"Sussudio" was the first track released as a single in the UK, and the second to be released in the US. In the UK the song reached number 12 on the UK charts. In the US, the song entered frequent rotation on MTV in May, and by 6 July, both the single and the album had reached number one on their respective US Billboard charts. A remix of the song appeared on Collins' 12"ers album.
Collins has said that he "improvised" the lyric. Collins was just playing around with a drum machine, and the lyric "sus-sussudio" was what came out of his mouth. "So I kinda knew I had to find something else for that word, then I went back and tried to find another word that scanned as well as "sussudio", and I couldn't find one, so I went back to "sussudio"," Collins said. According to Collins, the lyrics are about a schoolboy crush on a girl at school. Collins' older daughter has a horse named "Sussudio".
The music video for the song was filmed at a pub owned by Richard Branson in London. The accompanying music video features Collins, as well as long-time collaborators Daryl Stuermer and Chester Thompson. It begins with an outdoor shot of a pub, then cuts to Collins and his band playing for a disinterested crowd. The crowd slowly migrates toward the band as the song progresses, leaving them cheering at the end. Renowned bass player Lee Sklar also appears in the video, however neither Sklar nor Thompson played on the actual studio recording.
Reception for the song was mostly positive. Keegan Hamilton of the Riverfront Times said that the song was the best track on the album, saying that it's "catchy gibberish." "Even though this song isn't on the Flashdance soundtrack, it makes me want to put on some goofy legwarmers and kick out an aerobics routine. Where the vast majority of artists from this era try out the synthesizer/keyboard/horn section soup and fail miserably, Collins seems to have the recipe down to a science," Hamilton adds. However, Geoff Orens of Allmusic belives that the song is "dated." Robert Hilburn of The Los Angeles Times thought the song had a "friskier R&B style" as compared to Collins' other songs, and agreed that it sounded very much like a Prince song.
Michael R. Smith of The Daily Vault believed that "Sussudio" was the best track on the album, calling it a "monster track," also adding that "This is a song that chugs and churns along at a gingerly pace, set to a beat that is sure to get car speakers thumping. At the time, it was like nothing you had ever heard before on the radio. The word 'Sussudio' may not have meant anything, but the song itself was pure magic." David Fricke of Rolling Stone was not a fan, saying that songs like "Sussudio", with the heavy use of a horn section, were "beginning to wear thin."
It is one of Collins' more famous songs and is referenced in many different media, including books, stand-up comedy acts and television shows. Collins has said that this is the song people most often sing to him when they spot him on the street. In the novel and film adaptation of American Psycho, the main character of the movie (Patrick Bateman) briefly discusses it, before engaging in sexual intercourse with two prostitutes while it plays loudly from his CD player in the background, amongst other work by Phil Collins. It was heavily criticized for sounding too much like Prince's song "1999", a claim which Collins does not deny, saying that he is a big fan of Prince's work.
Sussudio
Phil Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the time, Sus-Sussudio, oh-oh
Now she don't even know my name
But I think she likes me just the same, Sus-Sussudio, whoa-oh
Ah, if she called me, I'd be there
I'd come running anywhere
She's all I need, all my life
Just say the word, oh, Sus-Sussudio
Now I know that I'm too young
My love has just begun, Sus-Sussudio, oh-oh
Ooh, give me a chance, give me a sign
I'll show her anytime, Sus-Sus-Sussudio, oh-oh
Ah, I've got to have her, have her now
I've got to get closer, but I don't know how
She makes me nervous and makes me scared
But I feel so good if I just say the word, Sus-Sussudio
Just say the word, oh, S-Sus-Sussudio, oh
Ah, she's all I need, all of my life
I feel so good if I just say the word, Sus-Sussudio
I'll just say the word, oh, S-Sus-Sussudio
I'll just say the word, oh, Sus-Sussudio
I'll say the word, oh, S-Su-Sussudio, oh-oh, oh, oh
Just say the word
Ooh, just, just, just say the word, ooh
Just say the word
S-Sus-Sussudio, Sus-Sussudio
Ah, Sus-Su-Sussudio, Sus-Sussudio
Sussudio, Sus-Sussudio
Just say the word, Sus-Sussudio
Say the word, oh
Just say the word
Ooh, just, just, just say the word
The song "Sussudio" by Phil Collins is a love song about a girl who doesn't even know the singer's name, but he believes she likes him just the same. The singer fantasizes about how wonderful it would be if the girl just said the word, "Sussudio," and acknowledged his existence. The singer is young and in love for the first time, and he feels like this girl is everything he needs in his life.
The lyrics of the song are simple and catchy, with the word "Sussudio" being repeated numerous times throughout the song. The meaning of the word is somewhat of a mystery – Collins has said that it doesn't really mean anything and that he just made it up because he liked the sound of it. Some people have suggested that it could be a variation on the Latin phrase "susurrus," which means whispering or murmuring.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a girl that's been on my mind
There is a girl that I have been thinking about.
All the time, Sus-Sussudio, oh-oh
I have been thinking about her all the time, and I have given her the nickname Sus-Sussudio.
Now she don't even know my name
She does not know my name yet.
But I think she likes me just the same, Sus-Sussudio, whoa-oh
I have a feeling that she likes me even though she does not know me by name.
Ah, if she called me, I'd be there
I would be there for her immediately if she reached out to me.
I'd come running anywhere
I would be happy to go to any place for her.
She's all I need, all my life
She is all I need to make my life complete.
I feel so good if I just say the word, Sus-Sussudio
Just saying her nickname, Sus-Sussudio, makes me feel great.
Now I know that I'm too young
I am aware that I am too young.
My love has just begun, Sus-Sussudio, oh-oh
I have just started to fall in love with her, and I call her Sus-Sussudio.
Ooh, give me a chance, give me a sign
I am asking her for a chance and a sign that she may like me back.
I'll show her anytime, Sus-Sus-Sussudio, oh-oh
I am willing to show her my affection anytime, and I call her Sus-Sus-Sussudio.
Ah, I've got to have her, have her now
I feel that I must have her right now.
I've got to get closer, but I don't know how
I want to get closer to her, but I don't know how to do it.
She makes me nervous and makes me scared
She intimidates me, and I am nervous around her.
But I feel so good if I just say the word, Sus-Sussudio
I feel an immense amount of joy just by saying her name, Sus-Sussudio.
She's all I need, all of my life
She is the only woman I need in my entire life.
I'll just say the word, oh, S-Sus-Sussudio
I will happily say her name, S-Sus-Sussudio.
Just say the word, Sus-Sussudio
I just want to hear her name, Sus-Sussudio, from her.
Say the word, oh
I implore her to say the word I am longing to hear.
Ooh, just, just, just say the word
Please just say the word.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Pillip Collins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheDaxynn1
I am a semi professional music producer, and Phil Collins totally pioneered two things, in my personal opinion:
1) Voice filters and echo
2) Beat compression
I know he wasn't the first to do these things, but he WAS one of the first to actually put it on the map. Look how far those two aspects have come over the years.... I believe he is a HUGE reason behind it!
This song specifically, listen to it on a killer sound system. It sounds and feels like a literal vacuum, with all of its compression!
@nofatchxplzthx
90% of comments "This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite."
@SymplyAmazingJD
I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip. Hey Paul
@justjilly1966
It’s because we want….to fit….in.
@MaximBG
A great ,great comment, a personal favorite
@mikecosta1889
And the last 10% "Malcolm In The Middle"
@haleyrichardson8818
@@justjilly1966 Or, because the song is timeless and legendary.
@allendeednella
"This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite."
@heyiamsarahb6774
American psycho 😂
@AssataWindchaserHoliday
Yeah this brings back memories. Great tunes.
@IamTheNight1939
This song reminds me of my dad, he loves 80s music
He’s not dead or anything, I just love my dad