The first time I was exposed to Coldplay was when I accidentally stumbled upon the video for ‘Clocks. I was enchanting at once by the strangely ethereal feel of the song, hypnotic piano riff and Chris Martin’s soulful voice. As their songs gradually grew on me, listening to Coldplay became a dreamy experience.
Formed in 1996 by college mates Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland, the band was later joined by bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion. After three EP’s over a course of as many years, the band tasted success with the release of the single ‘Shiver’ from their debut album ‘Parachutes’ which came out in 2000.
While ‘Parachutes’ was an album relying heavily on an acoustic sound, their next album ‘A Rush Of Blood To The Head’ was different from its predecessor by its incorporation of powerful piano melodies and dramatic guitar riffs. ‘X & Y’ continued the tradition of the trademark Coldplay sound- easygoing yet profound. ‘Viva la Vida or Death and All of His Friends’, on the other hand, was more experimental in its music and universal in its themes. Their latest ‘Mylo Xyloto’ renders a more psychedelic and bright sound.
Over time, the soothing ballads and the reflective lyrics have come to represent me all the myriad emotions in our lives and our experiences of them which are expressed through music. The music works as catharsis and makes me feel wonderfully light. It works as the best tranquilizer and when Chris Martin sings, his voice touches the deepest chords of my heart. Coldplay for me has come to exemplify the deepest of all feelings; be it love (Us Against The World, Yellow), longing (Warning Sign, In My Place), hope (Amsterdam, Fix You) or regret (Trouble, The Scientist).
Coldplay has been the recipient of seven Grammy Awards and there is no denying that the band rocks all the way in their own mellow, sublime and introspective way. It is a different kind of a trance altogether.
