Phil Collins: I Wish It Would Rain Down

In 1990 this was one of Phil's biggest smash hits "I Wish it Would Rain Down" and the music video a little longer than most tells a little story of hope, wonder, and success. It's set on a stage with a musical play director(Jeffrey Tambor) who's lead has called out sick and newcomer Bill Collins(Phil himself) steps up to the plate and takes the lead and he takes the curtain off with his voice as he's supported by Eric Clapton on guitar and in the meantime Bill has visions and dreams of becoming an academy awarding winner actor. Hey his spirits have been lifted up overall well done and acted memorable video with Clapton and Tambor and the song is a winner too as it's message of living with dreams and performing when called on is touching.

A refreshing idea when it comes to the magic of clips, very fun to look at it but one that doesn't fit much with the song, "I Wish It Would Rain Down" manages to succeed thanks not only to the presences of Phil Collins and Eric Clapton joining forces but mostly because Jeffrey Tambor steals the show playing an intrusive theatre director during the initial and final talky moments when the song isn't playing.

A clip with a minor story: in the 1940's or 1950's, Tambor is directing a musical play that isn't following his vision and much to his dismay one of the musicians got sick and couldn't attend the rehearsals. Clapton plays the guitarist and he suggests to use Bill Collins (played by Phil) to fill as the lead vocal while the theatre janitor would play the drums. The director decides to give them a try and while Collins is performing the song he dreams of a life of success as a famous actor who appears in varied projects like "The Maltese Falcon", "White Heat" and "Davy Crockett", wins awards and fame whatever he goes. Lots of fun to watch how director James Yukich worked such concept in a very entertaining way and mixing references each frame goes by.

Quite lovely experience but I honestly don't find much appropriate for the song which is a bluesy power ballad, reflective and sad. Sure, it's better seeing this amusing flight of imagination and creativity than seeing a downer clip or just seeing Collins performing it on stage with massive close-ups heightening the most dramatic parts but it's somewhat distracting seeing a jolly collage of images from the past characters and impersonators of Gable and Bogart interacting with Phil. I can't deny its everlasting effect, brilliantly made but it's just strange seeing how such contrast between sound and image can actually work without problems. Despite that, the song was a hit.

But fine. Despite that minor criticism, Yukich made a magnificent clip experience, very memorable and delightfully filmed in a nice black-and-white mode; and all the musicians had some acting abilities to perform with the outstanding Jeffrey Tambor, who is quite funny as the unhappy and whining director. Agaim, the clip is great as the song but they don't blend together all that much. No harm done and you can enjoy it with no major problem. 9/10