Music
Five of the Best: Coldplay
The British band Coldplay, classified as alternative rock, was formed in 1996 and 20 years later has taken the world by storm.
Their seven albums of varying styles have reached out to unite many listeners and catered to otherwise various tastes. With their last big stadium tour in 2012, Coldplay’s tour to New Zealand and Australia later this year has had a phenomenal response, with more dates added in some cities to meet overwhelming demand.
To celebrate, here’s our Five of the Best Coldplay tracks.
5 Clocks
This piano driven track is well loved and considered a Coldplay classic from the 2002 album A Rush of Blood to the Head. This track has been admired in media, reworked and sampled by other musicians, reaching chart positions 28 in Australia and 13 in New Zealand.
4 Paradise
This single is their second from album Mylo Xyloto (2011) and absolutely took off with release. This song has been certified Platinum by multiple countries including Australia, New Zealand, The United States and the United Kingdom. The music video has also won Best Rock Video at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards.
3 The Scientist
This song has been used all over television shows and films around the time of this single’s release (November 2002) – and it’s not hard to see why! Also from 2002 album A Rush of Blood to the Head, his haunting melody reached number 10 in the UK charts and number 40 in the Australian ARIA charts. The music video is also noted for winning multiple MTV Video Music Awards in 2003.
2 Viva La Vida
This song was the band’s second single from their fourth album Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008) and was released to massive success. This track combines biblical references and strings in strange use – that works! Viva La Vida reached peak position number 2 in Australia, number 16 in New Zealand, and was certified Platinum in multiple countries including Australia, New Zealand, The United States and United Kingdom.
1 Fix You
Another Coldplay classic, this song was written for Chris Martin’s then wife Gwyneth Paltrow when her father tragically passed away. This track is the band’s second single from album X&Y (2005) and its emotional gravity has resonated through their music history. Fix You has certified Platinum in the United Kingdom and reached peak position in the music charts worldwide.
Bonus: Yellow
While Yellow is not the band’s first single, it is one of their earliest and definitely worth a mention! This song of unrequited love from debut album Parachutes (2000) helped thrust the band into popularity and is certified Platinum in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Last bonus (we promise!): Magic
This track absolutely conveys the often undermined power of love, and the magic it brings us. Magic was the lead single from album Ghost Stories (2014) and has reached peak position number 2 in Australian charts and position 10 in New Zealand. It has also certified Platinum in Australia and the United Kingdom. Not to mention, the music video takes an adorable leap by combining the literal and figurative themes of “magic”.
Coldplay will perform their A Head Full of Dreams Tour at Mt Smart Stadium on December 3. Click here to look for tickets.