Music Review: Phil Collins "True Colors"

Phil Collins

True Colors

Album: …Hits

Year: 1998

                    Phil Collins assures a friend that he is still worthy of love in the disingenuous “True Colors”

                    Glossy synths open the single, setting a cushiony tone. He notices his friend looking downward and tells him he went through something similar. He was so afraid and thought he was going to have fight. However, the person giving him trouble backed off. He tells him it seems bad now but it will get better. (“You with the sad eyes/Don't be discouraged/Though I realize/It's hard to take courage/In a world, full of people/You can lose sight of it/And the darkness, inside you makes you feel so small.”)

               In the chorus, he says he sees such a strong person underneath all the sadness. All he has to do to believe in himself. (“But I see your true colours shining through/I see your true colors, that's why I love you/So don't be afraid, to let them show/Your true colours, true colours/Beautiful, ooh like a rainbow.”)

            He sees he would like to see his friend smile. He has forgotten what it looked like. His friend puts on a forced smile and he thanks him for at least trying. On his way out of the door, he tells his friend to feel free to call him for anything. He says goodbye and leaves, saying he’ll visit again soon. (“Show me your smile and/Don't be unhappy, can't remember when/I last saw you laughing/If this world makes you crazy/And you've taken all you can bear/Just call me up, because you know I'll be there.”)

              An altered chorus is sung. (“And I see your true colours, shining through (shine)/I see your true colors, and that's why I love you/So don't be afraid, to let them show (Just show your)/True colors, true colours/Are beautiful, ooh like a rainbow.”)

          In the bridge, parts of the first and second verses are combined. (“Such sad eyes/Take courage now, realize/When this world makes you crazy/And you've taken all you can bear/Just call me up/Because you know I'll be there.”)

            The altered chorus is sung again.

             A second altered chorus is sung. (“I see your true colours, that's why I love you/So don't be afraid, to let them show/Your true colours, true colours, true colours/Are beautiful, beautiful, like a rainbow.”)

          In the final section, he urges his friend to enjoy life again. (“Show me your colours, show me your colours/Show me your rainbow/Show me your colours/Show me your rainbow (that's why I love you)/Show me your colours/Show me your rainbow (that's why I love you)/Show me your colours/Show me your rainbow.”)

            Collins’ sanctimonious vocals thinks depression is something easy and all it takes one simple snap and poof – problems are gone. He offers his friend assurance but doesn’t really mean it.

             Collins has some minor lyric edits in the verses. For the chorus, though, he extends it by repeating the title over and over again. He adds a bridge (which in the original was only the second verse sung again) and a final extraneous section. By the end, it’s about showmanship and the appearance of caring.

          The heedless update of “True Colors” makes promises it can’t deliver.