Coldplay is a British alternative rock and britpop band formed in London in… Read Full Bio ↴Coldplay is a British alternative rock and britpop band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer Will Champion and creative director Phil Harvey. They met at University College London and began playing music together from 1996 to 1998, initially calling themselves Starfish. Coldplay's music incorporates elements of soft rock, pop rock, piano rock, and post-britpop.

After independently releasing an extended play, Safety (1998), Coldplay signed with Parlophone in 1999. The band's debut album, Parachutes (2000), included their breakthrough single "Yellow" and received a Brit Award for British Album of the Year, a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album and a Mercury Prize nomination. Their second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), won the same accolades and included "Clocks", which earned a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. In 2005, they released X&Y; the album was marked by a troubled production and various delays, completing what the band considered a trilogy as well. Coldplay's fourth effort, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), received a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album and their first Album of the Year nomination, while its title track was the first British group song to reach number-one in the United Kingdom and United States simultaneously in the 21st century. Both X&Y and Viva la Vida were the best-selling albums of their respective years, topping the charts in more than 30 countries each.

Since then, Coldplay further diversified their sound with the subsequent releases Mylo Xyloto (2011), Ghost Stories (2014), A Head Full of Dreams (2015), Everyday Life (2019) and Music of the Spheres (2021). Each album presented a unique theme and added new musical styles to the band's original repertoire, including electronica, ambient, pop, R&B, funk, classical, jazz fusion, and progressive rock. They are also known for "euphoric" live performances, which NME said are when the band "come alive and make the most sense". To celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2018, a career-spanning documentary directed by Mat Whitecross was premiered at selected cinemas, featuring previously unseen behind-the-scenes footage.

With 100 million albums sold worldwide, Coldplay are the most successful band of the 21st century and one of the best-selling music acts of all time. According to Fuse, they are also the sixth-most awarded group in history. Other notable achievements include the seventh-highest-grossing tour of all time, three of the 50 highest-selling albums ever in the United Kingdom, the most number-one records in the country without ever missing the top, most nominations and wins for a band in Brit Awards history, and becoming the first British group to debut at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100. Coldplay are considered one of the most influential bands of the 21st century as well, with Forbes describing them as the standard for the current alternative scene. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included A Rush of Blood to the Head on their "200 Definitive Albums" list and the single "Yellow" is part of their "Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll" exhibition for being one of the most successful and important recordings in the industry. In spite of their popularity and impact, Coldplay have earned a reputation as polarizing music icons.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldplay

Things I Don't Understand
Coldplay Lyrics

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How tides control the sea, and what becomes of me
How little things can slip out of your hands
How often people change, no two remain the same
Why things don't always turn out as you plan

These are things that I don't understand
Yeah, these are things that I don't understand

I can't, and I can't decide
Wrong, all my wrong from right
Day, all my day for night
Dark, all my dark for light
I live, but I love this life

How infinite is space, and who decides your fate
Why everything will dissolve into sand
How to avoid defeat, when truth and fiction meet
Why nothing even turns out how you planned

These are things that I don't understand
Yeah, these are things that I don't understand

I can't, and I can't decide
Wrong, all my wrong from right
Day, all my day for night

Or dark, all my dark for light
I live, but I love this life

Overall Meaning

In Coldplay's song "Things I Don't Understand", the lyrics touch upon the inherent mysteries of the universe and human experience. The first verse speaks to the idea of impermanence and change, as well as the idea that we are not always in control of our lives. The second verse tackles headier philosophical concepts such as space, fate, and the inherent truth of our realities. The chorus acknowledges that despite our lack of understanding, we still live and love life.

The lyrics illustrate the human tendency to question our own existence and the world around us. We are often confronted with events and circumstances we can't explain or fully comprehend, but we keep living and learning nonetheless. The song acknowledges that there are some things we may never fully understand, but ultimately embraces the beauty of that mystery.

Line by Line Meaning

How tides control the sea, and what becomes of me
Reflecting on the power of nature and the uncertainty of one’s own destiny

How little things can slip out of your hands
Acknowledging the fragility of life and how easily it can change

How often people change, no two remain the same
Observing how people develop and evolve over time

Why things don't always turn out as you plan
Contemplating the unpredictability of life and the possibility of disappointment

These are things that I don't understand
Expressing confusion and uncertainty about these profound questions

I can't, and I can't decide
Feeling indecisive and unable to make important choices

Wrong, all my wrong from right
Struggling with distinguishing right from wrong and questioning past decisions

Day, all my day for night
Feeling lost and unsure, as if the day has turned to night

Dark, all my dark for light
Experiencing a sense of hopelessness and despair in the face of adversity

I live, but I love this life
Acknowledging the difficulties in life, but still finding joy and value in it

How infinite is space, and who decides your fate
Questioning the concept of free will and the role of the universe in shaping one’s life

Why everything will dissolve into sand
Recognizing the impermanence of all things and the inevitability of change

How to avoid defeat, when truth and fiction meet
Struggling with navigating the complexities of life and discerning truth from falsehood

Why nothing even turns out how you planned
Reflecting on the disappointment and frustration of unfulfilled expectations

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY JOHN MARTIN, GUY RUPERT BERRYMAN, JONATHAN MARK BUCKLAND, WILLIAM CHAMPION

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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