Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)

by

Phil Collins

Album: Hits      Released: 1984

US Chart: 1     UK Chart: 2

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Director Taylor Hackford asked Collins to write a song for the film Against All Odds, so Collins went back to a song that didn't make it onto his Face Value album called "How Can You Sit There" and adapted it to fit the movie.

This was the first of 7 US solo #1 hits for Collins. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for above 2)

In a 2007 story on the National Public Radio show This American Life, Phil Collins explained how he did not write songs with Genesis, but was motivated to write solo material to deal with the pain of his personal life. Said Collins: "That song was written during my first divorce. My first wife and the kids had gone and I was left there. The song was written out of experience as opposed to a 'what if' song. If that personal stuff had not happened to me at the time, I probably would never have made an album, and if I was to have made an album eventually, it probably would have been a Jazz/Rock thing. Without that stuff I wouldn't have felt the stuff I felt sitting at a piano night after night, day after day writing stuff."

This won Collins the 1984 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance. It was nominated for a Best Original Song Oscar, but lost to "I Just Called To Say I Love You." Collins did win the award in 1999 for "You'll Be In My Heart," which he wrote for Tarzan.

In the UK, 2 cover versions were #1 hits, first a duet by Westlife and Mariah Carey, then a version by Steve Brookstein, who won the TV talent show X Factor and released it as his first single. "Lady Marmalade" is the only other song in the Rock era to accomplish this feat.

Mark Feehily of Westlife told female first that one of the highlights so far of his career was working on their version of this song with Mariah Carey. He explained: Over the years we've spent quite a bit of time with her - not a lot of time, I don't want to exaggerate - but if I was to tell my 10 to 15 year old self that I was to meet her, never mind collaborate with her and hang out with her at her house, I think I would of literally crumbled into ash on the floor to be honest. She was really really friendly and there was no sort of power thing going on where she was like 'I'm Mariah and your Westlife and you're lucky to be here' sort of thing. It was a lot of hanging out and going for dinner and being mates. I mean we weren't liking up to her and in a world where she is surrounded by people that lick up to her and brown nose her I don't know if she just thought it was nice to have a genuine time hanging out with a bunch of lads or whatever. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for above 3)

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Comments:

When Phil says, "take a look at me," he says afterwards one of two lines. He talks alot about there being nothing but an empty space. But, once, at the end, he says "I'll still be standing here." What a statement for "hope." He can't let go. What a statement of "devotion." His feelings aren't going anywhere. My god, I can feel the desperation in his words and voice and music. His cry for help. Magnanimous! Spot on drums. Copacetic piano playing. A unique capturing of a broken heart. But, of all that, the single line he repeats is incredibly powerful; and that is "you're the only one who really knew me at all." He's lost a friend. And, there's nothing he can do to stop her from going away. Except to wait . . . One of the Greatest songs of all time.
- Jeff, Casa Grande, AZ

The Postal Service also does a cover of this song on the Wicker Park Soundtrack.
- Aubrey, Pittsburgh, PA

Actually the reason Phil Collins didn't perform at the Oscars was because the writers and producers (including Gregory Peck) had never heard of him. They allowed Christopher Cross to perform "Arthur's Theme" though...
- Sara, Silver Spring, MD

I don't think that rule is true. Christopher Cross sang "Arthur's Theme" (Best That You Can Do) at the Oscars. Two years later Peter Cetera sang it.
- Sara, Silver Spring, MD

Not only did Ann Reinking sing Against All Odds but Debbie Allen did Footloose! I just wanted to let you know. Actually the reason he didn't sing it was because the producers (including Gregory Peck) and writer Larry Gelbart never heard of him.
- Sara, Silver Spring, MD

I'm not much of a Phil Collins fan, but I love this song. It's quite lovely, but sad too.
- Kate, Wakefield, MA

this is one of my all time favourites. specially the starting music of the song is the real delight and of course who can forget the unmatchable singing of collins.
- vaibhav, SHAHJAHANPUR

i know too many people criticise and unfortunately for them hate phil collins but this song proves phil collins is one of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time and i believe this song is considered by many as a classic and will always be considered so. how many of his haters they can say they created a classic piece of art?
- jason, dublin, Ireland

The best/worst part of the Oscar fiasco was that they kept showing Phil Collins in the audience, who was visibly wincing at the way Reinking was demolishing his song. Good TV.
- Garrett, Nashville, TN

Nominated for Best Song at the 1984 Academy Awards. Phil Collins was not permitted to sing it at the awards ceremony because at the time, the Academy rules required that the award show performers had to work in the movies. Ann Reinking sang the song and performed the accompanying dance. She's a perfectly good dancer, but her singing was so awful it caused a huge uproar and the rule was eventually changed. Thus, in 1993, Bruce Springsteen sang "Philadelphia" at the awards show and won the Oscar that night.
- David, Los Angeles, CA

This song is great. The movie, not so much.
- Andy, Arlington, VA

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