#1 "IN THE AIR TONIGHT"
PHIL COLLINS, 1981

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When it comes to cool song parts, there is no greater "wait a minute...here it comes" moment than the when the drums finally kick in during Phil Collins' haunting, "In The Air Tonight".  Nobody who listens to this song in their car can resist smacking their steering wheel along to the beat.  And if they're anything like me, they usually do it too early and look like a jerk to all of their friends!  Here's just a sampling of the overwhelming reader response we got demanding recognition for this piece.

"The beginning is okay. The first verses and chorus are alright. But it's that DASHBOARD BANGING drum-fill that kicks off the last part of the song that I love. My buddies and I would sit and patiently wait for JUST THAT PART. Then like a bunch of crazed orangatangs would begin flailing our arms, air drumming...Even today, if that song is playing...I live for that part..."
-DC

"I was playing backgammon with my best friend in a dorm room in Lincoln, Illinois at Lincoln College in 1983 when this song came on. 3 a.m. He knew me and my habits. When the song started he said, "Don't even think about it." I said, "No problem. I'm cool." When the solo was about to start I leaned over toward the fridge/beer stash/receiver volume control knob just above and said, "Really. It's cool." And then cranked it to 9 right as the solo started. Sweeeet! Thanx for the memory."
-Scott Harrelson

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