Editing Peter Gabriel (section)

===1985–1997: ''So'' and ''Us''===
After finishing the soundtrack to ''Birdy'', Gabriel shifted his musical focus from rhythm and texture, as heard on ''Peter Gabriel'' four and ''Birdy'', towards more straightforward songs.<ref name="Musician 1986-07">{{cite web|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/peter-gabriel-from-brideshead-to-sunken-heads|title=Peter Gabriel: From Brideshead to Sunken Heads|magazine=Musician|first=John|last=Hutchinson|date=July 1986|via=[[Rock's Backpages]]|access-date=23 June 2019|archive-date=23 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623111358/https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/peter-gabriel-from-brideshead-to-sunken-heads|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1985, he recorded his fifth studio album, ''[[So (album)|So]]'' (also co-produced with Lanois).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/so-r1956656/credits|title=So – Peter Gabriel (credits)|work=AllMusic|access-date=27 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525044337/http://allmusic.com/album/so-r1956656/credits|archive-date=25 May 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> ''So'' was released in May 1986 and reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 in the US. It remains Gabriel's best-selling album with over five million copies sold in the US alone.<ref name="BPI">[http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards/search.aspx "British album certifications – Peter Gabriel – So"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055216/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards/search.aspx |date=21 September 2013 }}. [[British Phonographic Industry]]. Retrieved 12 December 2014. ''Enter'' Peter Gabriel ''in the field'' Search. ''Select'' Artist ''in the field'' Search by. ''Select'' album ''in the field'' By Format. ''Click'' Go</ref><ref name="RIAA">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22So%22|title=American album certifications – Peter Gabriel – ''So''|publisher=RIAA |access-date=27 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016210253/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22So%22|archive-date=16 October 2015}}</ref> It produced one of Gabriel's signature songs, that has become a concert staple: "[[In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel song)|In Your Eyes]]", with a distinctive vocal appearance by [[Youssou N'Dour]], and three UK top 20 singles: "[[Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel song)|Sledgehammer]]", "[[Big Time (Peter Gabriel song)|Big Time]]", and "[[Don't Give Up (Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush song)|Don't Give Up]]", a duet with [[Kate Bush]].<ref name="UKCharts">Roberts, David (2006). [[British Hit Singles & Albums]]. London: Guinness World Records Limited</ref>

The first went to No. 1 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], Gabriel's only single of his career to do so. It knocked "[[Invisible Touch (song)|Invisible Touch]]" by Genesis, his former band, out of the top spot, which was also their only US number one hit. In the UK, the single went to No. 4.<ref name="Billboard">[[Joel Whitburn|Whitburn, Joel]] (2006). The ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' Book of Top 40 Hits. ''Billboard'' Books</ref> In 1990, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked ''So'' at No. 14 on its list of "Top 100 Albums of the Eighties".<ref>The 100 Greatest Albums of the 80s. ''Rolling Stone''. Special Issue 1990. Retrieved 21 November 2011</ref>

[[File:Peter Gabriel-Conspiracy of Hope-by Steven Toole.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Gabriel performing in 1986]]
"Sledgehammer" was particularly successful, dealing with sex and sexual relations through lyrical innuendos. Its famed music video was a collaboration between director [[Stephen R. Johnson]], [[Aardman Animations]],<ref name="Time" /> and the [[Brothers Quay]] and won a record nine [[MTV Video Music Awards]] in 1987.<ref name="Time" /> In 1998, it was named MTV's number one animated video of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outpost-daria.com/ts_top10.html|title=MTV. Top Ten Animated Videos Countdown. June 28, 1998|website=Outpost-daria.com|access-date=27 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710053630/http://www.outpost-daria.com/ts_top10.html|archive-date=10 July 2012}}</ref> ''So'' earned Gabriel two wins at the [[List of BRIT Awards ceremonies#1987|1987]] [[Brit Awards]] for Best British Male Solo Artist and Best British Video (for "Sledgehammer").<ref name="BritAwards">{{cite web|url=http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1987|title=The BRITs 1987|website=Brits.co.uk|access-date=27 September 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140317150236/http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1987|archive-date=17 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> He was nominated for four [[Grammy Awards]]: [[Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance|Best Male Rock Vocal Performance]], [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]], and [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] for "Sledgehammer", and [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]] for ''So''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1987/grammys.htm|title=29th Grammy Awards – 1987|website=Rockonthenet.com|access-date=27 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905045332/http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1987/grammys.htm|archive-date=5 September 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Gabriel toured worldwide to support ''So'' with the This Way Up Tour, from November 1986 to October 1987.

In 1988, Gabriel became involved as composer for [[Martin Scorsese]]'s film ''[[The Last Temptation of Christ (film)|The Last Temptation of Christ]]'' (1988). Scorsese had contacted Gabriel about the project since 1983 and wished, according to Gabriel, to present "the struggle between the humanity and divinity of Christ in a powerful and original way".<ref name=UCR15>{{cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/peter-gabriel-passion/|title=Revisiting Peter Gabriel's 'Passion' soundtrack|first=Ted|last=Asregadoo|date=5 June 2015|access-date=22 June 2019|archive-date=22 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622184453/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/peter-gabriel-passion/|url-status=live}}</ref> Gabriel used musicians from [[World of Music, Arts and Dance|WOMAD]] to perform instrumental pieces with focus on rhythm and African, Middle Eastern and European textures, using the [[British Library Sound Archive|National Sound Archive]] in London for additional inspiration.<ref name=UCR15/> The initial plan had dedicated ten weeks for recording before it was cut to three, leaving Gabriel unable to finish all the pieces he originally wanted to record.<ref name=UCR15/> When the film was finished, Gabriel worked on the soundtrack for an additional four months to develop more of his unfinished ideas. Its soundtrack was released as ''[[Passion (Peter Gabriel album)|Passion]]'' in June 1989. It won Gabriel a [[Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best New Age Album|Best New Age Performance]] and a nomination for a [[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe]] for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score – Motion Picture]]. In 1990, Gabriel put out his first compilation album, ''[[Shaking the Tree: Sixteen Golden Greats]]'', which sold 2 million copies in the US.

Up until 1989, Gabriel was managed by [[Gail Colson]].<ref name="Perrone">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/market-leaders-pick-their-market-leader-whos-the-manager-on-top-of-the-rock-1134011.html|title=Market Leaders Pick Their Market Leader: Who's the manager on top of the rock? – Business – News – The Independent|last=Perrone|first=Pierre|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=5 July 2015|location=London|date=22 December 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708093352/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/market-leaders-pick-their-market-leader-whos-the-manager-on-top-of-the-rock-1134011.html|archive-date=8 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> From 1989 to 1992, Gabriel recorded his follow-up to ''So'', titled ''[[Us (Peter Gabriel album)|Us]]''. The album saw Gabriel address personal themes, including his failed first marriage, psychotherapy, and the growing distance between him and his eldest daughter at the time.

Gabriel's introspection within the context of the album ''Us'' can be seen in the first single release "[[Digging in the Dirt]]" directed by John Downer. Accompanied by a video featuring Gabriel covered in snails and various foliage, this song made reference to the psychotherapy which had taken up much of Gabriel's time since the previous studio album. Gabriel describes his struggle to get through to his daughter in "[[Come Talk to Me]]" directed by [[Matt Mahurin]], which featured backing vocals by [[Sinéad O'Connor]]. O'Connor also lent vocals to "[[Blood of Eden]]", directed by [[Nichola Bruce]] and Michael Coulson, the third single to be released from the album, and once again dealing with relationship struggles, this time going right back to [[Adam]]'s rib for inspiration.

The album is one of Gabriel's most personal. It met with less success than ''So'', reaching No. 2 in the album chart on both sides of the Atlantic, and making modest chart impact with the singles "Digging in the Dirt" and the funkier "[[Steam (Peter Gabriel song)|Steam]]", which evoked memories of "Sledgehammer". Gabriel followed the release of the album with the [[Secret World Tour]], first using touring keyboardist Joy Askew to sing O'Connor's part, then O'Connor herself for a few months.<ref name=Zindler1999>{{cite web |url=https://www.genesis-news.com/c-Peter-Gabriel-Secret-World-Tour-19931994-Tour-report-s233.html |title=Peter Gabriel Secret World Tour |first=Bernd |last=Zindler |website=Genesis News |date=Autumn 1999 |access-date=20 March 2022}}</ref> O'Connor quit the tour, and was replaced by [[Paula Cole]], the latter appearing on the tour recordings: a double album ''[[Secret World Live]]'', and a concert video also called ''[[Secret World Live (film)|Secret World Live]]'', both released in 1994.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.popmatters.com/162756-peter-gabriel-secret-world-live-2495819594.html |title=Revisiting His Weird and Wonderful Performance: 'Peter Gabriel: Secret World Live' |date=11 September 2012 |magazine=[[PopMatters]] |access-date=22 March 2022}}</ref> The film received the 1996 [[Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video]], naming director Francois Girard and producer Robert Warr.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://grammy.com/awards/38th-annual-grammy-awards|title=38th Annual Grammy Awards|publisher=Grammy|access-date=30 July 2024}}</ref>

Gabriel employed an innovative approach in the marketing of the ''Us'' album. Not wishing to feature only images of himself, he asked artist filmmakers [[Nichola Bruce]] and Michael Coulson to co-ordinate a marketing campaign using contemporary artists. Artists such as [[Helen Chadwick]], [[Rebecca Horn]], [[Nils-Udo]], [[Andy Goldsworthy]], [[David Mach]] and [[Yayoi Kusama]] collaborated to create original artworks for each song on the multi-million-selling CD. Coulson and Bruce documented the process on Hi-8 video. Bruce left Real World and Coulson continued with the campaign, using the documentary background material as the basis for a promotional EPK, the long-form video ''All About Us'' and the interactive CD-ROM ''[[Xplora1: Peter Gabriel's Secret World]]''.

Gabriel won three more [[Grammy Awards]], all in the Music Video category. He won the [[Grammy Award for Best Music Video|Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video]] in 1993 and 1994 for the videos to "Digging in the Dirt" and "Steam", respectively. Gabriel also won the 1996 [[Grammy Award for Best Music Video|Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video]] for his ''[[Secret World Live (DVD)|Secret World Live]]'' video.