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"Another Day in Paradise" is a song written and recorded by English drummer and singer
Phil Collins Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and later became the lead singer of the rock band Genesis (band), Genesis and had a successful solo career, ac ...
. Produced by Collins along with Hugh Padgham, it was released as the first single from his number-one album '' ...But Seriously'' (1989). As with his song for Genesis, " Man on the Corner", the track has as its subject the problem of
homelessness Homelessness, also known as houselessness or being unhoused or unsheltered, is the condition of lacking stable, safe, and functional housing. It includes living on the streets, moving between temporary accommodation with family or friends, liv ...
and
paradise In religion and folklore, paradise is a place of everlasting happiness, delight, and bliss. Paradisiacal notions are often laden with pastoral imagery, and may be cosmogonical, eschatological, or both, often contrasted with the miseries of human ...
; as such, the song was a substantial departure from the
dance Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
-
pop music Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom.S. Frith, W. Straw, and J. Street, eds, ''iarchive:cambridgecompani00frit, The Cambridge Companion to Pop ...
of his previous album, '' No Jacket Required'' (1985). Collins sings the song from a third-person perspective, as he observes a man crossing the street to ignore a homeless woman, and he implores listeners not to turn a blind eye to homelessness because, by drawing a religious allusion, "it's just another day for you and me in paradise". Collins also appeals directly to God by singing: "Oh Lord, is there nothing more anybody can do? Oh Lord, there must be something you can say." The song was Collins' seventh and final ''Billboard'' Hot 100 No. 1 single, the last No. 1 single of the 1980s and the first No. 1 single of the 1990s. It was a worldwide success, eventually becoming one of the most successful songs of his solo career. It won Collins and Padgham the
Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...
for
Record of the Year The Grammy Award for Record of the Year is presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without re ...
at the 1991 awards ceremony, while it was also nominated for Song of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male and Best Music Video, Short Form. "Another Day in Paradise" also won an award for British Single at the 1990 Brit Awards. Despite the awards gained following its release, the song also generated controversy over its subject matter and has received a largely unfavourable reaction from music critics. The live performance of the song at the 1991 Grammy Awards by Collins and
David Crosby David Van Cortlandt Crosby (August 14, 1941 – January 18, 2023) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He first found fame as a member of the Byrds, with whom he helped pioneer the genres of folk rock and psychedelic music, psych ...
, who provided backing vocals on the track, was released on the 1994 album ''Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume I''. In 2009, Collins' version was listed 86th on ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
''s Greatest Songs of All Time. "Another Day in Paradise" has since been covered by several artists, including
Brandy Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured ...
and her brother
Ray J William Ray Norwood Jr. (born January 17, 1981), known professionally as Ray J, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, television presenter, and actor. Born in McComb, Mississippi and raised in Carson, California, he is the younger brother o ...
, Jam Tronik, Axxis, Novecento, Brad Arnold and Hank Marvin.


Chart performance

The song was another hit for Collins. On 23 December 1989, it became his seventh () No. 1 single in the U.S. The song was also the final No. 1 song of the 1980s in the U.S., and remained at No. 1 for four weeks, which classifies the song as a hit from the 1990s as well. This song is notable for keeping Janet Jackson's "
Rhythm Nation "Rhythm Nation" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson, released as the second single from her fourth studio album, '' Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814'' (1989). It was written and produced by Jackson, in collaboration with Jimmy Jam and ...
" from reaching No. 1. It also saw out the 1980s and saw in the 1990s at the top of the German singles chart. The song had already reached No. 2 in the UK in November of that year. The single version is slightly different from the album version in that it uses a shorter intro.


Music video

The song's music video was directed by Jim Yukich and produced by Paul Flattery of FYI. The video, shot entirely in black and white, features Collins singing in a dark background, interspersed with images of the homeless, the refugees and the poverty of children in the streets. The music video also features many messages about the homeless, to convey the full message of the song. Collins' part was shot in less than an hour in New York.


Reception

"Another Day in Paradise" provoked controversy upon release and was widely criticised. Some critics found the wealthy Collins unqualified to sing about the poor, while others accused him of profiteering from homelessness. Collins responded, "When I drive down the street, I see the same things everyone else sees. It's a misconception that if you have a lot of money you're somehow out of touch with reality." ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' gave a positive review, calling it a "poignant" track whose "subject matter is complemented nicely by a subdued, ethereal musical context". Singer-songwriter and political activist
Billy Bragg Stephen William Bragg (born 20 December 1957) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, author and political activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, with lyrics that mostly span political or romantic th ...
gave a 2000 interview in which he negatively compared Collins to
the Clash The Clash were an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1976. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they are considered one of the most influential acts in the original wave of British punk rock, with their music fusing elements ...
, stating, "Phil Collins might write a song about the homeless, but if he doesn't have the action to go with it he's just exploiting that for a subject." In 2003, Andrew Collins described the song as a "bland redress" for the subject of homelessness in the ''
New Statesman ''The New Statesman'' (known from 1931 to 1964 as the ''New Statesman and Nation'') is a British political and cultural news magazine published in London. Founded as a weekly review of politics and literature on 12 April 1913, it was at first c ...
''. In 2007, '' Blender'' remarked that Collins "wrote the worst song ever about homelessness", while Caroline Sullivan of ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' called it "a song that addressed the issue of homelessness with the same insight as Sporty Spice's ' If That Were Me'". Writing for the
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
in 2010, David Sheppard described the song's lyrics as "cringe-worthy" and gave it as an example of Collins "painting the bull's-eye on his own forehead" when it came to his negative status with music critics. In 2016, Mark Beaumont of ''
NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...
'' called it "arguably the corniest multi-millionaire-notices-homelessness-from-gold-plated-limousine ballad ever recorded". It was reported that Collins left the UK for Switzerland in 1997, in response to the election of a Labour government; Collins had actually left previously to be with his future wife Orianne Cevey. In 2013, MSN's Hugh Wilson said this relocation led to further accusations of hypocrisy, since Collins "bemoaned the plight of the homeless in the song 'Another Day in Paradise' " then "lugged his estimated £130 million fortune to Switzerland where the tax regime is far less punishing for the super wealthy". In a 2016 article for ''The Guardian'', Michael Hann wrote, "Collins has been unfairly criticised for many things, but 'Another Day in Paradise' is not one of them. Criticism of that is manifestly fair." Hann argued that the song patronizes the general public, who "almost certainly encounter poverty more often than ollins, and chided Collins for " quatinghis material wealth with his listener's by pointing out that both 'you and me' are in paradise". Jamie Wales of '' Gigwise'' described the track as a "classic", and said of the hypocrisy allegations levelled at Collins, "The truth is Phil collected money for homeless charities from fans who attended his concerts and then donated double the total takings out of his own money."


Formats and track listings

12" single #"Another Day in Paradise" (album version) – 5:22 #"Another Day in Paradise" (radio edit) – 4:40 CD maxi single #"Another Day in Paradise" – 5:15 #"Saturday Night and Sunday Morning" – 1:25 #"Heat on the Street" – 3:59 7" single #"Another Day in Paradise" – 4:48 #"Heat on the Street" – 3:59 3" CD single # "Another Day in Paradise" – 5:19 # "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning" – 1:26 # "Heat on the Street" – 4:00


Personnel

*
Phil Collins Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and later became the lead singer of the rock band Genesis (band), Genesis and had a successful solo career, ac ...
– vocals, keyboards, drums,
Roland TR-808 The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer, commonly known as the 808, is a drum machine manufactured by Roland Corporation between 1980 and 1983. It was one of the first drum machines to allow users to program rhythms instead of using preset patterns. ...
drum machine *
David Crosby David Van Cortlandt Crosby (August 14, 1941 – January 18, 2023) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He first found fame as a member of the Byrds, with whom he helped pioneer the genres of folk rock and psychedelic music, psych ...
– backing vocals * Dominic Miller – electric guitar,
classical guitar The classical guitar, also known as Spanish guitar, is a member of the guitar family used in classical music and other styles. An acoustic wooden string (music), string instrument with strings made of catgut, gut or nylon, it is a precursor of the ...
*
Leland Sklar Leland Bruce Sklar (born May 28, 1947) is an American bassist and session musician. He rose to prominence as a member of James Taylor's backing band, which coalesced into a group in its own right, The Section, which supported so many of Asylu ...
– bass


Charts


Weekly charts


Year-end charts


All-time charts


Certifications


Jam Tronik version

Less than six months after the release of the original Phil Collins version, a cover version by German dance act Jam Tronik was released as their debut single. In the United Kingdom, the song first charted in March 1990, reaching a peak of number 19 on the UK Singles Chart in the first week of April. It also charted in Germany and Belgium. Sampled in this version is the drum loop from the 1988 Raze song " Break 4 Love". The B-side, "Get on the Raze", also samples "Break 4 Love".


Charts


Brandy and Ray J version

In 2001, siblings Brandy and Ray J covered the song for the Phil Collins tribute album ''
Urban Renewal Urban renewal (sometimes called urban regeneration in the United Kingdom and urban redevelopment in the United States) is a program of land redevelopment often used to address real or perceived urban decay. Urban renewal involves the clearing ...
''. Produced by Guy Roche and released as the album's
lead single A lead single (or first single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. A similar term, "debut ...
in March 2001, the cover version became a top-10 success in Australia and across Europe, receiving gold certifications in Australia (35,000), France (250,000), Germany (250,000), and Switzerland (20,000). In 2002, this version of the song was included on the European edition of Brandy's '' Full Moon'' album.


Critical reception

In their review, ''
Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as ''Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music We ...
'' felt that the "US siblings are likely to score a hit with this infectiously familiar track."


Music video

The music video follows a homeless woman wandering the streets being chastised by various people, including a waitress, a businessman, and a police officer. The video is intercut with scenes of Brandy and Ray J singing on a fire escape and along alleyways, while also following the woman and taking photographs of each incident with a camera. The homeless woman then walks into a luxurious shoe boutique, and the receptionist calls the police to escort her out. When she is dropped back to her makeshift shelter in an alleyway, one of the policemen comes across a series of Polaroids depicting all of the previous characters, including himself, in the homeless woman's place. At the end of the video, Brandy and Ray J come to pick up the homeless woman and walk off with her into the distance.


Track listings

CD maxi single # "Another Day in Paradise" (R&B-Version) – 4:32 # "Another Day in Paradise" (Stargate Mix) – 4:19 # "Another Day in Paradise" (Stargate Classic Club) – 4:22 # "Another Day in Paradise" (Knee Deep Remix) – 6:28 # "Another Day in Paradise" (Black Legend VS. J-Reverse Club Mix) – 7:54 CD single # "Another Day in Paradise" (R&B-Version) – 4:32 # "Another Day in Paradise" (Stargate Mix) – 4:19 The Remixes – 12-inch maxi # "Another Day in Paradise" (Knee Deep Remix) – 6:28 # "Another Day in Paradise" (Black Legend vs. J-Reverse Club Mix) – 7:54


Credits and personnel

* Arrangement – Guy Roche *
Engineering Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to Problem solving#Engineering, solve problems within technology, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve Systems engineering, s ...
 – Dushyant Bhakta, Doarian Cheah * Engineering assistance – Michael Huff, Ron Ben-Simon * Mixing – Brad Gilderman * Production – Guy Roche *
Songwriting A songwriter is a person who creates musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music genre and film scoring. ...
 –
Phil Collins Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and later became the lead singer of the rock band Genesis (band), Genesis and had a successful solo career, ac ...


Charts


Weekly charts


Year-end charts


Certifications


Release history


Notable covers

* In 2016, the song was covered by Casa & Nova. Their cover was nominated by The Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) in the category EDM (Electronic Dance Music).


See also

* List of European number-one airplay songs of the 1990s


References


External links

* {{Authority control 1989 songs 1989 singles 1980s ballads 1990 singles 2001 singles Atlantic Records singles Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Black-and-white music videos Brandy Norwood songs Brit Award for British Single Cashbox number-one singles European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles Grammy Award for Record of the Year Jam Tronik songs Music videos directed by Gil Green Music videos directed by Jim Yukich Number-one singles in Belgium Number-one singles in Finland Number-one singles in Germany Number-one singles in the Netherlands Number-one singles in Norway Number-one singles in Portugal Number-one singles in Sweden Number-one singles in Switzerland Number-one singles in Zimbabwe Phil Collins songs Protest songs Ray J songs RPM Top Singles number-one singles Song recordings produced by Hugh Padgham Song recordings produced by Phil Collins Songs about homelessness Songs about poverty Songs written by Phil Collins Virgin Records singles Warner Music Group singles ZYX Music singles