Coldplay is a rock band from London which was formed back in 1996. The 5 members of the band, pianist, vocalist, and rhythm guitarist Chris Martin, drummer Will Champion, bassist Guy Berryman, lead guitarist Jonny Buckland, and creative director Phil Harvey all met at the University College of London. They started doing music and initially called themselves Pectozalz and later, Starfish.
Background
After trying their hands at hitting the right chords, they found widespread fame in 2000 following the release of one of their most popular singles of all time, ‘Yellow’. Soon, they conquered the Grammy stage with three awards for their 2008 album, ‘Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends’. Success and popularity kept coming towards the band as they still continue to be one of the best pop-infused rock bands out there. Coldplay is one of the best-selling artists with over 100 million albums sold. They also have three albums to their name, ‘A Rush of Blood to the Head’, ‘Parachutes’, and ‘X&Y’ that have been attributed as the best-selling records in the UK charts. The band is also known widely for its charitable and philanthropic contributions through campaigns and concerts raising money for specific social causes.
Work
Coldplay started off with playing gigs in local clubs. They released 500 copies of their debut EP called Safety in 1998. The same year in December, they were signed to the Fierce Panda label and released the single ‘Brothers & Sisters’ in February 1999. They then entered a contract with Parlophone. They soon recorded their 2nd EP called ‘The Blue Room’.
Parachutes
Although Coldplay did not have much success with the EPs, the release of their debut album, ‘Parachutes’ in 2000 truly changed directions for them debuting at No 1 on the UL Albums Chart. The single ‘Shiver’ from the same album was listed as their first-ever Top 40 track. That year in June, they were booked for their first headlining tour. Their next single ‘Yellow’ went on to take the 4th position on UK’s Singles Chart. In December 2001, Coldplay released ‘Mince Spies’ which was a limited-edition CD containing songs like ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ and a remixed version of ‘Yellow’. Their newfound success with ‘Parachutes’ met with various accolades including Brit Awards and honors at the Grammy Awards in 2002.
A Rush of Blood to the Head
The first release from their 2nd studio album was ‘In My Place’. The album hit the stands in August 2002 and comprised some of the biggest hits of their career such as ‘the Scientist’ and ‘Clocks’. After performing an array of captivating live shows and winning several awards, they were rendered by Rolling Stone as the best artist of 2003. The album went on to earn the Best Alternative Music Album at the Grammy’s while ‘Clocks’ won Record of the Year.
X&Y
X&Y came out in June 2005 earning a global sale of 8.3 million. Some of the best songs from the album were ‘Fix You’, ‘Talk’, and ‘Speed of Sound’. Then they embarked upon their twisted Logic Tour between June 2005 and March 2007. Some of their other song releases that followed were ‘White Shadows’, ‘The Hardest Part’, and ‘What If’.
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
This was a production collaboration with Brian Eno which they started working in October 2006. The track ‘Violet Hill’ was a critical and commercial hit and soon the next single, ‘Viva la Vida’ went on to make raves across the audience. The album topped global music charts and was also the best-selling record in 2008. They also came out with an extended play of their album. Although this album also won numerous awards and accolades including two Grammys, it received an infringement suit filed by guitarist Joe Satriani. They released the single ‘Christmas Lights’ in 2010 that also received rave appreciation.
Mylo Xyloto
Another hit by Coldplay, the songs ‘Charlie Brown’, ‘Every teardrop is a Waterfall’, ‘Major Minus’, and ‘Princess of China’ went on to become big hits. However, the song that changed their musical perspective yet again was ‘Paradise’. The album topped in 34 countries and also received widespread accolades and awards.
Ghost Stories
Their 6th studio album was thematically driven by spirituality. The songs from the album included ‘Magic’, ‘A Sky Full of Stars’, among others.
A Head Full of Dreams
Their 7th studio album was initially supposed to be their final album. They soon announced the release of their EP ‘Kaleidoscope EP’ which was slated for release in 2017. They did extensive performances and also a few collaboration projects during those years that also included the ‘A Head Full of Dreams’ tour.
Everyday Life
Coldplay announced ‘Everyday Life, their 8th studio album in October 2019 which was a double album with both sides titled Sunrise and Sunset. The tracks from the album included ‘Arabesque’ and ‘Orphans’.
Music of the Spheres
The band announced their new single ‘High Power’ for release on 7th May. The new album would then release digitally on 15th October. Their collaboration with Korean pop band BTS for the song ‘the Universe’ also went to become a hit. They announced their upcoming world tour starting March 2022.
Legacy
They are undoubtedly one of the most popular bands out there as a best-selling artist. All their musical releases came with an impact and lasting influence that would motivate audiences through generations to come. Having worked with different artists across genres, they have also laid the foundation of a profound sense of creative acceptance, something that is rare and valuable. They took home numerous awards through the years including 7 Grammy Awards and a whopping 35 nominations. One of their songs called ‘Atlas’ was also nominated for the Golden Globes. Their impact on the audience and contribution to rock-influenced dream pop has enabled many to dream and get on with their lives. Some of their songs are considered perspective-changing with ‘Fix You’ as the most popular among such kinds.
Website link:
https://www.coldplay.com/