List of songs by Coldplay

Two men play their guitars while one in the middle sings with a microphone, a fourth man is playing drums in the background
Coldplay at the Barclays Arena in 2017

British rock band Coldplay have written or co-written every song in their discography, with the exception of several covers. They were formed in London by Chris Martin (vocals, piano), Jonny Buckland (lead guitar), Guy Berryman (bass guitar), Will Champion (drums, percussion) and Phil Harvey (management).[1] Aside from the latter, all members are equally credited as songwriters on each track.[2] Their experimentation with styles over the years resulted in a sound that is considered alternative rock,[3] alternative pop,[4] pop rock,[5] post-Britpop,[6] soft rock,[7] and pop.[8] Conversely, extended plays Safety (1998) and The Blue Room (1999) featured characteristics of the dream pop genre, setting them apart from succeeding works.[9]

According to Berryman, debut album Parachutes (2000) was a muted record.[10] It combined beautiful and happy messages with moody and atmospheric tones.[11] Made available two years later, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002) boasted stronger piano and guitar melodies,[12] helping to address the urgency and turmoil caused by the September 11 attacks.[13] The band held onto their previous references for X&Y (2005), but with the addition of electronic production and extensive use of synthesisers.[14] Existential themes were grander in scale to match the arrangements as well.[15]

Its successor, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), entailed contributions from Brian Eno, helping Coldplay to explore a new musical territory.[16] They experimented with numerous instruments,[17] such as electric violins, tack pianos, santoors, and organs.[18] Lyrically, the album discussed life, love, death, revolution, war, and politics.[19] In 2011, the group launched Mylo Xyloto, a concept record following the story of two characters in the style of a rock opera.[20] It widened their soundscapes by incorporating modern, urban, and dance compositions, as seen with Rihanna collaboration "Princess of China".[20] Three years later, they drew influence from genres like R&B,[21] synth-pop, and ambient to release Ghost Stories (2014).[22] Martin described the album as a journey towards unconditional love,[23] while Avicii and Paul Epworth handled guest production.[24]

Coldplay subsequently invited Stargate to record the disco and funk-inspired A Head Full of Dreams (2015),[25] which contemplated forgiveness, parenthood, and healing.[26] Various acts had a cameo appearance, including Beyoncé in "Hymn for the Weekend", Tove Lo in "Fun", and Noel Gallagher in "Up&Up".[27] Additionally, the band tried out EDM sounds by partnering with the Chainsmokers for "Something Just Like This" in 2017.[28] Regarded as their most political and experimental work to date,[29] Everyday Life (2019) saw them move towards jazz, gospel, blues, and classical rhythms.[30] Coldplay maintained this multi-genre approach for Music of the Spheres (2021), but adding pop sensibilities.[31] They enlisted Max Martin to produce the album and picked topics based on the human experience for its lyrics.[32] Collaborations also involved BTS in "My Universe".[33] Aside from usual activities, the band take part in tribute projects, film soundtracks, and songwriting sessions from other musicians. Similarly, unreleased material has been performed at many shows.

  1. ^ "They Played a Tiny Café... There Were Four People in the Audience". Music Business Worldwide. 26 February 2018. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  2. ^ "How Coldplay Became Rock's Biggest Business Brains Since the Stones". The Telegraph. 25 August 2023. Archived from the original on 19 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Coldplay's Music of the Spheres Is Spinning: Stream It Now". Billboard. 15 October 2021. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Coldplay Biography by Neil Z. Yeung". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Coldplay's Up&Up Video Turns The Everyday Into The Extraordinary". Spin. 16 May 2016. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Coldplay – LeftRightLeftRightLeft". Pitchfork. 1 June 2009. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Album Reviews: Coldplay, Harry Nilsson and Harmony Woods". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 5 December 2019. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  8. ^ "An Uncoupling, But The Band Plays On". The New York Times. 6 May 2014. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Artists / Coldplay". The Vogue. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  10. ^ "The Importance of Being Earnest". The Guardian. 27 May 2005. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Coldplay Opens Up Parachutes for US Audiences". MTV News. 29 September 2000. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  12. ^ "A Rush of Blood to the Head Review by Neil Z. Yeung". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Coldplay Bleed for Beauty on A Rush of Blood to the Head". MTV News. 27 August 2002. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Coldplay, X&Y". The Guardian. 27 May 2005. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Coldplay – X&Y". Paste. 30 June 2008. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Coldplay at Work on Something Different for Upcoming Album". Rolling Stone. 27 February 2008. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Coldplay Give Track-by-Track Tour of Viva La Vida, Explain Handclaps, Tack Pianos and the Number 42". MTV News. 9 June 2008. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  18. ^ "10 Years Later: Exploring Coldplay's Viva la Vida". Medium. 19 April 2018. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Coldplay's Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends Turns 10 | Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. 12 June 2018. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Coldplay: Mylo Xyloto is a Concept Album About Love Conquering All". NME. 15 October 2011. Archived from the original on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  21. ^ "Review: Coldplay Makes Tragic Magic on New Album Ghost Stories". Time. 14 May 2014. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  22. ^ "Coldplay Consciously Uncouple from Trademark Bathos on Appealing Ghost Stories". Spin. 17 May 2014. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  23. ^ Sky Arts: Coldplay – The Making of Ghost Stories (Part 1). 17 January 2015. Archived from the original on 19 May 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2022 – via YouTube.
  24. ^ "Coldpaly Ghost Stories Album Review". Rolling Stone. 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Coldplay Creeps Onto the Dancefloor with A Head Full of Dreams: Album Review". Billboard. 4 December 2015. Archived from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  26. ^ "Music Review: Coldplay's A Head Full of Dreams in and of Itself is a Dream". Los Angeles Times High School Insider. 14 December 2015. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  27. ^ "Coldplay A Head Full of Dreams Album Review". Rolling Stone. 4 December 2015. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  28. ^ "Chainsmokers, Coldplay Meld Styles on New Song Something Just Like This". Rolling Stone. 22 February 2017. Archived from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  29. ^ "Coldplay's Adventurous Everyday Life Brings Them Gracefully Back Down to Earth". Spin. 22 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  30. ^ "Coldplay's New Songs Orphans and Arabesque – Reviewed: Jazzier! Classic Rock-ier! Fun-er!". NME. 24 October 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  31. ^ "Music of the Spheres Review by Neil Z. Yeung". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  32. ^ "Coldplay Get Galactic with Airy Album Music of the Spheres". Associated Press. 12 October 2021. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  33. ^ "Coldplay's Music Gets Galactic: Band Experiment with Waves of Airy Melodies for Music of the Spheres". The Economic Times. 14 October 2021. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.