In the Air Tonight was released in 1981 as Phil Collins' first solo single, taken from his debut album Face Value. Written after his divorce, the song became famous for its sparse, brooding verses and the explosive gated reverb drum break that arrives late in the track. It reached the top of charts internationally and never really left popular culture. Online, short clips of the vocal hook are shared as a shorthand for looming drama, with creators timing edits, jokes and reveals around its unmistakable mood.