"Separate Lives" is a 1985 song recorded by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin and featured on the soundtrack to the motion picture White Nights. It reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts as well as in Canada and Ireland.[3] It reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart,[4] and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry.[1]

"Separate Lives"
UK picture sleeve
Single by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin
from the album White Nights: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
B-side"I Don't Wanna Know" (USA) "Only You Know And I Know" (UK)
ReleasedSeptember 1985 (US)
11 November 1985 (UK) [1]
Recorded1985
GenreSoft rock[2]
Length4:06
Label
Songwriter(s)Stephen Bishop
Producer(s)
Phil Collins singles chronology
"Take Me Home"
(1985)
"Separate Lives"
(1985)
"In the Air Tonight (Remix)"
(1988)
Marilyn Martin singles chronology
"Separate Lives"
(1985)
"Night Moves"
(1986)
Music video
"Phil Collins - Separate Lives (Official Music Video)" on YouTube

Songwriter Stephen Bishop recorded his own version for his album Sleeping with Girls for Polydor Records, released in 1985. Bishop received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song in 1986. It lost to Lionel Richie's song "Say You, Say Me" from the same film.

Collins recorded other versions of "Separate Lives" while on tour. He sang with touring singer Amy Keys in 1994, the song appearing on the album Live from the Board.[5] Beginning in 1997, he has performed the song many times with Italian singer Laura Pausini.[6] In 2004, Collins recorded a version with Bridgette Bryant who had toured with him in 1990 in support of ...But Seriously.[7]

Music video

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The music video features Martin and Collins singing and playing the piano, intercut with scenes from the movie. It was edited to make it appear that Phil and Marilyn were in the same building as the movie's stars, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines, but in a separate studio. It was directed by Jim Yukich and produced by Paul Flattery of FYI. The film's director, Taylor Hackford, was also at the shoot.

Personnel

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Chart history

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "BPI > Certified Awards > Search results for Phil Collins (page 3)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  2. ^ Danis, Kirsten (25 July 1999). "Phil Collins employee now his Swiss missus". New York Post. New York. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  3. ^ DeKnock, Jan (1985-11-29). "'Separate Lives' No. 1 as Expected". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. Archived from the original on 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
  4. ^ Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 160. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
  5. ^ "Live from the Board - Phil Collins | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  6. ^ s.r.l, Rockol com. "√ Impensabile duetto a Milano: Laura Pausini canta con Phil Collins!". Rockol.it. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Bridgette Bryant | Songs". AllMusic.
  8. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 71. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
  9. ^ "Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin – Separate Lives" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  10. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - November 23, 1985" (PDF).
  11. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1985-12-14. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  12. ^ Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide 1975–present. Mississauga, Ontario: Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
  13. ^ "Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin – Separate Lives" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin – Separate Lives" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  15. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Separate Lives". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin – Separate Lives" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin – Separate Lives". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin – Separate Lives". VG-lista. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  19. ^ "Las canciones más populares en Latinoamérica". La Opinión (Los Angeles) (in Spanish). 23 December 1985. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Phil Collins Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Phil Collins Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  23. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles of 1985 - December 28, 1985" (PDF).
  24. ^ "1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 52. December 28, 1985. p. T-21.
  • The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition, 1996