| "Clocks" | |||||||||
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| Single by Coldplay | |||||||||
| from the album A Rush of Blood to the Head | |||||||||
| B-side | "Crests of Waves" "Animals" |
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| Released | 10 December 2002 (US) 24 March 2003 (UK) |
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| Format | 7", 12", CD, DVD | ||||||||
| Genre | Alternative rock | ||||||||
| Length | 5:07 (Album Version) 4:10 (Radio Edit) |
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| Label | Parlophone | ||||||||
| Writer(s) | Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, Chris Martin | ||||||||
| Producer | Ken Nelson, Coldplay | ||||||||
| Certification | Gold (RIAA) | ||||||||
| Coldplay singles chronology | |||||||||
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"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 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 most successful songs.
"Clocks" debuted to critical and commercial success, with critics mainly commenting on the song's piano melody. It was released in the United Kingdom as the third single off A Rush of Blood to the Head, where reached number nine in the UK Singles Chart. It was released in the United States as the album's second single and reached number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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"Clocks" was composed during the late stages into the production of Coldplay's second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head. A riff popped into Chris Martin's mind, one late night when he came in to the studio, where he then developed 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 a layer of guitar chords to 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 writing "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 nearing completion.[3] So they recorded a demo and saved it with other unfinished tracks, labeling it "Songs for #3"; the band projected these tracks for what would be their third album.[2]
By June 2002, Coldplay were ready to present the album to their record label Parlophone. However, Martin felt it was "rubbish"; they were not completely satisfied with the album. So, the band and Parlophone concerted to delay the release.[3] After a headlining tour, Coldplay went on working "Songs for #3". Phil Harvey, a friend of Martin and the band's manager, heard it and egged on 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.[2][3] Martin was persuaded by Harvey and then further developed "Clocks" while other band members supplemented their ideas based on the main piano track, adding bass and drums. 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 later.[3]
"Clocks" is built around a repeating piano melody, and features a minimalist soundscape of drums and bass guitar. 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" is also provided using synthesizers and a sparse string arrangement.[3][6]
The song's themes include contrast, contradictions and urgency.[3] According to Jon Wiederhon of MTV News, "Martin seems to address the helplessness of being 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]
Coldplay released "Clocks" in Europe on 24 March 2003 as the album's third single. The single was issued with two B-sides: "Animals", which was one of the band's favourite songs performed on tour but was not included in the album, and "Crests 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 United States, 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, while a stoic crowd make up the audience.
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 a trailer for the movie Peter Pan. This song was also used in the 2006 Disney film, The Wild.
The song was also critically acclaimed. 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 Record of the Year at the 2004 Grammy Awards.[12] It was nominated for Best Single at the 2003 Q Awards.[13] "Clocks" was ranked at number 68 on Pitchfork's Top 100 Singles of 2000-04.[14] It was ranked at number 155 on Pitchfork Media's 500 Greatest Songs of the 2000s list.[15] In October 2011, NME placed it at number 148 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[16]
The single was successful in radio throughout 2003,[6] and has appeared on several singles chart worldwide. In the United Kingdom, the song has peaked at number nine.[17] In the United States, "Clocks" has peaked there at number 29.[18] It has also reached number seven in Canada, and number 28 in Australia.
"Clocks" has been regarded as one of the finest achievements of Coldplay;[19] the song's piano progression remained the band's signature creation.[20] According to The New York Times, the opening piano arpeggios of "Clocks" has been widely sampled.[5] Also, many 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".[21] "Speed of Sound", the first single from Coldplay's third album, X&Y, bears some similarities with "Clocks",[20][22] 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".[23] The song "Should I Go" by American singer Brandy, off her album Afrodisiac, samples the piano riff of "Clocks",[24] as does Mexican singer Alejandro Fernández's 2007 single "Te Voy A Perder". In 2009, French DJ David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland released the song "When Love Takes Over" that also features the piano introduction similar of "Clocks". A sampled riff similar to "Clocks" was also used for the 2009 song "Shining Down" by Chicagoan hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco and featuring Matthew Santos. A similar riff can also be heard in the DJ Cahill Remix of the Agnes song I Need You Now. Rolling Stone ranked it #490 of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2010.[25]
A number of versions and remixes of "Clocks" exist. Norwegian duo Röyksopp made a remixed version of the song, pressed on the 1000 limited edition 12" vinyl records; 100 of which were made available through the band's official website. The issue features a remixed version of "God Put a Smile upon Your Face" by Def Inc featuring Mr Thing.[26] 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).[27][28]
In addition, there have been several other dance remixes of "Clocks", including those by Clokx (Ron van den Beuken) and Deep Dish plus a mashup from Gabriel and Dresden's 2003 Essential Mix which appeared on various P2P networks. In 2004, Contemporary R&B-singer Brandy, together with producer Timbaland, created a song called "Should I Go" which uses "Clocks" as a sample. The song is featured as the last track on her fourth studio album Afrodisiac. A remixed cover of the song is included on the soundtrack of the video game Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party for the Wii console. The female, Chinese group Twelve Girls Band also covered the song, released on their album Eastern Energy.[29]. On August 02 2011, remix/electronic artist Amonn released a remixed version of Clocks on iTunes.
German band Gregorian remade the song.
Another popular rework of the song exists on the Rhythms del Mundo album which was a non-profit album that included many other prominent UK, US and Irish artists. In 2003, the song was featured on Coldplay's live album Live 2003.[30] Another live version appeared on the 2009 live album LeftRightLeftRightLeft.[31]
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7" CD (released 24 March 2003)
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DVD (released 24 March 2003)
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Japan Enhanced EP
| Chart (2003) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Australia ARIA Singles Chart | 28 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 7 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 2 |
| France Singles Chart | 65 |
| Italy Singles Chart | 25 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 15 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 13 |
| UK Singles Chart | 9 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 29 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop Songs | 21 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play1 | 31 |
| U.S. Billboard Alternative Songs | 9 |
1 Remix version
| Book: A Rush of Blood to the Head | |
| Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print. | |
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