Charlie Brown (Coldplay song)

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"Charlie Brown"
Single by Coldplay
from the album Mylo Xyloto
Released 14 November 2011 (2011-11-14)
Format Digital download
Recorded 2008–11
Genre
Length 4:45 (Album version)
3:46 (Radio edit)
Label Parlophone
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Markus Dravs, Daniel Green, Rik Simpson
Coldplay singles chronology
"Paradise"
(2011)		 "Charlie Brown"
(2011)		 "Princess of China"
(2012)
Music video
"Charlie Brown" on YouTube
"Charlie Brown" (Live) on YouTube

"Charlie Brown" (originally titled "Cartoon Heart") is a song by British alternative rock band Coldplay. The song was released as the third single from their fifth studio album Mylo Xyloto.[1][2] The single was listed by Q magazine as their track of the day on 2 December 2011. The music video for the song was released on 2 February 2012, as well as a live version on 6 December 2011.

Background

According to the band, "Charlie Brown" was the first song recorded during sessions for the band's then-upcoming fifth studio album, with the intention of being included on what later became Mylo Xyloto.

The lyrics of an early version of the song included a mention of Charlie Brown, the famous Peanuts character. The character's name, however, "was left out of the final recording but the name stuck as the band couldn't think of an alternative."[3] During the writing and recording sessions of Mylo Xyloto, the song took on other names, such as "Cartoon Heart", before eventually being titled "Charlie Brown".[4] It was written by Chris Martin in his daughter's doll's house. The doll's house was converted into a studio when Martin's daughter said she didn't like it.[5]

Development

During an online interview with the Australian publication Sunday Herald Sun, Coldplay said they were making two records, describing "Charlie Brown" as the centre-piece of the stripped down album the band intended to make along with the electric one they were already calling as Mylo Xyloto. They then decided to combine both of the albums because bassist Guy Berryman said that he "will not allow this song to be played on an accordion," as it was originally planned to be.[6]

Coldplay first performed "Charlie Brown" at a "friends and family" gig at The Forum, Kentish Town, London on 31 May 2011. They then continued to play it at multiple shows in 2011, beginning with the Rock im Park festival in Nürnberg, Germany on 3 June 2011 and again at Rock am Ring festival the following day, which was the first live broadcast of the song officially authorised by the band and management. The song became very popular among the festivals crowd. Drummer Will Champion said it had happy memories of playing it over the summer.[7]

Reception

The song was met with positive reviews from critics. In an article published by Q magazine on 10 October 2011 entitled "First Impressions of... Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto", they wrote that "'Charlie Brown' is one of the best things Coldplay have done" and likened the song to the style of U2's The Joshua Tree and "the heady holler-alongs of Arcade Fire".[8] They also name it as their track of the day on 2 December 2011.[9] BBC music called Charlie Brown "one of those Coldplay-patented sun-breaking-through-clouds moments" and gave praise to Buckland's guitar riff.[10] Billboard called the song one of the "album's best track(s). Chorus riff will haunt every corner of your mind. Oriental flair recalls "Viva La Vida" album."[11]

Under The Radar praised the song and said "Mylo Xyloto's finest anthem, 'Charlie Brown,' shoots for The Suburbs with the clumsy line 'Stole the key/took a car downtown to where the lost boys meet/took what they offered me' but redeems itself with a massive, ascending guitar hook that I can't help feeling would have sound-tracked any climactic scene from Friday Night Lights beautifully."[12] PopMatters said that the song "absolutely crackled with energy" and felt "it shows the band having stumbled upon one of those great, instantly recognisable melodies that sounds better with each reiteration—who would’ve thought a guitar and a xylophone could sound so epic when paired together."[13] Will Hermes of Rolling Stone had mixed feelings for the song, and gave the song two and a half stars out of five in his preview of numerous songs from Mylo Xyloto, saying that the song "triangulates Springsteen, U2 and Arcade Fire in a hood-rat oratorio that roars even if Chris Martin's delivery feels too gentle."[14]

"Charlie Brown" was chosen as ESPN's title song for the commercials and introduction videos of its coverage of Euro 2012.

Coldplay performed "Charlie Brown" at the 2012 BRIT Awards, the song opened the show and subsequently climbed up the UK chart to No30 on Sunday 26 February 2012. Meaning Coldplay had two songs in the UK Top 40 former UK No1 hit "Paradise" and "Charlie Brown".

"Charlie Brown" was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance at the 2013 Grammy Awards.

Music videos

On 6 December 2011 Coldplay uploaded a promotional, music video for "Charlie Brown" to their official YouTube account, which utilised footage from a collection of concerts they had performed throughout the band's 2011 Summer Festival Tour. The video was directed by Mat Whitecross and Mark Rowbotham. In the description section of the music video, the band's drummer Will Champion announced that a "proper" video would be released at a later stage.[15]

Screenshot from the final video, showing Antonia Thomas and Elliot Tittensor.

The official music video for "Charlie Brown", to which Champion was referring was filmed with director Mat Whitecross throughout November and December 2011. Additional filming was made in mid to late January 2012.[16] The "Xylobands" conceptual creator for the Mylo Xyloto Tour posted on Twitter that there would be photos from the video uploaded on 2 February 2012 and that the official music video would be posted on VEVO the following morning on 3 February 2012.

The music video for "Charlie Brown" was released on VEVO, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and their own website at 03.00 am on 3 February 2012. On YouTube, the video received over 700,000 views within the first 24 hours of its release.

The video was also met with acclaim from critics, who praised its visuals, themes and fast-paced editing.[17]

The video features Shameless star Elliot Tittensor and Misfits star Antonia Thomas.

Track listing

BRITs performance digital download[18]
  1. "Charlie Brown" (Live from the BRITs) – 3:50
Digital download (remix)[19]
  1. "Charlie Brown" (David Audé remix) – 6:43

Credits and personnel

Recording
Mastering
  • Mastered at Gateway Studios, United States.
Personnel

Charts

Chart (2011–12) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[21] 78
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[22] 2
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[23] 2
Brazil (Billboard Brasil Hot 100)[24] 41
Brazil Hot Pop Songs[24] 11
France (SNEP)[25] 148
Ireland (IRMA)[26] 20
Israel (Media Forest)[27] 4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 25
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[29] 16
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[30] 52
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[31] 22
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[32]
[not in citation given]		 10
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[33] 4
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[34] 15
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[35] 23
Venezuela Pop Rock General (Record Report)[36] 11

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United Kingdom (BPI)[37] Silver 200,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone
double-daggersales/streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Worldwide[38] 14 November 2011 Contemporary hit radio (select stations) Parlophone
United Kingdom Digital Download
United States[39][40] 23 January 2012 Adult album alternative radio Capitol Records
24 January 2012 Modern rock radio
United Kingdom[18][41][19] 22 February 2012 Digital download (Brit Awards performance) Brit Awards Ltd.
25 February 2012 Digital download (David Audé remix) EMI

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 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. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 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. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/98x2
  11. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/features/coldplay-s-mylo-xyloto-track-by-track-review-1005424812.story#/features/coldplay-s-mylo-xyloto-track-by-track-review-1005424812.story
  12. ↑ http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/mylo_xyloto/
  13. ↑ http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/150317-coldplay-mylo-xyloto/
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Coldplay – Charlie Brown (Live) on YouTube
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ http://www.wikicoldplay.com/Charlie_Brown_-_Music_Video
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 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. ↑ [1] ARIA Report 1151. Retrieved 2012-05-19
  22. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Coldplay – Charlie Brown" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  23. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Coldplay – Charlie Brown" (in French). Ultratip.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Coldplay – Charlie Brown" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  26. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 12, 2012". Irish Singles Chart.
  27. ↑ "Coldplay – Charlie Brown Media Forest". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
  28. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Coldplay search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
  29. ↑ "Archive Chart: 24 March 2012". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  30. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201208 into search.
  31. ↑ "March 2012/ Archive Chart: 24 March 2012" UK Singles Chart.
  32. ↑ "Coldplay – Chart history" Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 for Coldplay.
  33. ↑ "Coldplay – Chart history" Billboard Adult Alternative Songs for Coldplay.
  34. ↑ "Coldplay – Chart history" Billboard Alternative Songs for Coldplay.
  35. ↑ "Coldplay – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Coldplay.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Charlie Brown 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
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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