Anything She Does and the Musical Box

Songs like "Anything She Does" may get dismissed by some who can not cross over to the modern era of Genesis. However, take a minute to listen to the song and you will learn it has a close connection to "The Musical Box." Lyrically, the story is very similar. "The Musical Box" from the Victorian era was a center of fantasy.  The pinup posters of  models replaces the musical box in the modern era. Men all across America would fantasize about the women in the poster. Both obsessions past and 20th century would lead some men to a path of pornographic obsession as they get older. This is the dark side of both songs which is cleverly weaved throughout the lyrics.

"The Musical Box" is a bit more complex, as it explores themes of nursery rhymes, aristocracy and the mixed messages of being pure during this time in history. The dark side of purity is the obsessions that can be created by controlling one's feelings of arousal. People were subjugated to hide their sexual desires, and show restraint. Ironically, the Queen, Prince Albert and the ruling class did not practice what they preached. This paradox was part of story - it truly is an incredible song from this era. 

Now, fast forward to "Anything She Does." It was written during the Reagan/Thatcher years. People were told to "Just s\Say No" to their inhibitions by leaders. Unfortunately, the human mind does not work that way. During the 70s and 80s, men were obsessed with the pinup poster, a modern day replacement for the musical box. It was naive to think what was supposed to be just a poster of a model would not become a symbol for fantasy. 

As men get older, they long to have a relationship with the item that was objectified in their youth. Whether a musical box, or a poster of a model, men can get lost in their fantasies. "Anything She Does" is another clever take on this obsession; do not let the video fool you. The choice of Benny Hill in the video was a clever, as his humor on his TV show reflected the themes of both songs. This is the genius of "Anything She Does" and worth a second look if you passed this over in your Genesis music catalog. 

Rethinking Invisible Touch.

The "Invisible Touch" album is a very clever album. It came out at a time when the band's popularity reached it's peak. Unfortunately, the critics panned the album due to "Phil Burnout" and never gave the album a chance. They called it, "The Phil Collins Solo Album." Phil was everywhere during this part of his career. Therefore, this album must be an extension of his work, not Genesis. 33 years later, nothing can be further from the truth.  

"Invisible Touch" has all the makings of a Genesis album.The songs are deeper than originally credited. The band touched upon themes that were dark and original. Cleverly, disguised as pop, some songs pay homage to the past. Other songs explore modern issues such as addiction and self destruction. "Land of Confusion" infused a brave critique of modern governments. Even the love songs were darker than people realized. "In Too Deep" is more complex than people realize; it is more about the complexities of love than love itself. 

The track "Domino" was a great prog song that would become a staple for future concerts. A song about actions and unintended consequences, it reflects not only our past, but our present. One person can impact the next in line and the next in line....

Prog haters of the 3-man era, take a step back, and give the newer albums like "Invisible Touch" a chance. There are no more distractions, just the music. Rediscover the complexities of "Invisible Touch." You might discover what I did; this is truly a great album.