Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Videos: 'In The Air Tonight' Dudes ROCK Phil Collins In The Middle Of East Village Street
By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 16, 2019
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 16, 2019
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
There is something intoxicating about the Phil Collins song "In the Air Tonight." At least for adults. I didn't get it when I was younger, and Phil Collins was the sole representative of Adult Contemporary music to me, a genre I loathed even if I didn't know it had a name at the time. It was dentist office music, and it all sounded the same to me—may as well have been performed by any adult in the Peanuts universe. But since then, "In the Air Tonight" has won me over countless times, and particularly clicked for me when I was in my 30s—friends nearby, after a few drinks, you know, the sweet spot to really feel that build-up of excitement washing over you while awaiting that drum break. That dramatic, thunderous drum break that brings us all together. Have you ever met anyone who didn't turn into a human goosebump when that song really hits its stride?
These young men—spotted spreading joy in the East Village on Saturday night by EV Grieve—get it.
The video shows two men in front of a flashy automobile, blasting the tune, and dancing in the crosswalk as people pull out their phones to capture the magic moment.
The anonymous blogger behind EV Grieve (who does a wonderful job documenting the neighborhood) told Gothamist, "This was my first 'In the Air Tonight' mobile sighting in the East Village or anywhere! I was at a friend's apartment when we suddenly heard Phil Collins coming from somewhere REALLY LOUDLY... thought it was coming from behind the building, where there had been a SantaCon party earlier in the day. We thought it was a solitary Santa back home and cranking 'In the Air Tonight' as a nightcap. Then we realized it was coming from the street..."
I've been waiting for this drum break for all my life, oh lord!:
This may not be their first time, either. "A few people who responded mentioned seeing them around in Brooklyn," EV Grieve noted to us. "Do they play other songs? I was thinking something by Duran Duran might sound nice. Or maybe Wham." But as fictional murderer Patrick Bateman would have pointed out, this is likely the perfect tune for the masses: "Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way, especially songs like 'In the Air Tonight'."
In conclusion, bring back Phil Collins Day, and ban all cars except this car. Thank you.
Important update: This video was taken 90 minutes before the above video, in Williamsburg.
Sirs, please email me, I'd like to discuss a ride-a-long.
Tagged
east village
in the air tonight
phil collins
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Inside a photographer's journey to visit every neighborhood in New York City
What do you see when you record the whole of the boroughs?
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 5, 2026
Banned books and Winnie the Pooh: October in NYC libraries
It's a busy month at the branches.
By
Alec Hamilton
Arts & Entertainment
Banned books and Winnie the Pooh: October in NYC libraries
It's a busy month at the branches.
By
Alec Hamilton
NYC music in October: The Strokes, a Blink-182 cover band, and Polish experimentalism
By
Hank Shteamer
Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide.
By
Hannah Frishberg
In the mood for a pastoral autumn experience? Try Queens.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .