In Honor of Ghost Stories: Coldplay's Top 10 Songs

There aren't many bands out there bigger than Coldplay. The four piece rock group from London has sold over 70 million albums worldwide, has 7 Grammy's with 25 nominations to show, is responsible for the best selling album worldwide in 2005 and has headlined almost every festival you can name. Today, they released their sixth studio album, entitled - Ghost Stories.

I was late to jump on the Coldplay bandwagon. After being familiar with their early singles, it wasn't until the Top 40 success of Viva La Vida did I purchase my first Coldplay album. Since then, I'm very lucky to say I've gotten the pleasure to see this band three times live. Let me tell you, there aren't many front-men better than Chris Martin. The guy has incredible amounts of energy and makes their live performance very special to watch.

Ghost Stories is expected to take a step back from the direction Coldplay has been going with it's more recent albums. While Viva La Vida and Mylo Xyloto saw the boys tend more towards the pop genre, the early singles of Ghost Stories indicates this will be a more mellow and somber record. It's no secret that Martin recently split with actress and wife of ten years, Gwyneth Paltrow. This could lead to a classic break-up album, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Time will tell though. Regardless of Ghost Stories reviews, Coldplay is still one of the largest bands in the world. For this article, I'll take a look at the songs that got them to where they are today.

It's very tough to limit this, but here are my Top 10 Coldplay Greatest Hits:


10. Shiver

Coldplay's very first hit. This was included on the bands debut, Parachutes, after being well received as a single. It has a great rhythm and impressive falsettos by Martin, proving the group was ready to take on the roll of an arena rock band.


9. Lovers in Japan

Putting on "Lovers in Japan" after listening to Parachutes, is like night and day for big fans. The guys combine so much sound into this song - led by a bouncy piano. It creates a romantic anthem that is a true highlight on the Grammy Award winning album - Viva La Vida.


8. God Put A Smile Upon Your Face

Off sophomore album, A Rush of Blood to the Head, Coldplay found a darker and more experimental sound with this single. This is one of Coldplay's best songs performed live. The build up led by Wil Champion on drums leading into Jonny Buckland's guitar riff gets everyone jamming.


7. Green Eyes

A perfect example of a simple, romantic Coldplay song. Usually played during the acoustic session at a Coldplay show, this has become a true fan favorite. There is speculation as to if this tune is about a girl, a friend, or even a cat, but regardless, it's a classic.


6. Clocks

One of the main things that separates Coldplay from other arena rock bands is the piano talent of Chris Martin. You don't often see the front man sitting at a piano, but Chris uses this to his advantage with "Clocks." The lone piano intro is a classic opening that everyone can recognize. It leads to an explosion from the backing band and one of Coldplay's most popular songs.


5. Fix You

Combining two songs in one, this crowd favorite begins at a questionably slow tempo. It sure builds up though, leading to one of of Jonny Buckland's best guitar solos and a mass of sound with all four band members singing together.





4. Viva La Vida

This is the one that really pushed Coldplay to an arena rock band in the US. The soaring melody, underrated string arrangement, and versatile drummer Wil Champion playing the timpani and bells sprouted the bands biggest hit. You feel like a king listening to it, despite the lyrics of "sweeping the streets alone." I'll never forget Martin singing this as he ran through the crowd, traveling from the lawn seats to collapse back on stage as he sang the final chorus. It was epic.




3. In My Place

One of the best openings to a song - you have the crashing cymbals of Wil Champion's drum kit, right into Jonny Buckland's memorable guitar riff. This ballad, usually played early in a Coldplay live set, gets everyone up, raising their hands high for the chorus.





2. The Scientist

A true fan favorite - this is always the biggest sing-a-long when performed live. The simple piano intro flows so flawlessly into this tear-jerking love song. "It's such a shame for us to part / let's take it back to the start" is a classic Coldplay lyric. This song also boasts the coolest Coldplay music video. Check it out:





1. Yellow

This was an easy decision for me. So catchy, so heart melting, but also so simple. "Yellow" is one of the great ballads of the 2000's that never gets old. Whether its played acoustically with only a guitar, on the piano or with a full backing band, it's always the best.






Honorable Mention: "A Rush of Blood to the Head," "The Hardest Part," "Swallowed in the Sea," "Til Kingdom Come," "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall, and "Us Against the World."