Forty years ago today, Phil Collins’ power ballad ‘Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)’ reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the first of three weeks. The song was written for the Taylor Hackford film Against All Odds, and is probably the most memorable thing about it.
Collins was nominated for the Best Song Oscar for this song, the first of three career nominations. He would eventually win for his work on 2000’s animated Tarzan, but he lost this one to Stevie Wonder’s ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You.’
Collins declined to perform the song at the Oscars ceremony, and instead the audience was “treated” to a half-sung, half-danced performance by actress/dancer Ann Reinking that would go down as one of the awards show’s most infamous disasters.
How can I just let you walk away?
Just let you leave without a trace
When I stand here taking every breath
With you? Ooh, ooh
[Refrain]
You’re the only one who really knew me at all
[Verse 2]
How can you just walk away from me
When all I can do is watch you leave?
‘Cause we’ve shared the laughter and the pain
And even shared the tears
[Refrain]
You’re the only one who really knew me at all
[Chorus]
So, take a look at me now
Well, there’s just an empty space
And there’s nothin’ left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face
Ooh, take a look at me now
Well, there’s just an empty space
And you comin’ back to me is against the odds
And that’s what I’ve got to face
[Verse 3]
I wish I could just make you turn around
Turn around and see me cry
There’s so much I need to say to you
So many reasons why
[Refrain]
You’re the only one who really knew me at all
[Chorus]
So, take a look at me now
Well, there’s just an empty space
And there’s nothin’ left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face
Now, take a look at me now
‘Cause there’s just an empty space
But to wait for you is all I can do
And that’s what I’ve got to face
Take a good look at me now
‘Cause I’ll still be standin’ here
And you comin’ back to me is against all odds
It’s the chance I’ve gotta take
[Outro]
Take a look at me now
Meet Me In Montauk 
This is such a better song than Wonder’s drivel “I Just Called…” it should have won the Oscar.
I agree but why didn’t Collins perform his own song?
Loved this song and, at the time, the movie it accompanies, though I can’t tell you much about it today. I had the 45 and played it on repeat, as I as wont to do in those days.