SONG #58: Coldplay - The Scientist

Inducted on Dec. 31, 2016

Adrian Era

I don't think it's unfair to put this in the top 15 favorite songs of mine. I believe when I bought this album, I had already heard clocks and absolutely loved that song. Undoubtedly, in another universe, 'Clocks' would already be in my hall of fame. But once I bought "A rush of blood to the head", and gave the full album a listen, this absolutely was my favorite song on the record. 

I absolutely love that piano intro, and it is potentially one of my favorite song openers of all time. Again. I don't really know music theory - and if I ever learned, I'd go back and analyze each of these songs, But there's something about the specific chords being used in the song that generates great emotion and gives shape to the song. Lyrically, I am also pretty bad at extricating meanings from songs as the artist's originally intended it.. aka - what the songwriter (Chris Martin in this case) is trying to say, but I certainly feel sadness.  And a bittersweet feeling. The video's "reverse concept" also made an impact in my appreciation for the song and to the power of the song, The song was also in my Adrian era. Random memory - I remember listening to it for the first time on my trip to Toledo as I was going down to buy a suit.  I was sat down by my pastor and friend Joel, and he told me that I need to do a better job of dressing. now that is an embarrassing problem and certainly absolutely not one I loved hearing, but I do ultimately appreciate that he was brave enough to tell me that I needed to dress up a little better. That's something my dad never talk. and frankly, I'm not doing a great job of teaching my kids that either. Unfortunately, people DO judge you based on how you dress. Another result of the fall in the garden of Eden, I guess. I'm not sure if I have ever truly utilized the power of "dress" in the way it could be utilized, but again I tend to value authenticity over (what I believe is) the manipulation of people. 
 

Anyway, back to the song. That line "you don't know how lovely you are" is a winner. I can imagine girls (or anyone) just swooning at that part as they put themselves as the subject of the song. I love the little "Aww Ooooooohhhh" that Martin sings at the end of the song, its another element that makes this song special/unique. 

This song undoubtedly. really skyrocketed my deep appreciation for Coldplay. They were definitely my favorite band for a long period of time (and still may be on top, not quite sure right now).  They took the throne from Collective Soul. I could probably have 6 to 10 of their songs in the hall of fame before I die. They have a gift at evoking emotion from you, and I'm sure some people feel it too. As I think I've said before, I've heard that their concerts have similar vibes as a worship service. As a Christian that certainly raises flags in that we shouldn't worship music that isn't lifting up God's name, but as a human, I am in deep touch with how music evokes feeling, and as I said, Coldplay has a gift at doing that. Even if he doesnt have the same beliefs as I do, I really do appreciate Chris Martin's song writing abilities, and the fact that they do try to reinvent themselves with each album without departing way too far from their core sound. I'll be honest though I enjoyed their song 'yellow' from the first album, it was not my super super favorite. And so it wasn't until this album - A Rush of Blood to the Head - where I really started to. Truly appreciate them as much as I do now. Fantastic Song from a Fantastic Album from a Fantastic Band!