Speed of Sound (song)

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"Speed of Sound"
"Speed of Sound" cover
Single by Coldplay
from the album X&Y
B-side "Things I Don't Understand", "Proof"
Released 23 May 2005
Format 7", CD, 10", 12"
Genre Alternative Rock
Length 4:49
Label Parlophone
Writer Berryman, Buckland, Champion, Martin
Producer Coldplay, Ken Nelson, Danton Supple
Coldplay singles chronology
"God Put A Smile Upon Your Face"
(2003)		 "Speed of Sound"
(2005)		 "Fix You"
(2005)
X&Y track listing
"X&Y"
(6)		 "Speed of Sound"
(7)		 "A Message"
(8)

"Speed of Sound" is the lead single from Coldplay's 2005 album, X&Y. While it was premiered to fans in March 2005 at small warm-up gig in London, it made its radio premiere on BBC Radio 1 with Lamacq on the evening of Monday, 18 April 2005. Beginning with a piano riff the song builds into a huge, synth-heavy chorus: "Birds go flying at the speed of sound, to show you how it all began / Birds came flying from the underground, if you could see it then you'd understand." The song was inspired by the drum beat of Kate Bush's song, "Running Up That Hill".

"Speed of Sound" was infamously beaten to the number one spot on the UK Singles Chart by the novelty song "Axel F" by the Crazy Frog, instead peaking at number two for a week, although it did stay in the Top 75 for sixteen non-consecutive weeks. However, it became Coldplay's first UK Download #1, and also became Coldplay's first and biggest single to chart in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #8, making it arguably Coldplay's most successful single. "Speed of Sound" marked the first time a British band entered directly in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 chart since "Say You'll Be There" by the Spice Girls. The song was also the billionth song downloaded from Apple Inc.'s iTunes Store.

"Speed of Sound" appears on comedian "Weird Al" Yankovic's polka medley Polkarama in his October 2006 hit album, Straight Outta Lynwood, as well as the videogame SingStar Rocks!.

Contents

  1. "Speed of Sound" - 4:49
  2. "Things I Don't Understand" - 4:55
  3. "Proof" - 4:10

  • CD CDR6664, 7" R6664, 12" 12R6664, 10" 10R6664
  1. "Speed of Sound" - 4:49
  2. "Things I Don't Understand" - 4:55
  3. "Proof" - 4:10 (CD and 10" only)

  1. "Speed of Sound" - 4:49
  2. "Things I Don't Understand" - 4:55
  3. "Proof" - 4:10

Jon Buckland in "Speed of Sound" video
Jon Buckland in "Speed of Sound" video

The video promo for "Speed of Sound" was shot on a Los Angeles sound stage over 22–23 April 2005. Shooting took place on large sets backed by large LED displays developed by Element Labs. The performance based video was helmed by Mark Romanek, who was responsible for Linkin Park's "Faint," Johnny Cash's "Hurt" and Jay-Z's "99 Problems". The video earned 4 nominations at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards.

Year Award Category
2005 MTV Europe Music Awards Best Song
2006 BRIT Awards Best British Single
2006 ASCAP Awards Song of the Year

Year Award Category
2005 MTV Video Music Awards Video of the Year
2005 MTV Video Music Awards Best Special Effects
2005 MTV Video Music Awards Best Editing
2005 MTV Video Music Awards Best Cinematography
2006 Grammy Awards Best Rock Song
2006 Grammy Awards Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

v • d • e
Coldplay
Chris Martin · Jonny Buckland · Guy Berryman · Will Champion
Ken Nelson
Studio albums Parachutes · A Rush of Blood to the Head · X&Y · Fourth album
Live albums and EPs Safety EP · Brothers & Sisters EP · The Blue Room EP · Trouble Live EP · Live 2003
Compilations The Singles 1999-2006
Singles "Ode to Deodorant" · "Brothers & Sisters" · "Shiver" · "Yellow" · "Trouble" · "Don't Panic" · "In My Place" · "The Scientist" · "Clocks" · "God Put a Smile upon Your Face" · "Speed of Sound" · "Fix You" · "Talk" · "The Hardest Part" · "What If"
Featured singles "All Good Things (Come to an End)" · "Beach Chair" · "Graduation"
Tours A Rush of Blood to the Head · Twisted Logic
Related articles Discography
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_Sound_%28song%29"
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