"Dance into the Light" is a song performed by English drummer, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor Phil Collins, released on 17 September 1996, by Atlantic, Virgin and WEA, as the first single from his sixth studio album, Dance into the Light (1996). The song was written by Collins, who also co-produced it with Hugh Padgham. It peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart, but was a disappointment on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, reaching number 45 on both charts. The song also peaked within the top 10 in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary and Scotland, while reaching number 29 on the Eurochart Hot 100 in October 1996. The accompanying music video was directed by English musician and music video director Kevin Godley. The track was the only song from Dance into the Light to be featured on his compilation album ...Hits in 1998. B-sides were songs "Take Me Down" and "It's Over".
Critical reception Swedish Aftonbladet described the song as a "bombastic light-reggae swing" and named it an "absolute hit".Aftonbladet. 21 September 1996. AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine said in his review of the Dance into the Light album, that the song "recalls the snappy punch" of Collins' 1985 song "Sussudio". Larry Flick from Billboard magazine called it a "sunny and uptempo ditty that is awash in Caribbean-style horns and Stax-like pop beats." He felt that Collins "sounds like he is having an absolute blast here. In fact, you can almost hear the grin he must have been wearing in the recording studio shining through the music." Another Billboard editor, Paul Verna, declared it as "peppy".
The Daily Vault's Christopher Thelen wrote that "Dance into the Light" "with its different rhythm pattern, instantly engages the listener, and is one of the best singles Collins has written in a long time." David Browne from Entertainment Weekly stated that the singer "tries to broaden his palette", and added that "Afro-beat rhythms propel" the song, "which also tosses in politically correct references to South Africa." A reviewer from Music Week gave it a score of four out of five, noting that Collins "returns with an uptempo ballad that bears his unmistakable mark."
Track listing "Dance into the Light" – 4:23 "Take Me Down" – 3:27 "It's Over" (Home Demo) – 4:22
Credits Phil Collins – drums, percussion, vocals, kalimba Brad Cole – keyboards Daryl Stuermer – lead guitar Ronnie Caryl – rhythm guitar Nathan East – bass Amy Keys – backing vocals Arnold McCuller – backing vocals Vine Street Horns Andrew Woolfolk – saxophones Arturo Velasco – trombone Harry Kim – trumpet Daniel Fornero – trumpet Horns arranged by Harry Kim and Phil Collins
Charts Chart (1996–97)PeakpositionCanada Top Singles (RPM)7Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)3Czech Republic (IFPI CR)3 Estonia (Eesti Top 20)4Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)29 Hungary (Mahasz)4 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)34Israel (Israeli Singles Chart) Search "Dance into the Light" for Israeli chart history.20Italy (Musica e dischi) Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Phil Collins".22Italy Airplay (Music & Media)1Poland (Music & Media)2Scotland (Official Charts)9UK Airplay (Music Week)8US Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - 45US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)6US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)35US Cash Box Top 100Cash Box Top 100 Singles, 16 November 199645
Release history +Release dates and formats for "Dance into the Light"RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United States17 September 1996Contemporary hit radioAtlantic Note: Simply titled "Into the Light" on source.Europe20 September 1996AtlanticUnited Kingdom23 September 1996
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