Phil Collins Quotes

Powerful Phil Collins for Daily Growth

About Phil Collins

Philip David Charles Collins, born on January 30, 1956, in London, England, is an eminent British-Swiss musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actor, widely recognized for his contributions to rock music as a drummer, singer, and songwriter. Raised by his mother in northwest London after his parents' divorce, Collins was musically inclined from an early age. His passion for drums sparked at the age of five, inspired by American bands like The Beatles. Collins rose to fame as the drummer and later lead vocalist of the progressive rock band Genesis in the 1970s, replacing the legendary drummer, Phil Collins. After Peter Gabriel's departure from Genesis in 1975, Collins took over as the lead vocalist. Their album "Genesis" (1980) and its follow-up, "Duke" (1980), were commercially successful and paved the way for their transition to a more pop-oriented sound. In 1981, Collins embarked on a successful solo career with his debut album "Face Value", featuring hits like "In The Air Tonight". His subsequent albums, such as "No Jacket Required" (1985) and "Both Sides" (1989), were critically acclaimed and sold millions worldwide. Some of his notable songs include "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)", "Sussudio", "Two Hearts", and "Another Day in Paradise". Collins's music is characterized by its blend of pop, rock, and soul with poignant lyrics reflecting his personal experiences. In addition to his musical career, Collins has also pursued acting, with notable roles in movies like "Buster" (1988) and "Ratatouille" (2007). Collins has been honored with numerous awards throughout his career, including six Grammy Awards, two Brit Awards, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010. His contributions to music have made him one of the world's best-selling artists of all time.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I don't know where I'm going from day to day. But I know life is for learning."

This quote signifies a sense of exploration and adaptability in one's life journey. Phil Collins suggests that he doesn't have a fixed plan or destination, but instead embraces the journey itself as an opportunity for growth and learning. It encourages us to be open-minded, flexible, and receptive to new experiences, understanding that personal development and self-discovery often come from encounters with the unknown.


"Every man's dream is a secret to all but himself. And God."

This quote suggests that each individual has unique, personal aspirations or dreams, which are often kept private, known only to themselves and perhaps to a higher power. It underscores the idea of self-discovery and individuality in human life, as well as implying that there is a divine, mystical aspect to our innermost thoughts and desires.


"You can't change the past, even if you went there with a broom."

This quote by Phil Collins emphasizes that we cannot alter or undo the events of our past, no matter how much effort we put into it. It is an acceptance that the past remains unchangeable, and we must learn from it, grow from it, and use its lessons to shape our future actions.


"I don't mind being a pop star; I just don't want to be a vacuous one."

In this quote, Phil Collins expresses his desire to achieve success as a pop star while maintaining substance and depth in his work. He desires recognition as an artist, but not at the expense of being perceived as superficial or empty. This quote highlights the importance of authenticity and meaningful content for artists who want to be respected and admired beyond their commercial success.


"There are worse things in life than death, and one of them is meeting Phil Collins on a night like this." (from the song "Another Day in Paradise")

The quote by Phil Collins suggests that there can be situations or encounters that are more unpleasant than death itself. In this context, "Another Day in Paradise" refers to someone's seemingly ideal life but being confronted with the harsh realities of poverty and suffering. Meeting Phil Collins on such a night would symbolize an encounter with someone who is perceived as annoying, dull, or out of place, thereby making the pleasant experience unpleasant.


No seriously... when there's families, you tend to go back to your room after the gig rather than go for a drink with the other guys. But there's always someone who's got something going, like the tour manager.

- Phil Collins

Back, Other, Rather, Gig

'Urban Renewal' was sweet because I've been - unfairly, I would say - plonked in the middle of the road because of a handful of songs. It came at a good time for me, because you do take a bit of a browbeating and, as you get older, you become better at accepting it and realizing why it happens.

- Phil Collins

Why, Been, Bit, Renewal

There's no magic for getting into the groove... just banging away at it. Sometimes the lyrics come first, sometimes the music.

- Phil Collins

Magic, Sometimes, Away, Groove

You know, a song is like a kid. You bring it up. And sometimes something you thought was going to be fantastic, by the time it's finished, is a bit of a disappointment.

- Phil Collins

Song, Thought, By The Time, Fantastic

I don't own an ABBA album, and I never had the urge to go and buy one. If you're just talking about well crafted pop songs, they were fantastic.

- Phil Collins

Own, Album, Pop Songs, Fantastic

I'm writing new songs for a Broadway version of Tarzan, which is very interesting. I think what I learned from the Brother Bear score side of things, I've brought into the new Tarzan songs. Thinking outside just guitar, bass, drums and keyboards.

- Phil Collins

I Think, Very, Brought, Keyboards

In Genesis we saw ourselves as song-writers. After Peter Gabriel left I was the first to say: 'It's OK - we can just do instrumentals.'

- Phil Collins

Say, Saw, Ourselves, Gabriel

There were 'big stars' at the Alamo! Bowie, Crockett! It is a huge political event because it, and the events at Goliad and San Jacinto, changed the look of a map of America. America would be a very different place if Texas had remained Mexican.

- Phil Collins

Political, Big, Very, Different Place

As soon as you start making a record, things start getting lined up: the promotion, possibly even a tour.

- Phil Collins

Start, Soon, Making, Lined

I joined Genesis when I was 19. I've earned the right to actually do nothing. I don't want to be a shadow of what I was, so I've kind of just quite willingly stood back.

- Phil Collins

Shadow, Kind, Joined, Willingly

I'm sorry that it was all so successful. I honestly didn't mean it to happen like that. It's hardly surprising that people grew to hate me.

- Phil Collins

Happen, Like, Honestly, Hardly

I know it shouldn't make a difference, but crossing the dateline, we weren't sure what day it was - it was very strange. Now, I seem to cope with it better.

- Phil Collins

Sure, Very, Crossing, Cope

Each thing leapfrogs. I do a Genesis project - like now, we're just finishing off an album - and then by the time the album is doing its thing, I could do nothing or I could do a film.

- Phil Collins

Doing, Like, By The Time, Genesis

Genesis fans are a religious group!

- Phil Collins

Group, Fans, Religious, Genesis

Everything has added up to a load that I'm getting tired of carrying. It's gotten so complicated. It's the three failed marriages, and having kids that grew up without me, and it's the personal criticism, of being Mr. Nice Guy, or of divorcing my wife by fax, all that stuff, the journalism, some of which I find insulting.

- Phil Collins

Some, Gotten, Added, Journalism

I can't remember much about the early flights, except that it was ages before we got into First Class.

- Phil Collins

Before, Got, About, First Class

The day Tarzan opened in London, I sat in a hotel room and discussed the project in detail.

- Phil Collins

London, Discussed, Sat, Tarzan

To see a lot of the smaller labels disappear or get gobbled up by the bigger labels, that's a shame. It was a bit of a shock at first to see the demise of the record stores.

- Phil Collins

Shame, Bigger, Smaller, Record Stores

Often there's a BA crew, because half the time we stay at the same hotels, especially in Australia. I can remember spending quite a lot of time with crews around the pool there. They always make themselves known to us.

- Phil Collins

I Can, Around, Half, Half The Time

I never stopped thinking about the Alamo from that day to this. I'm a huge collector of memorabilia. I've got Davy Crockett's bullet pouch. I've got Colonel Travis's belt.

- Phil Collins

Belt, About, Stopped, Memorabilia

I have never been a Conservative, or at least not since being a young teenager. My father voted Conservative, and even his doing that was a hangover from the '50s and '60s, which may have been an influence on me.

- Phil Collins

Conservative, Been, Which, Teenager

I am stopping so I can be a full-time father to my two young sons on a daily basis.

- Phil Collins

Full-Time, Daily Basis, Stopping

I usually hang around the room listening to a bit of last night's show. If there's one available, I go to the steam room every day for my voice. I spend half an hour there and then I eat, because I can't eat later than four o'clock. Then I go for a soundcheck. That's my day.

- Phil Collins

Voice, Hang, Half, Steam

The story of the Alamo has touched many more people than one would think. So, I would like to pay my respects to those men on both sides of the walls in those months of February and March 1836.

- Phil Collins

Walls, Both Sides, Touched, Respects

If a musician dares to get out of the box he's been put in, people get confused. They want people where they can find them! I am fortunate in some respects as I've always been known as someone who 'moves around' and tries different things. But generally, we are supposed to stay where we're put.

- Phil Collins

Some, Been, Tries, Respects

We stayed in some pretty shabby places in Europe.

- Phil Collins

Places, Some, Pretty, Shabby

My only saving grace is that I actually collect things that nobody else is interested in.

- Phil Collins

Actually, Nobody Else, Collect

I've got one of four known Davy Crocket rifles. It's fantastic just to know it's one of the rifles that he actually used. His cousin had it.

- Phil Collins

Used, Had, Rifles, Cousin

I'll have the music, and then I'll just turn the microphone on, press Play and Record and sing. And whatever comes out ends up being the melody.

- Phil Collins

Play, Turn, Then, Microphone

Beyond a certain point, the music isn't mine anymore. It's yours.

- Phil Collins

Music, Mine, Certain Point, Yours

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