Shiver

When one delves into *Shiver*, the first sensation is one of intimate, almost confessional melancholy. Chris Martin, the main songwriter, has mentioned that the lyrics were born from a "gloomy" day, a moment of doubt about whether he would ever find the right person. He himself described it as a sort of "stalker song," written for someone in particular, which adds a layer of intensity to the interpretation. While there was media speculation about whether it was the Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia, with whom he was linked at the time, Martin has denied that she was the direct inspiration. Instead, it seems that the experiences of his youthful relationships and early twenties were the true creative engine. The song, which lasts around 5 minutes, falls into the alternative rock genre, and a connection with the style of Jeff Buckley, an artist who notably influenced the early days of Coldplay, is clearly perceived. In fact, Martin has gone so far as to say it is his "most blatant imitation."

The recording of *Shiver* took place at Rockfield Studios in Wales, a place where the band settled to shape their debut album, Parachutes. A&R representative Dan Keeling was not entirely convinced with the initial demos, feeling they lacked the energy and passion that characterized the group. He asked them to re-record, and they did. Additional parts of the song were completed at Parr Street Studios in Liverpool, where they moved after Christmas 1999. The production was handled by Coldplay along with British producer Ken Nelson, who used an analog console for the recording. To achieve the desired sound, the guitar was re-recorded several times, and Martin tuned his instrument in a particular way to facilitate the creation of more complex chord sequences. Curiously, Martin's vocals were recorded in multiple takes, but the band opted for the one done in a single pass. *Shiver* was written two years before its release and had already been performed in concerts since 1999. It was released as the first single from the album in the UK on March 6, 2000, and later, on April 9, 2001, as the second single in the United States, after *Yellow*.