that, Phil now crouches down and gestures with his hand for us to come near. 10/10,

This is another very familar sounding song. I am sure you can recognise it in a few seconds. "Groovy kind of love" is actually a song I did not hear until later on. I first heard "Against all odds" if I remember correctly, probably on Magic. "When I'm feeling blue all I gotta do is take a look at you." There are these songs where lyrics just seem to fly out so easily, not aimlessly but settle down nicely as a foundation for the next one to follow-this is one of those songs.

"I missed again" is act 13. With lyrics like "I'm waiting in line" and "You think you got it but it's something you already had" this is another good song, although every song here is. "I think I missed again. Uhuh." I think this is a song for any kind of mood and one people might find themselves singing along to quite easily. "You know I missed again!" Thus ending the song.

Once again we have a song with a great familarance. (Not a word? It is now!) "Another day in paradise." Brilliant lyrics that explain everything with very fine detail. "She calls out to the man in the street. He can see she's been crying." I would love to of written a song like this, I can tell you! "Another day for you and me in paradise." "You can tell by the lines on her face" is one of my favourite lines, I am not sure why but it always gets my attention and is the lyric I remember most from this song. Talking about paradise may seem odd given the struggles Phil has but it shows he has a range of emotions driving his singing experiences.

Act 15-"No way out." This is a slowish song, heavy with emotion. I think it is one of the longest songs here which is fine by me, it never gets boring nor repetitive. Another song I could listen to it again and again.

I like "Seperate lives" a lot too. I have listened to this song so many times, I am not sure if I prefer it too "No way out" or not, it is very hard. I have listened to Phil duet this song with so many different singers, here in his concert with the singers surrounding him he adds another good one to the collection. I like how this song is very sad, gentle and hopeless...but then mentions hope still. The way this song is sung is surely in such a way that if you wanted someone to understand what Phil Collins is like as a singer you would just show them this song and then that is it! "You have no right to speak to me so kind." I love it. "Someday I might. Find myself.........looking in your eyes..."

Well we have reached the end of disc one now! We do have extras that we could cover sometime but onto disc 2 for now to listen to the rest of the concert songs.

We have 9 songs left now, not including bonus material, how time flies when you are enjoying yourself, really. I remember when I watched this concert the first time and was amazed at how much time had passed since I sat down and started listening. You just listen to one song after the next mesmerised. The start of "In the air tonight" is already underway. The Dvd box states the concert is 133 minutes long which is over 2 hours. The extras are roughly 224 minutes and the total duration is apparently 357 minutes long, this really is an amazing bargain. I am glad I bought it. This is a slightly different version of the song to what I am familar with. It is interesting to see Phil walking about as oppose to sitting at drums while he sings. I say that and he has now just sat down! Phil has taken to the drums again for a quick session of drumming. This does indeed have a really different feel to it this version. The audience are mimicking him, encouraging him on as he does a bit more drumming inbetween his "In the air tonight 2.0."

We now have about 4 trumpet players for "Dance into the light" a joyful song, we do have a bit of drumming in the background, Barry Gibb making himself known again on the guitar and swaying of arms from the crowd. "It's a brand new day! The world is in your hands now use it!" Phil keeps his physical work going as well, dancing as much as he is singing. I think playing this song loudly may just get everybody dancing into the light!

This song has been covered by a few singers as well. But again, I prefer Phil's "You can't hurry love." I guess the other versions are bearable but hearing this, it sounds more authentic. "Love don't come easy. It's a game of give and take." Who does not know these lyrics? Words are as always pronounced perfectly at the right moment in the right tone.

Ok, Tarzan song two "Two hearts." It is actually years since I watched Tarzan last, I think I may of been a child but I remember the story more or less. This song is very fitting and as a stand alone song as well.

The last song flows straight into the next one "Wear my hat." This song does have a very different feel to it as well. Phil has raided the wardrobe and we now have props for this song, I love it.

"Easy lover" is a lively song and one of the backing singers is allowed to take the lead for a bit. Phil did actually mention the real name of the Barry Gibb look alike but I missed it. Regardless, he is now of on his own instrumental on his guitar for a bit. More acting from the team as Phil gestures for a male singer to leave in the opposite direction of a female one, which if you were hearing the lyrics would make sense.

Almost done now. "Sussudio" is song 7. We have a nice contribution from the audience when Phil points his microphone in their direction. As the camera points towards the audience a lot now I notice what a range of ages there are which is nice. I can see people who look to be around 20 something and people much older. Clearly Phil has gained the attention of old and new fans. Haha, Phil has now gone down to the audience and stopping at random intervals to get them to sing along. One girl managed to hug him as in Phil willingly moved nearer after she made a sudden grab before he could move on to the next lot. Very good.

"It's not too late" will be starting soon...What I like is that the credits are playing as though it is over just like when you are at a concert...you realise the day is coming to a close sadly...but then wait... the singer you have come to see has started up again. Here we go- "Until he finds his answers." This is a perfect song to sing near the end of the concert. "It's not too late." That could apply for so many things, another charm going for this song.

Here we are! The final song. "Take me home." We have some drumming and slowly but surely the tune starts to appear. I think this is another one of my favourites. "There's a fire that's been burning...right outside my door." This song sort of reminds me of a destiny kind of song. At first it sort of sounds like a song from Tarzan, also. Home. Somewhere perhaps we all want to go but where is it? This is a good choice to end on I think. A concert with energy, joy, passion, excitement, fun and strength. I like how in a minute Phil has everyone applaud his team but keeps singing the song as each person leaves until he finally does as well. I notice someone was actually a trombone player so not all of those trumpet players I mentioned earlier may of actually been playing a trombone.

It is sorta odd that there is a Playstation 2 compatible logo/statement on the back given that almost all dvds are. I guess this was produced by Sony in someway and given the year, they may of been using it as a way to promote the Playstation 2 and show what it can do although I do not own another Dvd with it. I purchased the region 2 compative version although it did not really matter to me as you can download VLC for free to your computer devices to watch dvds from any region.

Well I hope you enjoyed reading my random, live analysis as I re-watched the whole concert again. Thankyou for reading.




*Gandalf and Barry Gibb do not actually appear in this concert but two musicians do bear a striking resemblance to each one respectively. Have a watch and see if you see it too.