...But Seriously

1986’s …But Seriously was both Phil Collins’ most forthright and most complex set of songs to that date. The instrumentation adopts an organic approach, with less of the drum programming that marked Collins’ earlier albums. At the same time, while the lyrics on his early solo albums had interspersed explorations of internal strife with uptempo love songs, …But Seriously boldly takes on a host of sociopolitical subjects. To his credit, Collins avoids the overblown sloganeering that marred the politics of an era that's defined for many by “We Are the World.” “That’s Just the Way It Is” (about the civil war in Northern Ireland) and “Another Day in Paradise” (about homelessness) have the gentle, mournful touch of timeworn folk songs, even as they twinkle with new musical technologies. Collins intuitively understood that the most powerful statements are delivered with restraint and clarity. On the other hand, his empathy is just as effective on “Colours,” which addresses apartheid. The song adopts an uptempo rhythm in acknowledgment of the powerful role that dance music played in the South African fight for equality.