Counting “Moon Music,” their upcoming 10th album, Coldplay has two more to go before they hang it up. It could be a couple more years till then, but we can’t help but feel nostalgic
All good things must come to an end. And although it almost feels like we’ve taken them for granted in recent years, the fact of the matter is, Coldplay is officially retiring after their 12th studio album.
In an interview with Zane Lowe, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin shared, “We’re only going to do 12 proper albums, and that’s real. There are only eight or seven Harry Potters, there are only 12 and a half Beatles’ albums, and there’s about the same for Bob Marley.”
But that does not necessarily mean the music ends for each member.
“The joy of making something—that will always continue in some way. But, there’s something about the Coldplay thing—I don’t know where the songs come from, I don’t know where the ideas come from, but that’s just been coming to me for about four, five years now—that you have to finish like this. And I trust that, just like I trust the songs. If we do something together after that creatively beyond touring, then it would be something different,” Martin explained.
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Including the 10th album “Moon Music” that drops on Oct. 4, Coldplay has two more to go before they hang it up. It could be a couple more years till then, and this sounds like we’re jumping the gun, but we just can’t help but feel nostalgic.
Most of the tracks on this list are some of their biggest hits. They’re mainstream, undoubtedly, but classics can’t simply be ignored. And while Coldplay gets their fair share of flak for having songs that sound too optimistic, cheesy, or cliché—it’s undeniable that these, in their own right, have defined modern pop culture.
“A Sky Full of Stars”
Lyrics to bring up any mood, melodies and synthesizers to light up any stadium, and its very connection to the late Avicii—all of these components came together in 2014 for a song that, without hyperbole, may just be the solution to world peace.
“My Universe”
Quite frankly, “My Universe” is far from being among the best songs Coldplay has ever done. That said, considering its pandemic release and how they brought together fan bases with very different musical interests—this one gets an honorary nod as it is a testament to the band’s ability to unite through music.
“It was a hit for a minute because of ARMY—respect. They made it a hit in the first week, and then it disappeared again. But I know that the song fell through in such a natural way. I know that it came through really purely, so I just got to trust the song. And so for the first few shows in certain countries, that song wasn’t really—now, it’s accepted by our audience,” Martin told Lowe.
“Yellow”
“Yellow” may feature a simplistic eighth-note melody playing continuously for over four minutes, but that doesn’t take away from its status as one of the century’s most iconic tracks
I may have been born in 2000, but there’s simply no denying the impact of the song that catapulted Coldplay into the global limelight.
“The Scientist”
It’s often argued that love is merely a replicable and meaningless chain of chemical reactions. But as Coldplay says, “Questions of science, science and progress, do not speak as loud as my heart”—22 years later and this song continues to tug at the heartstrings.
“Fix You”
Coldplay has a thing with horrifyingly describing the human condition with acute detail. And though that may take shape with lyrics that hit too close to home, more often than not, it’s just what listeners need to hear.
“Viva La Vida”
A discussion on the nuances and layers behind the French Revolution-inspired hit in itself may necessitate its own article. But frankly, it’s such a well-crafted, uplifting tune that I could care less.
“Paradise”
There’s something about Coldplay and overly optimistic songs. This one may be among the cheesiest of them all, but “Paradise” would undoubtedly turn any stadium in the world into a Christian worship service—hands raised and all—and frankly, I would too.
“Amazing Day”
Not “Hymn for the Weekend” or “Adventure of a Lifetime,” this standout from 2015’s “A Head Full of Dreams” takes on a slower pace in comparison to the rather upbeat and psychedelic album. Thematically, lyrically, musically, the song invites listeners to pause and appreciate what we have in front of us.
“Ink”
“Got a tattoo and the pain’s alright, just want a way of keeping you inside.” Say less, “Ink” captures the feeling of clinging onto a love long gone.
Musical fun fact: Listen closely to the instrumental, and you’ll hear hints of Phillip Phillips’ “Gone, Gone, Gone.”
“Everglow”
Is it possible to fall in love with a song within the first 10 seconds? Try “Everglow” and find yourself enamored with an earworm-inducing piano arrangement.