When Howard Stern asked Chris Martin whether Yellow was about a particular girl, Martin replied, “It’s about all girls.”
— The Howard Stern Show
To not beat around the bush, I would have to be paid a large sum of money to see Coldplay in concert. I never imagined I’d include one of their songs in my music project, but here we are. I know you have that old truism: “If you haven’t got anything good to say about someone, don’t say anything at all.” But hold ya horses! I’m going to say something good about Coldplay. I’m just taking the meandering route.
While we’re knee-deep in truisms, we may as well keep ’em coming. Every cloud has a silver lining. Looking on the bright side (and it couldn’t be more apt given the song title), when I heard their popular song Yellow recently, I decided to pull the trigger and let this baby rip.
I’d heard it sporadically over the years, thanks to radio rotation and its use in television and movies, and had always been kinda fond of it. Often regarded as one of Coldplay’s signature songs, it remains one of their oldest and most enduring hits. So here we are today.
Musically, Yellow is a breezy, dreamy song that captures the warmth and glow of its central metaphor. The narrator is so taken with someone that they seem to illuminate his entire world, much like the sun itself. He’s happy to orbit around their presence, basking in the warmth of their love – and feeling grateful beyond words.
The narrator sees beauty in every part of this person, even their skin and bones, and is willing to go to great lengths to show how much they mean to him. Sometimes a little sunshine is all you need.
Abridged from Wikipedia:
Yellow is the fifth track and second single from Coldplay’s 2000 debut album Parachutes. The title of the song came from the feel of the band during its composition, which was described as filled with “brightness and hope and devotion.”
It reached No. 4 in the UK, No. 5 in Australia and No. 48 in the US.
Background:
On The Howard Stern Show in November 2011, Chris Martin explained that he stumbled upon the song’s opening chord while impersonating Neil Young and singing “look at the stars”. The word “yellow” had no particular meaning; he tried replacing it while writing the lyrics, but it simply sounded right. Martin admitted he had often invented stories about songs to move on from interviews, but told Stern he was revealing the truth because he liked him.
[Verse 1]
Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And everything you do
Yeah, they were all yellow
I came along
I wrote a song for you
And all the things you do
And it was called “Yellow”
So then I took my turn
Oh, what a thing to have done
And it was all yellow
[Chorus]
(Ah) Your skin, oh, yeah, your skin and bones
(Ooh) Turn into something beautiful
(Ah) And you know, you know I love you so
You know I love you so
[Verse 2]
I swam across
I jumped across for you
Oh, what a thing to do
‘Cause you were all yellow
I drew a line
I drew a line for you
Oh, what a thing to do
And it was all yellow
[Chorus]
(Ah) And your skin, oh, yeah, your skin and bones
(Ooh) Turn into something beautiful
(Ah) And you know, for you, I’d bleed myself dry
For you, I’d bleed myself dry
[Bridge]
It’s true
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine for
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine
[Outro]
Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And all the things that you do
References:
1. Yellow (Coldplay song) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
There are artists whose music you enjoy but are not sure you could last an entire concert. For me, Coldplay fall into this category along with Adele and Ed Sheeran……….and many others.
It was probably harsh of me to open with that concert remark. I get what you mean Sheree. I haven’t heard an Ed Sheeran song I like except for his duet with Christina Perri – ‘Be Mine Forever’ which was her song anyway.
Adele’s got a few I really like inc. her version of Dylan’s ‘Make You Feel My Love’ & ‘Someone Like You’.
I hope you are all safe over there in France.
We’re absolutely fine, thank you. I realise the foreign press like to exaggerate the issues to deflect those in their own country.
Ok. I didn’t realise it was exaggerated after seeing Shapiro, Unherd reports amongst others on it and the burning of sacred landmarks and the looting of course.
The Town Hall in Limoges was burned down along with the Tourist Office in Lyon. In a number of other towns, statues were defaced. But there are three groups operating here: 1) Peaceful protestors comprising school children, teachers and parents; 2) the mob destroying property and fighting the authorities; 3) the looters, largely adolescents, who took advantage of the police being occupied with group 2). Sadly, all this plays into the hands of the ultra-right.
Yes, that breakdown of the three groups was my understanding too after watching those videos.
In one of them, I heard that the moderate centrist leader probably has a slight lead in the opinion polls.
Above all, I hope some semblance of peace and civil normality returns to France and remains there.
Thanks, I do too.
Really good, great song
Yeh, it’s pretty good. Cheers Tom.
Hope everything is great Matt!
Thanks Man, you too!