Like China
"Like China" is a song written and performed by English drummer Phil Collins from his second solo album Hello, I Must Be Going!. The song, produced by Collins and Hugh Padgham was released as the seventh and final single released from the album.
"Like China" | ||||
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Single by Phil Collins | ||||
from the album Hello, I Must Be Going! | ||||
B-side | "I Cannot Believe It's True" | |||
Released | 1983 | |||
Recorded | 1982 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 5:05 | |||
Label | Virgin Records (UK) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Phil Collins | |||
Producer(s) | Phil Collins, Hugh Padgham | |||
Phil Collins singles chronology | ||||
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Song background
The song, the third track on the album, takes a cheerful rock music tone. It opens with Collins singing with a British Cockney accent. The song takes an upbeat tempo and features a discordant guitar introduction, as well as a guitar solo by Daryl Stuermer midway through the song.
The song's title is a traditional English expression meaning "gently and with great care". The song's lyrics portray an infatuated teenager attempting to convince a girl to date him despite their different social backgrounds—as emphasized by the singer's affected Cockney accent and his reference to being from "the other side of town".[1] In doing this, the narrator says he will treat her as gently as china.
Single release
The single was released in 1983 as the last of seven singles released from Hello, I Must Be Going! The song was released on 7" and 12" formats, with the B-side being "I Cannot Believe It's True", which had previously been released as a single from the album.
The single reached the top 20 of the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, reaching #17.
"Like China" had also previously been released as the B-side for the single "Why Can't It Wait 'Til Morning?", the fifth single from Hello, I Must Be Going.
Track listing
U.S. 12" single (Atlantic)
- "Like China"
- "I Cannot Believe It's True"
Charts
Chart (1983) | Peak position |
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U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 17 |
Personnel
- Phil Collins – keyboards, drums, vocals, rhythm guitar, claps
- Daryl Stuermer – guitars
- John Giblin – bass