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Clocks (song)

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"Clocks"
Song
B-side"Crests of Waves", "Animals"

"Clocks" is a song by English alternative rock band Coldplay. It was written by all members of the band for their second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head. Built around a repeating piano riff, the song features cryptic lyrics of contrast and urgency themes. Several remixes of the track exist and its riff has been widely sampled. "Clocks" won Record of the Year at the 2004 Grammy Awards, and, to date, is one of Coldplay's greatest career achievements.

"Clocks" debuted to critical and commercial success. Most of the critics' review complimented on the song's piano line. The song was released in the United Kingdom as the third single from A Rush of Blood to the Head, and has reached number nine in the UK Singles Chart. It was released in the United States as the second single, and has reached number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Background and writing

"Clocks" emerged in conception during the late stages into the production of Coldplay's second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head. The band's vocalist, Chris Martin, came in the studio late one night. A riff popped into Martin's mind and he wrote it on piano. According to Martin, "Clocks" was inspired by the English rock band Muse.[1] Martin presented the riff to the band's guitarist, Jonny Buckland, who then added guitar chords on the basic track:[2] "He picked up his guitar [a sure sign that he likes a song] and played these brilliant chords ... It was like a chemical reaction process."[3]

Before the writing of "Clocks", the band had already made 10 songs for the album.[2] They thought it was too late for the song's inclusion in the album since it was near completion.[3] So they recorded a demo version of the track and saved it with other unfinished tracks, labeling it "Songs for #3"; the band projected these tracks for their third album, X&Y.[2]

By June 2002, Coldplay was ready to present the album to Parlophone, their record label. However, Chris felt it was "rubbish"; they were not completely satisfied of the album. So, the band and Parlophone concerted to delay the release.[3] After a headlining tour, Coldplay went onto working "Songs for #3". Phil Harvey, a friend of Martin and the band's manager, heard of it and urged him to rework "Clocks" immediately. With lyrics that speak of urgency, Harvey pointed out that its meaning would contradict Martin's idea of stashing the track.[3][2] Martin was persuaded by Harvey and then further developed "Clocks" while other band members supplemented their ideas based on the main piano track, adding a bass and drum figure. Coldplay recorded the song very quickly,[1] since they were running after the postponed schedule of A Rush of Blood to the Head, which was released two months late.[3]

Music and lyrics

Template:Sound sample box align left Template:Sample box end "Clocks" is a piano rock song. Its foundation is built around a repeating piano riff, and features a minimalist soundscape of drums and bass. Martin applied an ostinato and a descending scale on the piano chord progression, which switches from major to minor chords.[4][5] The music of "Clocks" are also provided by synthesizers and a sparse string arrangement.[6][3]

The song's lyrical themes include contrast, contradictions and urgency.[3] Chris Martin sings of being in the state of "helplessness ... in a dysfunctional relationship he doesn't necessarily want to escape".[2] The lyrics are cryptic; the ending lines of the second verse emphasize contradicting emotion: "Come out upon my seas/Cursed missed opportunities/Am I a part of the cure/Or am I part of the disease?".[2] The song's title also "metaphorically alludes" to its lyrics, "pushing one to wonder about the world’s obsession with time while connecting it to the theory: make the best of it when we’re here, present and alive".[6]

Release

Coldplay released "Clocks" in Europe on March 24, 2003 as the album's third single. The single was pressed with two B-sides: "Animals", which was one of the band's favorite song performed on tour but was not included in the album, and "Crest of Waves". The single's cover, created by Sølve Sundsbø as with the album's and its other singles, is a portrayal of Martin.[7] Across the US, while preparing "The Scientist" as the album's second release, Coldplay's US label felt the song failed to "provide enough of a blood rush for American listeners"; instead, they released "Clocks" as the second single in the US.[8]

A music video was filmed in support of the song. It was directed by British film maker Dominic Leung, and shot at Docklands' ExCeL Building in London.[7] It features the band performing the song, with a laser show, in front of a staged audience, mostly local college students. Stage effects and blue-red light transitions give the video a surreal feel, not to mention the stoic crowd that make up the audience.

Reception

Throughout 2003, "Clocks" was featured in various commercials, movies and television programs: from WWE promos featuring the return of American professional wrestler Kurt Angle, to the 2002 Irish drama film In America, and an episode of the American medical drama television series ER. The song was played in its entirety during the ending credits for the 2003 film Confidence, and was also featured in the American television drama series The Sopranos and Third Watch.[9] In late 2003, the song was used in an advertisement for the movie Peter Pan.

Critics were positive towards the song. Rob Sheffield, in his review of the album for Rolling Stone magazine, said: that "[guitarist] Buckland shines in excellent psychedelic rockers such as ... 'Clocks'".[10] David Cheal of The Daily Telegraph said that "Clocks" features a "hypnotic piano riff, a pounding, almost frantic rhythm, and a contagious tune, all building to a gorgeously serene climax with Martin's floaty voice singing".[11] "Clocks" won the coveted Record of the Year at the 2004 Grammy Awards.[12] It was nominated for Best Single at the 2003 Q Awards.[13]

The single was successful on the radio throughout in 2003,[6] and has peaked at several singles chart. In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at number nine.[14] In the United States, it debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number eight; it made Coldplay the second British act in the Billboard Hot 100 history to debut a single inside the top 10, the first being The Beatles.[15] "Clocks" has peaked there at number 29.[16] It also reached number seven in Canada.

"Clocks" has been regarded as one of the finest achievements of Coldplay;[17] the song's piano progression remained the band's signature creation.[18] According to The New York Times, the opening piano arpeggios of "Clocks" has been widely sampled.[5] Also, much of the songs in X&Y feature influences from "Clocks". Brian Cohen of Billboard magazine noted that "Clocks" served as a "launching pad" to songs featured in X&Y, "several of which echo that track either in structure or feel".[19] "Speed of Sound", the first single from Coldplay's third album, X&Y, bears some similarities with "Clocks",[18][20] being that the two songs have the same descending chord progression. According to The New York Times, American singer Jordin Sparks' 2008 single "No Air" "breathes life into the overfamiliar piano line" from "Clocks".[21] The song "Should I Go" by American singer Brandy, off her album Afrodisiac, samples the piano riff of "Clocks",[22] as does Mexican singer Alejandro Fernandez's 2007 single "Te Voy A Perder".

Reworked version and remixes

"Clocks" was remixed several times. Norwegian duo Röyksopp made a remixed version of the song, pressed on the 1000 limited edition 12" vinyl records; 100 of which was made available through the band's official website. The release features a remixed version of "God Put A Smile Upon Your Face'" by Def Inc featuring Mr Thing.[23] The version placed at number five in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2003 (the original version of the song placed at number 69 the previous year).[24][25] In addition, there have been several other dance remixes of "Clocks", including those by Clokx and Deep Dish plus a mashup from Gabriel and Dresden's 2003 Essential Mix which appeared on various P2P networks. A remixed version of the song is included on the soundtrack of the video game Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party for the Wii console. The Chinese woman group Twelve Girls Band also covered the song, released on their album Eastern Energy.[26]

Track listings

References

  1. ^ a b "Chris talks us through Rush A Rush of Blood to the Head" (PDF). Coldplay.com. November 2002. Retrieved 2006-12-19.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Wiederhorn, Jon (2004-02-02). "Road To The Grammys: The Making Of Coldplay's 'Clocks'". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Webb, Robert (2008-07-25). "Story of the Song: 'Clocks', Coldplay (2002)". Independent.co.uk. Retrieved 2006-03-08.
  4. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (2002-08-14). "POP REVIEW; Vertigo From the Falsetto and 'Parachutes'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  5. ^ a b Pareles, Jon (2005-06-05). "The Case Against Coldplay". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  6. ^ a b c Wilson, MacKenzie. "Clocks: Song Review". Allmusic. Macrovision Company. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  7. ^ a b "Countdown for Clocks" (PDF). Coldplay.com. Retrieved 2006-03-08.
  8. ^ Wiederhorn, Jon (2002-10-15). "Coldplay Singer Questions Whether He's The Devil". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  9. ^ Pepper, Tracey (2003-12-03). "Band of the Year: Coldplay". Spin. Retrieved 2006-03-08.
  10. ^ Sheffield, Rob (2002-08-26). "Coldplay: A Rush Of Blood To The Head". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  11. ^ Cheal, David (2006-12-10). "Perfect Playlist: Coldplay". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  12. ^ Leopold, Todd (2004-02-09). "Beyonce tops with five Grammys". Cable News Network. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
  13. ^ Brandle, Lars (2003-09-25). "Coldplay Nabs Four Q Award Nominations". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2006-03-08.
  14. ^ "Coldplay make US singles history". British Broadcasting Corporation. 2005-05-05. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  15. ^ "Chart Beat Bonus". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2005-04-28. Retrieved 2006-03-08.
  16. ^ Whitmire, Margo (2005-04-28). "Stefani Single Ousts 50 Cent From No. 1". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  17. ^ "Hot Product: 'Rush' Hour". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2002-08-26. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  18. ^ a b Gaston, Peter (2005-05-20). "Coldplay Stock Rises in NYC". Spin. Retrieved 2006-03-08.
  19. ^ Cohen, Brian (2005-03-14). "Coldplay Unveils New Tunes In Los Angeles". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2006-03-08.
  20. ^ "Coldplay: "Speed of Sound" Track Review". Pitchfork Media. 2005-04-28. Retrieved 2006-12-19.
  21. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (2007-11-26). "New CDs: Jordin Sparks". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  22. ^ "Hot Product: Cognac And Brandy". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2004-06-27. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  23. ^ "Coldplay Put The Clocks Back". XFM. 2003-07-08. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
  24. ^ "Triple J Hottest 100 2003". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  25. ^ "Triple J Hottest 100 2002". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  26. ^ Caufield, Keith (2004-09-01). "Ask Billboard: Girls Club". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
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