Synopsis

Philip Bailey and Phil Collins turn the making of "Easy Lover" into the subject of the music video itself. A mock television crew follows the two singers as they arrive in London, prepare for a studio shoot, and perform the song amid cameras, lighting equipment, dancers, and production staff. The playful presentation repeatedly blurs the line between the actual video and its behind-the-scenes footage, while Bailey and Collins project an easygoing, competitive chemistry that matches the song's upbeat energy.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video is built around a self-referential "making of the music video" concept, a format that was especially distinctive during the heavily stylized MTV era of the mid-1980s.

• The song appeared on Philip Bailey's 1984 solo album "Chinese Wall," which Phil Collins produced. Collins also contributed drums and vocals.

• "Easy Lover" was written by Bailey, Collins, and bassist Nathan East. East later recalled that the song began with a piano riff he developed during the album sessions and came together unusually quickly.

• The single became a major crossover success, reaching No. 1 in the United Kingdom and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.

• The video won the 1985 MTV Video Music Award for Best Overall Performance in a Video, helping establish the collaboration as one of the defining pop-soul pairings of the decade.