Like China

"Like China" is a song written and performed by the English drummer Phil Collins from his second solo album Hello, I Must Be Going!. It was produced by Collins and Hugh Padgham and released as the seventh and final single from the album.

"Like China"
Promotional single by Phil Collins
from the album Hello, I Must Be Going!
B-side"I Cannot Believe It's True"
Released1982
Recorded1982
Genre
Length5:05
LabelVirgin Records (UK)
Songwriter(s)Phil Collins
Producer(s)Phil Collins, Hugh Padgham
Phil Collins singles chronology
"I Cannot Believe It's True"
(1983)		 "Like China"
(1982)		 "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)"
(1984)

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 title is a traditional English expression meaning "gently and with great care". The 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 from Hello, I Must Be Going!. It 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.

In the US, 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" Promotional single (Atlantic)
  1. "Like China"
  2. "I Cannot Believe It's True"

Charts
Chart (1983) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks 17

Personnel

References
  1. http://www.metrolyrics.com/like-china-lyrics-phil-collins.html
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