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Clocks (song)

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Not to be confused with Clock (song).
"Clocks"
Single by Coldplay
from the album A Rush of Blood to the Head
B-side
  • "Crests of Waves"
  • "Animals"
Released 11 December 2002
Format
Recorded May 2002
Genre Alternative rock
Length
  • 5:07 (album version)
  • 4:10 (radio edit)
Label Parlophone
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Certification Gold (RIAA)
Coldplay singles chronology
"The Scientist"
(2002)		 "Clocks"
(2002)		 "God Put a Smile upon Your Face"
(2003)
Music video
"Clocks" on YouTube

"Clocks" is a song by British 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" 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 from A Rush of Blood to the Head, where it reached number nine in the UK Singles Chart. It was released in the United States as the album's second single, it reached number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 9 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. It won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Due to its success in the US, the radio cut version of the song serves as the final track of the 2003 compilation album Now That's What I Call Music! 13

Background and writing

"Clocks" was composed during the late stages of production of Coldplay's second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head. A riff popped into Chris Martin's mind late one night in Liverpool 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] (The syncopated piano arpeggio that gives the song its signature sound also bears a similarity to a syncopated arpeggio that is repeated several times in Alex De Grassi's 1981 instrumental "Clockwork."[4])

Before writing "Clocks", the band had already written 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 delayed 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 him on 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]

Composition

"Clocks" has a repeating piano melody, and features a minimalist soundscape of drums and bass guitar. Martin applied an ostinato, with emphasis that imitates a three against two polyrhythm, as well as a descending scale on the piano chord progression, which switches from major to minor chords.[5][6] The music of "Clocks" is also provided using synthesizers and a sparse string arrangement.[3][7]

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".[7]

The song is in the key of E flat Mixolydian, with a main chord progression of E♭ - B♭m - Fm.

Personnel

Release and music video

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 Chris Martin.[8] 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.[9]

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.[8] 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.

Reception

Coldplay performing "Clocks" on the Twisted Logic Tour

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] Scott Floman, music critic for Goldmine magazine, described the song as "a stunningly pretty piano rocker, absolutely perfect and is simply one of the finest songs of the decade".[12]

"Clocks" won the Record of the Year at the 2004 Grammy Awards.[13] It was nominated for Best Single at the 2003 Q Awards.[14] "Clocks" was ranked at number 68 on Pitchfork's Top 100 Singles of 2000-04.[15] It was ranked at number 155 on Pitchfork Media's 500 Greatest Songs of the 2000s list.[16] In October 2011, NME placed it at number 148 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[17] In February 2013 the song was voted by listeners of BBC Radio 6 Music as the greatest song released during the 10 years the station had been broadcasting.

The single was successful in radio throughout 2003[7] and appeared on several singles charts worldwide. In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at number nine[18] and in the United States rose to number 29.[19] It also reached number seven in Canada and number 28 in Australia.

"Clocks" has been regarded as one of the finest achievements of Coldplay;[20] the song's piano progression remains the band's signature creation.[21] According to The New York Times, the opening piano arpeggios of "Clocks" have been widely sampled.[6] 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" for songs featured in X&Y, "several of which echo that track either in structure or feel".[22] "Speed of Sound", the first single from Coldplay's third album, X&Y, is similar to "Clocks",[21][23] in 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".[24] The song "Should I Go" by American singer Brandy, off her album Afrodisiac, samples the piano riff of "Clocks",[25] 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 has a piano introduction like "Clocks". A riff similar to "Clocks" was also used for the 2009 song "Shining Down" by Chicagoan hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco and featuring Matthew Santos. An analogous 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.[26]

Usage in media

Throughout 2003, "Clocks" was featured in various commercials, movies and television programs: from the BBC using a sample to advertise Freeview TV, WWE promos featuring the return of American professional wrestler Kurt Angle, HBO, 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 on the TV shows The Sopranos, Third Watch,[27] Hindsight and Family Guy. 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, and the 2014 Blue Skies film, Rio 2.

Reworked version and remixes

A number of versions and remixes of "Clocks" exist.

Track listings

7", 12", CD
No. Title Length
1. "Clocks"   5:09
2. "Crests of Waves"   3:39
3. "Animals"   5:32
Official remixes

Charts and certifications

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ http://www.2cellos.com/portfolio/in2ition-2/
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Coldplay – Clocks". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  38. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Coldplay – Clocks" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  39. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Coldplay – Clocks" (in French). Ultratip.
  40. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Coldplay – Clocks" (in French). Les classement single.
  41. ↑ "Musicline.de – Coldplay Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  42. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Coldplay – Clocks". Top Digital Download.
  43. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Coldplay – Clocks" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  44. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Coldplay – Clocks". Top 40 Singles.
  45. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Coldplay – Clocks". Swiss Singles Chart.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter Coldplay in the field Filtra. Select 2002 in the field Anno. The certification will load automatically
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Clocks in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH

External links

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