Ammar Zia
H7
February 15, 2011
Rolling Stones Assignment
What makes a song extraordinary? Is it the lyrical interpretation that we can connect to?
Or is it the catchy tune that does not seem to disappear from our minds? Whatever the case may
be, Coldplay’s “The Scientist” encompasses the qualities
that are necessary for a song to be famed on “The 500
Greatest Songs of All Time” issue of the Rolling Stones
magazine. This song was first released in Great Britain at
the end of 2002, and was shortly released in the United
States a few months later. This song did well considering
the fact that the band was not as popular at the time. It
peaked at number 10 in the UK Charts, and at number 18 in Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks
(Wikipedia). This song has been covered by numerous of artists including Natasha Bedingfield,
Avril Lavigne, and Aimee Mann. It is no wonder that this song has been widely renowned.
Rolling Stone critic Rob Sheffield noted that “The fantastic piano ballad 'The Scientist' ... [has] a
cataclysmic falsetto finale that could raise every hair on the back of your neck” (Wikipedia).
“The Scientist” was written by Chris Martin who was influenced to write this song after
listening to George Harrison’s “All Things Must Past” and “Isn’t It a Pity”. The lyrical meaning
behind these two songs is similar and strong. Chris Martin managed to come up with this song
using an old piano he found in a hotel he was staying at in Liverpool. Later he recorded the song
at the studio (Wikipedia). This song’s success in the United States was partly due to September
11 attacks. This is because the album’s poignant songs have garnered larger audiences” (MTV).
The song does not use very complicated musical elements. Its deep meaning, however,
which is found in the lyrics, is expressed in a very emotional manner. Singer Chris Martin tells a
solemn story about a man who wishes to go back in time to correct a mistake that he had made.
He does a fantastic job creating a gloomy, yet hopeful voice that echoes in the listener’s mind.
Martin opens the song by saying “Come up to meet you, tell you I’m sorry / You don’t know
how lovely you are. / I had to find you, tell you I need you, / Tell you I set you apart.” This
displays his sorrow and his wanting to give forgiveness for the act he committed. He realizes that
living without his friend is extremely hard for him. He is emphasizing the fact that we take things
for granted and that we do not appreciate what we have until we lose those things. In the
following three verses, he mentions to “Take me back to the start” a couple of times. This shows
that he would love to have the opportunity to edit the wrong path he took which separated him
from his friend. He does not have an
explanation for the tragedy that has happened to
him, as he mentions “Questions of science,
science and progress / Do not speak as loud as
my heart.” in the fifth verse. Although he would
love to come up with a concrete (scientific, as
he calls it) synopsis that led to his problems
with love and desire, he is not able to since love
(and other human to human interactions) is more complicated than that. The song ends as Chris
sings “I’m goin’ back to the start”, as if he decides to get back with his friend one last time to try
last resort method that would hopefully save their relationship, as it is evident that he cannot live
this way. The final verse consists of two repeated “Ohhhh oooooo/ Ahhhhh oooooo” which
finishes the song leaving the listener feeling emotionally damaged (with its eerie tone), yet
somehow hopeful.
The tone of the song is distressing, which ties in with the theme. The theme, although
about two lovers, can also represent everyday problems: it does not have to relate with just love
relationships. I think this is what makes this song so powerful. Whether it be about tragedies
experienced by humans such as death of a loved one, financial trouble, or school-related
dilemmas, this song can connect with almost everyone in the world (which is rare).
The song is an acoustic driven song that begins with a three chord piano melody, which
gives the song its sad tone. Other instruments are added (such as guitars, drums, and symbols) as
the song progresses.
Overall, “The Scientist” is a musical masterpiece that deserves a spot on “The 500
Greatest Songs of All Time” issue of the Rolling Stones magazine. Coldplay used to be a small,
unknown band that nobody knew about. However, it has produced numerous hits, like “The
Scientist”, which has made the band very popular in the past few years. In an interview about
advertising, Chris mentioned that “It’s horrible that people can be bought like that. We don’t
want to be bought by a fizzy drink company.” Chris even mentioned that the band would not be
producing many more songs in the future, as he believes that quality surpasses quantity (VH1).
This shows how the band is not focused on the monetary aspect of success, but rather on
focusing the true task at hand: producing a song that would inspire many. Chris Martin does an
incredible job producing a song that means a lot to everyone. It leaves the listener feeling full of
mixed emotions, which is the point Martin was trying to get across: life is filled with unanswered
and complicated problems.