Born and raised in west London, Collins played drums from the age of five and completed drama school training, which secured him various roles as a child actor, with his first major role, aged 13, as the Artful Dodger in the West End musical Oliver!. He then pursued a music career, joining Genesis in 1970 as their drummer and becoming lead singer in 1975 following the departure of Peter Gabriel. Collins began a successful solo career in the 1980s, initially inspired by his marital breakdown and love of soul music, releasing the albums Face Value (1981), Hello, I Must Be Going! (1982), No Jacket Required (1985) and ...But Seriously (1989). Collins became, in the words of AllMusic, "one of the most successful pop and adult contemporary singers of the '80s and beyond". He also became known for a distinctive gated reverb drum sound on many of his recordings. In 1985, he was the only artist to perform at both Live Aid concerts. He also resumed his acting career, appearing in Miami Vice and subsequently starring in the film Buster (1988). In 1996, Collins left Genesis to focus on solo work; this included writing songs for Disney's Tarzan (1999) for which he received an Oscar for Best Original Song for "You'll Be in My Heart". He rejoined Genesis for their Turn It On Again Tour in 2007. Following a five-year retirement to focus on his family life, Collins released an autobiography in 2016 and completed his Not Dead Yet Tour in 2019. He then rejoined Genesis in 2020 for a second reunion tour, ending in March 2022.
Collins's discography includes eight studio albums that have sold 33.5 million certified units in the US and an estimated 150 million records sold worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling artists. He is one of only three recording artists, along with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson, who have sold over 100 million records both as solo artists and separately as principal members of a band. He has won eight Grammy Awards, six Brit Awards (winning Best British Male Artist three times), two Golden Globe Awards, one Academy Award, and a Disney Legend Award. He was awarded six Ivor Novello Awards from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, including the International Achievement Award. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010. He has also been recognised by music publications with induction into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2012, and the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame in 2013.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Collins
Studio albums
Face Value (1981)
Hello, I Must Be Going! (1982)
No Jacket Required (1985)
...But Seriously (1989)
Both Sides (1993)
Dance into the Light (1996)
Testify (2002)
Going Back (2010)
Like China
Phil Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I must be crazy to be this infatuated
But I know you know
We got something special never felt before
You get me going just looking at you
And the feeling's not hard to recognize so
Alright I'll come out in the open with it
Will you walk out with me
'Cause you're the first girl I've ever loved
Tell me do you feel the same way
Well I'll show you I'm not like all the rest
'Cause I know who I am
Your skin is smooth as silk and your eyes like stars
You're just like a picture book standing there
But I can't go on
No, I can't go on thinking you don't feel the same way as I do
I'll be so careful I'll hold you like china
I'll promise not to hurt you I'll hold you like china
You won't feel nothing, I'll hold you like china
'Cause I know it's your first time
Your mom and dad don't like me
And they tell me every time I call around to see you
I don't know why
'Cause I always straighten my tie and comb my hair
I know your brother thinks that
I'm a limp wristed wimp from the other side of town
I know he's got me wrong
Because I'm really not like that, I'll tell you why
You're the first girl I've ever loved
Tell me do you feel the same way
Well I'll show you I'm not like all the rest
'Cause I know who I am
I remember the very first time I held your hand
And that was the last time you were so close to me
But I can't go on
No, I can't go on thinking you don't feel the same way as I do
I'll be so careful I'll hold you like china
I'll promise not to hurt you I'll hold you like china
You won't feel nothing, I'll hold you like china
'Cause I know it's your first time
I know, you know and now I wanna, I wanna tell everybody
I know you, know and now I want them all to see
I know, you know and now I wanna, I wanna tell everybody
I know you, know and now I want them all to see
The song "Like China" by Phil Collins tells the story of a boy who is infatuated with a girl and is determined to prove his love to her. Despite the disapproval of their parents and the stares from their peers, the boy is convinced that he and the girl have something special. He is afraid that the girl does not feel the same way as he does, but he is willing to take the risk and ask her out anyway. He promises to be gentle and cautious with her, like handling a fragile piece of china, and pledges his love and devotion to her.
The lyrics of this song are incredibly poignant and relatable to anyone who has been in love. The boy's vulnerability and honesty are endearing, and his willingness to take a chance on love is inspiring. The metaphor of holding someone like china is particularly powerful, as it conveys both the fragility and the beauty of true love.
Overall, "Like China" is a touching and heartfelt song that captures the essence of young love and the risks and rewards that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
My mom and daddy both say
I must be crazy to be this infatuated
My parents think I am irrational to be so strongly attracted to you
But I know you know
We got something special never felt before
I am convinced that you feel the same way, and that what we share is unique and unparalleled
You get me going just looking at you
And the feeling's not hard to recognize so
Just the sight of you sets me off, and it's obvious to me (and presumably to you) how I feel
Alright I'll come out in the open with it
Will you walk out with me
I'm going to be open about my feelings, and I want to know if you are willing to be with me publicly
'Cause you're the first girl I've ever loved
Tell me do you feel the same way
Well I'll show you I'm not like all the rest
'Cause I know who I am
You are the first person I have ever loved, and I want to know if you love me back. I am unique and true to myself, and I want to show you that
Your skin is smooth as silk and your eyes like stars
You're just like a picture book standing there
But I can't go on
No, I can't go on thinking you don't feel the same way as I do
Your beauty is mesmerizing and I can't help but be drawn to you, but I need to know if you share my feelings because the uncertainty is unbearable
I'll be so careful I'll hold you like china
I'll promise not to hurt you I'll hold you like china
You won't feel nothing, I'll hold you like china
'Cause I know it's your first time
I will be gentle and precious with you if we become intimate, as I understand it may be your first time
Your mom and dad don't like me
And they tell me every time I call around to see you
I don't know why
'Cause I always straighten my tie and comb my hair
I know your brother thinks that
I'm a limp wristed wimp from the other side of town
I know he's got me wrong
Because I'm really not like that, I'll tell you why
Your parents have a negative opinion of me and express it whenever I come over. I am not sure why, since I make an effort to appear presentable. Your brother thinks I am effeminate, but this is not true and I will explain why
I remember the very first time I held your hand
And that was the last time you were so close to me
But I can't go on
No, I can't go on thinking you don't feel the same way as I do
I remember the moment we first touched, but it has been too long since we were that close. I can't keep going living with doubts and wondering if you share my feelings
I know, you know and now I wanna, I wanna tell everybody
I know you, know and now I want them all to see
I know, you know and now I wanna, I wanna tell everybody
I know you, know and now I want them all to see
We both know about our feelings and now I want everyone to know and see how special what we have is
Lyrics ยฉ CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Phil Collins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fenando Guaracy
Phil Collins..Simplesmente espetacular, magnรญfico, fantรกstico cantor.Suas mรบsicas sรฃo verdadeiros hinos de limpar a alma e fazer a pessoa viajar pra outra dimensรฃo. Sensacional..Inesquecivel.
Kenneth Collins
Pretty good for sure lol
Susanne Dost
Phil is not like no other one !Voice always feels in the hart.
Daniel Geary
This is such an underrated album. Being the follow up to "Face Value", it can be hard to make the lightning strike twice. A fine work nonetheless. I imagine many of these cuts were left off the previous album, in part, due to the fact that there were only so many songs you could fit on an LP in 1981 and perhaps because some didn't fit the mood of Face Value.
Gezzy
Underrated? Was it not his biggest album? Although still only 12 inches ๐๐๐
Steve Carr Clark
My favourite album by Phil. Some great arrangements and much variety.
lemurian chick
Getting to #8 as an album in the USA and #2 in the UK is hardly underrated. I am not quite sure why you think they were left off the prior album either. Trust meโas someone who owned this album when it came out, it was popular and many of the songs were played on album-oriented radio.
Cheryl MusicLvr
Love this song....love Phil's voice.....
1st And 2nd Time Around
Damn!! I'm still catching up on some of Phil's songs. This one is a GEM! "I'll Hold You Like China" great line... First time I have hear it. Great way to start 2021!!!!
Maria isabel Silva
Amo Phil Collins ๐๐๐