Coldplay are without a doubt one of the most successful bands in the music industry and have captivated a global audience with their unique sound, heartfelt lyrics, and captivating live performances.
Since forming in 1996, the band has delivered numerous hits, earning both critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base.
With a string of chart-topping singles and albums, Coldplay has consistently proven their impact and relevance. Their innovative music and dynamic stage shows continue to secure their place as a leading force in contemporary music.
Background
The tale of Coldplay’s success begins at University College London. Chris, who graduated with first-class honours in Greek & Latin, initially encountered Jonny, a Mathematics student, during orientation week. They later formed a musical partnership known as ‘Pectoralz.’
Guy Berryman, who studied for just one year at the same college, met the duo in Ramsay Hall. He later joined them, leading to the formation of the music group Starfish in 1997.
Will Champion, who earned an honours degree in Anthropology from the same college, initially joined the group as a percussionist. He eventually honed his drumming abilities to become the lead drummer when the group evolved into Coldplay.
Current tour
On March 18, 2022, Coldplay began their seventh global tour, the ‘Music of the Spheres Tour,’ to support their album “Music of the Spheres,” which was released on October 15, 2021. The album, featuring 12 tracks each linked to a cosmic element in the imagined planetary system ‘the spheres,’ includes collaborations with BTS, Selena Gomez, Jacob Collier, and We Are King.
They recently concluded their tour in Vienna at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion and are now gearing up for another entertaining show in Ireland from August 29 to September 2nd where they’ll be joined by Maggie Rogers and Any Coulibaly as opening acts. Coldplay tickets have been in huge demand with the tour generating huge revenue for the band.
The show will head to Melbourne in October before the record-breaking tour will draw to a close in Australia and New Zealand with the last show scheduled for November 16 at the 50-000 seater Eden Park stadium in Auckland.
Musical and grossing records
The seven-time Grammy-winning band has set records and topped charts since the announcement of their eagerly awaited ‘Music of the Spheres Tour.’
Coldplay joined the Rolling Stones in the Billboard Boxscore, becoming the second act to reach a half-billion double-up among the top 10 highest-grossing tours of all time.
According to Billboard, the band’s ‘Music of the Spheres’ tour is now the largest rock tour ever. Since its March 2022 launch, the eco-conscious tour has earned $945 million and sold over eight million tickets. This amount exceeds the $939.1 million earned by Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour from 2018-2023. Coldplay set a ticket sales record in January, surpassing U2’s 7.3 million tickets sold on their 360 Tour. And there are still 21 shows remaining!
Best collaborations
Over the past decade, Coldplay has set the stage and streams alight with collaborations with some of the world’s biggest stars.
Their ability to blend their style of music into a song that fits into rap, R&B, or pop is a testament to their renowned musical prowess.
Some of these songs have gone on to win multiple awards, set streaming records, break sales records, and have fans signing in harmony during concerts
Here are eight of Coldplay’s best collaborations of all time
Coldplay ft Rihanna — “Princess of China”
This is not only one of the most famous collaborations in Chris Martin’s career but also a notable experiment that merges Coldplay’s grand stadium aspirations, Rihanna’s Caribbean allure, Chinese visuals, and a surge of vibrant electronics. It’s a true romantic blockbuster! Chris Martin wrote the song specifically for Rihanna, unsure if she would even agree to collaborate with him, reflecting his humility despite his success with “Viva la Vida.”
The video, directed by Adria Petty, daughter of Tom Petty, was inspired by classic Chinese martial arts films. The chemistry between Chris and Rihanna was compelling enough to earn them a performance slot at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Coldplay ft Beyonce — “Hymn for the Weekend“
Speaking of collaborators, there’s a notable uncredited guest appearance by Beyoncé on this track. This euphoric anthem celebrating going out and having a good time became a major hit in early 2016, remaining in the Top 40 for seven months. It holds the second-largest streaming count of any Coldplay song, with 150.6 million streams, and achieved 302,000 downloads, making it their fifth biggest song in the UK.
The remix featuring Beyoncé sent fans into excitement as the duo created an even more melodious version of the song.
Released from Coldplay’s album “A Head Full of Dreams”, which was certified Gold and sold over 2 million copies in 2015, “Hymn for the Weekend” achieved double platinum status and appeared on seven Billboard charts in the US. The remix video with Beyoncé has amassed an impressive 1.2 billion views on YouTube, and the song has been streamed 532 million times on Spotify.
Coldplay ft The Chainsmokers — “Something Just Like This”
In a shift from their usual emotional, subtle, and melancholic melodies, Coldplay teamed up with The Chainsmokers to introduce an electronic dance rhythm into their music.
The collaboration became a global hit, achieving substantial record-breaking success. This electropop track was released on February 22, 2017, as part of The Chainsmokers’ album “Memories…Do Not Open.”
It was certified quadruple-platinum in the US after selling over four million copies and reached the top three in charts across various countries, including Australia, Canada, the USA, and the UK.
Coldplay ft Jay Z — “Lost!”
“Lost!” was co-produced by Brian Eno and Markus Dravs for Coldplay’s fourth album, “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends”. Released on November 10, 2008, as the album’s third single, it received generally positive reviews. Following a live performance with Jay-Z at the 2009 Grammy Awards, the song saw a surge in digital sales, reaching a new peak of number 40 in the United States.
Coldplay ft Big Sean — “Miracles (Someone Special)”
Coldplay worked with American rapper Big Sean on “Miracles (Someone Special),” released on July 14, 2017, as the second single from their Kaleidoscope EP. This marked the band’s first collaboration with a rapper since Jay-Z’s remix of “Lost!”
Nelly Furtado ft. Chris Martin – “All Good Things (Come to an End)”
In 2006, Nelly Furtado was a dominant figure in pop music with her album “Loose”, which topped charts worldwide. Chris Martin contributed harmonies and joined the team of writers on the album’s poignant Latin pop ballad. Although it’s uncertain if Martin drew inspiration from Black’s “Wonderful Life” for this song, the title of the track seemed prophetic, as Nelly has not yet released a record that matches the success of “Loose”. Perhaps a new collaboration with Martin could be the answer.
Coldplay ft Selena Gomez “Let Somebody Go”
“Let Somebody Go” is one of Coldplay’s most recent collaborations featured on their album “Music of the Spheres”.
Released through Parlophone as the album’s third single, it is available for streaming and digital download. The collaboration came about because both Chris Martin and Harvey have long admired Selena’s distinctive voice. This partnership has proven successful, offering fans a chance to enjoy this pop and soft-rock track, which has already achieved significant global success.
Coldplay ft BTS — “My Universe”
Coldplay teamed up with South Korean pop phenomenon BTS to create the highly praised and successful track “My Universe.” Released on September 24, 2021, by Parlophone and Atlantic Records, it was the second official single from Coldplay’s ninth studio album, “Music of the Spheres”. “My Universe” debuted at number one on the Billboard
Hot 100, amassing 11.5 million streams, 5.5 million radio audience impressions, and a combined total of 127,000 downloads and physical single sales.
It became BTS’ fifth song to top the chart, setting a record for the most first-week number-ones by a group and tying with Ariana Grande and Drake. It was also the first time two leading groups collaborated to achieve the top spot, making Coldplay the first British band to debut at number one on the Hot 100 since Vida” in 2008.
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