Fun (Coldplay song)
"Fun" is a song by British alternative rock band Coldplay, featuring Swedish singer Tove Lo. It is the sixth track from their seventh studio album, A Head Full of Dreams (2015). The song was produced by the band's long-time record producer Rik Simpson along with Norwegian production duo Stargate.
"Fun" | |
---|---|
Song by Coldplay featuring Tove Lo | |
from the album A Head Full of Dreams | |
Released | 4 December 2015 |
Recorded | 2014-2015 |
Genre | Pop rock |
Length | 4:27 |
Label | Parlophone |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) |
|
Background and recording
The song was recorded by the band during sessions for their seventh studio album in 2014, at their purpose-built studios The Bakery and The Beehive in North London, England, both originally constructed for work on their three previous studio albums, 2008's Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, 2011's Mylo Xyloto and 2014's Ghost Stories respectively.
Composition
"Fun" has been described as an "uplifting, airy scene bolstered by the beautifully-meshed duet" with Tove Lo,[1] who joins Chris Martin in singing, "Didn't we have fun? Don't say it's all a waste."[2] Martin's vocals are preceded by a "distant, distorted" guitar part.[1] The song has electronic heartbeats over some Coldplay's mid-tempo work, with a "Cure-style darkness towards the end".[3]
Stereogum's Tom Breihan called "Fun" a "divorce" song, referring to Martin's breakup with Gwyneth Paltrow, and said the song ends "with the suggestion that maybe they'll get back together someday". The song has the name title and concept as another song written by Chris Martin in 2008, which was left off Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends and was released by Australian singer-songwriter Natalie Imbruglia.[4]
Reception
Judah Joseph of The Huffington Post said Martin's and Tove Lo's vocals "[weaved] seamlessly", and he complimented the former for his "effortless" crooning.[1] Referring to Martin's allusion to his separation from Paltrow, Tom Breihan of Stereogum wrote, "It’s a rare moment of acute, cutting humanity from a songwriter who tends to prefer sloppy vagaries." Furthermore, he said, "And goofy though it may be, I like that Coldplay are still pretentious enough to build an entire song from a few piano tones and a recitation of an ancient Rumi poem.[4]
Personnel
Credits are adapted from A Head Full of Dreams liner notes.[5]
- Coldplay
- Guy Berryman – bass guitar, keyboards
- Jonny Buckland – lead guitar, keyboards
- Will Champion – drums, programming
- Chris Martin – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
- Additional musicians
- Mikkel S Eriksen – additional instruments, production, mixing
- Tor Erik Hermansen – additional instruments, production, mixing
- Tove Lo – featured vocals
- Rik Simpson – audio mixer
Charts & Certifications
Weekly charts
|
Certifications
|
References
- "Review: Coldplay, A Head Full of Dreams". Huffingtonpost.com. December 7, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
- Andy Gill (December 4, 2015). "Coldplay, A Head Full of Dreams: 'Too much emotional laundry but it's a step in the right direction', album review". The Independent. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
- "Review: New Coldplay album has Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyonce, and his new girlfriend". News.com.au. December 2, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
- "Premature Evaluation: Coldplay A Head Full Of Dreams". Stereogum.com. December 4, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
- A Head Full of Dream (booklet). Coldplay. Parlophone. 2015. 1053933969.CS1 maint: others (link)
- "Lescharts.com – Coldplay – Fun" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Coldplay – Fun" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
- "Coldplay Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
- "Italian single certifications – Coldplay – Fun" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 2, 2019. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Fun" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
External links
- Fun at Coldplay's website
- Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics