Genesis In the early to mid 70's where mostly known as for there oddball pop and Progressive rock, with their frontman Peter Gabriel. After he left and drummer Phil Collins became the frontman, they slowly drifted off from that route and became more commercial with their more poprock oriented music. But that didn't mean that their songs where bad. I would even say that some of there songs where better then some of the stuff Gabriel made with them.

 

So, to celebrate the band, i wanna countdown the top 15 songs of the Collins era of Genesis.

 

15. Invisible Touch

 

 

While a very popular song in radio, it just barely makes the list for me, because it reminds me more of a song from Collins solo career. It's still a good song though, since behind the very uplifting sounds, it a very dark story.

 

It speaks about the consequences of Drug abuse.

 

-Her "touch" is invisible. You can't see drug addiction.
-She will "tear you apart" and "mess up your life". Drug addiction can screw your life up bad.
-She "crawls under your skin." Once you internalize her as a part of your life, you're changed forever, as any drug will do to you.

 

I know that there are people out there who don't like this song, but please, try to see the bigger picture here.

 

14. Misunderstanding

 

 

You know, i think that Genesis can be considered as one of the most whitest Rock Bands in history, so you wouldn't expect them to make a soul number. Surprisingly, it actually works pretty well.

 

This is a song that pretty much alot of us guys appreciate, that had a date. But the date really didn't show up.

 

-The first verse is initial feeling: 'Maybe she's just running late'
-Then "But you could've called to let me know I checked your number twice, don't understand it
So I went home" Is the point where he realizes that the girl isnt going to show up.

 

Thank god the internet exists today, so this stuff dosen't happen alot these days.

 

13. Jesus he knows me

 

 

This is a song that came out at a time, where televangilists where pretty much seen on every TV screen around the US every Sunday. They made you promises, that you would go to heaven, IF you give them this and that amount of money.

 

"Do as I say, don't do as I do."
That line pretty much sums up preachers in general if you ask me, whether they're televangelists or your everyday pastor, seeing as how asking people for money is generally looked down upon if you're not a "spiritual leader".

 

It's okay if you preach to god, but you really should preach in a church where you aren't asked for money all time. The Pastor might not be who he thinks he is.

 

12. Follow you follow me

 

 

This was pretty much the song, that changed the general tone of Genesis. Here the band showed a more pop oriented style, while singing about sweet love.

 

This song is somewhat open-ended. It can mean a couple different things...the first and most obvious is a relationship, and finding security in that person you're with.

 

I would never recommend playing Genesis at your wedding party. But with this song, i would make an exception.

 

11. That's all

 

 

A very heartbreaking song for me. It's really well thoughtout and the beats are very good and it's another one of those songs, that can hit very close to home.

 

living with someone can be quite cumbersome if you're not wholly right for each other. even if there's passion or fire there, that doesn't make it right, this song is about just dealing with that part of life that most people have to, where you know it might not be the best move, but you stick with it and just complain under your breath, "it's always the same, it's just a shame, that's all."

 

That's what i like about this song. Just because you don't want to be alone, dosen't mean you should hold on to your relationship, if the love isn't real.

 

10. Abacab

 

 

The title track to the same named Album, pretty much epitomizes the new sound of Genesis in the 80s. Tony Banks Keyboards are more punchier and Collins Drums pretty much explode out of the speakers.

 

A_B_A_C_A_B was a method used to remember the original sequence of the song when it was in it's embryonal state. "A" was the verse, "B" was the chorus, and "C" was the bridge. So the original version went verse, chorus, verse, bridge, verse, chorus. However that sequence was later changed, but the name stuck.

 

Its a song about a bloke taking advantage of other people women (obviously) but I think perhaps its sung from the position of either someone looking on or perhaps more indirectly, his conscience.

 

Also, if you're still in school and have no answer to all the multiple choice questions, just use ABACAB.

 

9. Trick of the Tail

 

 

When Collins took over in 76, the band was still stuck in their Prog Rock roots. Trick of the Tail, as well as all the other songs on this Album, sound something that could come from the Gabriel era, but Collins gives those songs a very nice flavor, as heard in this song.

 

This is a story about a creature who leaves home in search of something new, but ends up getting captured by humans. He's put on display as a 'freak' but eventually ends up escaping. He then goes back home, promising the humans to show them his home: the city of gold. Howver he manages to escape them and return home without his city being discovered.

 

I am a huge sucker for fantasy, which alot of 70s Genesis was, so this song is right up my alley.

 

8. Man on the Corner

 

 

This for me, is Genesis most underrated song. It also kind of reminds me of Phil Collins song "Another day in paradise" just a bit more sincere for me.

 

the song let us believe this is mainly about a homeless/crazy man, someone that presence isn't noticed, other that a man as we people from the city cross by many. The message is simple, but very strong.

 

this is as sad as Genesis can get, speaking about the concerns, not preaching but socially right, communication or the lack of it. I'm touched and get very emotional everytime i hear those perfect words.

 

7. Entangled

 

 

This for me is another lost classic from Genesis, on of their best albums. It always makes me feel dizzy, but in a stimulated kind of way, if you know what i'm trying to say here.

 

The lyrics are mostly based by a story from Steve Hackett, the former Guitarist of Genesis, who was in hypnotherapy for awhile.

 

This song is a personal story by Steve Hackett, the former guitarist of Genesis, who was in hypnotherapy for a little while. Hacket depicts a tongue-in-cheek vision of a sickly patient under hypnosis floating through his subconsious in a "Freudian slumber."

 

It's really one of Genesis most relaxing and literally mesmerizing songs and the subject is right up my alley.

 

6. Land of Confusion

 

 

This is the song that many consider to be the flagship song of Genesis. Everybody knows this song, or atleast they know some of the covers, especially the one made by the metal band Disturbed. Many got into Genesis because of it.

 

I think Patrick Bateman from the Movie/Book American Psycho explains the lyrics the best: "Take the lyrics to "Land of confusion". In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority." And it's exactly that. Absolute power, corrupts absolutely. The lyrics are still relevant today. There are still alot Lands of confusion out there in this world.

 

Try to survive in this confusing world for me, even if it makes you crazy.

 

5. Domino

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbt9VKOCQGw

 

Many die-hard Genesis from the Gabriel years, saw Invisible touch as the final straw, thinking that Genesis totally sold out to Poprock. I guess these people never listened to the masterpiece Domino, proving that Genesis still had some Progrock in them.

 

The theme of the song is split in two parts. The first part, is a guy trying to get used to sleeping alone after having shared his bed with a woman for a while. It's like he blames her for whatever reason they're not together, and he's filled with regret at it.

 

The second part he's having some sort of nightmare. I'm not sure if there's a meaning or just drawing a picture. After the nightmare, he wakes up to an ugly world. There's still regret at her absence.

 

But i like this song mostly for the great instrumentals.

 

4. Mad Men Moon

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ_U4XkAarE

 

I always get shivers down my spine, when i hear this song. This song is literally the stuff that beautiful dreams are made off, because it just sounds so beautiful and full of imagination.

 

This story is about a man that lives in the desert, all alone and without anybody. He wishes he could be with somebody, like a friend or somebody that he loves. He always flees into his dreams, because they sooth him, because there he can fly, or can ride on a horse, but in reality the horse is just made of sand.

 

Again, this song is full of fantasy and i just love fantasy, even if it is a bit sad. Sadly, my horses are also not real.

 

3. Mama

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L9fOGg9wO8

 

I can't imagine a better opener for Genesis 1983 album of the same name. It's one of those rare rock songs, that put you on the edge of your seat till it's climax. because it's just so cinematic.

 

Many people think that this song is about abortion, but that's really not the case here. It's actually about a teenager and his mother fixation to a prostitue that he just happend to have met in passing and he has such a strong feeling for her and doesn't understand why she isn't interested in him. That's atleast what Phil Collins once said in an interview.

 

It really has quite creepy and sinister undertones to it, but that's why this song is such a masterpiece.

 

2. Home by the Sea/Second home by the Sea

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqA2AyzmoQs

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxr-TwXJrnA

 

Another ingenius example that Genesis still had some progrock left in them and what an effort it is. I put these songs together, because one isn't without the other.

 

This is a song about a burglar who climbs into a house, which is obviously by the sea, he just dosen't know that the house is haunted. As soon as he enters the house he hears "Welcome to the Home by the Sea" from out of the darkness. In the stanza after he says "then as one they signed and the moaned" he says "Before the time when we first heard 'welcome to the Home by the Sea'". So the man breaking into the house was not the first to do so. He is the newest victim and will become like the others. Now there is one more ghost in the house waiting for another victim so he can relive his life to someone who is 'living'.

 

I don't know what the second part means, but i really couldn't care less, because this is one of Genesis most amazing instrumental they ever did.

 

So remember kids, think twice if you want to break into an abandoned house.

 

1. Ripples

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJa9gEUa0To

 

Oh boy, this song for me is total perfection. The instrumentals are perfect, the lyrics are perfect and the general feel is perfect. I could listen to this song 100 times and never get old by it.

 

This song is literally derived from a poem by John Crowe Ransom called Bluegirls, which i actually read in my last school years.

 

In this poem, Ransom offers the girls three main lessons, which, although they seem contradictory, are really closely related:

 

(1) Beauty does fade.
(2) Use your beauty as much as you can before it fades.
(3) Have something in your life besides beauty, so that when it fades, you are not left with nothing.

 

He describes beauty as delicate and rare, unable to be established. He focuses on the lightheartedness of young girls, how they are caught up in beauty, and he warns them to be conscientious of the fact that their beauty will fade and that they cannot put all their hope on their beauty. At the same time, he encourages them to "practice" their beauty until it is gone, and he promises to celebrate that beauty as best he can, with all its value and frailty.

 

Basically, Ripples teaches us that everything in life will fade away one day, because "Ripples never come back." A lesson everyone should take to heart.

 

So there you have it. If you don't like my list, you can either make your own list, or complain about it below in the comments. If you did like it, we both win and you can send some praises in the comments.

 

Thanks for reading