Phil Collins never pretended to be a tortured artist. While critics often dismissed songs like Sussudio and I Can’t Dance as lightweight, Collins embraced the idea that music could simply be fun. After years of success with Genesis and his solo career, that optimism eventually drew backlash from listeners who preferred the band’s progressive-rock roots.
One of his most famous critics was Roger Waters. After hearing Genesis’s hit I Can’t Dance, Waters reportedly mocked the song, prompting Collins to fire back, describing the former Pink Floyd frontman as “a miserable bastard” who failed to see the humour behind it. For Collins, the song was never meant to be a profound artistic statement—it was a joke, and audiences loved it.
Despite the criticism, Collins never let it bother him. He understood that not everyone would connect with his music, but he remained committed to writing songs that entertained people and put a smile on their faces. In the end, that’s exactly what made him one of the most successful musicians of his generation.