Coldplay
Coldplay are a British rock band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer Will Champion and manager Phil Harvey.[a] They initially met at University College London, calling themselves Big Fat Noises and changing to Starfish, before settling on the current name.
Coldplay
After independently releasing an extended play, Safety (1998), Coldplay signed with Parlophone in 1999. The band's debut album, Parachutes (2000), included their breakthrough single "Yellow" and received a Brit Award for British Album of the Year, a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album and a Mercury Prize nomination. Their second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), won the same accolades and included the single "Clocks", which won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Their third album, X&Y (2005), which completed what the band considered a trilogy, was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. Their fourth album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), won Best Rock Album. Both albums were the best-selling of their respective years, topping the charts in over 30 countries. Viva la Vida was also nominated for Album of the Year, while its title track became the first single by a British group to simultaneously reach number one in the United Kingdom and United States in the 21st century.
Coldplay further diversified their sound over their next five studio albums, the most recent being Music of the Spheres (2021). Each album presented a unique theme and added new musical styles to the band's original repertoire, including electronica, ambient, pop, R&B, classical and progressive rock. They are also known for "euphoric" and "immersive" live performances,[3] which NME said are when the band "come alive and make the most sense".[4] In 2018, a career-spanning documentary directed by Mat Whitecross was released in cinemas to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary.
With over 100 million albums sold worldwide, Coldplay are among the best-selling music acts of all time.[b] In 2014, Fuse ranked them as the sixth-most awarded group in history, which includes having the most Brit Award wins by a band. They currently own three of the 50 highest-selling albums in the United Kingdom and the most number-one albums in the country without missing the top (nine).[7] In 2021, "My Universe" made them the first British group to debut atop the Billboard Hot 100. Coldplay have two of the 15 highest-grossing tours of all time as well,[8] while the British Phonographic Industry recognise the band as "one of planet's most influential and pioneering" acts.[9] The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later included A Rush of Blood to the Head on their 200 Definitive Albums editorial and had "Yellow" added to the Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll exhibition.[10] In 2022, Forbes hailed the group as the standard for alternative music. Time ranked them among the most impactful climate action leaders in the world during the following year. Despite their popularity, Coldplay established a reputation as polarising cultural icons.[11]
Artistry
Creative process
During an interview for NME, Berryman explained the band usually have a title and concept in mind before the music arrives, which serves to provide a "framework into which we can work thematically".[231] Martin described their way of writing new songs as "a series of doors".[232] He brings initial ideas to Buckland and the guitarist either disapproves or gives his input; the same happens from Buckland to Berryman, then Champion, allowing all band members to express themselves artistically.[232] However, this process is known to not always be linear, as tracks like "Magic" and "Adventure of a Lifetime" were started through the bass and guitar riffs from Berryman and Buckland, respectively.[233] Coldplay regularly switch instruments while in the studio as well.[234] When questioned about avoiding explicit language in lyrics, Champion affirmed swear words are "extremely useful at times", but overusing them "lessens their impact".[232] Moreover, music critics claim the band have a pattern which alternates between "overt bids for mainstream success and more self-consciously artsy prestige pieces".[235] Buckland stated that knowing the "big [album] is coming allows us to go a lot smaller" and be more "insular about what music we make sense".[231]
Musical and lyrical style
Coldplay have explored many musical styles throughout their career, with their sound being considered alternative rock,[236] alternative pop,[237] pop rock,[238] post-Britpop,[239] soft rock,[240] and pop.[241] After winning a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 2009, Martin jokingly stated in his acceptance speech that they were "limestone rock", in comparison to "hard rock".[242] The extended plays released in 1998 and 1999 have characteristics of dream pop, setting them apart from future releases.[243] Their first studio album, Parachutes (2000), was described as melodic pop which combined "bits of distorted guitar riffs and swishing percussion", being "exquisitely dark and artistically abrasive".[244] Berryman called it a "quiet, polite record",[245] while Champion has compared the lyrics to Lou Reed's "Perfect Day", as they are moody but with twists that imply optimism, ultimately making an album defined by the contrast between beautiful and happy messages and notoriously sad sounds.[246]
On the other hand, 2002's A Rush of Blood to the Head is full of "plaintive strums, weary arpeggios and pained melodies", along with a sense of urgency and heartbreak.[247] During an interview, Martin affirmed the title means "doing something on impulse".[247] Music critics described it as larger,[248] darker, and colder than its predecessor,[249] praising Coldplay for showing a newfound confidence as well.[250] This style was kept for their third album, X&Y (2005),[251] although now with the addition of electronic influences and extensive use of synthesisers,[252] having a grander scale in terms of both sound and existential themes.[253] Craig McLean from The Guardian called it "the work of an increasingly driven, punchier band", describing the melodies as "heartfelt stuff, with thumping guitar lines and emotive piano".[245] Lyrics have been described as the ruminations on Martin's "doubts, fears, hopes, and loves", with words that "are earnest and vague, so listeners can identify with the underlying concepts in the songs".[254]
Other activities
Philanthropy
Coldplay donates 10% from all of their profits to charity.[389] The fund is held in a bank account none of the band members can access.[390] They currently endorse more than thirty organizations,[391] including Amnesty International, Migrant Offshore Aid Station and Global Citizen Festival.[392] In 2003, an acoustic cover of the single "2000 Miles" was released to raise funds for Stop Handgun Violence and Future Forests, with all proceeds being donated to the two organizations.[393] Two years later, the group partnered with the Make Poverty History movement and were featured in one of their campaigns.[394] Coldplay have also auctioned significant memorabilia for Kids Company in 2009, including Martin's first guitar, the globe from the Parachutes (2000) album cover and costumes worn on Viva la Vida Tour (2008–10).[395] They additionally became patrons for ClientEarth.[396]