A few years ago when posed the question, “Do you like
Coldplay?” the natural response would either be, “Yeah, I love them!” or “no, I
find them quite depressing” Welcome Summer 2011 and Coldplay are back with a
new vibe and a new sound with the first single off of their latest album Mylo
Xyloto titled Every Teardrop is a Waterfall. This was followed by their second
single chart-topping single Paradise reaping over
60 million Youtube views, an outstanding feat rare with modern rock bands.
Recently “cracking America” with Viva La Vida, which won
best rock album at the 2009 Grammy Awards, their sound has really developed,
from the slow, melancholic ballads of Fix You and The Scientist to a brighter, “arena”
sound. Paradise is an uplifting, inspiring tune which still keeps the stirring
strings and powerful lyrics, which Coldplay are renowned for, intact.
New single Charlie Brown continues with this positive,
celebratory feel. Themes of being carefree, young and living life in the fast
lane are potent. The song seems to ascend initially with the lyrics, “In my
scarecrow dreams, when they smash might heart into smithereens”, a beautiful
rhyme describing the struggles lead singer Chris Martin perhaps faced, however
this progresses into rhymes like, “Light a fire, light a spark, light a fire, a
flame in my heart.” Martin is clearly a passionate person, as any songwriter
has to be, and this shows he had the self-belief and fervency to overcome his
difficulties and live care-free and without inhibitions.
Their X Factor performance in late 2011 was probably the
first time many people would have heard their new single Charlie Brown and
stealing the show would be an understatement. Transforming Wembley Arena with
vibrant colour in the form of wristbands and glowsticks and anthemic tunes.
This theme was continued for the Charlie Brown video. The symbolism used
lyrically in the song, has been directly reflected in the video, with elements of Rihanna's We Found Love and Katy Perry's Firework, it shows two-lovers in search of each other and being united earlier in the video than
would have been expected, alternating with scenes of a rave scene, similar to
that of their X Factor performance, with the band performing surrounded by
people dancing with glowsticks and happiness.
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