Great to have you here!!
For those that had the same difficulties I had, I think this is what it says:
"Dear Mr Strauss,
With regard to your 'review' of my concert at Madison Square Gardens.
It was not a good show, but not for the reasons you gave. I had a fever of 102 and should have cancelled, but I do have fans who would have been disappointed. So I tried...least I tried. It was the worst show, vocally, of the tour, which has been blessed with the best reviews I've ever had.
Your review was just spiteful. Plain and simple. You had my head on a plate before you sat down. It doesn't worry me that you dislike what I do. Many critics don't, I'm not hip, trendy or whatever. However many real people do and its for me and them I do what I do.
"In the air".. sentimental.. (are you crazy)..."passable pop"... " a rare happy moment in his life"... fuck you man
I guess musical snobbery, and believe me that is what we're talking about here, comes with the gig at "THE NEW YORK TIMES". Sad really Why papers send 'critics' to review a show by someone they obviously dislike before they play a note, is quite beyond me.
I understand that your paper is too intellectual to be seen to be liking anything I do. There is credibility at stake here for you all. I know how important it must be.
Finally, regarding me "standing still" I of all the people in pop music have never ever stood still, whether it be acting, producing unknowns or names, collaborating or whatever. That much I thought at least you would acknowledge. Leaving Genesis, i.e. not resting on past laurels, taking out a 20 piece Big Band at the Jazz Fests, Movie music, it's all new ground for me, yet you choose to ignore all that and rely on clichés.
Well Neil, Fuck you.
Phil Collins"
Also I hope you don't mind Neil but I had to dig out the original review to see it in more context, here is the link to your review: http://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/15/arts/combining-sentimental-and-chirpy.html
Nice one Stevo,
So this wasn't hate mail, rather, an eloquent answer to a classically spiteful, critics piece.
Those who can do, those who can't, criticize...
CG
I can't read his hand writing. Need a transcript.
I heard that in Portland, the dream of the 90s is alive. I like Phil Collins, but I can no longer imagine a snobby rock critique being directed at a contemporary performance of his. In fact, I feel like that kind of review would just be comedic if were about a pop star because the expectation is vapid bubble gum, whereas it would make sense if it were about a band that no one over 35 had ever heard of.
Thanks for transcribing that. The article and the response really brought me back to a simpler time.
Steve, thanks for transcribing this. Was actually about to hop on today to edit the post and add this.
And nice job finding the original review. Gotta love those NYTimes headlines.
ntomaino, after receiving it, I spoke to his publicist to ask if he was staying at the Peninsula, just to verify that this was legitimate. Never responded though.
Hi Mr Strauss,
I know you probably get this all the time but I would honestly like to thank you for writing The Game, it changed my life!
Same here! The dating stories I post on Steemit might have never happened if it wasn't for reading that book.
Thanks for taking the time do this. The original review provides some great context. I'm curious to hear if Neil ever responded to Phil's note.
I have heard that this one of the main reasons why Collins stopped performing live, hate mail. He claimed much of it was due to losing his voice and being unable to perform.
This reminds me of Sia last week, I posted about her losing her voice in mid performance, on live TV...
https://steemit.com/art/@kidsysco/sia-falls-apart-on-live-tv-but-we-lover-her-anyway
I like this salvo! Bombs away?
you post this in every thread, downvoting.
Where's the button to upvote Phil Collins?
great
love this
Nice work finding the original review =)
Stevo - thanks for taking the time to transcribe it and googlefu-ing around to find the original review :)