Higher Power (song)

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This article is about the Coldplay song. For the Boston song, see Greatest Hits (Boston album).

"Higher Power"
Coldplay - Higher Power.png
Single by Coldplay
from the album Music of the Spheres
Released7 May 2021 (2021-05-07)
Recorded2020
Genre
Length3:31
LabelParlophone
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Coldplay singles chronology
"Champion of the World"
(2020) 		"Higher Power"
(2021) 		"Coloratura"
(2021)
Official video
"Higher Power" on YouTube

"Higher Power" is a song by British rock band Coldplay from their upcoming ninth album Music of the Spheres.[2][3] It was released on 7 May 2021 as the lead single, being written by the band's four members, Federico Vindver and Denise Carite. The track's production was handled by Max Martin, having co-production by Oscar Holter and Bill Rahko.[4][5][6]

Background and promotion[]

On 29 April 2021, Coldplay confirmed on their social media that a new single called "Higher Power" would be released on 7 May.[7][8] The song was produced by Max Martin, whom the band called "a true wonder of the universe".[7] During an interview with Mark Savage of BBC News, lead vocalist Chris Martin, who is in no relation to Max, said, "I came up with the title first, but struggled to find the melody and lyrics to go with it. Then one day I was staying in this place and the sink was very resonant. And so I started hitting the sink [to make] this beat... and then I went to the piano keyboard, and the song just landed in one go".[9]

He also explained that "the song is about trying to find the astronaut in all of us, the person that can do amazing things".[10] The singer later told Zoe Ball that the track had intergalactic origins, saying: "We've been trying to imagine what music might sound like on other planets, and try to imagine being those other acts, so we're not thinking of ourselves as being the band Coldplay from England", he explained.[11] On 15 June 2021, Coldplay released an acoustic version of the song.[12] On 20 July 2021, the band officially announced their ninth studio album Music of the Spheres, revealing that "Higher Power" will be the second song on the album's tracklist. The announcement also stated that the album's next single, entitled "Coloratura", would be released on 23 July.[13]

Music video[]

An audio visualizer for "Higher Power", which was directed by Paul Dugdale, premiered on Coldplay's YouTube channel at 12:01 a.m. BST on 7 May 2021, coinciding with the single's release.[14][15] It features the band performing on an empty lot as alien holograms dance to the tune.[16] Branded as a form of "extraterrestrial transmission", the band previewed the video to French European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet aboard the International Space Station prior to its public release.[17][18] On 19 May, an official lyric video directed by Pilar Zeta and Victor Scorrano was released.[19] Two weeks later, Coldplay confirmed on their social media that the official version, which was directed by Dave Meyers, would be released on 8 June 2021.[20] The official video was revealed to be the first as part of a three-part "melodic orbit", entitled Music of the Spheres, which was, at the time of release, rumoured to be the title of their ninth album. The phrase also refers to the intro track used in the official video, as well as during the Live at Worthy Farm livestream and their performance at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend.[21] The video was choreographed by Seoul-based Kim Boram, and features members of his dance troupe, Ambiguous Dance Company.[22][23]

Live performances[]

On 2 May, the first live performance of "Higher Power" was announced to be held at American Idol's 9 May episode. The Official Charts Company informed on 3 May that the band would perform the track to open the 41st Brit Awards, which was recorded on a barge on the River Thames by The O2 Arena.[24][25] Coldplay included the song, along with a track titled "Human Heart", on their set for Glastonbury Festival's special livestream event on 22 May, which was filmed at Worthy Farm.[26] On 28 May, BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend released the band's performance of "Higher Power" recorded at Whitby Abbey in North Yorkshire, England.[27] On 16 June, Coldplay performed the acoustic rendition live for the first time on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in New York City.[28]On 11 July, the band performed on ASAP Natin To's "Kapamilya Forever Day"[29]

Critical reception[]

Ella Kemp from NME rated the song 4/5 stars and noted that “The track takes everything Chris Martin and co. have learned from a lifetime of dreaming and finally launches their talent into outer space – literally. 'Higher Power' is best appreciated through the sheer force of the melody, giving you the rush of hurtling into the atmosphere [...]. For a band so often shackled by their emotional transparency, [the song] is an exciting leap forward”.[10] Halle Kiefer from Vulture noted similarities with Steve Winwood's "Higher Love", while also complimenting the song by saying that "[in] comparison, 'Higher Power' wins out by a few hundred kilometers".[17]

Credits and personnel[]

Credits and personnel adapted from Parlophone UK presented to YouTube.[30]

Recording and management

Personnel

  • Chris Martin – lead vocals, songwriting, keyboards, percussion
  • Jonny Buckland – songwriting, guitar
  • Guy Berryman – songwriting, bass guitar
  • Will Champion – songwriting, drums, backing vocals
  • Max Martin – songwriting, production, keyboards, programming, backing vocals
  • Denise Carite – songwriting, choir vocalist
  • Federico Vindver – songwriting, keyboards
  • Oscar Holter – production, keyboards, programming
  • Bill Rahko – production, additional vocals
  • Rik Simpson – additional production
  • Daniel Green – additional production
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing engineer
  • Randy Merrill – mastering engineer
  • Apple Martin – additional vocals
  • John Hanes – engineering
  • Michael Ilbert – engineering
  • Connor Panayi – assistant engineering
  • Dunan Fuller – assistant engineering
  • Karl-Ola Kjellholm – assistant engineering
  • Linn Fijal – assistant engineering
  • Tate McDowell – assistant engineering
  • Love Choir – choir arrangement
  • Stevie Mackey – choir vocalist
  • Dorian Holley – choir vocalist
  • Neka Hamilton – choir vocalist

Charts[]

Chart performance for "Higher Power"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Argentina (Argentina Hot 100)[31] 53
Australia (ARIA)[32] 44
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[33] 51
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[34] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[35] 6
Brazil (Top 100 Brasil)[36] 69
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[37] 31
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[38] 40
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[39] 35
Canada Rock (Billboard)[40] 30
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[41] 1
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[42] 58
France (SNEP)[43] 98
Germany (Official German Charts)[44] 35
Global 200 (Billboard)[45] 24
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[46] 3
Hungary (Single Top 40)[47] 4
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[48] 17
Ireland (IRMA)[49] 20
Israel (Media Forest)[50] 2
Italy (FIMI)[51] 52
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[52] 61
Latvia (LaIPA)[53] 3
Lithuania (AGATA)[54] 37
Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[55] 29
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[56] 11
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[57] 44
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[58] 7
Norway (VG-lista)[59] 25
Panama Anglo (Monitor Latino)[60] 4
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[61] 19
Portugal (AFP)[62] 49
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[63] 3
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[64] 43
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[65] 28
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[66] 18
UK Singles (OCC)[67] 12
US Billboard Hot 100[68] 53
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[69] 20
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[70] 16
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[71] 7
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[72] 34
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[73] 4

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[74] Silver 200,000double-dagger

double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References[]

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  7. ^ Jump up to: a b @coldplay (29 April 2021). "Higher Power is a song that arrived on a little keyboard and a bathroom sink at the start of 2020. It was produced by Max Martin who is a true wonder of the universe. It's out on Friday 7 May. Love c, g, w & j" (Tweet). Retrieved 29 April 2021 – via Twitter.
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