It’s not often I listen to a radio programme more than once. Actually I never do. But I have with this one. Three whole times. Even more mysterious, this programme involves a significant amount of Phil Collins. I know, trust me on this. Anything that can make you view the Collins in a new light must be packing some powerful voodoo.
This is a package from This American Life on the theme of Break Ups. The programme wasn’t particularly memorable apart from this one story, a first hand account of the reporter’s quest to write a song about the end of her relationship. So far so contrived. But brilliantly, along the way, she manages to enlist the help of Phil Collins. What makes this so great is the interview she manages to get with him. Now if this was a British programme it would inevitably have gone down the slightly snide ‘Louis Theroux’ route but happily it’s more generous than that. Even to the reporter’s surprise, it turns out to be quite a moving and revealing encounter. By the end, you’re left quite touched. with an insight into what drives someone to write a love song.
So, a perfect bit of bedtime listening, download here.
