Coldplay released three songs in late October — “Arabesque,” “Orphans” and “Everyday Life” — to announce their upcoming double album, “Everyday Life.” The first half of the album is called “Sunrise” and the second half “Sunset.”
In “Arabesque,” lead singer Chris Martin is not singing in the schoolboy falsetto we have become accustomed to since Coldplay burst onto the scene 20 years ago with their hit song, “Yellow.” Martin’s voice is more subdued, exploring the lower part of his range.
Belgian dance artist Stromae’s verse in French is a welcome surprise. His deep croon fits well with the rest of the production, but he is not the best guest on this song. That distinction goes to Femi Kuti and his band, who contribute an earworm of a horn refrain and an interlude that plays like jazz improv.
“I could be you, you could be me, two raindrops in the same sea,” Martin sings in the opening verse. In “Arabesque,” Martin preaches the commonalities of the human experience, with each verse ending with “we share the same blood.” It is the hippie, we’re all human, believe in love routine that Martin and co. began with their previous release, 2015’s “A Head Full of Dreams,” but with a fuller, different sound.
The second song that Coldplay released is titled “Orphans.” It is the uplifting, radio-friendly pop single that one has come to expect from Coldplay, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Will Champion’s drums, Guy Berryman’s bass and Jonny Buckland’s guitar combine for an opening hook tailor-made to tapping your steering wheel.
With “Orphans,” Coldplay is asking us to dance our worries away. The song is bursting with energy and positivity, but the lyrics are a contrast to the happy tone. In each joyous chorus, Martin asks, “I wanna know / when I can go / back and get drunk with my friends? I wanna know / when I can go / back and be young again?” Martin is wearing his heart on his sleeve and airing his concerns with the world, but the song wants you to jump up and down with happiness, as Martin does in the music video.
The third song that Coldplay released is “Everyday Life,” the title track for the album. Keeping in line with “A Head Full of Dreams” and its closing song, “Up&Up,” Coldplay will close “Everyday Life” with an uplifting song trying to make sense of the world.
“Everyday Life” is a cheesy, slow piano ballad that will provide fuel for the cynics who reject Coldplay as insufferably boring. However, Martin’s lyrics ring true. “‘Cause everyone hurts, everyone cries,” Martin sings at the beginning of each chorus. He is being the corny motivational speaker saying things we all are too proud to admit, and that is Coldplay’s place in the music world. “Got to keep dancing when the lights go out.” “Hold tight for everyday life.” Coldplay is telling us, as it always has, that everything is going to be okay so long as we keep moving on.
Email Ishaan Parmar at [email protected].
