Phil Collins wrote the best unrequited love songs

BeardySchnauzer · 2026-09-17T20:50:14+00:00

So I mean the ones you listen to when you’ just want to wallow - against all odds, everyday, in too deep etc etc i feel this might be controversial.. and if anyone comes for me with Taylor Swift I would say her breakup songs are more suited to the ‘fuck him, he didn’t deserve me anyway’ stage YABU - it’s all sentimental tosh YANBU - get the tissues, I’m bawling just thinking of the opening chords

XigDoop · 22/09/2026 12:24

millecent · 21/09/2026 06:50

When I lived in France as a student Phil Collins was massive over there and there was even an album of him and various r&b artists covering his songs. It surprised me at the time as Phil was more someone my mum listened to than my peers but I do like a lot of his music.

They loved Phil in America while in the UK he seemed to be a bit naff.

maxslice · 22/09/2026 05:25

I like Phil Collins, but I think there are better songs. “Somebody that I used to know” “When a heart breaks, it don’t break even” “Say something, I’m giving up on you”.

dreamiesformolly · 22/09/2026 04:43

Thepeopleversuswork · 18/09/2026 07:29

That and his support for Thatcher and his fax machine divorce antics!

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He does seem to have been a bit of a plonker in his love life, tbf. But maybe it's benefited his songwriting abilities, given how many of his songs seem to be about love slipping through one's fingers...

millecent · 21/09/2026 17:05

Passementerie · 21/09/2026 07:03

Is that the one that had Mariah Carey doing Against All Odds?

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Maybe… I can’t actually remember, it was a while ago!

Passementerie · 21/09/2026 07:03

millecent · 21/09/2026 06:50

When I lived in France as a student Phil Collins was massive over there and there was even an album of him and various r&b artists covering his songs. It surprised me at the time as Phil was more someone my mum listened to than my peers but I do like a lot of his music.

Is that the one that had Mariah Carey doing Against All Odds?

millecent · 21/09/2026 06:50

When I lived in France as a student Phil Collins was massive over there and there was even an album of him and various r&b artists covering his songs. It surprised me at the time as Phil was more someone my mum listened to than my peers but I do like a lot of his music.

XigDoop · 21/09/2026 00:09

I prefer angry Phil, O Lord...

Floatlikeafeather2 · 21/09/2026 00:04

BeardySchnauzer · 17/09/2026 22:00

You know who else has a surprisingly good voice - Tony Hadley

and yes, I am currently listening to a best of the 80’s playlist

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Why would you be surprised that Tony Hadley has a good voice? It's what he's always be known for and it's what Spandau Ballet was founded on.

User3353821614 · 21/09/2026 00:02

Sidge · 17/09/2026 22:33

Against All Odds was my first meaningful breakup song. It still gets me in the guts, it’s such a powerful song.

I love a bit of Phil Collins. Great writer, musician, singer. He wrote for so many other people I believe, and loads of movie soundtracks.

It’s interesting because I remember Phil saying he hated that song and wrote it in a hurry for the film when he was asked to do it. Not one of his favourites and although a fantastic writer, I don’t think it was from “his heart” if you see what I mean.

Edited to say that the fact he wrote it “just like that” shows what a great song writer he is. But he didn’t understand the hype 😂

OneMentalBastard · 20/09/2026 23:54

Modernfamily2011 · 20/09/2026 23:35

and yet he’s worth £350 million
you sound lovely

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Thanks. You sound un-needy and un-tragic. Yay!

AlecTrevelyan006 · 20/09/2026 23:49

BeardySchnauzer · 18/09/2026 11:34

I am a big fan of drums so that probably also explains why I like the Phil Collins ones!

I'm not saying there aren’t other good songs out there but he did write quite a lot on the subject

If you like drums you should listen to Woman in Chains by Tears for Fears - Phil Collins played the drums on that track.

Modernfamily2011 · 20/09/2026 23:37

BeardySchnauzer · 20/09/2026 23:35

Yes! Which is why it was so surprising

it sounds like he had good relationships with his kids which seems to be a positive in the celeb world!

I did learn today that Malcolm MacDowell was married to Mary Steenburger which for some reason I find surprising!

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Yes, Lilly Collins is married to Mary Steenberg’s son

Modernfamily2011 · 20/09/2026 23:35

OneMentalBastard · 20/09/2026 23:25

I think he's a whiny wee cunt.

and yet he’s worth £350 million
you sound lovely

Original poster

BeardySchnauzer · 20/09/2026 23:35

Modernfamily2011 · 20/09/2026 23:28

@BeardySchnauzer - he got back with his 3rd wife around 2020 and she totally ripped him off again! I think he had to have her evicted and she sold a lot of his collections!

Yes! Which is why it was so surprising

it sounds like he had good relationships with his kids which seems to be a positive in the celeb world!

I did learn today that Malcolm MacDowell was married to Mary Steenburger which for some reason I find surprising!

OP posts:

Modernfamily2011 · 20/09/2026 23:34

@Branwellgirl 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I personally just want to give him a hug, he seems like he needs one ☺️

Branwellgirl · 20/09/2026 23:30

I love PC and I absolutely would, at any time in the past, or now, if he was fit for it 😁. I am quite old.

Modernfamily2011 · 20/09/2026 23:28

@BeardySchnauzer - he got back with his 3rd wife around 2020 and she totally ripped him off again! I think he had to have her evicted and she sold a lot of his collections!

OneMentalBastard · 20/09/2026 23:25

I think he's a whiny wee cunt.

Original poster

BeardySchnauzer · 20/09/2026 23:22

yes his last wife in particular seems to have worked out badly - I heard him recently and he talked about how he would get back with her tomorrow if she wanted.

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Modernfamily2011 · 20/09/2026 23:18

He is an absolute legend and all round nice guy! He’s just made some very questionable choices on wives!
Face Value and Hello I must be going were testament to that 🤣 I absolutely love him ❤️
For context, i’m in my 40’s so was v young when he was huge in the 80’s

the80sweregreat · 20/09/2026 07:57

I am a Roxy music fan too. He had a distinctive voice and that smooth jazzy sound that washes over you.
Fabulous group.

Aydel · 20/09/2026 07:54

Toastandjam16 · 19/09/2026 22:54

Throwing It All Away - as used in a heart rending TV series - is another great lost love song.

An alternative though: Roxy Music. Dance Away, Oh Yeah!, Over You.. all brilliant heartbreak songs.

Roxy Music’s Oh Yeah was the soundtrack to my first break up. I used to lie in bed and cry and listen to it on repeat on my Walkman.

the80sweregreat · 20/09/2026 07:42

He is great. He did one of his songs on top of the pops with a tin of paint next to the keyboard because his ex had previously run off with the man who decorated their house !
In the air tonight is my favorite one of his.

MamaBobo · 20/09/2026 07:24

Luddite26 · 18/09/2026 14:34

what did your friends think about your PC obsession? I'm assuming you mean when in your teens. although my mum has a huge Meltdowns Gibson Brave heart poster in her living room my kids called him Uncle Mel she was so obsessed in her 50s.

but I'm totally with you on the John Waite many crushes were mooned over in my bedroom listening to that taped off the radio! Don't know why I never bought the single it was a good one still is when it comes on the radio.

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They thought I was nuts! I was 13 when I bought my first PC single and I’d say I was obsessed from then till I left high school. I left it behind a bit when I started working! I always had crushes on older men though…went to see The Colour of Money with a friend and she came out lusting after Tom Cruise while I was drooling over Paul Newman. Michael Caine and John Thaw were also very appealing. Colin Firth, Hugh Grant and Hugh Bonneville are in that fantasy crush space these days but I don’t have a cardboard cutout of any of them. Alas!

DeftGoldHedgehog · 19/09/2026 23:11

Morepositivemum · 17/09/2026 22:01

As an aside to this (I agree with you op!)- groovy kind of love is one of the best love songs out there!

He didn't write that.