"Like China" | ||||
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Promotional single by Phil Collins | ||||
from the album Hello, I Must Be Going! | ||||
B-side | "I Cannot Believe It's True" | |||
Released | 1982 | |||
Recorded | 1982 | |||
Genre | Progressive rock | |||
Length | 5:05 | |||
Label | Virgin Records (UK) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Phil Collins | |||
Producer(s) | Phil Collins, Hugh Padgham | |||
Phil Collins singles chronology | ||||
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"Like China" is a song written and performed by the English singer and drummer Phil Collins from his second solo album Hello, I Must Be Going!. It was produced by Collins and Hugh Padgham.
Song background
[edit]The song, the third track on the album, takes a cheerful rock music tone. It opens with Collins singing with a British Cockney accent. The song takes an upbeat tempo and features a discordant guitar introduction, as well as a guitar solo by Daryl Stuermer midway through the song.
The title is a traditional English expression meaning "gently and with great care". The lyrics portray an infatuated teenager attempting to convince a girl to date him despite their different social backgrounds — as emphasized by the singer's affected Cockney accent and his reference to being from "the other side of town".[citation needed] In doing this, the narrator says he will treat her as gently as china.
Single release
[edit]The song was released as a US promo single from Hello, I Must Be Going! in 12" format. It entered the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in December 1982, reaching #17.
"Like China" was also released as the B-side for the UK single "Why Can't It Wait 'Til Morning?" in 1983.
Track listing
[edit]U.S. 12" Promotional single (Atlantic)
[edit]- "Like China"
- "I Cannot Believe It's True"
Charts
[edit]Chart (1982) | Peak position |
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U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 17 |
Personnel
[edit]- Phil Collins – keyboards, drums, vocals, handclaps
- Daryl Stuermer – guitars
- John Giblin – bass