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Original poster

Phil Collins wrote the best unrequited love songs

116 replies

BeardySchnauzer · 17/09/2026 21:50

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

OP posts:
Luddite26 · 17/09/2026 22:26

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

Show quote history

I must be older than you, but why is it surprising he had one of the strongest voices in the 80s Spandau were huge !

Luddite26 · 17/09/2026 22:28

i always thought he was more of a blokes go too.

SecondFromLastInTheSackRace · 17/09/2026 22:29

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

Show quote history

We saw Tony Hadley around 2003/2004 when he’d fell out with Spandau Ballet and was doing tiny venues on his own. Got to say, he was bloody brilliant! He was a right laugh, and his voice was superb. Smashing gig!

We were sat out on a wall waiting for our taxi after the gig, and suddenly there was singing… some ladies had waited by his coach, and he was having an impromptu singalong with them😄
Love the guy!

crazeekat · 17/09/2026 22:30

He’s a brilliant singer, a great drummer and can write songs that make ur heart bleed. He is so underrated in the UK, he was great at Live Aid. As far as fame goes, he is nothing like the fake one min wonders who only care about their insta accounts that we have now.

Original poster
BeardySchnauzer · 17/09/2026 22:31

Luddite26 · 17/09/2026 22:26

I must be older than you, but why is it surprising he had one of the strongest voices in the 80s Spandau were huge !

Show quote history

It’s just because Gold was on and every time I hear it I am impressed by him!

to me Spandau are a bit naff and I always felt sorry for Tony but I was too young in the 80’s/living abroad to really get them. I was a Pet Shop Boys fan!

OP posts:
Luddite26 · 17/09/2026 22:31

Stephen Bishop wrote Seperate Lives.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 17/09/2026 22:32

For me, the ultimate song about a broken heart or getting through a break up is Tender by Blur.

I also love “All I Want is You” by U2

Gateappreciation · 17/09/2026 22:33

“You can't hurry love” was also a (bloody good) cover.

Saw Phil Collins at (old) Wembley. Superb concert, although the only thing I remember is the drum duet.

Saw Tony Hadley a couple of years ago. Still got a great voice. ‘Gold’ - one of my favourite songs ever.

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.

dreamiesformolly · 17/09/2026 22:34

Manifesto · 17/09/2026 22:08

You Know What I Mean has a very special place in my heart. A ‘why are we doing this again?’ lament

I was just thinking about that one too. I think Face Value was his ‘divorce album’ and quite a few of the songs on it are in that vein. If Leaving Me Is Easy is another heart-wringer.

Passementerie · 17/09/2026 22:37

ladygindiva · 17/09/2026 21:59

Separate lives is incredible. Not sure if he wrote it but I love it.

I duetted with a friend on this at a school concert in 1986 aged 14. We sang it with our backs to one another and a lot of heartfelt microphone clasping — I think we were channeling Barbara Dickson and Elaine Paige doing ‘I Know Him So Well’.😃

I don’t think PC did write it. It was up for an Oscar because it was on the soundtrack of White Nights (the world’s least likely defection film which is really about dancing) but lost to ‘Say You, Say Me’, also from White Nights.

jellybobs · 17/09/2026 22:38

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 17/09/2026 22:32

For me, the ultimate song about a broken heart or getting through a break up is Tender by Blur.

I also love “All I Want is You” by U2

The scene in Reality Bites with All I Want Is You playing is a defining memory of my uni years!

I adore Against All Odds and Separate Lies. Pure crushing heartbreak.

LifesabagofRevels · 17/09/2026 22:40

Pearl Jam’s Black will never not bring me back to having my heart shattered as a teenager.

HostaCentral · 17/09/2026 22:42

He was local to me in those heady early days and used to do impromptu sets at the local pub. He was a really nice guy.

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 17/09/2026 22:44

I saw PC years ago at one of the Princes Trust concerts at the RAH. It was an amazing show. His son Nick is now the drummer with Mike and the Mechanics - who also do a brilliant live concert.

RainbowRoadshow · 17/09/2026 22:55

OP, you are not the only one. Do you know the podcast This American Life? There's an episode where the writer Starlee Kine is going through a break-up and decides she wants to write a break-up song - and she wants to learn how to do it from the king of break-up songs himself – Phil Collins – so tracks him down and amazingly he agrees to speak to her and give her advice. Worth a listen. www.thisamericanlife.org/339/break-up

McSilkson · 18/09/2026 04:40

Oops. Didn't quote, so reposted.

McSilkson · 18/09/2026 04:41

PurpleAxe · 17/09/2026 21:56

Whenever I listen to Phil Collins' songs, I think 'I can see why she left you mate'.

😁😆
Ah, Phil Collins: a punchline that never gets old...

worreidaboutdpnow · 18/09/2026 04:44

My ex sent me phil collins songs when we split up. He cheated and knew he made a massive mistake. Poor sod

Thepeopleversuswork · 18/09/2026 06:10

Against All Odds is genuinely heart rending, an incredible ballad. Still stops me in my tracks.

I hate everything else he’s done. In Too Deep makes me cringe. I hate his voice and I hate his professional bloke schtick.

I think he just got lucky with that song.

Moistcottonchafers · 18/09/2026 07:23

Unfortunately "American Psycho" has tainted Phil Collins songs for me. 😂😂😂

Thepeopleversuswork · 18/09/2026 07:29

Moistcottonchafers · 18/09/2026 07:23

Unfortunately "American Psycho" has tainted Phil Collins songs for me. 😂😂😂

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

OsfameronTanamoril · 18/09/2026 07:40

Has anyone mentioned In The Air Tonight and Mama? I prefer angry Phil to sad Phil.

MyballsareSandy2015 · 18/09/2026 07:40

Love him and most of his songs.

Carless whisper was my first break up song at 16 …. I remember crying my eyes out on my bed, playing it repeatedly on my record player 🤣

Butterflysunshine01 · 18/09/2026 07:46

What about the incredible Tarzan soundtrack 😍