Aliens (Coldplay song)

"Aliens" (stylised as "A L I E N S") is a song by British rock band Coldplay. The song was written by all four members of Coldplay as well as Brian Eno, with production handled by Markus Dravs, Rik Simpson and Brian Eno. It was released on 6 July 2017, as the third promotional single from the band's thirteenth EP Kaleidoscope EP (2017).

"Aliens"
Promotional single by Coldplay
from the EP Kaleidoscope EP
Released6 July 2017 (2017-07-06)
Length4:42
LabelParlophone
Composer(s)
Producer(s)
Music video
"Aliens" on YouTube

Background

"Aliens" was released as a charity single on 6 July 2017.[1] All proceeds from the song will be donated to the international NGO Migrant Offshore Aid Station, which rescues migrants and refugees in peril at sea in the Mediterranean.[2][3][4] On 21 July, a remix of the song by Markus Dravs was released as a single.[5]

Critical reception

Jeremy Gordon of Spin magazine wrote: "The skittering percussion and swirling electronics that open up the song are completely dissimilar from the EDM components they picked up on the way to their regrettable successful Chainsmokers collaboration; the spooky tones permeating the spaces in between Martin's indefatigably earnest vocals sound like background music from an X-Files episode. The song is constantly in motion, as all the elements pulse and hum in the same direction. It's cluttered, but not distracting. Martin's lyrics, which address the refugee crisis, lean hard on the maudlin side, which is not an unfamiliar space for the band to be."[6] Althea Legaspi of Rolling Stone magazine wrote: "The song's pulsating rhythms emulate the racing heartbeat that might accompany searching for safety in a bleak world."[7] Bianca Gracie of Fuse called the melody "blippy" and "space-age".[8] Darragh Berry of Joe wrote that the song has "the distinctive Coldplay sound" and called the lyrics "deep" and "meaningful".[9]

Music video

The animated lyrics video was directed by Diane Martel and Ben Jones. It shows a family running from explosions on the ground and foreboding creatures in the sky, as they escape from a planet.[7]

Track listing
Digital download[1]
No.TitleLength
1."Aliens"4:42
Digital download – remix[5]
No.TitleLength
1."Aliens" (Markus Dravs remix)7:05

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[10]

  • Guy Berryman – composing, keyboard, bass guitar
  • Will Champion – composing, keyboard, drums, programming
  • Jonny Buckland – composing, electric guitar
  • Chris Martin – composing, vocals, keyboard, acoustic guitar
  • Brian Eno – composing, producing, background vocals, guitar
  • Markus Dravs – producing
  • Rik Simpson – producing, background vocals, mixing
  • Chris Allgood – mastering engineering
  • Emily Lazar – mastering engineering
  • Daniel Green – co-producing, engineering, keyboard
  • Anthony De Souza – engineering
  • John Metcalfe – engineering, strings, viola, violin, recording
  • Bill Rahko – engineering
  • Laurence Anslow – assisting
  • Aleks Von Korff – assisting
  • Tom Bailey – assisting
  • Owen Butcher – assisting
  • Andrew Rugg – assistant engineering
  • Robin Baynton – assistant engineering
  • Davide Rossi – cello

Charts
Chart (2017) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[11] 87
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[12] 17

References
  1. "Coldplay: A L I E N S". Google Play. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  2. Stutz, Colin (6 July 2017). "Coldplay Share 'A L I E N S' Song & Lyric Video, Proceeds Will Aid Migrants". Billboard. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  3. Jones, Damian (7 July 2017). "Watch Coldplay's crazy space video for Brian Eno produced track 'A L I E N S'". NME. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  4. Anchorman (6 July 2017). "New song A L I E N S available now!". coldplay.com. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  5. "A L I E N S (Markus Dravs Remix) – Single by Coldplay". United Kingdom: iTunes Store. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  6. Gordon, Jeremy (7 July 2017). "Coldplay's "A L I E N S" Is a Good Brian Eno Song". Spin. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  7. Legaspi, Althea (6 July 2017). "See Coldplay's Pulsating, Animated Lyric Video for 'Aliens'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  8. Gracie, Bianca (7 July 2017). "Coldplay Share Vibrant 'Aliens' Animated Lyric Video: Watchfuse". Fuse. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  9. Berry, Darragh (7 July 2017). "WATCH: Coldplay release video for brand new single 'Aliens' ahead of Irish concert". Joe. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  10. "A L I E N S / Coldplay TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  11. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés – SNEP (Week 28, 2017)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  12. "Coldplay Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
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