View source for In the Air Tonight

{{short description|1981 single by Phil Collins}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = In the Air Tonight
| cover      = In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins handwriting font.png
| caption    = Handwriting font variant of the picture sleeve (also used for the parent album ''Face Value'')
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Phil Collins]]
| album      = [[Face Value (album)|Face Value]]
| B-side     = The Roof Is Leaking
| written    = 1980
| recorded   = 1980
| released   = 9 January 1981<ref name=bpi>{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/3289-3748-1|title=BPI}}</ref>
| studio     = [[Townhouse Studios|Townhouse]] (London)
| genre      = 
*[[Experimental pop]]<ref name="The Quietus">{{cite web |url=http://thequietus.com/articles/04335-phil-collins-genesis-brian-eno-john-lydon-peter-gabriel |title=No Flak Jacket Required: In Defence Of Phil Collins |last=Mills |first=Gary |date=26 May 2010 |website=[[The Quietus]] |quote=the single's place in 1981 at the vanguard of experimental pop |access-date=23 October 2015 |archive-date=1 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101182545/http://thequietus.com/articles/04335-phil-collins-genesis-brian-eno-john-lydon-peter-gabriel |url-status=live }}</ref> 
*[[soft rock]]<ref name="virginianpilot">{{cite news|last=Gruss|first=Mike|date=11 July 2007|at=Daily Break section, p. E1|title=I've been Waiting for a theme song all my life|newspaper=[[The Virginian-Pilot]]|quote=... Phil Collins' 1981 soft-rock classic 'In the Air Tonight.'|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=VP&p_theme=vp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11A590BB4B62A088&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=11 August 2013|archive-date=27 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927030145/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=VP&p_theme=vp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11A590BB4B62A088&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}}</ref>
* [[electronic rock]]<ref name= "Breihan 2020">{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: John Cougar's "Jack And Diane|website= [[Stereogum]] |date= 15 June 2020 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/2087589/the-number-ones-john-cougars-jack-and-diane/columns/the-number-ones/|quote= Mellencamp loved “In The Air Tonight,” the haunted 1981 synth-rock masterpiece from Genesis drummer Phil Collins.|accessdate= 22 July 2023}}</ref>
| length     = * 5:34 (album version)
* 4:59 (single edit)
| label      = * [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
* [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
| writer     = [[Phil Collins]]
| producer   = * Phil Collins
* [[Hugh Padgham]]
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = [[I Missed Again]]
| next_year  = 1981
| misc       = {{Extra chronology
 | artist     = 
 | type       = single
 | prev_title = [[Separate Lives]]
 | prev_year  = 1985
 | title      = In the Air Tonight
 | year       = 1988
 | next_title = [[A Groovy Kind of Love#Phil Collins version|A Groovy Kind of Love]]
 | next_year  = 1988
}}
{{Extra chronology
 | artist     = 
 | type       = single
 | prev_title = You Touch My Heart
 | prev_year  = 2005
 | title      = In the Air Tonight
 | year       = 2007
 | next_title = [[(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave#Phil Collins version|(Love Is Like a) Heatwave]]
 | next_year  = 2010
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|YkADj0TPrJA|"In the Air Tonight"}}}}
}}
"'''In the Air Tonight'''" is the debut solo single by the English drummer and singer-songwriter [[Phil Collins]]. It was released as the lead single from Collins's debut solo studio album, ''[[Face Value (album)|Face Value]]'', in January 1981. It was selected as the second single from the album in the US and Canada after "[[I Missed Again]]".

Collins co-produced "In the Air Tonight" with [[Hugh Padgham]], who became a frequent collaborator in the following years. It reached No.&nbsp;2 on the [[UK Singles Chart]] behind the posthumous release of [[John Lennon]]'s "[[Woman (John Lennon song)|Woman]]".<ref name=uk>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/15815/phil-collins/|title=Official Charts > Phil Collins|publisher=The Official UK Charts Company|access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref> It reached No. 1 in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden, No. 2 in Canada, and the top 10 in Australia, New Zealand, and several other European territories.  It reached No. 19 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in the United States, and reached No. 2 on the Rock Tracks Chart, later certified gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]], representing 500,000 copies sold. The song's [[music video]], directed by Stuart Orme, received heavy play on [[MTV]] when the new cable music video channel launched in August 1981.

"In the Air Tonight" remains one of Collins' best-known hits, often cited as his [[List of signature songs|signature song]], and is especially famous for its drum break towards the end, which has been described as "the sleekest, most melodramatic drum break in history" and one of the "101 Greatest Drumming Moments".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/the-20-best-drummers-of-all-time-5199372 | title=The 20 Best Drummers of All Time | work=[[LA Weekly]] | location=Los Angeles | date=11 November 2014 | access-date=24 July 2015 | archive-date=12 January 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112234957/http://www.laweekly.com/music/the-20-best-drummers-of-all-time-5199372 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.pressreader.com/australia/rhythm/20160412/282875139934598 | title= 101 Greatest Drumming Moments | work=Rhythm | date=12 April 2016 | access-date=20 September 2018}}</ref> In 2006, the song was ranked at number 35 in [[VH1]]'s "100 Greatest Songs of the 80s".<ref name=dvf>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2006/vh180s.htm|title=Rock on the Net: VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80's: 1-50|website=Rockonthenet.com|access-date=24 April 2021|archive-date=19 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119191013/http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2006/vh180s.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, it was listed at No. 291 in ''[[Rolling Stone]]'''s "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=15 September 2021 |title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/ |access-date=18 July 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=15 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915162053/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Background and recording==
===Inspiration===
Collins wrote the song amid the grief he felt after divorcing his first wife Andrea Bertorelli in 1980. In a 2016 interview, Collins said of the song's lyrics: "I wrote the lyrics spontaneously. I'm not quite sure what the song is about, but there's a lot of anger, a lot of despair and a lot of frustration."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/phil-collins-my-life-in-15-songs-20160229/in-the-air-tonight-1981-20160229 |title="In the Air Tonight" (1981) &#124; Phil Collins: My Life in 15 Songs |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=29 February 2016 |access-date=19 October 2016 |archive-date=20 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920043745/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/phil-collins-my-life-in-15-songs-20160229/in-the-air-tonight-1981-20160229 |url-status=live }}</ref> In a 1997 [[BBC Radio 2]] documentary, the singer revealed that the divorce contributed to his 1979 hiatus from the band [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]], until they regrouped in October of that year to record the album ''[[Duke (album)|Duke]]''. Collins remembered playing the song to [[Mike Rutherford]] and [[Tony Banks (musician)|Tony Banks]] but he felt it was too simple for the group.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.philcollins.co.uk/mm7281.htm|title=Facing up to new values|first=Lynden|last=Barber|magazine=Melody Maker|date=7 February 1981|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021222065320/http://www.philcollins.co.uk/mm7281.htm |archive-date=22 December 2002 }}</ref>

===Musical style===
{{Listen
| type = music
| filename = Intheairtonight.ogg
| title = "In the Air Tonight" sample
| description = The end of the song's second verse, the iconic drum break, and the beginning of the final chorus.
}}
"In the Air Tonight" has been described as being "at the vanguard of experimental pop" in 1981 and "a rock oddity classic", having been influenced by "the unconventional studio predilections of [[Brian Eno]] and [[Peter Gabriel]]".<ref name="The Quietus"/> It has also been described as a "[[soft rock]] classic."<ref name="virginianpilot"/> Musically, the song consists of a series of ominous chords played on a [[Sequential Circuits Prophet-5]] over a simple [[drum machine]] pattern (the [[Roland CR-78]] Disco-2 pattern, plus some programming); processed [[electric guitar]] sounds and [[Vocoder|vocoded]] vocals, an effect which is increased on key words to add additional atmosphere. The mood is one of restrained anger until the final chorus when an explosive burst of [[Drum kit|drums]] finally releases the musical tension and the instrumentation explodes into a thunderous crescendo. Composed in [[D minor]], it has a moderate tempo of 96 beats per minute.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0123125&|title=Phil Collins "In the Air Tonight" Sheet Music - Download & Print|author=Collins, Phil|work=musicnotes.com|date=30 August 2013|access-date=30 October 2023|archive-date=15 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615111236/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/john-legend/all-of-me/MN0123125?|url-status=live}}</ref>

Collins has described obtaining the drum machine specifically to deal with personal issues relating to his divorce through songwriting, telling ''[[Mix (magazine)|Mix]]'' magazine: "I had to start writing some of this music that was inside me".<ref name=Mix>{{cite web |author= Flans, Robyn |url=https://www.mixonline.com/recording/classic-tracks-phil-collins-air-tonight-365521 |title= Classic Tracks: Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" |work= Mix Magazine |date= 1 May 2005 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317065230/http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_phil_collins_air/index.html |archive-date=17 March 2007}}</ref> He improvised the lyrics during a songwriting session in the studio: "I was just fooling around. I got these chords that I liked, so I turned the mic on and started singing. The lyrics you hear are what I wrote spontaneously. That frightens me a bit, but I'm quite proud of the fact that I sang 99.9 percent of those lyrics spontaneously".<ref>{{cite book|last=Thompson|first=Dave|title=Turn It On Again: Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, and Genesis|publisher=Backbeat Books|date=November 2004|page=182|isbn=978-0-87930-810-0}}</ref>

===Drum sound===
The song is known for its use of the [[gated reverb]] drum sound. Fellow musicians and journalists have commented on its use in the record. [[Black Sabbath]] singer [[Ozzy Osbourne]] called the drum fill "the best ever – it still sounds awesome",<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/5293764/Ozzy-Osbourne-I-love-Phil-Collins.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/5293764/Ozzy-Osbourne-I-love-Phil-Collins.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title= Ozzy Osbourne: 'I love Phil Collins' |work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Murray |last=Wardrop |date=8 May 2009 |access-date=24 July 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> while music critic and broadcaster [[Stuart Maconie]] was quoted:

{{blockquote|Musically, it's an extraordinarily striking record, because almost nothing happens in it ... It's the drum sound in particular that's amazing. You don't hear it at all for the first two minutes of the song ... then there's that great doo-dom doo-dom doo-dom comes in, and the drums come in half way through the song, setting the template for all the Eighties drum songs after that.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/songlibrary/yourviews/intheairtonight.shtml|title=Sold on Song – Song Library – In the Air Tonight|last=BBC|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=17 May 2006|archive-date=16 June 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060616134644/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/songlibrary/yourviews/intheairtonight.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

The original single version of "In the Air Tonight" features extra drums that play underneath the song until the signature drum crash (referred to by fans as the "magic break") appears. These were added at the suggestion of Atlantic Records head [[Ahmet Ertegun]]. In 2007, Collins wrote:

{{blockquote|Ahmet came down to the final mix in the cutting room in New York ... The drums don't come in until the end but Ahmet didn't know that at this point, because on the demo the drums hadn't come in at all; it was only drum machine all the way. And he was saying, "Where's the down beat, where's the backbeat?" I said, "The drums come in <!-- not a mistake-->in a minute." "Yeah, you know that and I know that, but the kids don't know that; you've got to put the drums on earlier." So we added some drums to the mix and put it out as a single.<ref name=chapter>{{cite book|last=Collins|first=Phil|author-link=Genesis (band)|title=Genesis: Chapter and Verse|publisher=St. Martin's Griffin|year=2007|pages=220–221|isbn=978-0-312-37956-8|display-authors=etal}}</ref>}}

==Release==
Speaking about the song's rapid ascension in the music charts, Collins wrote the following in 2007:

{{blockquote|It was a surprise. The single came in at No. 36, I did ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' with [[Dave Lee Travis]], and in one of the down moments he said, "This record is going to be a top three." I didn't believe him, because it had been made so haphazardly, but the next week, there it was at No. 3. And then [[Murder of John Lennon|Mark Chapman shot John Lennon]] and that was that.<ref name=chapter/>}}

==Critical reception==
{{Expand section|date=May 2025}}
''[[Record World]]'' called the song "futuristic pop that's also rhythmically captivating."<ref name=rw>{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=30 May 1981|page=1|accessdate=27 February 2023|title=Hits of the Week|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/80s/81/RW-1981-05-30.pdf|archive-date=22 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222195632/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/80s/81/RW-1981-05-30.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Urban legend==
An [[urban legend]] has arisen about "In the Air Tonight", according to which the lyrics are based on a drowning incident in which someone who was close enough to save the victim did not help them, while Collins, who was too far away to help, looked on. Increasingly embellished variations on the legend emerged over time, with the stories often culminating in Collins singling out the guilty party while singing the song at a concert.<ref>{{cite web|title=In the Air Tonight|url=http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/intheair.asp|website=Snopes.com|date=12 September 2000|access-date=11 November 2015|archive-date=16 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216165618/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/in-the-air-tonight/|url-status=live}}</ref> Collins has denied all such stories; he commented on the legends about the song in a [[BBC World Service]] interview:

{{blockquote|I don't know what this song is about. When I was writing this I was going through a divorce. And the only thing I can say about it is that it's obviously in anger. It's the angry side, or the bitter side of a separation. So what makes it even more comical is when I hear these stories which started many years ago, particularly in America, of someone come up to me and say, "Did you really see someone drowning?" I said, "No, wrong." And then every time I go back to America the story gets [[Chinese whispers]], it gets more and more elaborate. It's so frustrating, 'cause this is one song out of all the songs probably that I've ever written that I really don't know what it's about, you know?<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/music/singersong/philcollins.shtml|title=Singer and the Song &#124; Learning English &#124; BBC World Service|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=3 July 2005|archive-date=7 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107064042/http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/music/singersong/philcollins.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

The urban legend was famously referenced by [[Eminem]] in a call-back in his 2000 chart-topping hit "[[Stan (song)|Stan]]":

<blockquote>You know the song by Phil Collins, "In the Air of the Night" [sic]
About that guy who coulda saved that other guy from drownin'
But didn't, then Phil saw it all, then at a show he found him?<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |date= |title='Eminem - "Stan"' |url=https://genius.com/Eminem-stan-lyrics |website= |location= |publisher= |access-date=2025-09-02}}</ref></blockquote>

==Music video==
The music video (directed by Stuart Orme) animates the photograph of Collins's face from the cover of the ''[[Face Value (album)|Face Value]]'' album, slowly fading in through the introduction until it fills the screen, singing the first chorus. The video then cuts to Collins sitting in an empty room at night. Twice a spectral figure appears in the window, but only the second time does Collins get up to look at it, then is shown walking to the one door of the room.

Collins's face returns for the second chorus. He is then shown leaving the room and entering a hallway full of doors. The first one is locked, then the second opens and Collins sees himself looking at the window again, only now the spectre has turned into his own reflection.

The third door is locked, but as the fourth one opens, the drum break sounds and the viewer is returned to Collins's face again, this time in thermal coloring, which gradually reverts to black and white. His reflection from the window is briefly superimposed on the face, this time seemingly reflected in water. Collins recedes into the darkness as the song repeats and fades.

In 1983 the music video was released on the home video ''Phil Collins'' available on [[VHS]] and [[LaserDisc]] which received a [[27th Annual Grammy Awards#Music video|Grammy nomination]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Music Video#Recipients|Best Video, Short Form]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1985-233.html |title=Grammy Awards 1985 |work=Awards & shows |access-date=18 March 2018 |archive-date=17 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517182836/http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1985-233.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Performance==
"In the Air Tonight" remains a popular selection on [[classic rock]] radio stations. It is the song most often associated with Collins' solo career, and he has performed it at many events, including [[Live Aid]], where he played the song on a piano on the same calendar day in both [[Philadelphia]] and London.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3979461.stm|date=8 November 2004|title=BBC News: Stars recall Live Aid spectacular|access-date=29 September 2009|archive-date=9 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309110354/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3979461.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> He also performed the song at ''[[The Secret Policeman's Balls#Distinctive elements of the first four shows (1976–1981)|The Secret Policeman's Ball]]'', which was his first live performance as a solo artist. "I remember doing 'In the Air Tonight' at Live Aid," he recalled, "and [[Pete Townshend|[Pete] Townshend]] saying, 'Are you going to do that fucking song again?' as if it was the only one I ever played."<ref>[[Mark Ellen|Ellen, Mark]]: "Does everybody still hate Phil Collins?"; ''[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]]'' #217, December 2015, p82</ref>

==Legacy==
The song appeared as part of the soundtrack for the 1983 movie ''[[Risky Business]]'' and plays when the characters played by [[Tom Cruise]] and [[Rebecca De Mornay]] have sex on a subway train.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086200/soundtrack|title=Risky Business (1983) - IMDb|access-date=24 April 2021|website=IMDb.com|archive-date=15 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615111236/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086200/soundtrack/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1984, the song was memorably used in a scene from the [[Brother's Keeper (Miami Vice)|first episode]] of the television series ''[[Miami Vice]]'', which film and television critic [[Matt Zoller Seitz]] cited as why the song has been stamped as "Property of [[Michael Mann]]" (the series' executive producer) for years, rarely being used in other screen works due to its indelible use in the series, akin to [[Martin Scorsese]]'s signature use of songs by [[the Rolling Stones]] for his films.<ref>{{cite web|last=Seitz|first=Matt Zoller|author-link=Matt Zoller Seitz|title=The Americans Recap: Way to Commit|url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/01/americans-recap-pilot.html|website=[[New York (magazine)#Digital|Vulture]]|access-date=10 January 2020|date=31 January 2013}}</ref> "In the Air Tonight" received a new wave of attention thanks to its use in the series, enough for it to rise in sales outside the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] at number 102.

The song was remixed in 1988 by [[Ben Liebrand]] for his weekly appearance in the [[:nl:Curry en Van Inkel|Curry & Van Inkel]] radio show on Dutch radio. The mix was completed and then taken by Liebrand to be part of a mix showcase at the [[Disco Mix Club|DMC]] Mixing Championship Finals in London, attended by 3500 worldwide deejays.<ref name=Audiografie>{{Cite web|url=http://www.liebrand-audiografie.nl/magazines/BenTalk_1992_07.pdf|title=Ben Talk july 1992|access-date=30 April 2021|archive-date=30 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430142039/http://www.liebrand-audiografie.nl/magazines/BenTalk_1992_07.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The mix was picked up by [[Virgin Records]] for an official release, which hit Number 4 in the UK charts.<ref name="Trance.nu - The home of music">{{Cite web|url=http://trance.nu/v3/interview_show.php?id=185|title=trance.nu - Then you lost your social life!|date=22 March 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050322212857/http://trance.nu/v3/interview_show.php?id=185|access-date=25 August 2020|archive-date=22 March 2005}}</ref>

[[David Wise (composer)|David Wise]], composer for the 1995 video game ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2]]'', has said that the track "Bayou Boogie" was inspired by "In the Air Tonight", adding that he was "trying to get the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] to sound like the [[Roland CR-78|Roland CR78]]" Collins used on the track.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=david_wise |number=573863740099158016|title=No coincidence. I was trying to get the SNES to sound like the Roland CR78 that Phil Collins used for In the air tonight. [sic]}}</ref>

The song gained notoriety again when it was used in a 2007 [[Cadbury's Dairy Milk]] [[Gorilla (advertisement)|advert featuring a man in a gorilla suit warming up and playing the drum fill towards the end of the advert]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs2z7OA3XKI | title=Cadbury's Gorilla Playing Drums - Advert Commercial | website=[[YouTube]] | date=3 November 2018 | access-date=17 January 2024 | archive-date=15 June 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615111314/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs2z7OA3XKI | url-status=live }}</ref> Upon seeing the advert, Collins stated in a BBC interview that he thought the advert was 'fantastic'.<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11642277 | title= Collins: Gorilla ad 'fantastic' | work= BBC News | date= 2 November 2010 | access-date= 17 January 2024 | archive-date= 17 January 2024 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240117002012/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11642277 | url-status= live }}</ref> The song eventually reached{{Clarify|date=September 2024}} number 14 in the UK Top 40 charts and appeared on the 'Now That's What I Call Music 68' UK CD.

The song appeared as part of a cameo by [[Mike Tyson]] in the 2009 movie [[The Hangover]]. ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' noted "The Hangover marked the moment where the Fill broke through to another level of pop-cultural immortality."<ref>{{Cite magazine | last=Shteamer | first= Hank | title =Phil Collins' 'In the Air Tonight' Drum Break: 9 Takes on Music's Most Iconic Fill | magazine= [[Rolling Stone]] | date= 6 January 2021 |url = https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/phil-collins-in-the-air-tonight-drum-fill-videos-1106780/ |access-date = 2025-08-20}}</ref>

In July 2020, a video reaction to the song by [[TwinsthenewTrend]] increased the sales and streaming of Collins's original version. The TwinsthenewTrend first-listen video was viewed 4.9&nbsp;million times in its first two weeks online.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url = https://www.billboard.com/pro/phil-collins-in-the-air-tonight-streams-sales-reaction-video/|title = Phil Collins' 'In the Air Tonight' Surges in Streams & Sales After Reaction Video Goes Viral|magazine = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date = 12 August 2020|access-date = 4 March 2022|archive-date = 4 March 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220304061027/https://www.billboard.com/pro/phil-collins-in-the-air-tonight-streams-sales-reaction-video/|url-status = live}}</ref> Continued popularity brought new traffic to the Collins song which rose to number 3 on ''Billboard''{{'s}} Digital Song Sales chart in August 2020.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url = https://www.billboard.com/artist/phil-collins/|title = Phil Collins|magazine = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date = 4 March 2022|archive-date = 25 February 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220225202231/https://www.billboard.com/artist/phil-collins/|url-status = live}}</ref>

On 15 November 2024, the song was used by [[Jake Paul]] as his [[Music at sporting events|entrance song]] in his boxing match against [[Mike Tyson]], the [[Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson|first live event]] to be broadcast by [[Netflix]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoefling |first=Jon |title=Jake Paul enters ring with Mike Tyson inspired 'In the Air Tonight' song |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/boxing/2024/11/16/jake-paul-ring-walk-mike-tyson-fight/76343434007/ |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Single and credits==
'''VSK102 UK Single Release (Martin H)'''
# "In the Air Tonight"
# "The Roof Is Leaking"

Sleeve includes a black and white 12-page cartoon storyboard drawn by Collins' brother Clive Collins.

'''UK and US single (1981)'''
# "In the Air Tonight" – 4:57
#* [[Phil Collins]] – [[Roland CR-78]] drum machine, vocals, drums, [[Sequential Circuits Prophet-5|Prophet 5 synthesizer]], [[Rhodes piano]], [[Roland Corporation|Roland VP-330]] [[vocoder]]
#* [[John Giblin]] – bass
#* [[Daryl Stuermer]] – guitar
#* [[L. Shankar]] – violins
# "The Roof Is Leaking" – 3:36
#* [[Phil Collins]] – piano, vocal
#* [[Daryl Stuermer]] – [[banjo]]
#* Joe Partridge – [[slide guitar]]
* A demo track for "In the Air Tonight" also appeared on the "[[If Leaving Me Is Easy]]" single.{{ref|single}}
'''12" German maxi-single (1981)'''
# "In the Air Tonight" (album version) – 5:35
#* [[Phil Collins]] – [[Roland CR-78]] [[drum machine]], vocals, drums, [[Sequential Circuits Prophet-5|Prophet 5 synthesizer]], [[Rhodes piano]], [[Roland VP-330]] [[vocoder]]
#* [[John Giblin]] – bass
#* [[Daryl Stuermer]] – guitar
#* [[L. Shankar]] – violins
# "The Roof Is Leaking" – 3:36
#* [[Phil Collins]] – piano, vocal
#* [[Daryl Stuermer]] – [[banjo]]
#* Joe Partridge – [[slide guitar]]
'''Japan CD single (1988)'''
# "In the Air Tonight" (extended)
# "In the Air Tonight" ('88 remix)
# "I Missed Again" (Album Version)
'''German CD single (1990)'''
# "In the Air Tonight" (extended version) – 7:33 (Additional production by [[Ben Liebrand]])
# "In the Air Tonight" ('88 remix) – 5:07 (Remixed by Phil Collins and Hugh Padgham)
# "I Missed Again" – 3:42
(catalogue 2292-57672-2)

== Personnel ==
'''"In the Air Tonight"'''

*[[Phil Collins]] – [[Roland CR-78]] [[drum machine]], vocals, drums, [[Sequential Circuits Prophet-5|Prophet 5 synthesizer]], [[Rhodes piano]], [[Roland VP-330]] [[vocoder]]
* [[John Giblin]] – bass
* [[Daryl Stuermer]] – guitar
* [[L. Shankar]] – violins

'''"The Roof Is Leaking"'''

*Phil Collins – piano, vocal
* Daryl Stuermer – [[banjo]]
* Joe Partridge – [[slide guitar]]

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1981)
!Peak<br/>position 
|-
|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St. Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|edition=Illustrated|page=71|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref><ref name="aus81">{{cite web |title= National Top 100 Singles for 1981 |publisher= [[Kent Music Report]] |issue= 393 |page= 7 |via= [[Imgur]] |date= 4 January 1982 |access-date= 11 January 2022 |url= https://i.imgur.com/RgsDOOc.jpg |archive-date= 28 July 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210728230643/https://i.imgur.com/RgsDOOc.jpg |url-status= live }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|3
|-
{{single chart|Austria|1|artist=Phil Collins|song=In the Air Tonight}}
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|3|artist=Phil Collins|song=In the Air Tonight}}
|-
|Canada Top Singles (''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.0363.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - August 29, 1981}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
|France ([[SNEP]])<ref>[http://www.top-france.fr/html/hebdo/cadre.htm Top France, cliquer sur la date du 11 juin 1981] sur ''top-france.fr'', consulté le 5 septembre 2020.</ref>
|align="center"|11
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|2|song=In the Air Tonight}}
|-
|Italy ([[FIMI]])<ref>[http://www.hitparadeitalia.it/schede/i/in_the_air_tonight.htm Hit Parade Italia: In the Air Tonight - Scheda]</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|3
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|1|year=1981|week=12}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|2|artist=Phil Collins|song=In the Air Tonight}}
|-
|New Zealand ([[Recorded Music NZ]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Phil+Collins&titel=In+The+Air+Tonight&cat=s |title=Charts.org.nz – Phil Collins – In the Air Tonight |access-date=14 June 2016 |archive-date=19 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519072200/http://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Phil%20Collins&titel=In%20The%20Air%20Tonight&cat=s |url-status=live }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
{{single chart|Norway|4|artist=Phil Collins|song=In the Air Tonight}}
|-
|South Africa ([[Springbok Radio]])<ref>{{cite web | title=South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (C) | url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(C).html }}</ref>
|align="center"|2 
|-
|Spain ([[Productores de Música de España|AFE]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st |date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref> 
| style="text-align:center;"|7
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|1|artist=Phil Collins|song=In the Air Tonight}}
|-
{{single chart|Switzerland|1|artist=Phil Collins|song=In the Air Tonight}}
|-
|[[UK Singles]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref name=uk/>
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
|UK Airplay (''[[Record Business]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Business-UK/1981/Record-Business-1981-02-23.pdf|title=Top 75 Airplay Chart|magazine=Record Business|date=23 February 1981|page=18|access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 6
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|19|artist=Phil Collins|artistid=332348}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|2|artist=Phil Collins|artistid=332348}}
|-
{{single chart|West Germany|1|artist=Phil Collins|song=In the Air Tonight|songid=723|access-date= 13 February 2019}}
|-
|Zimbabwe (ZIMA)<ref>* Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. ''Zimbabwe: singles chart book''. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1988–1989)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
|Australia ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Phil+Collins |title=australian-charts.com > Discography Phil Collins |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=16 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229095134/http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Phil+Collins |archive-date=29 February 2016 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|47
|-
|Dutch Singles Chart
| style="text-align:center;"|17
|-
|Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1988/M&M-1988-07-09.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=5|issue=28|date=July 9, 1988|access-date=November 5, 2025}}</ref>
|align="center"|17
|-
|[[UK Singles Chart|UK Singles]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref name=uk/>
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
|UK Airplay (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1988/MW-1988-07-02.pdf|title=Top 100 Airplay Chart|magazine=[[Music Week]]|date=2 July 1988|page=15|access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref>
|align="center"| 4
|-
|West Germany ([[Media Control Charts|Media Control]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-1919|title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts > Phil Collins – In the Air Tonight ('88 Remix) (single)|language=de|publisher=GfK Entertainment|access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|3
|}
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Chart (2007)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|[[UK Singles Chart|UK Singles]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])
| style="text-align:center;"|14
|}
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Chart (2008)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
{{single chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Phil Collins|song=In the Air Tonight}}
|}
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Chart (2012)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
{{single chart|France|102|artist=Phil Collins|song=In the Air Tonight}}
|}
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Chart (2017)
!Peak<br>position
|-
{{single chart|Poland|39|chartid=2471|year=2017|access-date=16 October 2017}}
|}
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Chart (2020)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
{{single chart|Hungarysingle|28|year=2020|week=49|artist=Phil Collins}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|9|artist=Phil Collins}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1981)
!Rank
|-
|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="aus81"/>
| style="text-align:center;"|23
|-
|Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=1981|title=Jahreshitparade Singles 1981|website=austriancharts.at|access-date=22 August 2021|archive-date=22 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822083004/https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=1981|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|7
|-F<
|Belgium (Ultratop)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1981|title=Jaaroverzichten 1981|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|31
|-
|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.4689.pdf|title=RPM Top 100 Singles of 1981 - December 26, 1981|access-date=10 October 2022|archive-date=19 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219044702/https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.4689.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|27
|-
|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1981|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1981|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=22 August 2021|archive-date=12 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812141828/https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1981|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|11
|-
|Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1981&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1981|website=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=22 August 2021|archive-date=25 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925151018/https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1981&cat=s|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|8
|-
|New Zealand (RIANZ)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1981-12-31 |title=Top Selling Singles of 1981 |publisher=Recorded Music NZ |access-date=14 June 2016 |archive-date=11 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511174703/http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/?chart=3870 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|35
|-
|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/1981|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1981|website=hitparade.ch|access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|-
|West Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1981|title=Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts|language=de|publisher=[[GfK Entertainment]]|access-date=22 August 2021|archive-date=8 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508235753/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1981|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|}
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Chart (1989)
!Rank
|-
|European Hot 100 Singles<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M%26M-1989-12-23.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 1989|journal=[[Music & Media]]|page=6|date=23 December 1989|access-date=17 January 2020|volume=6|issue=51|oclc=29800226|via=American Radio History|archive-date=29 May 2017|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170529133554/http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-12-23.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|38
|-
|West Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1989|title=Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1989|publisher=[[GfK Entertainment]]|language=de|access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|26
|}
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Chart (2007)
!Rank
|-
|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20070107/37501/|title=End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 - 2007|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=16 June 2020|archive-date=22 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422001949/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20070107/37501/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|75
|}
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Chart (2008)
!Rank
|-
|New Zealand (RIANZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/2008-12-31 |title= Top Selling Singles of 2008 |publisher=Recorded Music NZ |access-date=14 June 2016}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|23
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certification==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|artist=Phil Collins|title=In the Air Tonight|award=Platinum|id=10096|relyear=1981|certyear=2021|note=Digital single|access-date=20 July 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Germany|award=Gold|relyear=1981|certyear=1996|artist=Phil Collins|title=In the Air Tonight|note=Physical single|access-date=2 February 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Italy|award=Platinum|relyear=2008|certyear=2019|artist=Phil Collins|title=In the Air Tonight|note=Digital single|id=6654|access-date=3 June 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=New Zealand|award=Gold|relyear=1981|certyear=1981|artist=Phil Collins|title=In the Air Tonight|id=2008-09-26|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|note=Physical single}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Phil Collins|title=In the Air Tonight|award=Platinum|number=5|relyear=1981|certyear=2025|source=radioscope|refname=NZ2|access-date=November 9, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Phil Collins|title=In the Air Tonight|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1981|certyear=2021|certmonth=11|access-date=11 November 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Spain|award=Platinum|relyear=1981|certyear=2024|artist=Phil Collins|title=In the Air Tonight|id=phil-collins-in-the-air-tonight|access-date=3 June 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United Kingdom|award=Gold|relyear=1981|certyear=1988|id=3289-3748-1|artist=Phil Collins|title=In the Air Tonight|note=Physical single|access-date=2 February 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2004|certyear=2025|id=3289-2045-1|artist=Phil Collins|title=In the Air Tonight|note=Digital single|access-date=3 October 2025|refname=UKDigital}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|award=Gold|relyear=1989|certyear=1991|artist=Phil Collins|title=In the Air Tonight|note=Physical single|access-date=2 February 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2008|certyear=2016|artist=Phil Collins|title=In the Air Tonight|note=Digital single|access-date=2 February 2016}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

==Lil' Kim version==
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = In the Air Tonite
| cover      = In the Air Tonite.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Lil' Kim]] featuring [[Phil Collins]]
| album      = [[Urban Renewal (tribute album)|Urban Renewal]]
| released   = July 1, 2001
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = {{hlist|[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]|[[hip-hop]]}}
| length     = 4:07
| label      = [[Warner Music Group|WEA]]
| writer     = {{hlist|[[Lil' Kim|Kimberly Jones]]|Phil Collins}}
| producer   = [[The Neptunes]]
| chronology = [[Lil' Kim]]
| prev_title = [[Lady Marmalade#Moulin Rouge! version|Lady Marmalade]]
| prev_year  = 2001
| next_title = [[Kimnotyze]]
| next_year  = 2002
| misc       = {{Extra chronology
 | artist     = [[Phil Collins]]
 | type       = singles
 | prev_title = [[Son of Man (song)|Son of Man]]
 | prev_year  = 2000
 | title      = In the Air Tonite
 | year       = 2001
 | next_title = [[I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try)#Phil Collins version|Can't Stop Loving You]]
 | next_year  = 2002
}}
}}

"'''In the Air Tonite'''" is a reworking of Phil Collins' 1981 single "In the Air Tonight" recorded by American rapper [[Lil' Kim]] for the [[Phil Collins]] tribute album ''[[Urban Renewal (tribute album)|Urban Renewal]]''. The song, promoted as a duet between Collins and Lil' Kim, was released in 2001 as the second single from the album. The song's accompanying music video combines scenes from the original video with new scenes featuring Lil' Kim. It was featured in [[Comedy Central (Dutch TV channel)#The Box (1995-2006)|The Box Netherlands]] HitMix 2001. The single has been certified [[Music recording sales certification|Platinum]] in Germany by the [[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|IFPI]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/#topSearch |title=Bundesverband Musikindustrie: Gold-/Platin-Datenbank |publisher=Musikindustrie.de |access-date=27 February 2012 |archive-date=11 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511105721/http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/#topSearch |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+Weekly chart performance for "In the Air Tonite"
!Chart (2001)
!Peak<br /> position
|-
{{single chart|Australiapandora|91|url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080222222432/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue603.pdf|urltitle=Issue 603|rowheader=true|access-date=9 April 2022}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
|-
{{single chart|Austria|8|artist=Lil' Kim feat. Phil Collins|song=In the Air Tonite|access-date=5 February 2020|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|7|artist=Lil' Kim feat. Phil Collins|song=In the Air Tonite|access-date=5 February 2020|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Wallonia|19|artist=Lil' Kim feat. Phil Collins|song=In the Air Tonite|access-date=5 February 2020|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"| Canada ([[Canadian Singles Chart|Nielsen SoundScan]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/lil-kim/chart-history/cns/|title=Lil Kim – Chart history – Billboard|date=11 February 2020|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>
|align="center"|18
|-
!scope="row"| Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles|Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=19|issue=38|page=11|date=15 September 2001}}</ref>
|align="center"|17
|-
{{single chart|Germany|3|artist=Lil' Kim feat. Phil Collins|song=In the Air Tonite|songid=4815|access-date=5 February 2020|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|33|year=2001|week=34|access-date=5 February 2020|refname=lilkim|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|30|artist=Lil' Kim feat. Phil Collins|song=In the Air Tonite|access-date=5 February 2020|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"| Polish Airplay Chart<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20020126223014/http://pifpaf.com.pl/airplay/lista_32_2001.html "Poland: Airplay Chart – Lista Krajowa 32/2001"] (Retrieved 4 September 2015)</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|23
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|45|date=20010922|access-date=11 February 2020|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|27|artist=Lil' Kim feat. Phil Collins|song=In the Air Tonite|access-date=5 February 2020|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Switzerland|11|artist=Lil' Kim feat. Phil Collins|song=In the Air Tonite|access-date=5 February 2020|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|26|date=20010922|access-date=5 February 2020|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|UKdance|18|date=20010922|access-date=11 February 2020|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|UKrandb|3|date=20010922|access-date=11 February 2020|rowheader=true}}
|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+Year-end chart performance for "In the Air Tonite"
!scope="col"|Chart (2001)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
!scope="row"|Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=2001|title=Jahreshitparade Singles 2001|website=austriancharts.at|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=6 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606150859/https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=2001|url-status=live}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|73
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2001|title=Jaaroverzichten 2001|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=5 February 2020|archive-date=26 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926042938/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2001|url-status=live}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|65
|-
!scope="row"|Germany (Official German Charts)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-2001|title=Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts|language=de|work=GfK Entertainment|publisher=offiziellecharts.de|access-date=5 February 2020|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612185001/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-2001|url-status=live}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|28
|-
!scope="row"|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2001|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2001 – hitparade.ch|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=5 February 2020|archive-date=19 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819160812/http://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2001|url-status=live}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|65
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (2002)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
! scope="row"| Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_singles2.html|title=Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002 (Part 2)|date=14 January 2003|work=[[Jam!]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040906184715/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_singles2.html|archive-date=6 September 2004}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|177
|}

== Marilyn Manson version ==
{{Infobox song
| name          = In the Air Tonight
| cover         = Marilyn Manson - "In the Air Tonight".jpg
| caption       = 
| alt           = 
| type          = single
| artist        = [[Marilyn Manson (band)|Marilyn Manson]]
| album         = 
| B-side        = "As Sick as the Secrets Of (Sleep)"
| written       = 
| recorded      = 
| released      = {{Start date|2025|4|16|df=yes}}
| studio        = 
| genre         = 
| length        = {{Duration|m=5|s=02}}
| label         = [[Nuclear Blast]]
| writer        = Phil Collins
| producer      = [[Tyler Bates]]
| prev_title    = [[Sacrilegious (song)|Sacrilegious]]
| prev_year     = 2024
| next_title    = [[God Is a Weapon]]
| next_year     = 2025
| misc          = 
}}

American [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Marilyn Manson (band)|Marilyn Manson]] released a cover of "In the Air Tonight" on 16 April 2025 as a non-album single, to promote an [[One Assassination Under God Tour|upcoming tour]] and the band's 2024 album ''[[One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1]]''. The CD single contained the B-side "As Sick as the Secrets Of (Sleep)", a reimagining of "[[As Sick as the Secrets Within]]".<ref name="Blabbermouth">{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/marilyn-manson-shares-cover-of-phil-collinss-in-the-air-tonight|title=Marilyn Manson Shares Cover Of Phil Collins's 'In The Air Tonight'|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=18 April 2025|access-date=20 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250418151028/https://blabbermouth.net/news/marilyn-manson-shares-cover-of-phil-collinss-in-the-air-tonight|archive-date=18 April 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> The cover was produced by [[Tyler Bates]] and features drums by [[Gil Sharone]].<ref name="liner"/> It is faithful to the original musically, retaining the drum break, but adds elements of [[gothic rock]] such as distorted guitars, ambient piano, and screamed vocals.<ref>{{cite web |author=Adams, Gregory |date=18 April 2025 |title=Hear Marilyn Manson's gothic cover of Phil Collins' 'In the Air Tonight' |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/hear-marilyn-mansons-gothic-cover-of-phil-collins-in-the-air-tonight/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250418153148/https://www.revolvermag.com/music/hear-marilyn-mansons-gothic-cover-of-phil-collins-in-the-air-tonight/ |archive-date=18 April 2025 |access-date=20 May 2025 |work=[[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]]}}</ref>

=== Release ===
The single was commercially successful upon release. Limited to 4,000 copies worldwide,<ref name="Insider">{{cite web|url=https://metalinsider.net/new-music/marilyn-manson-releases-cover-of-phil-collins-in-the-air-tonight|title=Marilyn Manson releases cover of Phil Collins' 'In The Air Tonight'|author=Zukowski, Zenae|work=Metal Insider|date=April 18, 2025|access-date=April 19, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250419020037/https://metalinsider.net/new-music/marilyn-manson-releases-cover-of-phil-collins-in-the-air-tonight|archive-date=April 19, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> the CD single sold out within four hours of release.<ref name="Blabbermouth"/> The song entered several charts in the United Kingdom, peaking at number two on the [[UK Physical Singles Chart]], number 15 on the [[UK Singles Sales Chart]], and number 37 on the [[UK Singles Downloads Chart]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2025/05/02/marilyn-manson-misses-charting-his-first-no-1-hit---again/|title=Marilyn Manson Misses Charting His First No. 1 Hit — Again|author=McIntyre, Hugh|work=[[Forbes]]|date=2 May 2025|access-date=20 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250502182024/https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2025/05/02/marilyn-manson-misses-charting-his-first-no-1-hit---again/|archive-date=2 May 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> The song debuted at number one ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s [[Hard Rock Digital Song Sales]], the band's third number one single on that chart. It was the band's fifth top 10 hit on the [[Hot Hard Rock Songs]] chart, and also peaked at number 22 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s [[Digital Song Sales]] chart, the band's highest peak on that chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2025/05/05/marilyn-manson-charts-another-no-1---and-several-new-top-10s/|title=Marilyn Manson Charts Another No. 1 — And Several New Top 10s|author=McIntyre, Hugh|work=[[Forbes]]|date=5 May 2025|access-date=20 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506231157/https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2025/05/05/marilyn-manson-charts-another-no-1---and-several-new-top-10s/|archive-date=6 May 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Critical reception ===
''Metal Insider'' reviewer Zenae Zukowski said Manson's version of "In the Air Tonight" retains the "signature ominous edge" of some of the band's previous covers, such as "[[Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)#Marilyn Manson version|Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)]]" and "[[Tainted Love#Marilyn Manson version|Tainted Love]]". They said the cover adds a "dark, cinematic tone" that "feels tailor-made for a modern horror film."<ref name="Insider" /> A harsh review came from ''Headbangers'' who panned the cover for sounding like "an angry toaster trying to seduce a haunted fax machine in a dark alley behind [[Hot Topic]]", rating it 0 out of 5 stars.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.headbangers.gr/marilyn-manson-in-the-air-tonight-review/|title=Marilyn Manson – In The Air Tonight (Review)|website=Headbangers|date=18 April 2025|access-date=22 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250522015956/https://www.headbangers.gr/marilyn-manson-in-the-air-tonight-review/|archive-date=22 May 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Track listing ===
"In the Air Tonight" written by Phil Collins; "As Sick as the Secrets Of (Sleep)" written by [[Marilyn Manson]] and [[Tyler Bates]].<ref name="liner">{{cite AV media notes|title=In the Air Tonight|type=CD liner notes|chapter=Booklet|author=[[Marilyn Manson (band)|Marilyn Manson]]|publisher=[[Nuclear Blast]]|year=2024|id=NB 7432-2}}</ref>

# "In the Air Tonight" – 5:02
# "As Sick as the Secrets Of (Sleep)" – 5:00

=== Charts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+Chart performance for "In the Air Tonight"
|-
!scope="col"| Chart (2025)
!scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row"| [[ARIA Digital Track Chart|Australia Digital Tracks]] ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 28 April 2025|magazine=The ARIA Report|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]|issue=1834|page=9|date=April 28, 2025}}</ref>
| 24
|-
{{single chart|UKdownload|37|date=20250425|access-date=19 May 2025|rowheader=true}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[UK Singles Sales Chart|UK Singles Sales]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-sales-chart/20250425/7509/|title=Official Singles Sales Chart|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|date=25 April 2025|access-date=19 May 2025}}</ref>
| 15
|-
{{single chart|Billboarddigitalsongs|22|artist=Marilyn Manson|access-date=22 May 2025|rowheader=true}}
|-
! scope="row"| US [[Hot Hard Rock Songs]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/marilyn-manson/chart-history/hsg/|title=Marilyn Manson Chart History (Hot Hard Rock Songs)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=22 May 2025}}</ref>
| 10
|}

==Cover versions==
*In 2006, a cover of the song by Miami-based rock band [[Nonpoint]] was featured in the movie adaptation of [[Miami Vice (film)|Miami Vice]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2006-07-26-miami-vice-inside_x.htm|title='Miami Vice' makes series of changes |date=July 26, 2006 |access-date=January 1, 2009 |work=USA Today |first=Anthony |last=Breznican}}</ref>
*[[The Protomen]] released a cover as part of their [[covers album]] [[The Protomen#The Cover Up: Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture|''The Cover Up'']], which had a full album release in 2015.<ref>{{cite web | last=Fenlon | first=Wes | title=5869 days after releasing the greatest rock opera about Mega Man ever recorded, The Protomen's follow-up Act 3 is, unbelievably, finally here* | website=PC Gamer | date=October 3, 2025 | url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/protomen-act-3-album-release-date/ | access-date=November 9, 2025}}</ref> The album is styled with a hidden narrative, being the surviving [[soundtrack]] to a [[Film censorship|banned movie]] within the universe of their [[dystopian]] three act [[rock opera]] [[tragedy]], which is influenced by "[[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]]-era media" like "In the Air Tonight".<ref>{{cite web | last=Kinzer | first=P.J. | title=The Protomen Ring In the New Year (in April) at Exit/In | website=Nashville Scene | date=April 11, 2022 | url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/music/thespin/the-protomen-ring-in-the-new-year-in-april-at-exit-in/article_637dc924-b9c5-11ec-b4f3-c7090c4b4a74.html | access-date=November 9, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Sandford | first=Jason | title=Way more than just cover songs, The Protomen unleash epic new album at Orange Peel | website=[[Ashvegas]] | date=July 9, 2015 | url=https://ashvegas.com/amp/way-more-than-just-cover-songs-the-protomen-unleash-epic-new-album-at-orange-peel/ | access-date=November 9, 2025}}</ref> The cover of "In the Air Tonight" was later featured in the third season of ''[[Cobra Kai]]'' in 2021<ref>{{cite web | last=Romano | first=Evan | title=All The Songs from the Season 3 Soundtrack | website=[[Men's Health]] | date=January 1, 2021 | url=https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a35084200/cobra-kai-season-3-soundtrack-songs/ | access-date=October 8, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Moore | first=Kasey | title='Cobra Kai' Seasons 1-3 Complete Sountrack: Every Song Featured | website=What's on Netflix | date=January 1, 2021 | url=https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/cobra-kai-seasons-1-2-3-complete-sountrack-every-song-featured/ | access-date=October 8, 2025}}</ref> and as a result was the 7th top song on [[Shazam (music app)|Shazam]] for the first half of 2021.<ref>{{cite web | title=Introducing Chartmetric's 6MO: Music Industry Trends From H1 2021 | website=Chartmetric | date=December 22, 2020 | url=https://chartmetric.com/fr/music-industry-trends/6mo-report-2021-h1 | access-date=October 21, 2025 | quote=As is usually the case with Shazam, movie and TV syncs tend to be one of the primary drivers of global Shazam count growth. That was true of [...] The Protomen’s cover of Phil Collins "In the Air Tonight" (No. 7), which had a placement in Netflix’s Cobra Kai series.}}</ref> They frequently cover the song live to positive responses.<ref>{{cite web | last=Weinstein | first=Leon | title=The Protomen with Bit Brigade at The Velvet Underground | website=LIVE IN LIMBO | date=April 23, 2016 | url=https://www.liveinlimbo.com/2016/04/23/concert-reviews/the-protomen-with-bit-brigade-at-the-velvet-underground.html | access-date=November 9, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Keenan | first=Hesher | title=Show Review: A Night at the Rock Opera with Protomen | website=[[MetalSucks]] | date=July 22, 2015 | url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2015/07/22/show-review-night-rock-opera-protomen/ | access-date=November 9, 2025}}</ref> ''[[Nashville Scene]]'' enthused: "They nailed that one, iconic drum fill and all."<ref>{{cite web | author=The Spin | title=The Protomen Bring the Fight to Exit/In | website=[[Nashville Scene]] | date=August 17, 2015 | url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/music/the-protomen-bring-the-fight-to-exit-in/article_241ef19a-a1a0-569c-82ae-d67a21169c92.html | access-date=November 9, 2025}}</ref>
*In 2016, the band [[Mic Lowry]] released an adaptation of the song titled "[[Oh Lord (Mic Lowry song)|Oh Lord]]". A music video was released on 29 September 2016 on the band's official [[YouTube]] page.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GzqeHBATxY| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/-GzqeHBATxY| archive-date=18 November 2021 | url-status=live|title=MiC LOWRY - Oh Lord| date=29 September 2016|access-date=24 April 2021|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The band was chosen [[Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month]] for March 2017 and were invited to perform the song nationwide in the United States through ''[[The Today Show]]'' presented by [[Kathie Lee Gifford]] and [[Hoda Kotb]]. They also performed live on ''[[The Wendy Williams Show]]'' on 8 March 2017. The song charted in the [[UK Singles Chart]] reaching number 54 on the chart.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/47670/mic-lowry/|title=MIC LOWRY &#124; full Official Chart History &#124; Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=24 April 2021|archive-date=28 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728054114/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/47670/mic-lowry/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*In 2017, the band [[In This Moment]] recorded a cover for their album, ''[[Ritual (In This Moment album)|Ritual]].''<ref>{{cite web|title=In This Moment Explains Decision To Cover Phil Collins's 'In The Air Tonight'|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/in-this-moment-singer-explains-decision-to-cover-phil-collinss-in-the-air-tonight/|website=[[Blabbermouth]]|date=22 June 2017|access-date=7 July 2021}}</ref>
* [[Marissa Nadler]] and [[Stephen Brodsky]] recorded a cover in 2019.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2019/12/09/stephen-brodsky-and-marissa-nadler-release-new-covers-of-extreme-and-phil-collins/ | title=Stephen Brodsky and Marissa Nadler Release New Covers of Extreme and Phil Collins | date=9 December 2019 }}</ref>
* [[Chris Stapleton]], [[Snoop Dogg]] and [[Cindy Blackman Santana]] recorded a cover version as the theme song for ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' in 2023.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2023/09/18/monday-night-football-theme-song-anthem-snoop-dogg-chris-stapleton/70885665007/|title=Chris Stapleton, Snoop Doog add new sound to 'Monday Night Football' anthem|author=Chris Bumbaca|website=[[USA Today|USA Today Sports]]|date=18 September 2023|access-date=18 September 2023|archive-date=18 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918154441/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2023/09/18/monday-night-football-theme-song-anthem-snoop-dogg-chris-stapleton/70885665007/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/music/singersong/philcollins.shtml The Singer and the Song], a "Learning English" episode from the BBC World Service, which includes a clip from the song and a recording of Collins reading part of the song's lyrics (in [[RealAudio]])
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070317065230/http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_phil_collins_air/index.html "Classic track: In the Air Tonight"] About the lyrics and the drum sound.

{{Phil Collins songs}}
{{Lil' Kim}}
{{Miami Vice}}
{{Marilyn Manson}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:In The Air Tonight}}
[[Category:1980 songs]]
[[Category:1981 songs]]
[[Category:1981 debut singles]]
[[Category:Phil Collins songs]]
[[Category:1980s ballads]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Austria]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Germany]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Sweden]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Virgin Records singles]]
[[Category:Pop ballads]]
[[Category:Songs about divorce]]
[[Category:Rock ballads]]
[[Category:Songs written by Phil Collins]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Hugh Padgham]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Phil Collins]]
[[Category:Atlantic Records singles]]
[[Category:Miami Vice]]
[[Category:Songs about depression]]
[[Category:Breaks]]
[[Category:British urban legends]]
[[Category:Experimental pop songs]]
[[Category:Warner Music Group singles]]