Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins

Subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt2mbGP6
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 25 Dec 18 - 04:49 PM

A song for Christmas day.

Subject: RE: Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt2mbGP6
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 25 Dec 18 - 05:48 PM

Certainly not the sort of performer I'd ordinarily spend time listening to.

Here are the lyrics without the ad infinitum bits

She calls out to the man on the street
'Sir, can you help me?
It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep,
Is there somewhere you can tell me?'

He walks on, doesn't look back
He pretends he can't hear her
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street
Seems embarrassed to be there

She calls out to the man on the street
He can see she's been crying
She's got blisters on the soles of her feet
She can't walk but she's trying

You can tell from the lines on her face
You can see that she's been there
Probably been moved on from every place
Cause she didn't fit in there

Oh think twice, it's just another day for you,
You and me in paradise, just think about it,
Oh Lord, is there nothing more anybody can do
Oh Lord, there must be something you can say

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 25 Dec 18 - 06:46 PM

Very Dickensian, the contrasts and social statements.

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 05:23 AM

I see that Keberoxu, but also very much of today. We really do have to start thinking about the problems of modern society, and often our particular genre allows us to live in the past.

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 05:45 AM

Many thanks to whoever sorted my original post.
This is a powerful song, perhaps more powerful than Guthrie's Ballads or Seeger's political propaganda. We see the images every day yet most of us blot them out...too busy....afraid of becoming involved, but only society can solve these problems.....politicians of all persuasions are intent on other goals, where a few thousand homeless people are "collateral damage", This song represents real emotion that we are all CAPABLE of experiencing.

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: GUEST,John from Kemsing
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 06:56 AM

This very sad subject was covered by Billy Bennett in 1930 when he wrote "Please Let Me Sleep on Your Doorstep Tonight". Fortunately, for the poor wretch, it turned out to be the house of his brother and he was eventually welcomed and cared for.

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 07:30 AM

Hi John..I managed to locate and listen to a sample of the song and singer that you have referenced. Although delivered in "Music Hall" style, the point was made and I suppose Music Hall was the internet of the thirties. However, social conditions differ greatly today from what was available in the great depressions of the 1930's, in general we are now a middle class society who have lost touch with those who, for whatever reason have fallen through the bottom of the safety net.
The problems of drug abuse, homelessness, care for aged relatives etc must be solved by society becoming involved personally. Politicians are untrustworthy.

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: GUEST,Akenaton
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 07:31 AM

Sorry that was my post.

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: GUEST,Sol
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 08:35 AM

IIRC, it was reported at the time that, while Mr Collins was enjoying his 'Paradise'song's chart success, existing residents on his newly-acquired estate in Scotland were being evicted.

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 09:36 AM

I think what is being discussed here is the song and it's emotional content, rather than the morality of the conduit?

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: GUEST,Sol
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 09:58 AM

Apologies, Akenaton. I read the title of the thread and felt the irony of the evictions in relation to the song might be of additional interest.

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 10:11 AM

That's alright Sol, the original thread title was "a song for Christmas day", but I made a mess of posting it and some kind mod reposted under the present title.
The intention was, that it being Christmas we should examine the song content. I know nothing regarding Mr Collins personal views on social issues.

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 11:45 AM

PLEASE LET ME SLEEP ON YOUR DOORSTEP, TONIGHT.
by Bob Weston and Bert Lee (1930)
thread.cfm?threadid=7684#1223255 
& abcnotation a couple of posts down.

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: GUEST,Ake
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 12:53 PM

Thanks Freddy, there is a sound sample on this    link

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 01:20 PM

while we're on this theme then...

The first prog rock band I ever got into aged approx 12 or 13...

"Sympathy"

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 07:32 PM

While, in the meantime,
Twitter is twittering away about
Her Majesty's Christmas message footage,
videotaped in front of
a gold grand piano.

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: GUEST,Captain Swing
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 07:50 PM

This song is utter drivel lyrically and dull in the extreme musically. There are very few pop writers who can write well about social issues and PC is certainly not one of them.

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: GUEST,Terray
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 07:55 PM

I had the same reaction and to compare that banal concoction to Woody Guthrie's work is just plain weird.

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 05:22 AM

To me, the song and music has echos of Paul Simon. It has had 280,000,000 views on YT, it has huge emotional content for millions of music lovers, how can it be classed as rubbish?
About 50% of the stuff which masquerades as folk music today is obvious rubbish. Traditional music and song in my country is being mangled all emotional content forensically removed.

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 05:32 AM

A much better song on the same subject. In my opinion.

Anthony John Clarke's The only life Gloria knows.

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 06:32 AM

A nice song, but it doesn't ring true, does not have the immediacy of Phil Collins song.....another day in paradise is the killer phrase which involves every thinking person who hears it, forcing one to examine ones own situation in respect to the homeless person.
That is the HOOK.

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: Chris_S
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 01:39 PM

That is well said, it's making me thinka nd reflect about all the things |I take for granted. Thought can lead to action

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: GUEST,Terray
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 02:43 PM

That was a lovely song, Dave the Gnome, and very well performed. Thanks for the link. Gordon Lightfoot produced another fine song that dealt with homelessness, Home From the Forest. Dwight Yoakum's I Sang Dixie is also worth mentioning.

Subject: RE: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 04:40 PM

You're welcome, Terray. AJ is one of my favourite artists. All his stuff is good and he is a lovely chap to boot!