Coldplay is a British rock band formed in London in 1996. The band consists of vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and pianist Chris Martin; lead guitarist Jonny Buckland; bassist Guy Berryman; drummer Will Champion; and creative director Phil Harvey. They met at University College London and began playing music together from 1996 to 1998 and are still producing music to this day, with their latest release, Music of The Spheres, coming out this year. Coldplay have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, making them one of the world’s best-selling music artists. They have won numerous awards throughout their career, including nine Brit Awards, seven MTV Video Music Awards, eight MTV Europe Music Awards and seven Grammy Awards from 35 nominations. The band’s first three albums—Parachutes (2000), A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), and X&Y (2005)—are among the best-selling albums in UK chart history. They have continued to be incredibly successful with their later releases and still top charts to this day.
How are they timeless?
- Consistently Successful and Experimental
From their first release Parachutes, Coldplay have cemented themselves mainly as an alternative rock band. However, even within that realm, the band has been able to consistently provide new sounds and break into different genres with each release and do so in a manner that doesn’t jeopardize the quality of their music. After their debut album, the band introduced heavier rock pieces in A Rush of Blood to the Head; then, with Mylo Xyloto, they brought in more upbeat, pop-influenced beats that contrasted their more melancholy previous albums. The band leaned more into this with the release of A Head Full of Dreams, utilizing electronic instrumentation to break further into the pop sphere. Everyday Life, the album following, contrasted this greatly, forgoing excessive instrumentation in favor of more stripped, intimate pieces. While other artists may have struggled with introducing such various and contrasting elements to their music, Coldplay has been able to do this and still receive consistent commercial success; they do this by slowly introducing differing elements to their music, keeping returning listeners open-minded and bringing fans of other genres to their releases. In essence, Coldplay’s “experimentation” could be more so viewed as an evolution, leading to ever-changing elements with consistent underlying musical cues that remind the listener that who they’re listening to is, in fact, Coldplay.
- Simple yet Endearing Lyricism
Coldplay doesn’t overcomplicate its lyrics with complex diction or too many underlying themes or allusions. Like many other timeless artists of the pasts, the band tells stories and communicates feelings that everyone can relate to and connect with. Whether it be an intimate love poem, a solemn recollection of a lost relationship, or a jovial celebration of life and all of its wonders, Coldplay captures it all efficiently. Here’s an example from one of their greatest hits, “Yellow”:
Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And everything you do
Yeah, they were all yellow
I came along
I wrote a song for you
And all the things you do
And it was called Yellow
So, then I took my turn
What a thing to’ve done
And it was all yellow
Your skin
Oh yeah, your skin and bones
Turn in to something beautiful
Do you know
You know I love you so
You know I love you so
“Yellow”, Parachutes
- Reflecting World Events and Giving a Message
Major Artists have been imperative in capturing the general mood of their era and communicating the thoughts and opinions of the public and themselves through their music. Artists and groups such as Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, and Nirvana all played major roles in being the voice for their generation during their career. Coldplay has been no exception. The band began production of their second album A Rush of Blood To The Head only a week after the horrifying terrorists attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001. With the world in disarray, the band was able to put the world’s fear into words and capture the urgency, confusion, and grief of the time in their music. The album saw massive success upon its release the following year, and remains a reflection of those difficult times and the emotions that came out of it.
- Creating a Household Name
Although Coldplay doesn’t often adhere to a specific style of music, there are many underlying facets that are distinct to the band; Chris Martin’s soft, controlled baritone with mixed falsettos, the intricate yet well-structured supporting instrumentation, and the dreamy, sometimes whimsical lyrics. Beyond just their musicality, Coldplay have produced a very distinct and recognizable culture for their band using their album covers, music videos, and stage performances to capture the vitality and optimism. Considered having one of the greatest stage presences in modern music, Coldplay is always looking to push the boundaries both visually and musically in these performances, using astounding stage effects and tight improvisation to astound audiences across the planet. Moreover, the band has always looked to use their music to promote peace, unity, and love for one another with their positive messaging and philanthropy.
“Timeless” Songs From Coldplay
Considered by many to be Coldplay’s greatest hit, the song comes from their debut album and features very little frills; with reserved, acoustic instrumentation and soft, comforting vocals from Chris Martin, the song captures the purity and compassion of true love.
Another reserved and contemplative hit from the group, the song captures a much more melancholy and confused spirit, as the singer reflects on a lost relationship and the decisions he wished made. With a piano and assorted strings providing accompaniment with the traditional band, the instrumentation captures the somber mood of the lyrics.
A more urgent and upbeat piece from the band, the song utilizes more electronic instrumentation along with piano, assorted strings, and a traditional band for the accompaniment. With a more purposeful tone, Chris Martin tells the story of a young girl looking to break free from the shackles of society and reach paradise.
