Greek Mythology and Genesis - The Fountain of Salmacis

The lyrics of early Genesis will be one of their legacies that will stand the test of time for future generations. The earliest era, the Gabriel years were rich in allegories. The storytelling was quite unique as most fans know. When you think about the age of the lyricists, it is really telling that their Charterhouse school upbringing gave them rich learning experiences that most likely impacted the music. Most 19 and 20 year old men do not have the experiences of literay allegory as Genesis members had at that time. This allows us to experience literature at a much deeper level than most artists. 

One song that reflects their diverse experiences with literary works is the Fountain of Salmacis. A story from early mythology dating back to the Greek writings of Ovid. These early writings in Greek mythology were explored for generations. The British renaissance writings were no stranger to Ovid and often explored themes regarding Ovid's fourth book, "Metamorphoses." A part of this story telling, is the Fountain of Salmacis which is located in modern day Turkey. Men who have drank from the fountain supposedly take on effeminate traits from the water. 

Fast forward to 1971's Nursery Cryme album. Rich in history, Genesis takes on the story of the attempted rape of Mermaphroditus. The song's take on the story of Salmacis and Hermaphroditus were joined as one. Thus, the story of hermaphrodites. As part of this union, they forever live under the fountain beneath the lake. Peter and Phil explain the lyrics to start the song. Phil's take is a bit more direct regarding hermaphrodites sprinkled with a bit of British Humor. He would often say, "I see a few hermaphrodites in the audience tonight." 

The song itself was last played by the band consistently up until 1978. It was played live 100 times. When Steve Hackett started playing Genesis as part of his tribute, he exceeded the amount of live performances of Genesis by 15 according to the Setlist Wiki. If you add up Steve's time with Genesis and his solo concerts, he has been to the Fountain more than any other member. 

41 Years Ago - Phil Collins Made The Shift to Face Value

It was 41 years ago to the day that Phil Collins released Face Value. The album is most recognized for the iconic song, In the Air Tonight. However, the album was a game changer for a different reason. It would change the direction for Phil Collins and Genesis. Duke and Genesis were a shift from madrigal lyrics and strong British undertones to contemporary themes that a greater audience can relate and identify to moving forward. 

One of the most significant changes that reflect Duke and Face Value is the introduction of music that provided men the opportunity to reflect upon their own vulnerability. (Here is where we lose the Prog crowd and that's okay. I will explain later) We are introduced to deeply personal songs that reflect the changing times for men. Divorce, acrimony, and sharing our feelings were mostly new to men at that time. 

Think about the male audience of the 70s that loved Genesis. They were hardened men that were not encouraged to share their feelings. Now all of the sudden, this Rock God is asking them to think about the loss of a loved one. Many men in the 80s threw on Face Value because Phil reflected their feelings about divorce and change in one's life. If Leaving Me is Easy was just as important for some as In the Air Tonight was for others. 

The album also gave us hope. The hope that we will triumph over relationship failures. The songsThunder and Lightning are a part of the process that leads to This Must Be Love. He truly provided us new connections that lasted a lifetime for many of his fans. 

Quite honestly, it is this author's opinion that Phil's change was very important to not only music, it was also important for our culture. (This is where the Prog men come in.) 

The men in the 80s that were softened by Phil's willingness to share his heartache found out that being bitter is not the way to find your way out of a problem. You must first connect to the heartache, then move on. This changes a person. Without  change, people including men become very bitter. It leads to disdain and anger. If you ever want to see an example of this type of person, check out social media blogs and pages for Genesis. The Prog crowd love to bully, insult, and criticize the music with a harshness that reflects out society's split today. This crowd makes fun of Phil's current health to prove a point so harshly that they have been harboring these feelings since the release of Face Value and some since Peter Gabriel left. That's a long time one holds on to their feelings. 

For fans of Phil Collins and Genesis that enjoyed the shift, we have been blessed with this change in so many ways. Happy Anniversary to Face Value. An album that changed the music forever.