Don't Panic (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “Don't Panic” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||||
| Single by Coldplay from the album Parachutes |
|||||
| Released | August 27, 2001 | ||||
| Format | CD, 7", 12" | ||||
| Genre | Alternative rock | ||||
| Length | 2:17 | ||||
| Label | Parlophone | ||||
| Writer(s) | Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, Chris Martin | ||||
| Producer | Ken Nelson, Coldplay | ||||
| Coldplay singles chronology | |||||
|
|||||
"Don't Panic" is a song written and recorded by English alternative rock band Coldplay. British record producer Ken Nelson and the band produced the track for their debut album, Parachutes.
The song was released as the album's fourth single in some European regions, and the United Kingdom only received a promo edition. The UK promo peaked at number 130 on the UK singles chart, but subsequently appeared on the hits-packed UK album Now That's What I Call Music! 48.
Contents |
[edit] Origins and production
"Don't Panic" came into existence while Coldplay was still in their infancy. In the time, the band had written 10 songs including an early prototype of "Don't Panic", and used it in recruiting the band's drummer.[1] It was originally called "Panic",[2] and was one of six songs played at Coldplay's first concert in 1998. Eventually, the title became "Don't Panic", taken from Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.[3]
The original version of the "Don't Panic" was recorded in July 1999. There are several differences between this and the final album version. First, vocalist Chris Martin plays the piano during the bridge. As well, there is a feedback-distorted introduction and some modified lyrics. This version was released on The Blue Room (EP).
British record producer Ken Nelson produced "Don't Panic" for Coldplay's debut album, Parachutes. The track was recorded live, like many other tracks featured in the album. Guitarist Johnny Buckland recorded twice his overdubbed guitars, and used parts of the two during the mixing. The band used the acoustic guitar, vocal, drums and bass, and also a pump organ which was subtly used.[4]
"Don't Panic" is the opening track to Parachutes and is a guitar-based song. The song begins with a strummed acoustic guitar, followed with guitar lines, then the vocals.[5]
[edit] Release
Originally, the band planned to release "Don't Panic" as Parachutes's fourth single. However, it was abandoned after they deemed three singles were enough for an album. Despite this, the single was eventually released in some European region.[6]
Like their others songs, Coldplay has refused several offers to use "Don't Panic" for promotional tools. In 2004, the band rejected a multi-million Euro offer from Diet Coke and Gap to use their others songs, Coldplay has refused several offers to use "Don't Panic" and "Trouble", another song featured in the album. The band asked Phil Harvey, their manager, to not refer them to such offers because "a discussion might lead to compromise".[1]
In 2002, the song was featured on the Igby Goes Down soundtrack. In 2004, it was on the popular Garden State soundtrack, and received persistent exposure in Australia for over a year when it was used by Australia's Network Ten in a series of promotional ads that ran before and after most shows, featuring its programming and personalities. The song was also featured on the debut episode of the FX television series Rescue Me as well as the pilot episode of the short-lived show Odyssey 5.[7][8] Additionally, the song was featured in episode nine of the first series on the UK TV Series Sugar Rush in 2005, and was subsequently included on the CD soundtrack of songs featured in the show.[9]
During the band's 2003 A Rush of Blood to the Head Tour, "Don't Panic" contained an entirely different introduction. In addition, Chris Martin played the electric guitar and Jonny Buckland performed a harmonica solo during the bridge.[10] He regularly threw the harmonica into the crowd after the solo.
[edit] Reception
Critics were positive towards the song. Allmusic, in the review of the album, noted: "Coldplay's indie rock inclinations are also obvious, especially on songs such as 'Don't Panic' and 'Shiver'."[11] In the Pitchfork review, Spencer Owen, wrote: "This subdued, dreamy opener contains Martin's falsetto chorus of "We live in a beautiful world," which seems to sum up the overall sentiment of the record."[3] Critic Adrian Denning, in his review of the album, wrote: "Both the vocals and guitar are utterly beautiful. It's a song to take solace from, draw comfort from, be quietly awed by."[12] David DeVoe of Hybrid magazine wrote: "It is a wonderful song that echoes the promise of what is to come on the rest of the record. 'Don’t Panic' is filled with excellent guitar tones and a nice grooving back beat, and I love the way the song ends."[13]
[edit] Music video
The music video for "Don't Panic" was directed by Tim Hope, who also directed "Trouble". The video starts off with an animated diagram of the water cycle, then portrays the band as two-dimensional paper cutouts doing household chores, when suddenly disaster strikes the earth in the forms of floods, volcanoes and electric shocks. It also features the yellow globe on the cover of Parachutes.
[edit] Track listing
|
|
[edit] References
- ^ a b "The State of Coldplay". Q (Internet Archive) (August 2002). Retrieved on 2008-09-22.
- ^ Diehl, Matt (August 2003). "Matt Diehl talks to the rest of the band". BNET (Internet Archive). Retrieved on 2008-09-08.
- ^ a b Owen, Spencer (1999-12-31). "Parachutes". Pitchfork Media. pitchforkmedia.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-07.
- ^ Inglis, Sam (October 2000). "Recording Coldplay's Parachutes". SOS. Retrieved on 2008-09-12.
- ^ Roach, p. 47
- ^ Roach, p. 54
- ^ "Guts". Peter Tolan and Denis Leary. Rescue Me. FX. 2004-07-21. No. 1, season 1. 45 minutes in.
- ^ "The Shatterer". Odyssey 5. Showtime. 2002-06-28. 44 minutes in.
- ^ "Sugar Rush (UK): Don't Forget The Electric Toothbrush". Television Without Pity (2006-04-27). Retrieved on 2008-10-07.
- ^ (2003). Live 2003 [DVD]. Capitol Records and Parlophone.
- ^ "Parachutes - Overview". Allmusic. allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-07.
- ^ Denning, Adrian (2000). "Album reviews - Parachutes". adriandenning.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-10-07.
- ^ DeVoe, David. "Coldplay - Parachutes". Hybrid magazine. hybridmagazine.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-07.
[edit] External links
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
