Phil Collins and The Roots Just Made 'In the Air Tonight' Matter Again

From Esquire

Here's something to make every Boomer out there feel old: Millennials mostly know "In the Air Tonight" as that song from The Hangover rather than as the lead single from Phil Collins' debut solo album. They might even know Collins better as the guy who briefly wrote songs for Disney movies in the late '90s rather than the singer and drummer for Genesis.

But, I've been air drumming to Phil Collins for 30 years! How can these damn millennials not appreciate who he is!? you might be screaming to yourself.

Thankfully The Roots, music's greatest link to the past and the present, are here to make sure Collins' legacy and "In the Air Tonight" is never forgotten. The greatest band in late-night TV backed Collins for a pretty incredible rendition of the song on The Tonight Show on Tuesday. Sure Collins is a little raspier than he used to be, but "In the Air Tonight" has lost has none of its dorky prog-rock power.

See if you can listen without air drumming along when Questlove comes in at about 3:30 into the song. Note he does that iconic drum fill with one hand, so you'll have to get your chops up. Sure, it's Collins's song, but Questlove-who can play just about any style effortlessly-is like some mysterious thunderstorm behind the kit. And during that iconic entrance, the crowd goes nuts.

Expect Spotify plays of "In the Air Tonight" to skyrocket today.

You Might Also Like