Another Day in Paradise (1989)

"Another Day in Paradise" is a song written and recorded by the English musician Phil Collins. 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 addresses the issue of homelessness; as such, the song was a substantial departure from the dance-pop music of his previous album, No Jacket Required (1985).

Collins sings the song from a third-person perspective, as he observes a man ignoring 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 for Record of the Year 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, 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's Greatest Songs of All Time. "Another Day in Paradise" has since been covered by several artists, including Brandy and her brother Ray J, Jam Tronik, Axxis, Novecento, Brad Arnold and Hank Marvin.

Background

Collins wrote "Another Day in Paradise" under the working title "Homeless". Collins cited an encounter with a homeless individual with two kids asking for financial assistance and the witnessing of people sleeping on an outdoor grill after the conclusion of one of Collins' concerts. He found the contrast of people lacking adequate shelter within viewing distance of Capitol Hill to be "an extraordinary contradiction". Collins discussed how these encounters informed the lyrical direction of "Another Day in Paradise".

What (the song) also deals with is people's awkwardness with it. When it happened to me, I just walked straight past. I thought, I'm doing the same thing as everybody else. I felt awkward...That's what the song deals with, people just sort of starting to pretend it's not happening.

David Crosby, who had met Collins at the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert in Madison Square Garden, provided some vocals on "Another Day in Paradise". Collins said that "David did exactly what I expected him to do. He just picked a few notes out of the air that I would never have thought of." He had originally wanted Crosby to overdub some vocals on his first solo album, Face Value, but Crosby was unable to attend those sessions.

When determining which song to release as the first single from his solo album ...But Seriously, Collins selected "Another Day in Paradise" as he felt that it was different from what he had done before. The single version is slightly different from the album version in that it uses a shorter intro.

"Another Day in Paradise" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 43 on the week dated 4 November 1989. Seven weeks later, on 23 December 1989, it became his seventh (and, to date, final) No. 1 single in the U.S as a solo artist and his eighth number one hit when accounting for "Invisible Touch" as a member of Genesis. The song was also the final No. 1 song of the 1980s in the U.S., and remained at that position for four weeks. The song had already reached No. 2 in the UK in November of that year.

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."