Misunderstanding

Hey there, Zoo Freaks! Your favorite hippie DJs at THE ZOO are spinning Misunderstanding by Genesis from their 1980 album Duke, and we’ve got some groovy trivia to share. This track, penned by Phil Collins, was born out of personal heartache during the collapse of his first marriage. After moving to Vancouver to save his relationship, Collins returned to the UK alone and poured his emotions into songwriting. Misunderstanding captures a guy stood up in the rain, clueless that his love interest is done with him, reflecting Collins’ own struggles to process his divorce. He later described the song as having a lighter, more distant tone compared to the raw pain in Please Don’t Ask, another Duke track. Fun fact: Collins crafted this tune with a nod to the Beach Boys, aiming for a soulful vibe with its “uh-huuuhuuuhs” and airy piano. It became Genesis’ second Top 40 US hit, peaking at #14, and hit #1 in Canada, ranking as the 7th biggest Canadian hit of 1980. The band even performed it on The Midnight Special in 1980, alongside Turn It On Again. Some fans on Reddit argue it disrupted Duke’s thematic flow, but others call it a catchy classic that helped Genesis crack the US market.

Another cool tidbit comes from the song’s rhythm. Collins admitted in interviews that he drew inspiration from tracks like Toto’s Hold the Line, the Beach Boys’ Sail On, Sailor, and Joe Walsh’s Rocky Mountain Way, blending their rock drumbeats into something fresh. Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford, who jammed with Collins at his Surrey home for six weeks to write Duke, were blown away by Misunderstanding. Banks noted it was one of the first times Collins brought a fully formed song to the table, marking his growing influence as a songwriter. The track’s video leaned into a narrative style, a new venture for Genesis at the time, and its 3:08 runtime showed their shift toward tighter, radio-friendly pop. Posts on X from the official Genesis account highlight its release as a single in 1980, with fans still vibing to its bittersweet energy decades later.

Now, let’s rewind to how Genesis got their start. Formed in 1967 at the posh Charterhouse boarding school in England, the band began as a group of teenage pals: Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Anthony Phillips, and Chris Stewart. Their early sound was moody and introspective, catching the ear of alum Jonathan King, a producer who loved the Bee Gees. Gabriel channeled Robin Gibb for their demo, and King signed them to Decca, naming them Genesis (he also considered Gabriel’s Angels). Their debut, From Genesis to Revelation, dropped in 1969 but flopped, selling just 650 copies. Undeterred, they kept at it, evolving into a prog rock powerhouse with albums like Foxtrot and Selling England by the Pound. After Gabriel left in 1975, Collins, initially the drummer, stepped up as frontman, steering the band toward pop-rock stardom with hits like Misunderstanding. Despite lineup changes, including Steve Hackett’s exit, the trio of Collins, Banks, and Rutherford sold between 100 and 150 million albums worldwide, cementing Genesis as prog rock legends.

Want to dive deeper into Genesis? Check out their official website for tour updates and merch. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for throwbacks and news. Fans gather at sites like Genesis News for reviews and updates, or join discussions on the r/Genesis subreddit. There’s also a vibrant Genesis Fans Facebook group where Zoo Freaks can connect with fellow devotees. Keep it tuned to THE ZOO, and let’s keep the Genesis love alive!