UK Government (Why You Want to Make Phil Collins Blue)

While we here at “One More Knight” have an entire 40-year career of moments at our disposal for those who might be burdened by the taxing decision of just who has earned a tacking on of the  titular “Sir”, nothing gives buoys our quest quite as  much as brand new evidence of Phil Collins‘ greatness. Not only do we find that it greases the gears with the UK government on pressing matters, but it also reinforces our belief that this wonderful performer is deserving of any additional accolades thrown his way. For while many once great entertainers drop off into the abyss or cling to the remnants of a fading career, Mr. Collins continues to churn out toe-tapping, pop gems.

The latest in the canon of Collins to attain “sight” status for our “sore eyes” (but ever-so attentive ears) is this clip for his cover of the 1964 Temptations classic “Girl (Why You Want To Make Me Blue).”  Phil treats the material with reverence, while seemingly giving the piece a whole new meaning…to us anyway. We took the titular “Girl” to mean the British Government or Monarchy, and we translated the “Why You Wanna Make Me Blue” parenthetical to mean, “why haven’t you bestowed me with the knighthood just yet.”

It’s true that we, like most people, tend to extrapolate a lot of what we want to hear from popular music, though we’re pretty sure we nailed this one. So we hope that the UK Parliament and Royal Family is listening to Phil’s veiled (or not-so-veiled) message in this song and take it into strong consideration. After all, it seems rather cold the thought of wanting to make Phil Collins blue by not bestowing knighthood upon him, doesn’t it?

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The Staying Power of Phil Collins

When we last bombarded the blogosphere with our message of Phil Collins’ greatness, we were in the throes of a torrid summer where Phil’s influence was making vast improvements on Katy Perry’s buxom ubiquity.With summer having quietly faded from memory and the shedding of leaves an imminent certainty, there was little doubt in our hearts, minds and musical sensibilities that the Genesis frontman, distinguished drummer, and accomplished solo artist would find a way to put a stamp on our Autumn just as he had our time on the beach.

We didn’t have to wait long after the Autumnal Equinox for Phil to start resonating in season.  This past Tuesday his latest release, Going Back, climbed atop the UK albums chart– besting the Manics latest effort, Postcards from a Young Man.

While Phil’s album of Motown covers didn’t debut in the #1 spot last week, we here at “One More Knight” think the fact that the UK public were kind enough to buoy the admirable tribute to the sounds of the Rock Hall of Famer’s youth into a top seller is not only a testament to the quality of the album, but also evidence that despite a lengthy absence from the UK during times of Labor Party rule, there remains a soft spot amongst the Queen‘s subjects for the appreciation of a classic Rock ‘n’ Roll era that Phil Collins both celebrates and embodies.

The fact that Mr. Collins was able to secure his first #1 album since 1998’s Hits took a liking to the top spot is a testament to his staying power. While this staying power is easily explainable when you put on any of his album in Genesis or solo form, it remains a mystery that this staying power has yet to be recognized by the UK’s governmental powers that be. For someone who has been caressing our auditory cavities for upwards around 40 years with nothing but quality, having  yet to be tapped on the shoulder with the queen’s sword is not only an affront to music fans everywhere, but to the Order of the British Empire.

And so we make our repeated overture to both the Prime Minister’s office and to the esteemed royals of the United Kingdom, that on this day– the 40th anniversary of the day that Phil Collins joined Genesis –you reconsider your failure to honor Phil Collins with the titular “Sir” by “Going Back” through his catalogue and re-acquainting yourselves with his true genius. The error of your ways shall be realised and righted at that moment, provided your logical conclusion upon doing so is to bestow the correct honor upon his person.

Free Phil Collins!

Odds are if you were drawn in by the title to this post, it was because you thought Phil Collins had been falsely accused and wrongly locked away for crimes he committed in the movie Buster and that he currently lay rotting in a London maximum security dock that the government conveniently lost the key to.  You also probably assumed that the only way Phil would ever be set free was through a public outpouring of support resulting in a retrial and a subsequent overturning of said wrongful conviction. In which case, you were right to come to this site and you’d have been even more right to join our Facebook group.

Another option as to where you mind may have wandered, was that you believed the meaning of the title “Free Phil Collins!” to have been a proclamation that we at “One More Knight” were giving away a free Phil Collins to each one of our readers.  This free Phil Collins would come to your house and serenade you with lovely songs and teach you delightful tidbits about the Alamo, and maybe even give you drum lessons; filling both a much needed entertainment and educational niche in your day to day existence.  While that sounds great, it’s important to note that there is one Phil Collins and he can only be in one place at a time unless there are two Live Aid concerts going on.

In actuality, the title of this post refers to a giveaway at Phil Collins official site.  We signed up for email updates to stay up to speed on Phil’s whereabouts and goings on.  If knowing all of the P.C. news before anyone else wasn’t enough, we got a FREE PHIL COLLINS SONG off his upcoming album Going Back for all of the effort it took to type in our email address. Needless to say, we’ve been bopping our head up and down to Phil’s Cover of The Marvelettes classic “Too Many Fish in The Sea” all day and we fully recommend you sign up so that you can do the same.

Going Back in Stores September 10th

However, if you’re generally disappointed that you won’t be able to summon all of your love and support towards getting Phil out of actual prison, we kindly consider that you still help us in directing all (or at least some) of your energy towards helping Phil escape the metaphorical holding cell that is non-Knighthood.  Again, join our Facebook page and help us complete the transformation from a mild-mannered frontman/pop icon/drummer/actor into Sir Phil Collins.

The Continuing Legend of Phil Collins

We’re not sure what the exact requirements for Knighthood are.  We here at “One More Knight” have the reasonable expectation that those who are given the honour to be called “Sir” or “Dame” exhibit an exceptional amount of valour in their chosen field.  Though past feats and accomplishments surely weigh heavily on the consideration as to whether one’s existence merits its own Knightly due, we like to think a continued display of excellence only strengthens one’s case to bear the Grand Cross’s Star of the Order of the British Empire.

Not known to be a slouch having released a rather thick catalogue of celebrated solo material, a vast library of elaborate and delicate musical masterpieces with Genesis, and finally collaborating with many great musicians as a percussionist; Phil Collins is still at it.

His latest album Going Back finds he who should not settle for being referred to as “Mister Collins,” exploring the soulgasmic sounds of classic 6o’s Motown.  If you doubt that Phil has the chops to do so; firstly, shame on you. Secondly, all you have to do is listen to his version of “You Can’t Hurry Love” to know better.  Not content just to release an album for the masses to lap up digitally come September, the pop music icon has launched a bit of a live preview in New York, where he’ll be taking to the stage from June 22nd-June 25th at the Roseland Ballroom.

While we admit that staging a live concert preview of his new album in New York instead of London probably isn’t going to go a long way towards getting him knighted, he’s not doing this to prove his knightly worth. He’s just doing what he’s always done by entertaining the people.  If the Royal Family wants to catch a glimpse of the future “Sir” in action, they best send a representative.  We’re sure Phil has a few comps he could spare…or they could buy a ticket.  That is if there are any left after yesterday’s presale.