From album
A Rush of Blood to the Head
Coldplay · 2002 · Track 1
Details
TonalidadFm
Compás4/4
Tempo86 BPM
Duración5:18
CompositorChris Martin / Guy Berryman / Jon Buckland / Will Champion
ÁlbumA Rush of Blood to the Head
Año2002
ISRCGBAYE0200770
Credits
Music Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jon Buckland, Will Champion
If you like this, try
The story behind
When Coldplay released A Rush of Blood to the Head in 2002, the song that opened the album, Politik, marked a significant sonic shift. Unlike their previous work, Parachutes, which was softer, this piece is distinguished by more powerful guitars and a more intense energy. The composition was born from an impactful event: Chris Martin wrote it on September 11, 2001, inspired by the terrorist attacks of that day, and recorded it just two days later. The result is a blend of guitars and keyboards that intertwine in a dense sound, until suddenly everything fades away to leave Martin alone at the piano. Will Champion's drums burst in forcefully, Jonny Buckland's guitar expands, and Guy Berryman's bass churns, all to make way for Martin's voice with a cry that seeks to awaken the listener. In its bridge, the song takes on a spatial and orchestral quality, evoking atmospheres reminiscent of Pink Floyd. The band intentionally sought a more forceful sound, wanting to "just hit our instruments as hard as we possibly could and throw away the idea of fragility."
The recording of Politik took place on September 13, 2001, and production was handled by Ken Nelson along with the band itself. The recording engineer was Ken Nelson and Rik Simpson, while the mixing involved Coldplay, Ken Nelson, and Mark Phythian. This song, of the Alternative rock genre, became a turning point. For Parlophone representative Miles Leonard, hearing Politik for the first time was a key moment, considering that including such a challenging piece as the album's opener was a clear statement of intent. In fact, Politik was responsible for opening each of the 151 performances of the A Rush of Blood to the Head Tour between 2002 and 2003. Bassist Guy Berryman explained that there was no other place for Politik than the first position, and that there was no better track to start their concerts. In 2003, the song had a notable performance at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards at New York's Madison Square Garden, accompanied by the New York Philharmonic under the direction of David Robertson and with arrangements by Michael Kamen.
0:00