THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

275-Coldplay-Yellow.

2000-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 1.50. Chris Martin is very well known for being coy, and for also teasing interviewers when it comes to explaining his songs meanings, but it is probably safe to say this ones not about The Simpsons.

Coldplay were formed in London, England, in 1996 by Chris Martin, (vocals and piano) Jonny Buckland, (guitar) Guy Berryman, (bass) and Will Champion, (drums) the bands former manager, and creative director Phil Harvey is considered a fifth group member. Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland first met each other in September 1996 while studying at University College London, where using the name ‘Big Fat Noises’ they began to write songs together. It was in 1998 that Guy Berryman, and then Will Champion, who were also students at University College London would join forces with Martin and Buckland, and perform as a quartet, this time using the name ‘Starfish.’ Prior to releasing their first EP (extended play) called ‘Safety’ which had been financed by Phil Harvey in May 1998, the band finally settled on the name ‘Coldplay,’ which was suggested to them by another student called Tim Crompton, who had been contemplating using the name for a group of his own. The name was taken from the book ‘Child’s Reflections, Cold Play,’ by the author Philip Horky. With sales in excess of 100 million Albums, Coldplay are the best selling act of the 21st Century worldwide, and amongst the best selling artists of all time. They are also the first group in ‘Spotify’ history to reach 90 million monthly listeners. In the UK they have three of the 50 best selling Albums, and the distinction of being the most played group of the 21st Century on British media. The band have received numerous accolades throughout their career, becoming the most awarded and nominated group of all time at the ‘Brit Awards,’ with nine victories from their 32 nominations, they have also won seven ‘Grammy Awards,’ from 39 nominations.

The discography of Coldplay includes 10 studio Albums released between 2000-2024, and 43 singles released between 1999-2024, there are also 18 extended plays, (EP’s) 12 official compilation Albums, and six live Albums available. In the UK all 10 of their studio Albums have reached Number 1, while 29 of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘Viva la Vida,’ (2008) and ‘Paradise,’ (2011) both making Number 1. In America on the ‘Billboard 200’ chart, five of their studio Albums have reached Number 1, while 15 of their singles have made the ‘Billboard Hot 100’ top 40, with ‘Viva la Vida,’ (2008) and ‘My Universe’ featuring the South Korean ‘K-Pop’ boy band ‘BTS,’ (2021) both reaching Number 1.

‘Yellow’ was the first of four singles released from ‘Parachutes,’ the debut studio Album from Coldplay, from July 2000. The song was co-written by all four members of Coldplay, with the production credited to Coldplay and Ken Nelson, who was born on February 6th, 1959, in Liverpool, England. Nelson’s first major success was working on the debut studio Album ‘Bring It On,’ by the English Indie Rock group Gomez in 1998, he has also worked on three studio Albums by Coldplay, as well as engineering or producing for others including Badly Drawn Boy, Feeder, and Paolo Nutini. He has won three ‘Grammy Awards,’ two ‘Mercury Music Prizes,’ and was ‘Music Week’ magazine’s ‘Producer of the Year’ in 2003.

Chris Martin was born Christopher Anthony John Martin, on March 2nd, 1977, in Exeter, Devon, England. Away from Coldplay, Chris Martin has written or co-written for other artists including ‘Gravity’ for Embrace, (2004-UK Number 7) ‘See It in a Boy’s Eyes’ for Jamelia, (2004-UK Number 5) ‘All Good Things (Come to an End’) for Nelly Furtado, (2006-UK Number 4) and also for many others. In 2012 Chris Martin revealed that he had been suffering from tinnitus since his early adult years, as a result, he wears specially filtered earplugs or customised in-ear monitors while performing, and has encouraged his fellow band members to do the same as a preventive measure. Coldplay donate 10% from all of their profits to charity. The fund is held in a bank account that none of the band members can access. They have endorsed over 30 organisations over the years, including ‘Amnesty International,’ ‘Migrant Offshore Aid Station,’ and ‘Global Citizen Festival.’

Probably being bored with being asked the same question every time when interviewed, Chris Martin has admitted to giving several different explanations as to what ‘Yellow’ means. He told one interviewer that he got the idea from the book that happened to be nearest him when writing the song, it was the UK telephone directory, which is named ‘Yellow Pages,’ Martin has also said that the lyrics are about being devoted to someone, wanting to do anything for them. ‘Writing a song for them, swimming across the sea for them. It’s not necessarily a romantic devotion, but could be about someone that you look up to and would do anything for, a brotherly love.’

‘Look at the stars, look how they shine for you, and everything you do, yeah, they were all yellow. I came along, I wrote a song for you and all the things you do, and it was called yellow.’