Another Day in Paradise

The harmony of 'Another Day in Paradise' derives its power from restraint. Only four chords cycle through the entire song, yet the Dorian IV borrowing (Bb major in F minor) creates a subtle tension — a hint of hope within an otherwise dark minor palette. The avoidance of a traditional dominant (C major or C7) in favor of the subtonic VII (Eb) keeps the harmony unresolved and floating, perfectly matching the song's theme of societal indifference. The production's layered synth pads fill out the harmonic space, making the simple progression feel richer than its constituent chords.

Collins wrote the song under the working title 'Homeless' after witnessing stark contrasts between wealth and destitution. He cited an encounter with a homeless individual with two children asking for financial assistance, and later seeing people sleeping on an outdoor grill after one of his concerts. The proximity of people lacking shelter to Capitol Hill struck him as 'an extraordinary contradiction'. The song explores not just homelessness itself but people's awkwardness and tendency to look away — Collins admitted he had walked straight past homeless people himself.

Released in 1989 as the lead single from ...But Seriously, 'Another Day in Paradise' marked a dramatic departure from Collins' dance-pop era. The song's unflinching look at homelessness, paired with David Crosby's ethereal backing vocals and Hugh Padgham's atmospheric production, became Collins' seventh and final US number one — the last chart-topper of the 1980s and the first of the 1990s.