Phil Collins songs return to Disney’s Tarzan for 25th

Twenty-five years after “Tarzan” first swung into theaters, Phil Collins is unexpectedly back in the middle of the Disney conversation. As the 1999 animated classic hits its 25th anniversary this summer, Collins’ drum-heavy anthem “Two Worlds” and the Oscar-winning ballad “You’ll Be in My Heart” are returning to playlists, tributes, and think pieces across the United States, while Disney quietly leans on the movie’s legacy ahead of a planned live-action adaptation.

The renewed attention marks a fresh chapter in how younger listeners discover Phil Collins. His catalog already saw a massive Gen Z bump thanks to the viral “In the Air Tonight” reaction videos in 2020—one of which pushed daily streams of the song up by more than 600 percent, according to Rolling Stone—and the Tarzan soundtrack is now enjoying a smaller but noticeable echo effect as nostalgia cycles move into the late ’90s. With Collins retired from touring and largely out of the spotlight, this is less a traditional comeback than a new era of rediscovery driven by Disney anniversaries, streaming algorithms, and a steady drumbeat of covers and syncs.

Why Phil Collins’ Tarzan era is trending again in 2026

The immediate “why now” is the 25th anniversary of Disney’s “Tarzan,” originally released in US theaters in June 1999. Disney has started highlighting the milestone on its platforms and at fan events, with the film prominently featured in Disney+ promotional carousels and anniversary content blocks in May 2026. That visibility has nudged a new wave of listening for Phil Collins’ soundtrack, which was already considered one of the company’s boldest musical swings of the ’90s.

According to Billboard, the original “Tarzan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack” peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 in 1999, rare territory for an animated film soundtrack at the time. The set ultimately went 2x Platinum in the United States, per RIAA certifications, driven by the crossover success of “You’ll Be in My Heart,” which topped the Adult Contemporary chart for 19 weeks. As of May 25, 2026, those numbers remain a key benchmark for Disney-era pop and for Collins’ late-solo career.

In 2026, the Tarzan resurgence isn’t about traditional chart runs; it’s about cultural endurance. Younger fans who were toddlers—or not yet born—when the movie premiered are posting their own drum covers of “Two Worlds” and “Son of Man” on TikTok and YouTube. Music directors for US community theaters and school productions cite the soundtrack as a go-to reference for “cinematic pop-rock” arrangements, while playlist editors on major US streaming platforms have folded the songs into “Disney Throwbacks,” “’90s Movie Night,” and “Family Road Trip” rotations.

Variety reported in 2023 that Disney is developing a “Tarzan” live-action project, though the film has yet to be officially dated or cast. While the studio has not confirmed whether Phil Collins’ songs will appear in a new adaptation, the ongoing fan love in 2026 makes it difficult to imagine a version of the story without at least some nods to his score. That uncertainty—will the new film keep the original music or reimagine it?—has intensified online discourse and rekindled interest in Collins’ original work.

How the Phil Collins–Disney partnership happened

When Disney first hired Phil Collins in the late ’90s, the choice surprised even some executives. The company had leaned heavily on Broadway-influenced composers like Alan Menken for the Disney Renaissance era. Collins, known primarily as a drummer-singer who blended rock, pop, and soul with Genesis and on his solo albums, represented a different angle.

According to a retrospective in The New York Times, Disney’s creative team wanted a more percussive, rhythm-driven approach to match Tarzan’s jungle setting and action-heavy storyboards. Collins, in turn, recognized an opportunity to push his production style into cinematic territory. He not only wrote and performed the English-language songs but also recorded versions in multiple languages—including Spanish, French, German, and Italian—an uncommon level of direct artist involvement in localized versions for a Disney production.

NPR Music has noted that Collins’ decision to perform the soundtrack himself, rather than handing the songs to in-character vocalists, gave “Tarzan” a more omniscient, narrative-pop feel. Instead of characters breaking into song, Collins’ voice functions like a narrator hovering over the story, which helped the music stand on its own outside the film. That structure is a key reason why tracks such as “You’ll Be in My Heart” and “Two Worlds” live comfortably on adult contemporary and soft rock radio to this day.

From a US music industry standpoint, the soundtrack helped cement Collins’ unusual late-career second act. After dominating the ’80s with solo hits and Genesis singles, he could have aged quietly into legacy status. Instead, he landed a Disney blockbuster that kept him in front of a new generation of parents and children, a strategy that would later be emulated by other acts, from Elton John (“The Lion King”) to Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Moana” and “Encanto”).

Phil Collins, health struggles, and retirement from touring

Any discussion of Phil Collins in 2026 has to sit alongside his well-documented health issues and retirement from the road. Collins has dealt with nerve damage and back problems for years, which have affected his ability to drum and even stand for extended periods. During Genesis’ “The Last Domino?” tour—which wrapped in London in 2022—he sang while seated onstage, with his son Nic Collins handling drum duties, according to reports from The Guardian and Rolling Stone.

In an interview cited by BBC News in 2021, Collins acknowledged that his physical condition had deteriorated to the point where he could no longer play the drums at all. By the time Genesis played what they billed as their final show in March 2022, he told the crowd it was “the last stop of our tour, and, probably, the last show for Genesis.” Since then, he has effectively stepped away from live performance, and there have been no credible reports of new concerts or tours scheduled in the United States or elsewhere.

As of May 25, 2026, there is no announced Phil Collins solo tour, no new Genesis activity, and no public plans for him to return to the stage. Pollstar’s touring databases and major US promoters such as Live Nation Entertainment list no upcoming dates. That makes the streaming resurgence around “Tarzan” and other catalog material even more significant; the songs now have to do the traveling that Collins no longer can.

Health challenges have also limited Collins’ ability to take on new, large-scale studio projects. While reissues, box sets, and archival live recordings have trickled out over the last decade, there is no confirmed new Phil Collins studio album on the schedule. Instead, his team has focused on preserving and curating his legacy—both on record and across digital platforms.

Streaming numbers, charts, and the catalog boom

The last several years have radically changed the way legacy artists like Phil Collins reach listeners. Instead of new albums or tours, the key driver of visibility is often a viral meme, a high-profile sync, or an anniversary tied to a beloved film or cultural moment. Collins’ catalog has benefited from all three.

Per Billboard, Collins has scored eight No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and four No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 across his career, with songs like “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” and “One More Night” still staples on classic hits radio. But it was the viral reaction videos to “In the Air Tonight” in 2020—particularly the clip of YouTubers TwinsTheNewTrend hearing the drum break for the first time—that gave Collins a measurable bump among younger US listeners. Rolling Stone reported that daily on-demand streams of “In the Air Tonight” shot up more than 600 percent in the days after the reaction went viral.

The Tarzan soundtrack has not seen that same level of lightning-in-a-bottle virality, but its steady performance on US streaming platforms has kept it in circulation. As of May 25, 2026, Disney’s own branded playlists and algorithm-driven “radio” stations on services like Spotify and Apple Music frequently seed “You’ll Be in My Heart” and “Son of Man” alongside contemporary pop and rock tracks, subtly weaving Collins’ sound into the discovery feeds of listeners who may not know his ’80s hits.

Industry data firms like Luminate have documented a broader catalog boom in the US, with older recordings making up the majority of on-demand streams. Phil Collins is a textbook beneficiary of that trend, with his solo catalog and Genesis work together generating hundreds of millions of annual streams worldwide. While precise, up-to-the-minute US-only numbers are proprietary, Luminate reported that Collins was among the most-streamed artists of the 1980s in 2021 and 2022, and there is no indication that his presence has faded since then.

For fans and industry observers looking to track future movements—whether a new sync, reissue, or anniversary campaign—the safest bet is to watch both Disney communications and Collins’ own channels. His social media and Phil Collins official website remain the primary sources for concrete announcements in 2026.

Phil Collins’ impact on US pop and rock musicians

Phil Collins’ influence on American artists has taken on new dimensions as younger musicians cite him not just as a singer or drummer, but as a producer and sonic architect. According to Stereogum and Pitchfork, Collins’ gated reverb drum sound—pioneered with producer Hugh Padgham on early ’80s tracks—has become a go-to reference for indie and mainstream acts exploring retro textures. Artists ranging from Lorde to The 1975 have nodded to that sound in interviews and arrangements.

In the United States, Collins’ blend of emotionally direct lyrics and meticulous studio craft has resonated with pop, rock, and even hip-hop producers. NPR Music has highlighted the way his songs balance melancholy with big, cathartic hooks, a balance that continues to shape modern ballads. Collins’ willingness to bring complex drum patterns and odd rhythmic accents into the mainstream also paved the way for more adventurous percussion in Top 40 music.

The “Tarzan” soundtrack in particular showcases his talent for writing to picture without sacrificing his musical identity. The tom-heavy opening of “Two Worlds,” the gospel-tinged chords of “You’ll Be in My Heart,” and the kinetic drive of “Strangers Like Me” all feel distinctly like Phil Collins songs, yet they seamlessly support the movie’s emotional arcs. American composers and songwriters who work on animated films today often point to Collins’ Tarzan work as a template for how to keep a pop artist’s signature intact inside a family film framework.

For US rock and pop fans discovering Collins through TV, film, or streaming algorithms, the Tarzan era can act as an accessible on-ramp back to his ’80s and early ’90s catalog. Once they recognize his voice and songwriting fingerprints, it is a short hop to “Take Me Home,” “Sussudio,” or deeper Genesis cuts like “Mama” and “Domino.” That cross-generational pipeline is one more reason his presence in US music culture has proven so durable.

What US fans can realistically expect next

Given Phil Collins’ health and stated desire to step back from the spotlight, fans in the United States should temper expectations about major new projects. As of May 25, 2026, there is no sign of a new studio album, no announced memoir follow-up, and no plans for additional tours. Major US promoters, venue calendars at arenas like Madison Square Garden and Kia Forum, and industry trackers such as Pollstar all show a quiet front on the Phil Collins live-performance side.

However, that does not mean the story is over. Legacy artists often see renewed commercial and critical attention around birthdays, anniversaries, or new uses of their music in film and TV. If Disney’s live-action “Tarzan” adaptation moves forward in a public way—casting announcements, trailers, or a release date—there is a strong chance that Phil Collins’ original songs will resurface in marketing campaigns, interviews, and think pieces, even if they are not fully reused in the new film.

There is also the possibility of expanded or remastered editions of the Tarzan soundtrack, box sets that bundle Collins’ film work, or curated playlists that highlight his contributions to cinema. US labels have increasingly embraced deluxe editions and anniversary campaigns as ways to monetize catalog recordings, and Collins’ body of work is ripe for that kind of treatment. Any such projects would likely roll out over months, with early hints appearing on industry sites like Variety or Billboard before official announcements hit his own channels.

For readers who want to stay current on developments—from Tarzan anniversary activity to catalog reissues—you can follow more Phil Collins coverage on AD HOC NEWS via our internal search hub at more Phil Collins coverage on AD HOC NEWS. We will continue monitoring chart data, industry announcements, and fan-driven trends affecting his legacy on both sides of the Atlantic.

FAQ: Phil Collins and the Tarzan legacy in 2026

Is Phil Collins still performing live?

As of May 25, 2026, Phil Collins is not performing live and has effectively retired from touring. During Genesis’ “The Last Domino?” tour, which ended in 2022, Collins performed seated onstage due to health issues, with his son Nic Collins on drums. Since then, there have been no announced solo shows or new tour plans in the United States. Industry listings from Pollstar and major US ticketing platforms confirm the absence of upcoming Collins dates.

Will Phil Collins be involved in Disney’s live-action Tarzan?

At this point, Disney has not officially announced creative details or a release date for its planned live-action “Tarzan” project, which Variety reported in development in 2023. That means there is no confirmed information about whether Phil Collins will contribute new songs, allow direct reuse of his original soundtrack, or participate in a producer or consultant role. Given his limited public activity and health concerns, substantial new work from Collins is uncertain, but Disney’s long-standing relationship with him makes some form of homage or inclusion plausible.

How did “You’ll Be in My Heart” perform on the charts?

“You’ll Be in My Heart” was a commercial and awards-season success in the United States. According to Billboard, the song spent 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, one of the longest runs of that era. It also crossed over to the Hot 100 and helped propel the Tarzan soundtrack to a No. 5 peak on the Billboard 200. At the 72nd Academy Awards in 2000, the song won the Oscar for Best Original Song, beating out entries from other major film releases, as documented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

How can new listeners in the US explore more of Phil Collins’ music?

For US listeners discovering Phil Collins through the Tarzan soundtrack, a natural next step is to explore his 1981 solo debut “Face Value,” which includes “In the Air Tonight,” and his mid-’80s albums “No Jacket Required” and “…But Seriously.” These albums contain many of his biggest American hits and give a fuller picture of his range as a songwriter and producer. Fans can also dive into Genesis albums like “Invisible Touch” and “We Can’t Dance” to hear how his voice and drumming function inside a band context. Most major US streaming platforms feature dedicated Phil Collins “essentials” playlists, providing an easy, curated overview.

Where can I get official updates about Phil Collins?

The most reliable source for official Phil Collins news remains his own channels and those of his label partners. His verified social media profiles and his official website share updates on reissues, archival releases, and major announcements. For broader context—such as chart performance, industry honors, or film-related developments—US outlets like Billboard, Variety, and Rolling Stone are strong secondary resources. As of May 25, 2026, fans should be skeptical of unverified social media rumors about tours or new albums, especially when they conflict with Collins’ documented health challenges and statements about retirement.

Phil Collins may no longer be touring American arenas, but his songs continue to travel freely, from living rooms rewatching “Tarzan” on Disney+ to playlists that thread his ballads between newer pop hits. As the film’s 25th anniversary unfolds and Disney inches closer to a live-action reimagining, the drummer-singer’s voice remains woven into the emotional DNA of multiple US generations—a quiet but enduring return, carried not by a tour bus but by memory, nostalgia, and the algorithm’s steady hand.

By the AD HOC NEWS Music Desk » Rock and pop coverage — The AD HOC NEWS Music Desk, with AI-assisted research support, reports daily on albums, tours, charts, and scene developments across the United States and internationally.
Published: May 25, 2026 · Last reviewed: May 25, 2026

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