Jump to content

Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"
Single by Coldplay
from the album Mylo Xyloto
B-side
Released3 June 2011 (2011-06-03)
GenreArena rock[1]
Length
  • 4:01 (album version)
  • 4:03 (single version)
LabelParlophone
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Coldplay singles chronology
"Christmas Lights"
(2010) 		"Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"
(2011) 		"Paradise"
(2011)
EP cover
Coldplay EP chronology
Prospekt's March
(2008) 		Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall
(2011) 		iTunes Festival: London 2011
(2011)
Music video
"Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" on YouTube

"Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" is a song by British rock band Coldplay. It was released as the lead single for their fifth studio album Mylo Xyloto on 3 June 2011. An exclusive digital EP version of it, with the B-sides "Major Minus" and "Moving to Mars", came out in the following weeks, being considered the band's eighth extended play. The track contains elements of the 1976 song "I Go to Rio" written by Peter Allen and Adrienne Anderson.[4][5] It debuted at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, selling 85,000 copies in its first week before climbing to its peak of number 14.[6] On the UK Singles Chart, the song peaked at number 6.[7]

Its radio debut happened on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music, Absolute Radio, and Xfm.[8][9] Coldplay first performed the song live on 4 June at the Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festival in Nürnberg, Germany.[10] They also played it at the Steve Jobs memorial event at Apple headquarters on 19 October 2011 in Cupertino, California, and at the opening of the MTV European Music Awards in Belfast, Northern Ireland on 6 November 2011.[7]

The track was used as the theme for the live-action film adaptation of Chūya Koyama's Uchū Kyōdai (Space Brothers) manga and scored two nominations at the 54th Grammy Awards, one for Best Rock Performance and the other for Best Rock Song.[11]

Inspiration

[edit]

When the song was first released on Coldplay's YouTube channel, it sparked many negative comments in the comment section, saying the song was plagiarised from "Ritmo de la noche" by 1990s-era German group Chocolate, or from Peter Allen's "I Go to Rio". However, upon release of the song, the line "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall contains elements of I Go To Rio written by Peter Allen and Adrienne Anderson" was noted below the official lyrics to the song on Coldplay's website.[4] The Oracle (Coldplay's web site Question and Answer section) responded on 9 June 2011 to a question raised concerning its inspiration and collaboration:

I don't think people are quite understanding the song's composition. To clarify: Chris was inspired to write Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall after hearing some chords in a nightclub scene in Alejandro González Iñárritu's film Biutiful (2010). The chords in the film are part of a track that is based on I Go To Rio written by Peter Allen and Adrienne Anderson, released by Peter Allen in 1976. If you look at a clip on YouTube you'll hear the chords for yourself. As for other people asking if Ritmo de la Noche by The Sacados should also be credited the answer is "no". Firstly, that is a cover of Chocolate's song by the same name who sampled I Go To Rio. Secondly, they both came later in 1990 so hopefully they should have credited Peter & Adrienne.[12]

This marked Coldplay's second time using samples to write a song, having first used Kraftwerk's "Computer Love" for "Talk" (2005).[13]

Critical reception

[edit]

"Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" received generally positive reviews from critics. The Boston Herald gave a positive review, saying "Chris Martin does it again. He gives force to wimp music, beauty to base pop and the world another Coldplay anthem. Basically, the boys are joyous, and so is this stadium-rock track. 'I turn the music up, I got my records on, I shut the world outside until the lights come on' Martin sings over buoyant synths, ringing guitar and big drums. You can feel the love".[1]

Rolling Stone gave the song a three and a half stars rating out of five commenting "Chris Martin says Coldplay's upcoming album is influenced by old-school New York graffiti, and in a recent photo the bandmates are dressed in neon chillwear like they just walked off the set of Breakin' 3: A Brit-Pop Odyssey. But the first single doesn't go for the sound of early hip-hop so much as its sense of year-zero possibility. Over a rave-tinged keyboard melody, leavened by producer Brian Eno's rainforest-of-the-soul ambiance, Martin sings of kids dancing until morning and heaven inside his headphones. When the drums kick in fully, it moves like "Sunday Bloody Sunday" by way of the Velvets' "Sunday Morning," a flag-waving ode to change-as-inspiration: "I'd rather be a comma than a full stop," Martin sings. Coming from a guy whose critics take him for a human exclamation point, it's a welcome sentiment."[14]

MTV praised the song by declaring that "Modern rock behemoths Coldplay just previewed the first single off their upcoming Brian Eno-produced fifth studio album, and it's every bit as soaring as we've come to expect from the band". They also said that "In any case, 'Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall' has major summer smash potential, so teary waterfalls, be gone, Coldplay!".[15] In his review for About.com, Bill Lamb rated the song with four stars out of five and commented that "The overall effect of this song is Coldplay moving forward into new explorations while keeping the elements that endear them to their fans wholly intact. 'Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall' is unlikely to be hailed as an instant classic to match the very best of Coldplay's past work, but a strong argument could be made that the band has never released their best material as the first single from any of their albums".[16]

Rankings

[edit]
"Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" on select critic rankings
Publisher Year Listicle Rank Ref.
Boston Herald 2011 The Top 111 Songs of 2011 47 [17]
New York Post Musical Tweets 2011 37 [18]
NPO Radio 2 Top 2000 248 [19]
Popjustice The Top 45 Singles of 2011 Placed [20]
PopMatters The 75 Best Songs of 2011 57 [21]
Rolling Stone 2019 100 Best Songs of the 2010s 100 [22]

Music video

[edit]
Screenshot from the music video, which shows the band playing across various backdrops sprayed with colourful graffiti paint.

The video was released to the public on 28 June 2011. It shows the band playing across various backdrops sprayed with colourful graffiti painted by the band's artist "Paris". The video was shot between 14 and 15 June 2011 at Millennium Mills in east London, close to London City Airport, but begins with a shot of the Downtown Los Angeles skyline. The music video, which features the band, uses a stop motion technique and was directed by Mat Whitecross, who has worked with the band since 1999 and was responsible for the videos for "Lovers in Japan" and "Christmas Lights", among others. The video was edited by Nick Allix of The Whitehouse Post based in London Soho.

The video received positive reviews by critics who noted its colourful visual. Rolling Stone said: "The vibrant, colorful clip is well-suited to the song, which has a shaky, excited energy and the sort of optimistic, romantic lyrics that have made Coldplay one of the world's most crowd-pleasing rock bands".[23] The New York Post wrote "the clip proves that the boys are just as interested in pushing boundaries with their videos as they are with their music."[24]

Covers and remixes

[edit]
See also: List of cover versions of Coldplay songs

Swedish singer Robyn covered the song in July 2011.[25] The Swedish House Mafia played their remix during many of their shows during 2011 and 2012; the remix was well received by most critics and fans. It was included on the Swedish House Mafia's album, Until Now, with the artist's name listed as 'Coldplay vs. Swedish House Mafia' with the title as in the original, rather than putting on a remix credit. The song has also been remixed by Swedish DJ Avicii.

Track listing

[edit]
Digital download[26][27]
No.TitleLength
1."Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"4:03
CD single[28] / 7" vinyl[29]
No.TitleLength
1."Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"4:03
2."Major Minus"3:30
Digital download – EP[30]
No.TitleLength
1."Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"4:03
2."Major Minus"3:30
3."Moving to Mars"4:19
Digital download - live version[31]
No.TitleLength
1."Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" (Live from Glastonbury, 2011)4:38

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the single's liner notes.[32]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[87] Platinum 70,000^
Belgium (BEA)[88] Gold 15,000*
Italy (FIMI)[89] Platinum 30,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[90] Gold 7,500*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[91] Gold 15,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[92] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[93] Platinum 600,000‡
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[94] Gold 50,000†

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release dates for "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"
Region Date Format Label
Italy[95] 3 June 2011 Contemporary hit radio Warner Music
United States[27] Digital download Parlophone
United Kingdom[26] 5 June 2011
United States[96][97][98] 13 June 2011 Modern rock radio Capitol Records
20 June 2011 Hot adult contemporary radio
21 June 2011 Contemporary hit radio
Worldwide[99] 26 June 2011 Digital download bundle Parlophone
United Kingdom[99] Compact disc
7"
France[100] 4 July 2011 Compact disc EMI

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Jed Gottlieb (4 June 2011). "Coldplay/Boston Herald". Boston Herald. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Repertoiresuche" (in German). GEMA. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Markus Lanz vom 21. März 2019" (in German). ZDF. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Coldplay – Every Teardop Is a Waterfall lyrics". 3 June 2011. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  5. ^ "Coldplay – News: Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". Coldplay.com. 31 May 2011. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  6. ^ Trust, Gary (8 June 2011). "Adele's Still 'Deep' Atop Hot 100, Coldplay Makes a Splash". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  7. ^ a b acharts.us/song/63657
  8. ^ "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall makes radio debut on Friday". Coldplay.com. 2 June 2011. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  9. ^ "BBC – BBC Radio 1 Programmes – Fearne Cotton, Friday: Coldplay World Exclusive 1st Play, Fearne Cotton – Coldplay World Exclusive 1st Play". BBC Radio 1. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  10. ^ "Coldplay: News – Roadie #42 – Blog #132". Coldplay.com. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  11. ^ "Rock Band Coldplay Does Space Bros./Uchū Kyōdai Film Theme". Anime News Network.
  12. ^ Oracle (9 June 2011). "Coldplay:Oracle – Dear Oracle I really need to know, have Coldplay lost their touch?..." Coldplay.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  13. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (4 April 2005). "Coldplay Finalizes New Album Track List". Billboard. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
  14. ^ Dolan, Jon (3 June 2011). "Every Teardrop Is a waterfall by Coldplay – Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  15. ^ "New Song: Coldplay, 'Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall'". Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  16. ^ Lamb, Bill. "Coldplay – "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"". About.com. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  17. ^ "The Top 111 songs of 2011". Boston Herald. 30 December 2011. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Musical Tweets 2011". New York Post. 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Top 2000 – Jaar 2011 (Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall)" [Top 2000 – Year 2011 (Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall)]. NPO Radio 2 (in Dutch). 31 December 2023. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  20. ^ "The Top 45 Singles of 2011". Popjustice. 22 December 2011. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  21. ^ "The 75 Best Songs of 2011". PopMatters. 16 April 2011. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  22. ^ "The 100 Best Songs of the 2010s". Rolling Stone. 4 December 2019. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Coldplay: 'Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". Rolling Stone. 29 June 2011. Archived from the original on 4 August 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  24. ^ Wieselman, Jarett (29 June 2011). "Coldplay's hot new video". New York Post. Archived from the original on 29 November 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  25. ^ "Robyn Covers Coldplay's Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". Stereogum. 26 July 2011. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  26. ^ a b "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall – Single by Coldplay". Itunes.apple.com. 5 June 2011. Archived from the original on 28 August 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  27. ^ a b "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall — Single by Coldplay". Itunes.apple.com. 5 June 2011. Archived from the original on 30 August 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  28. ^ "Coldplay - Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". Discogs. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  29. ^ "Coldplay - Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". Discogs. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  30. ^ "Coldplay - Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". Discogs. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  31. ^ "Coldplay - Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall (Live From Glastonbury 2011)". Discogs. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  32. ^ Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall (liner notes). Coldplay. Parlophone. 2011. 5099908460721.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  33. ^ "Davide Rossi | Credits". AllMusic.
  34. ^ "Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  35. ^ "Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  36. ^ "Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  37. ^ "Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  38. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  39. ^ "AMERICA'S MUSIC CHARTS – 0 8 . 2 3 . 1 1 – powered by MEDIABASE". Americasmusiccharts.com. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  40. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 29. týden 2011 in the date selector.
  41. ^ "Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". Tracklisten.
  42. ^ "Coldplay: Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  43. ^ "Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" (in French). Les classement single.
  44. ^ "Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  45. ^ "Coldplay Chart History". RÚV. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  46. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  47. ^ "Media Forest: Airplay chart". mediaforest.biz. 18 June 2011. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013.
  48. ^ "Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". Top Digital Download.
  49. ^ "Earone Airplay - Settimana #26 dal 24/06/2011 al 30/06/2011" (in Italian). Earone. 3 June 2011.
  50. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard.
  51. ^ "Luxembourg Digital Songs – June 25, 2011". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  52. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  53. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Coldplay" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  54. ^ "Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  55. ^ "Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". Top 40 Singles.
  56. ^ "Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". VG-lista.
  57. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  58. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201131 into search.
  59. ^ "GAON Chart -Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". Gaon chart. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  60. ^ "Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" Canciones Top 50.
  61. ^ "Promusicae (Week: January 1, 2011)" (PDF). Retrieved 13 July 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  62. ^ "Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". Singles Top 100.
  63. ^ "Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". Swiss Singles Chart.
  64. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  65. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  66. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  67. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  68. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  69. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  70. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  71. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  72. ^ "JAAROVERZICHTEN 2011". Ultratop (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  73. ^ "RAPPORTS ANNUELS 2011". Ultratop (in French). Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  74. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  75. ^ "Classement Singles – année 2011" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 24 December 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  76. ^ "Earone Top 100 of the year 2011" (in Italian). Earone. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  77. ^ "YEAR END CHARTS Japan Hot 100". Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  78. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2011". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  79. ^ "JAAROVERZICHTEN – SINGLE 2011" (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  80. ^ "TOP 50 CANCIONES ANUAL 2011" (PDF). PROMUSICAE. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  81. ^ Swiss Year-End Charts 2011 – swisscharts.com Archived 25 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  82. ^ "UK Singles Year-End 2011" (PDF). Retrieved 28 June 2008.
  83. ^ "Year-end Adult Top 40". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  84. ^ "Year-end Rock Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  85. ^ "Year-end Alternative Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  86. ^ "Year-end Triple A". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  87. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  88. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2011". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  89. ^ "Italian single certifications – Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select "2012" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  90. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". Radioscope. Retrieved 15 December 2024. Type Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall in the "Search:" field.
  91. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  92. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  93. ^ "British single certifications – Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  94. ^ "Danish single certifications – Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  95. ^ "Coldplay - Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" (in Italian). Earone. 31 May 2011.
  96. ^ "Modern Rock – Available for Airplay Archive". FMQB. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  97. ^ "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 18 June 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  98. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 18 June 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  99. ^ a b "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall – EP by Coldplay". iTunes Store. 26 June 2011. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  100. ^ "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall: Coldplay" (in French). Amazon.fr. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://wiki.riteme.site/w/index.php?title=Every_Teardrop_Is_a_Waterfall&oldid=1263612550"