42 (song)
Encyclopedia
"42" is a song by alternative rock
band Coldplay
. It was written by all members of the band for their fourth album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
. The song, divided into three parts, does not have a chorus. The first part is a ballad with piano and strings. It then transforms into an uptempo rock arrangement with a guitar solo. Finally, the song ends with a multi-instrumental part.
A live version of "42" was featured on the band's 2009 live album, LeftRightLeftRightLeft
.
recording sessions, or it may be a reference to Douglas Adams
's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
. When asked by Q magazine if the song's title was Hitchhiker's-related, Chris Martin
said, "It is and it isn't." The band originally considered this song as the album's first single. "42" is a different song on Coldplay's career as it doesn't have a chorus and it's divided into three parts, starting with swirling pianos, then strings and beat loops that eventually build to an uptempo climax. In a track-by-track interview, the guitarist Jonny Buckland
revealed: "We've been trying for about two years now to record a song that didn't have any chorus and didn't really have any verses...and '42' was the only time we were able to do it successfully." Then frontman Chris Martin
added, "Although every time we tried we've called it 42, there are about nine '42' " Chris Martin also said in an interview for MTV that the track was called 42 because it was his "favorite number". Jonny Buckland used an ostrich tuning
in this song, tuning his guitar to F-F-F-f-f-f.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
. It was written by all members of the band for their fourth album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, often referred to as simply Viva la Vida is the fourth studio album by British rock band Coldplay, released on 11 June 2008 on Parlophone. The album was named after a Spanish phrase that translates in English as "long live life"...
. The song, divided into three parts, does not have a chorus. The first part is a ballad with piano and strings. It then transforms into an uptempo rock arrangement with a guitar solo. Finally, the song ends with a multi-instrumental part.
A live version of "42" was featured on the band's 2009 live album, LeftRightLeftRightLeft
LeftRightLeftRightLeft
LeftRightLeftRightLeft is a live album by English alternative rock band Coldplay, released at 9:00 am GMT on 15 May 2009. The album was given away for free at all of the remaining concerts on the Viva la Vida Tour and is available as a free download on the band's official website...
.
Writing and composition
The mysterious title "42" may have to do with the fact that there were 42 songs that were trashed during the X&YX&Y
X&Y is the third studio album by English rock band Coldplay, released 6 June 2005 in the United Kingdom via the record label Parlophone. The album, which features influences of electronic music, was produced by the band and British record producer Danton Supple...
recording sessions, or it may be a reference to Douglas Adams
Douglas Adams
Douglas Noel Adams was an English writer and dramatist. He is best known as the author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which started life in 1978 as a BBC radio comedy before developing into a "trilogy" of five books that sold over 15 million copies in his lifetime, a television...
's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a science fiction comedy series created by Douglas Adams. Originally a radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1978, it was later adapted to other formats, and over several years it gradually became an international multi-media phenomenon...
. When asked by Q magazine if the song's title was Hitchhiker's-related, Chris Martin
Chris Martin
Christopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English song-writer, who is the lead vocalist, pianist and rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay. He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.-Early life:...
said, "It is and it isn't." The band originally considered this song as the album's first single. "42" is a different song on Coldplay's career as it doesn't have a chorus and it's divided into three parts, starting with swirling pianos, then strings and beat loops that eventually build to an uptempo climax. In a track-by-track interview, the guitarist Jonny Buckland
Jonny Buckland
Jonathan Mark "Jonny" Buckland is an English guitarist and musician, best known as the lead guitarist of the band Coldplay.-Early life:...
revealed: "We've been trying for about two years now to record a song that didn't have any chorus and didn't really have any verses...and '42' was the only time we were able to do it successfully." Then frontman Chris Martin
Chris Martin
Christopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English song-writer, who is the lead vocalist, pianist and rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay. He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.-Early life:...
added, "Although every time we tried we've called it 42, there are about nine '42' " Chris Martin also said in an interview for MTV that the track was called 42 because it was his "favorite number". Jonny Buckland used an ostrich tuning
Ostrich guitar
Ostrich guitar is an alternative guitar tuning in which all the guitar strings are tuned to the same pitch class . The term was coined by The Velvet Underground's Lou Reed after the pre–Velvet Underground song "The Ostrich" by Lou Reed and The Primitives, on which this tuning was first used...
in this song, tuning his guitar to F-F-F-f-f-f.
Charts
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
123 |