Paradise (Coldplay song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Paradise"
Coldplay - Paradise.JPG
Single by Coldplay
from the album Mylo Xyloto
Released12 September 2011 (2011-09-12)
Recorded2010 (2010)–11 (11)
Genre
Length
  • 4:39 (album version)
  • 4:20 (radio edit and video)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Coldplay singles chronology
"Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"
(2011) 		"Paradise"
(2011) 		"Charlie Brown"
(2012)
Music video
"Paradise" on YouTube

"Paradise" is a song by the British rock band Coldplay, released on 12 September 2011 as the second single from their fifth album, Mylo Xyloto.[3] The song received its radio debut at 7:50 a.m. on The Chris Moyles Show (BBC Radio 1) on 12 September 2011.[4][5] According to Coldplay's official website, the single was not initially chart eligible in the United Kingdom, because it was available on iTunes as an "instant grat" (immediate download) when pre-ordering the album.[6] Following the release of the album on 30 October 2011, the song became chart eligible in the UK and entered the UK Singles Chart at number 14, before taking the number 1 spot on its tenth week, becoming the band's second number-one single after "Viva la Vida" in 2008. The song was met with positive reviews, and was the best selling rock song of 2011 in the United Kingdom, selling 410,000 copies.[7]

On 30 November, the song was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the category Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. On 12 February 2012, Coldplay performed "Paradise" live at the RE, along with "Princess of China".[8] At the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards on 6 September, the song won the award for Best Rock Video.[9] Following the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs on CBC, the song was featured in a yearly finale montage on CBC recapping the Stanley Cup Playoffs as well as British and American television advertisements and trailers for the film Life of Pi, which was nominated for eleven Academy Awards.

Background[]

In 2010, the producers of ITV reality show The X Factor originally approached singer Chris Martin to write a winner's song for the seventh series of the show in 2010. "Paradise" was originally conceived by Martin as a response to the show's request, but drummer Will Champion insisted that the song be included on Mylo Xyloto.[10]

Personnel[]

Critical reception[]

The song was met with positive reviews from the majority of music critics. Billboard gave a positive review calling the track "another slice of hug-warm ecstasy" and gave praise to the "boiling strings, rattling synthesizers, and bass-heavy-beats" saying "it shows they know how to bring a few new tricks to the table". Both Q and Rolling Stone offered similar praise, and also noted that it was another step in the right direction. Altsounds.com gave a similar review remarking that there are "Drums that you would expect in a Rihanna song and melodies you would expect from a band like Friendly Fires and the "oohs" from 3OH!3 is what you first hear. That is, of course, until Chris Martin's vocals come into play and there is no doubt in your mind that this is Coldplay. A wonderful chorus of "para-para-paradise" reminds you just how good they really are. It will remain with you for weeks to come, like that new piece of clothing you just can't get enough of".

About.com said, in a three-and-a-half star review, that "even when Coldplay sound a bit like they are spinning their wheels musically, it can still have quite beautiful moments." The review called the opening fanfare "simply gorgeous" but felt the rest of the song did not hold up as well as it could have. NME gave a more mixed reaction to the song and felt that "It's hard to say what the band is aiming for with the song. To replicate the epic football stadium 'moment' of 'Yellow'? The energy of a 'Viva La Vida'? If so it doesn't quite work on either count" but continued "if you're going to have a mid-paced Coldplay-by-numbers single-single, you may as well have one as grand and gorgeous as 'Paradise'."

Chart performance[]

"Paradise" became a top five hit in 16 countries. In the United States it peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. Following the release on 12 September 2011, "Paradise" was revealed chart ineligible in the United Kingdom, having been offered as an "instant grat" (immediate download) for anyone who pre-ordered the album, Mylo Xyloto. The release of the album on 24 October 2011 saw "Paradise" debut at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart with sales of 27,277 copies (the track had a total of 118,547 downloads in the six weeks of chart ineligibility). After being made purchasable at 59p (instead of 99p) on the UK's iTunes Store and being played on the X Factor final, "Paradise" regained momentum in the UK and climbed up to number two on 18 December 2011. On 1 January 2012, almost four months after its release, "Paradise" peaked at number one becoming the first number-one single of 2012 in the UK and becoming Coldplay's second UK number-one single after "Viva la Vida" in 2008. "Paradise" was the biggest-selling rock single of 2011 in the UK, with sales of 410,000 copies.[11] It has sold 1,200,000 copies in the UK as of April 2017.[12]

Live performances[]

"Paradise" was first ever played live before an audience on the night of 9 September 2011: it was shot before the studio audience of the Parisian music TV show Taratata on French television France 2. The crowd's response of this first performance was described as "unmistakable" by one of the band's roadies.[13] The show was only broadcast later, in October 2011. The song was first played for a big audience at the Austin City Limits Taping event on 15 September 2011 and then on the following day at the Austin City Limits Festival when it was for the first time officially broadcast live.

Coldplay performed the song on the finale of The X Factor, as well as an episode of Saturday Night Live in which the band was the musical guest. On 28 October, the band performed the song before a studio audience on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

"Paradise" became the anthem for the 2012 Summer Paralympics and was played twice during the closing ceremony, the latter performance featuring rapper Jay Z.

Music videos[]

Screenshot from the official video, showing Chris Martin on a unicycle in an elephant costume.

Coldplay initially announced that the single's music video would be directed by Hype Williams,[14] but that version was scrapped after shooting and the band decided instead to record a new version directed by long-time collaborator Mat Whitecross. The band called Whitecross just a day before the shooting and the video's concept was finished just hours before the director travelled from London to South Africa. Chris Martin created the video's concept storyline, which was ultimately filmed in the style of a nature documentary. Due to a combination of time constraints in shooting the video and Martin's conceptualization, the elephant suits were intendedly "lo-fi and spontaneous", and the unicycle had to be found in a hurry.[15] The video was released on YouTube on 18 October 2011.

In the video, Chris Martin, dressed as an elephant, escapes from the zoo. He finds an abandoned sharing system bicycle, rides it to Belsize Park London Underground station, and takes the train to Heathrow Airport in an attempt to hitch-hike his way to another country, doing so finally by stowing away inside a suitcase. An aerial shot reveals that his initial destination was Cape Town, South Africa. He is then seen wandering around Johannesburg at one point, walking past Nelson Mandela Bridge and a set of railway tracks in Braamfontein. He then earns enough money, which appears to be ZAR 67.05 (roughly equivalent to GBP 5.34 or US$8.40), by busking on the street, which shows portions of the song's lyrics in sync, to buy a bike; the shopkeeper suggests a unicycle instead. After a seemingly hopeless wander on his new unicycle (in which Martin takes off his elephant head for a second), he comes across three other elephants, who are the rest of Coldplay, playing the song in the veld. Will Champion is dressed as Snorky from the fictional band The Banana Splits, identifiable by his glasses and polka-dot ears. He starts playing with them, and the band eventually play a sell-out stadium concert together, before returning to the veld where they run towards the camera. The video was shot on location in London, Cape Town, the Klein Karoo in the Western Cape and Johannesburg.[16] The zoo that Martin escapes from is Paradise Wildlife Park in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire. The bike shop shown is Woodstock Cycleworks in Woodstock, Cape Town. The concert segment was filmed during Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto Tour concert at the FNB Stadium on 8 October 2011. After performing this song live, the band donned their elephant heads and gloves and pretended to perform as the last minute of the studio recording played. The concertgoers were encouraged to cheer and sing along as if they were actually performing. As of August 2021, the video has over 1.48 billion views on YouTube.

Another music video was directed by Shynola, who had directed the video for "Strawberry Swing". The video was intended as the first incarnation for the video before the band came up with the elephant concept.[17] The promo pictures the life of a little girl that comes out from jail.

A special video of "Paradise" was created for the 2012 Summer Paralympics and shown between event breaks. This version featured clips of Paralympian Athletes competing in events.

Track listing[]

UK promotional single
No.TitleLength
1."Paradise" (Radio Edit)4:20
2."Paradise" (Instrumental)4:38
Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Paradise"4:38

Remixes[]

Digital download – Fedde le Grand Remix[18]
No.TitleLength
1."Paradise" (Fedde le Grand Remix)7:15
Digital download – Tiësto Remix
No.TitleLength
1."Paradise" (Tiësto Remix)4:45

Cover versions[]

  • On 8 November 2011, an a capella version of the song was released by musician Mike Tompkins on his YouTube channel.[19]
  • An acoustic version of the song was released by singer Tyler Ward on his YouTube channel on 15 December 2011.[20]
  • Crossover band The Piano Guys released an African version of "Paradise" (titled "Peponi" which is Swahili for paradise) featuring singer Alex Boyé on their official YouTube channel on 9 January 2012. It quickly went viral, with over 80 million views as of July 2020.[21]
  • Violinist David Garrett played the song at a concert in Hanover on 18 October 2014.[22]

Charts[]

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[92] 6× Platinum 420,000^
Belgium (BEA)[93] Gold 15,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[94] 3× Platinum 240,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[95] Gold 15,000^
France (SNEP)[96] Gold 150,000*
Germany (BVMI)[97] Gold 150,000^
Italy (FIMI)[98] 3× Platinum 90,000*
Mexico (AMPROFON)[99] Platinum 60,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[100] 2× Platinum 30,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[102] 2× Platinum 1,690,000[101]
United States (RIAA)[103] Platinum 1,000,000*
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[104] Platinum 1,800,000dagger

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
dagger Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history[]

Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom[105] 12 September 2011 Digital download Parlophone
United States[106]
United States[107][108][109][110] 26 September 2011 Adult album alternative radio Capitol
27 September 2011 Modern rock radio
3 October 2011 Hot adult contemporary radio
4 October 2011 Contemporary hit radio

References[]

  1. ^ Hogan, Marc (21 October 2011). "Coldplay's 5 Most Self-Deprecating 'Colbert' Comments". Spin. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  2. ^ "The Citrus Report - Coldplay going R&B with 'Paradise'". 19 January 2015.
  3. ^ Slender Fungus (12 August 2011). "News - New album, Mylo Xyloto, out on October 24". Coldplay. Archived from the original on 11 September 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  4. ^ Slender Fungus (7 September 2011). "News - Paradise gets first play on Monday". Coldplay. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  5. ^ "Radio 1 Programmes - The Chris Moyles Show, Monday - we catch up with David Walliams". BBC. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  6. ^ Slender Fungus (12 September 2011). "News - Paradise is here, pre-order the album". Coldplay. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  7. ^ "Coldplay, Noel Gallagher and Foo Fighters revealed as biggest selling rock acts of 2011". NME. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  8. ^ "Rihanna & Coldplay Perform "We Found Love", "Princess Of China" & "Paradise" Live At 2012 Grammy Awards (Video)". akaHIPHOP.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  9. ^ "Coldplay Basks In 'Paradise' With 2012 VMA Best Rock Win". MTV. Retrieved 7 September 2012
  10. ^ "Chris Martin. Zane Lowe. Part 1". BBC Radio 1. Google, YouTube. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  11. ^ "The Top 20 rock singles and albums of 2011 revealed". Official Charts Company. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  12. ^ Myers, Justin (7 June 2016). "Coldplay's Official Top 20 Best Selling Singles Revealed!". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  13. ^ "Coldplay: News - Roadie #42 - Blog #143". Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  14. ^ Gil Kaufman (21 September 2011). "Coldplay Team With Hype Williams For 'Paradise' Video". MTV. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  15. ^ "Coldplay: News - Interview: Director Mat Whitecross on the Paradise video". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  16. ^ "Coldplay releases SA video". Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  17. ^ Slender Fungus (9 October 2012). "Oracle - Dear Oracle, Today I found this awesome video from the directors of the Strawberry Swing video. They made an alternative music video for Paradise and I LOVED it. So I was wondering, has Coldplay had anything to do with this video?? I have, I think, never seen it anywhere on the website. I loved it so much that I wanted to share it with everyone. Greetings from Holland". Coldplay. Archived from the original on 31 May 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  18. ^ Beatport - Coldplay - Paradise - Fedde le Grand Remix Retrieved 2011-10-30.
  19. ^ Mike Tompkins (8 November 2011), Coldplay - Paradise - A Capella Cover - Mike Tompkins, retrieved 28 June 2017
  20. ^ Tyler Ward Music (15 December 2011), Coldplay - Paradise (Tyler Ward Acoustic Cover) - On iTunes, retrieved 28 June 2017
  21. ^ ThePianoGuys (9 January 2012), Coldplay - Paradise (Peponi) African Style (ft. guest artist, Alex Boye) - ThePianoGuys, retrieved 28 June 2017
  22. ^ Maya15711 (19 October 2014), David Garrett - Paradise - Coldplay - Hannover 18.10.2014, retrieved 28 June 2017
  23. ^ "Coldplay – Paradise". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  24. ^ "Coldplay – Paradise" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  25. ^ "Coldplay – Paradise" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  26. ^ "Coldplay – Paradise" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  27. ^ a b BPP, ed. (June 2012). "Billboard Brasil Hot 100 Airplay". Billboard Brasil (31): 84–89.
  28. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  29. ^ Coldplay — Paradise. Tophit. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  30. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201151 into search.
  31. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201425 into search. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  32. ^ "Coldplay – Paradise". Tracklisten.
  33. ^ "Coldplay: Paradise" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  34. ^ "Coldplay – Paradise" (in French). Les classement single.
  35. ^ "Coldplay – Paradise" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  36. ^ "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on 25 November 2011.
  37. ^ "Digital Singles Charts - Greece". Billboard.
  38. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  39. ^ "Coldplay Chart History". RÚV. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  40. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Paradise". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  41. ^ "Media Forest Week 04, 2012". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
  42. ^ "Coldplay – Paradise". Top Digital Download.
  43. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard.
  44. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  45. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 40, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  46. ^ "Coldplay – Paradise" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  47. ^ "Coldplay – Paradise". Top 40 Singles.
  48. ^ "Coldplay – Paradise". VG-lista.
  49. ^ "Russia Airplay Chart for 2011-11-21." Tophit. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  50. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  51. ^ "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week: January 15, 2012 to January 21, 2012)". Gaon Chart. 15 December 2012. Archived from the original on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  52. ^ "SloTop50: Slovenian official singles weekly chart" (in Slovenian). SloTop50. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  53. ^ "Coldplay – Paradise" Canciones Top 50.
  54. ^ "Coldplay – Paradise". Singles Top 100.
  55. ^ "Coldplay – Paradise". Swiss Singles Chart.
  56. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  57. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  58. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  59. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  60. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  61. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  62. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  63. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  64. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  65. ^ "Adele's "21" crowned ARIA's highest selling album of 2011 LMFAO takes single honours with "Party Rock Anthem"" (PDF). Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  66. ^ "JAAROVERZICHTEN 2011" (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  67. ^ "RAPPORTS ANNUELS 2011" (in French). Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  68. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  69. ^ "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 2011" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  70. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2011". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  71. ^ "JAAROVERZICHTEN - SINGLE 2011" (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  72. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 2011 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  73. ^ "TOP 50 CANCIONES ANUAL 2011" (PDF). PROMUSICAE. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  74. ^ "SCHWEIZER JAHRESHITPARADE 2011". Schweizer Hitparade. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  75. ^ "UK Singles Year-End 2011" (PDF).
  76. ^ "2012 ARIA SINGLES CHART". Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  77. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  78. ^ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2012" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  79. ^ "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 2012" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  80. ^ "most played songs of 2012 - By Medis Forest". mako.co.il. 2 January 2013.
  81. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2012". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  82. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 2012; The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  83. ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 2012" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  84. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2012 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  85. ^ "Top 100 Singles of 2012". BBC Radio 1. BBC Online. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  86. ^ "Best of 2012 - Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  87. ^ "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  88. ^ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  89. ^ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2013" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  90. ^ "UK - End Of Year Charts: 2013" (PDF). Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  91. ^ "2019 ARIA End of Decade Singles Chart". ARIA. January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  92. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  93. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2011". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  94. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Coldplay – Paradise". Music Canada.
  95. ^ "Danish single certifications – Coldplay – Paradise". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  96. ^ "French single certifications – Coldplay – Paradise" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  97. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Coldplay; 'Paradise')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  98. ^ "Italian single certifications – Coldplay – Paradise" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select "2012" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Paradise" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  99. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 11 January 2014. Type Coldplay in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Paradise in the box under TÍTULO
  100. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Coldplay – Paradise". Recorded Music NZ.
  101. ^ Copsey, Rob (5 May 2021). "Coldplay's Official Top 20 biggest songs on the UK's Official Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  102. ^ "British single certifications – Coldplay – Paradise". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  103. ^ "American single certifications – Coldplay – Paradise". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  104. ^ "Danish single certifications – Coldplay – Paradise". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  105. ^ "Paradise (2011)". 7digital (UK). Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  106. ^ "Paradise (2011)". 7digital (US). Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  107. ^ "Triple A – Available For Airplay". FMQB. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  108. ^ "Alternative > Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  109. ^ "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  110. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2014.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""