Life in Technicolor II
"Life in Technicolor II" (stylised "Life in Technicolor ii"), is a song by British rock band Coldplay and the first single from the band's 2008 EP, Prospekt's March.[1] The song is the full, vocal version of the instrumental track "Life in Technicolor" from Coldplay's fourth studio album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends.[2] A promo CD single for the song was released in December 2008.[3] The official single was released on 2 February 2009 on 7" vinyl and digital download.[4] The single includes the previously unreleased and unheard track "The Goldrush", one of the few Coldplay songs featuring lead vocals by drummer Will Champion.[5] It was nominated for two Grammy Award for the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards; "Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" and "Best Music Video".[6]
"Life in Technicolor II" | ||||
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Single by Coldplay | ||||
from the EP Prospekt's March | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 2 February 2009 | |||
Recorded | 2008 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | Parlophone | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | ||||
Coldplay singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Life in Technicolor II" on YouTube |
"Life in Technicolor" | |
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Song by Coldplay | |
from the album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends | |
Released | 12 June 2008 |
Genre | |
Length | 2:30 |
Label | |
Songwriter(s) |
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"Life in Technicolor II" starts with a loop consisting of a santoor accompanied by tabla-like percussion. The loop is then repeated through the verses and part of the chorus.
Music video
The music video premiered on 20 January 2009 on 4Music and Channel 4.[7] The video starts out with kids sitting and awaiting a traditional Punch and Judy puppet show and features the band performing as puppets in the Aldenham War Memorial Hall. However, the puppet show becomes increasingly extravagant as the video goes on, eventually featuring pyrotechnics and frontman Chris Martin crowd surfing over the children. Finally, the puppet band members board a small helicopter and after taking off, drummer Will Champion throws his drumsticks onto a random child before crashing through a window as they fly away.[8] James Clarkson[9] and Coldplay's fifth member, Phil Harvey, can be seen in the video.[10]
The director of this video is Dougal Wilson. The video was nominated in the Best Art Direction in a Video and Best Visual Effects in a Video categories at the UK Music Video Awards 2009,[11] as well as Best Music Video at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.
References in popular culture
The instrumental version of this song (released on Viva la Vida) can be heard as the film Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian ends during a scene with Ben Stiller and Amy Adams. It was also used on Sky Sports' "Ford Super Sunday" coverage during the 2008/2009 as well as "Match of the Day" during the same season. This version was used at the beginning of the Great Yarmouth (UK) Hippodrome Circus show 2009. NFL Network also used it for their coverage of the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine and also for their coverage of the 2009 NFL Draft. The song was also played during the opening montage of the 2009 ESPY Awards. The instrumental version of the song is used in London Eye's pre-flight 4D Experience show. A portion of the instrumental version is also used in Apple Inc.'s introduction of the 2008 MacBook Air, as well as the introduction of the Late 08 MacBook.[12] The song was also used in a promotional on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) for PBS's primary programming. Life in Technicolor II was used in an advertisement for Wimbledon 2013 on ESPN.
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Life in Technicolor II" | 4:05 |
2. | "Life in Technicolor II" (Live at The O2, London) | 3:36 |
3. | "The Goldrush" | 2:29 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Life in Technicolor II" (Radio edit) | 3:12 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Life in Technicolor II" (Pop edit) | 3:14 |
2. | "Life in Technicolor II" (Radio edit) | 3:37 |
3. | "Life in Technicolor II" (Instrumental) | 4:06 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Life in Technicolor II" (Radio edit) | 3:37 |
2. | "Life in Technicolor II" (Prospekt's March version) | 4:05 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Life in Technicolor II" | 4:05 |
2. | "The Goldrush" | 2:29 |
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Release history
Country | Date | Format |
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United Kingdom | December 2008 | Promotional CD |
United Kingdom | 20 January 2009 | Music video (airplay) |
Various | 20 January 2009 | Music video (YouTube streaming) |
United Kingdom, the Netherlands | 30 January 2009 | Digital download |
United Kingdom | 2 February 2009 | 7" vinyl |
References
- "Capitol International". 23 November 2008. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011.
- Fletcher, Alex. "Coldplay: 'Life In Technicolor ii'". Digitalspy.com. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ""Life in Technicolor ii" promotional single information". Coldplaying.com. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- "News: Life In Technicolor ii to be single". Coldplay.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- Balls, David. "B-side of the Week: Coldplay's 'Goldrush'". Digitalspy.com. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- "The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards Nominees List". Grammy.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- "News: Sneak preview of the "Life In Technicolor ii" video". Coldplay.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/morning/story.aspx?storyid=100810&catid=25
- Light, David. "A view to a chill". Khaleej Times.
- ColdplayTV (23 January 2009). "Life In Technicolor ii - Coldplay". YouTube. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
- Knight, David (30 September 2009). "UK Music Video Awards 2009 – the Technical Achievement Award nominations in full". Promo News. Archived from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
- "MacBook Late 08 - YouTube". YouTube.com. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
- "Austriancharts.at – Coldplay – Life in Technicolor II" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- "Ultratop.be – Coldplay – Life in Technicolor II" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- "Ultratop.be – Coldplay – Life in Technicolor II" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- "Coldplay Chart History". RÚV. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- "Irish-charts.com – Discography Coldplay". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 11, 2009" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Coldplay – Life in Technicolor II" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- "Swisscharts.com – Coldplay – Life in Technicolor II". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- "Coldplay Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- "Coldplay Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- "Coldplay Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2009". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 19 April 2020.