Clocks (song)

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"Clocks"
"Clocks" cover
Single by Coldplay
from the album
A Rush of Blood to the Head
Released March 24, 2003
Format CD Single
DVD
7" vinyl
12" vinyl
Recorded  ?
Genre Alternative
Piano rock
Length 5:07
Label Parlophone R6594
Producer(s) Ken Nelson
Coldplay
Chart positions
Coldplay singles chronology
"The Scientist"
(2002)		 "Clocks"
(2003)		 "God Put A Smile Upon Your Face"
(2003)
A Rush of Blood to the Head track listing
"The Scientist"
(4)		 "Clocks"
(5)		 "Daylight"
(6)


"Clocks" was the third single from English rock band Coldplay's second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head. Regional singles were released for UK, Europe, Australia (a mini-EP), Japan (enhanced), Netherlands (3-disc EP), France, and the United States. Promos were released for British and American markets. In addition a special 12" vinyl Limited Edition was available with 1,000 copies in the UK. This release contained special remixes by Röyksopp. Instrumentals have also shown up by The Twelve Girls Band and The String Quartet. Popularized by television commercials, it holds the record as being the highest selling song on Apple's iTunes music store. In late 2003, the song was used in advertisement for the movie "Peter Pan". "Speed of Sound", the first single from Coldplay's third album X&Y, bears some similarities with "Clocks".

The single cover, created by Sølve Sundsbø, depicts singer Chris Martin with his hands placed on his head. The drawing perspective is looking down from above.

"Clocks" was arguably the most successful commercial hit from A Rush of Blood to the Head. Throughout 2003, it was featured in various commercials, movies and television programs; from WWE promos featuring the returning Kurt Angle to the film In America to the end of an episode of ER. The song was also used on a trailer on the BBC advertising the "Freeview" service. The advert featured various British celebrities removing their faces by peeling them off like a mask to reveal another celebrity underneath. The song provided a very suitable theme for the service.

In 2004, "Clocks" won the coveted Record of the Year honour at the Grammy Awards, beating the likes of Eminem, OutKast and Beyoncé. pares

Contents

[edit] Musical structure and composition

"Clocks" is in the key of E flat Mixolydian. Built around a memorable piano riff, it features a minimalist soundscape of drums and bass over an aura of synthesizers and strings. Chris Martin's cryptic lyrics are thought to be about death and the transience of life. The song was recorded at Air Studios, London, at the very end of the sessions for "A Rush of Blood to the Head". It was the last song to be recorded and arguably forms the turning-point of the whole album; it was something of a departure from Coldplay's previous style.


[edit] Track listings

[edit] UK

  1. "Clocks"
  2. "Crest of Waves"
  3. "Animals"
  • DVD DVDR6594 released March 24 2003 by Parlophone
  1. "Clocks" (video edit)
  2. "Politik" (live and photo gallery)
  3. "In My Place" (live)
  4. Interview footage

[edit] US

Released June 24, 2003 by Capitol Records 52608

  1. "Clocks" (edit) – 4:13
  2. "Yellow" (live) – 5:37

[edit] Japan

Released July 24, 2003 by Toshiba-EMI TOCP 61078

  1. "Clocks" (edit) – 4:11
  2. "Crest of Waves" – 3:38
  3. "Animals" – 5:33
  4. "Murder" – 5:35
  5. "In My Place" (live) – 3:58
  6. "Yellow" (live) – 5:12
  7. "Clocks" (video) – 4:18
  8. "In My Place" (video) – 3:48

[edit] Music video

The "Clocks" music video was directed by Dominic Leung, who previously worked with artists like Badly Drawn Boy. The video was shot at Docklands' ExCeL Building in London. The video features the band performing the song in front of a staged audience, mostly local college students with a laser show.

[edit] Reworked Version

On the 13th November 2006, the album Rhythms del Mundo by the Buena Vista Social Club will be released, which features a reworked version of Clocks. It follows a samba style, with a slightly changed piano riff.

[edit] Quotes

Chris Martin on "Clocks"

   
“
 That's the newest song on the album. We recorded that very, very fast. That was inspired by Muse.
   
”

[1]

[edit] External links

Coldplay
Chris Martin | Jonny Buckland | Guy Berryman | Will Champion
Ken Nelson
Discography
Studio Albums: Parachutes | A Rush of Blood to the Head | X&Y
Lives and EPS: Safety EP | Brothers & Sisters EP | The Blue Room EP | Trouble Live EP | Live 2003
Singles: "Ode to Deodorant" | "Brothers & Sisters" | "Shiver" | "Yellow" | "Trouble" | "Don't Panic" | "In My Place" | "The Scientist" | "Clocks" | "God Put a Smile upon Your Face" | "Speed of Sound" | "Fix You" | "Talk" | "The Hardest Part | "What If" | "White Shadows"
Tours
A Rush of Blood to the Head Tour | Twisted Logic Tour
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