‘Another Day in Paradise’ is a song written and recorded by English drummer and singer 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 has as its subject the problem of homelessness and paradise; 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 crossing the street to ignore 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 also 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. 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.
The song was another hit for Collins. On 23 December 1989, it became his seventh (and, to date, final) No. 1 single in the U.S. The song was also the final No. 1 song of the 1980s in the U.S., and remained at No. 1 for four weeks, which classifies the song as a hit from the 1990s as well. This song is notable for keeping Janet Jackson's ‘Rhythm Nation’ from reaching No. 1. It also saw out the 1980s and saw in the 1990s at the top of the German singles chart. The song had already reached No. 2 in the UK in November of that year. The single version is slightly different from the album version in that it uses a shorter intro.
Labels – Atlantic, Virgin, WEA
Songwriter – Phil Collins
Producers – Phil Collins, Hugh Padgham
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]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
[Chorus]
Oh, think twice
'Cause it's another day
For you and me in paradise
Oh, think twice
'Cause it's another day for you
You and me in paradise
[Post-Chorus]
Think about it
[Verse 2]
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
[Chorus]
Oh, think twice
'Cause it's another day
For you and me in paradise
Oh, think twice
It's just another day for you
You and me in paradise
[Post-Chorus]
Just think about it
[Bridge]
Oh, Lord
Is there nothing more anybody can do?
Oh, Lord
There must be something you can say
[Verse 3]
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
[Chorus]
Oh, think twice
'Cause it's another day
For you and me in paradise
Oh, think twice
It's just another day for you
You and me in paradise
[Outr]
Just think about it
Mhm, think about it
[Outro]
It's just another day
For you and me in paradise
It's just another day
For you and me in paradise (Para—, paradise)
Paradise (It's just another day for you and me)
Uh, just think about it (In paradise)
Paradise (It's just another day for you and me)
Just think about it (In paradise, para—, paradise)
It's just in paradise (It's just another day for you and me)
Mhm, paradise (In paradise)
Paradise, just another day (It's just another day for you and me)
Think about it (In paradise, para—, paradise)