Written by: Emily White
It may come as a surprise to some that I, a music major, like to listen to musical genres other than classical. I enjoy my escapades into the world of contemporary music, even though I typically shun mainstream artists. However, this summer I hit a wall: I didn’t want to listen to classical music, nor was I enthused with the pop songs that Spotify recommended to me.
At the same time, my brother was preparing to play the piano for a wedding reception; one of the songs on his setlist was Coldplay’s “Yellow” from their first album, which he played in the car every morning on our way to work one week. Admittedly, I had only heard the song once or twice beforehand and had associated Coldplay with their later, more synth-heavy tunes such as “Paradise” and “Viva La Vida.”
I didn’t necessarily mind those hits, but I was convinced that the rest of Coldplay’s music would probably be as mediocre as I found their most popular songs. However, being force-fed “Yellow” for five days straight began to change my mind, and I decided I wanted to get to know this older, more pensive version of the band.
For the following two months, I listened to Coldplay’s first three albums on repeat, and I found that I actually enjoyed some of their music! Here’s a short list of songs from each album that I find myself coming back to:
“Trouble” (Parachutes)
The piano is featured prominently in this ballad, which directly follows “Yellow.” I am attracted to its wistful tone and contrite lyrics, and I enjoy the chord progression of the whole song. My favorite part is the electric guitar and piano instrumental at the very end.
“We Never Change” (Parachutes)
The acoustic-heavy instrumentals, the lilting drumset part, the minor mode, and the contemplative lyrics all make for a melancholy four minutes. Listening to the song at night amplifies its somber quality.
“Politik” (A Rush of Blood to the Head)
The intense feeling of this first track of A Rush of Blood to the Head is shockingly different from the way Coldplay presented itself in Parachutes. Written in response to 9/11, it was recorded just two days after the terrorist attacks. The song begins with a driving drumset and electric guitar; later, the atmosphere transitions, providing a hauntingly beautiful accompaniment to the lyrics, “But give me love over this.”
“A Rush of Blood to the Head” (A Rush of Blood to the Head)
The chord progression in the chorus is what caught my attention (for my music theory nerds: a: VI, IV, VI, IV, N7, VI, IV, N7, i). Also, the way Chris Martin sings “Honey” at the beginning of every chorus is so romantic — it is one of my greatest desires to have someone speak to me like that one day.
“X&Y” (X&Y)
I’ll be honest: the main melody here isn’t that striking, and neither are the lyrics. However, I find myself singing along to the chorus a lot because I like the chord progression; even though it’s simpler than others, the use of diminished chords makes it unique. The synth string quartet at the end is also a nice touch.
The most important lesson I have learned from my Coldplay experience is that just because something is mainstream doesn’t mean that it’s inherently bad (or good), whether it’s music or anything else. It’s not fair for me to label something as terrible as soon as I find out it’s popular; however, it’s more open-minded of me to try something and then form my opinion on it.
So what if my worldview is changed or my way of doing things is challenged? I shouldn’t be scared of broadening my horizons, especially if I hope to become a well-rounded person. Even though I may cringe a little bit when I review my Spotify Wrapped and find that Coldplay is inevitably on my Top 5 Artists list, the enjoyment I get from listening to their lesser-known songs compensates for my deviating from my “alternative” identity.
