Legendary musician Phil Collins says Taylor Swift has fully earned her place at the top of the music world after being impressed by her talent long before she became a global superstar.
The Genesis star shares his admiration during BBC Radio 2’s Tracks Of My Years with Vernon Kay, recalling the first time he saw Swift perform White Horse at the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Phil said: “Taylor Swift, I met her. And I’d kind of known the name, but she wasn’t anywhere near the star she is today.”
He remembered watching her perform with nothing more than a guitar and being struck by both the song and her delivery.
“This very nice lady then got up on stage with a guitar and sang White Horse, and it blew me away completely because not only was the song great, and the sentiment of the song really got me, but she sang it beautifully,” he said.
Looking at her success now, Phil added: “I’m so pleased that she’s the hugest thing in the world now because she kind of feels like she deserves it. It’s easy to knock someone that’s got so much success, but I think she really deserves it.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Phil reveals that one of the most famous songs of his career almost wrote itself.
Discussing In The Air Tonight, he explained that much of the song, including its opening lyrics, came together while he experimented alone in his home studio.
“The classic example of that would be In The Air Tonight, which was pretty much 80% improvised,” he said. “The words that came out on that first verse were improvised.”
When Vernon reacted with surprise, Phil confirmed the famous opening was created in the moment as he played a keyboard and programmed a drum machine.
The singer also admitted he never planned to become a solo artist, explaining that his landmark debut album Face Value only happened because his Genesis bandmates were making solo records while he found himself with unexpected time on his hands.
“I never set out to make a solo record. I didn’t think I had it in me,” he said.
Phil explained that he simply began recording ideas at home before playing them to record company boss Ahmet Ertegun, who convinced him the material should become an album.
Reflecting on his songwriting, Phil said he rarely sits down with a subject in mind.
Instead, he lets ideas emerge naturally while playing the piano, describing the process as driven more by instinct and good fortune than careful planning.
The interview also sees Collins discuss his love of The Beatles, Motown, Stevie Wonder, The Beach Boys and The Who, as well as his pride in seeing his children build successful careers across music, television and sport.
He also reflects on his forthcoming induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist.
You can listen exclusively to Phil Collins on Tracks Of My Years on BBC Sounds and watch on Radio 2’s YouTube channel and BBC iPlayer from 6am today, Sunday 2 August. And listen from Monday 3 – Friday 7 August on Vernon Kay’s weekday morning show (9.30am – 12 noon).
Photo credit: BBC