Love them, hate them, love to hate them, or hate to love them, there is no doubt Coldplay have had an incredibly successful career.
In the 10 years since the band released their first album ‘Parachutes,’ they transitioned from University College students in London to internationally known artists. Some may find their style of rock bland, but legions of fans have stuck with Coldplay because their music sticks with the fans.
Unlike fleeting songs with a shelf life of approximately five or six plays, it’s songs like those listed below that have staying power. Coldplay is nothing if not consistent in its song strength and lyrical ability, but they have shifted stylistically over the years. What follows is a basic cross section of a few of the different approaches of Coldplay through the years.
‘Sparks’
Their debut album ‘Parachutes’ showcases a generally quieter, less energetic Coldplay, particularly compared to later albums like ‘Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends.’ Featured in the movie Wedding Crashers, it is ‘Sparks’ that is the ultimate chill-out song: Any attempt to feel aggressive about anything while listening will fall flat. A deliberate, easy tempo with acoustic guitar and simple lyrics make this one of the more laid-back songs on the album, as compared to their better known ‘Parachutes’ hits like ‘Yellow’ or ‘Shiver.’ Also underrated on this album—‘Don’t Panic.’
‘God Put a Smile Upon Your Face’
Though ‘Parachutes’ was what first propelled Coldplay into the charts, it was their sophomore album, ‘Rush of Blood to the Head,’ that made them internationally well-known, along with garnering them a near deluge of awards from the likes of Rolling Stone and The Grammys. With searing vocals and an intensifying melody, the sultry verses and soaring chorus of ‘God Put a Smile Upon Your Face’ reveals a far more fiery and energetic Coldplay than ever before. The American television series “Alias” used it for a seduction scene, and rightly so. This song is a seduction.
‘In My Place’
This song, more so than any other, is perhaps the best representative of the overarching style of Coldplay at this point of their career. With a mixture of more soothing sections that isolate a single instrument with high intensity combinations of heavy bass, percussion, and strings, ‘In My Place’ is one of their more famous hits, as well it should be. For Coldplay purists who didn’t particularly savor the direction they took with 2008’s ‘Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends,’ it doesn’t get much better than this.
‘Speed of Sound’
Though without a doubt still hugely successful, Coldplay’s 3rd album, ‘X&Y,’ was probably the least popular out of the four (to date). To be fair, calling any of Coldplay’s albums the “least popular” is a relative term to say the least, but it did earn them more negative feedback than the two albums prior to ‘X&Y.’ ‘Speed of Sound’ takes on a more mystical, ethereal feel, with the sort of out-of-body, contemplative effect that can be found in a number of songs by Coldplay. ‘Speed of Sound’ also shows the band’s increasing use of less traditional instruments, which is expanded in their next album.
‘Lost!’
‘Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends’ shows a clear departure from some of Coldplay’s past albums. ‘Lost!’ in particular is a far more aggressive hit from this 2008 album, featuring an organ and heavy percussion throughout, with drums as well as hand claps and foot stomps. Its cheerful beat and lead vocals make for an intriguing combination with the ethereal back-up vocals in the final reprise of the chorus.
- - -
DOWNLOAD MFLOW AND LISTEN TO EACH TRACK HERE!
Words by Kat Patke