CHRIS MARTIN Annie Haslam

Early Life Born March 2, 1977 in

Devon, England to Anthony and Alison Martin

Was the oldest of four children

Had two very successful parents

Picked up instruments and music at a very young age

Later… Began schooling at a

famous school for boys

Finished his education at the University College of London

Here he met his three future band members that later formed the band Coldplay

Values

Chris became an advocate for fair trade Was often seen with encouraging

messages written on his hand Today he is most often seen with an “=“

sign on his hand Donates profit percent to charity Believes in only using their music

for certain things and in certain

ways

Influences Earliest influence

was the band A-ha Bob Dylan The Police Sting James Travis Embrace Keane

Family•Married movie star Gwyneth Paltrow •Had a baby girl Apple•Had baby boy Moses

COMPOSITION HISTORY

Yellow

First single the band produced Was later put on their first album

Parachutes Chris wrote the main parts of the melody

and the words The lyrics suggest being devoted to

another person Popularity was slow but now is one of

the most well known songs by the band

Fix You

Was released in 2005 on the album X&Y This song is the one that Chris claims to be

his best It was written in connection with the

passing of Chris’ father-in-law “This song deals with true love, helping

someone in your time of need, and learning from you mistakes”

Viva la Vida

Released in 2008 on the album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends

“Viva la Vida” = “long live life” or “the life lives”

Was inspired by a painting done by Frida Kahlo titled the same thing.

This song and album was the turning point in their band career as they branched out with new sounds and beats

Paradise

Released in 2011 as a single leading up to the release of the album Mylo Xyloto

It has a strong message of having hopes and dreams and having them become unreachable but then fighting on and making them a reality

Strong beat with loud bass and a very catchy chorus

LISTENING GUIDE

Yellow 0:00 – Starts slowly and quietly but picks up while the

melody is conjunct. A guitar starts alone as time goes on more instruments join in until the whole band is playing.

0:33 – The vocals start and begin repeating the same notes with different words and phrases. It is still very conjunct until one note when it takes a leap and then continues on smoothly. Dynamics are constant and is played in the major key. There is a slight crescendo near the end of the verse leading to the chorus.

1:28 – Top of the crescendo is reached and the beats are even louder and hit very hard, dynamics are forte. The rhythm stays very conjunct and in the major mode.

2:13 – This is the beginning of the second verse and is the exact same as the first verse but with different words. Melody and rhythm are conjunct and soothing. Once again at the end of the verse a crescendo comes in leading up to the chorus.

2:52 – Top of the crescendo is reached again and the chorus breaks out. It is a very loud and powerful part of the song. Beat and melody still repeating.

3:13 – This is the bridge of the song and is only instrumental, no words. The song is building and building through a crescendo creating an excitement.

4:09 – The music makes an immediate stop and drops to very soft everything – this creates a very disjunct feeling while slowly fading out.

4:29 – The song comes to an end

Fix You 0:00 – The music starts with a short introduction with pp

dynamics with just the organ playing. Consonance harmony and conjunct melody.

0:13 – Verse begins with vocals starting to join the organ. Still very soft and flowing smoothly.

1:10 – Here the chorus starts and other instruments join in while the beat, rhythm, and melody pick up but still keeping it conjunct and consonance. Emphasis on the 4th beat is added

1:31 – Vocals stop and is just instrumental. Almost identical to the beginning with the beat, rhythm, melody and dynamics.

1:45 – Beat and rhythm pick up as well as the dynamics. Vocals return and mimic the vocals of the first chorus. Timbre makes the different instruments identifiable.

2:34 – Music quickly picks up leading to dynamic increases and beat and rhythm increases. This section is very repetitious through major scales and octaves.

4:24 – The fast rhythm, strong beat, and loud dynamics immediately die and everything is switched to slow and quiet – identical to the beginning. Vocals repeat from earlier in the song while an ascending crescendo is played.

4:55 – The song comes to an end

Viva la Vida 0:00 – song begins with a strong steady beat and rhythm.

Timbre makes the violins and other string instruments obvious. Tempo is almost at a forte speed and is being played in a major key. A little disjunct sounding.

0:12 – The first verse begins with the vocals beginning repeating the rhythm and beat over and over. The harmony is smooth and relaxed.

0:40 – Second verse begins and is the exact same as the pervious verse just with different words. The drums and violins are playing the same beat and rhythm.

1:09 – Vocals intensify as the dynamics shift to louder and almost staccato, but still staying in the same major key just in a different octave. Percussion is added while keeping a very conjunct melody and harmony.

1:37 – The bridge in the song begins as the vocals stop while the beat stays present and strong. Unique percussion is played.

1:49 – Vocals, violins, and drums come back in and the verse begins once again with different words. Melody and harmony are very conjunct. Emphasis on each note while overlapping of rhythms is happening.

2:18 – Everything stays constant as the dynamics increase and the beats are being hit harder.

2:46 – Once again the vocals stop and it is just straight instruments playing. The key shifts to an octave higher and an ascending crescendo leads to the climax of the song.

3:14 – Background vocals begin and the beat is the strongest and heaviest hit during this part of the song, therefore increasing dynamics.

3:42 – Background singing and humming becomes very present with little instrument accompaniment.

4:56 – The song comes to an end

Paradise 0:00 – Song beings with a homophonic rhythm with an

emphasis on the first beat of each measure. One instrument is playing and is repeating. Dynamics are very soft and is conjunct.

1:01 – Verse is in a triple meter while the melody and harmony are flowing smoothly. Beats are being hit hard.

1:29 – All instruments and vocals die except the piano playing the melody. Dynamics are pp.

1:42 – All vocals and instruments return and the climax of the song is reached. The music is very exciting with loud dynamics.

2:20 – Beat and rhythm have shifted to an even louder sound than before while the different instruments are interwoven together through the harmony.

2:48 – Percussion is the only thing going on while everything else has stopped and is very soft that shortly leads to an ascending crescendo.

3:22 – All instruments return once again creating a strong powerful rhythm and beat. Conjunct melody and volume.

3:50 – Vocals completely stop and later background humming chimes in as the song slowly dies down. The beat and rhythm are the focus as the ascending crescendo continues.

4:38 – The song comes to an end.

References “Biography of Chris Martin.” 2012. Imdb.com 21 Feb

2012. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1112874/bio "Chris Martin." 2012. Biography.com 21 Feb 2012.

http://www.biography.com/people/chris-martin-16466718

“Chris Martin Bio.” 2010. Thebiographychannel.co.uk 21 Feb 2012. http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/chris-martin.html

“Chris Martin Biography.” 2012. Monstersandcritics.com 19 Feb 2012. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/Chris-Martin/biography/

“Coldplay.” 2012. Rollingstone.com 19 Feb 2012. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/coldplay/biography

“Fix You.” 2005. Songfacts.com 21 Feb 2012. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=5061

References Continued Google.com – keywords “chris martin,” “chris

martin and family,” “coldplay,” “a-ha,” “sting,” and “keane.”

“Paradise.” 2011. Songfacts.com 21 Feb 2012. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=23995

“Viva la Vida.” 2008. Songfacts.com 21 Feb 2012. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=11520

“Yellow.” 2000. Songfacts.com 21 Feb 2012. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=762