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About

Genius Annotation

“Yellow” is the fifth track and second single from Coldplay’s 2000 debut album Parachutes. It is one of their oldest and most enduring hits, continuing to be a celebrated staple of live performances even today.

The title of the song came from the feel of the band during its composition, which was described as filled with “brightness and hope and devotion.” However, the lyrical content was inspired by lead singer Chris Martin’s “unrequited love”.

(Source: Coldplay: Nobody Said It Was Easy by Martin Roach)

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What inspired "Yellow"?
Genius Answer

One night while the whole band was outside, Co-Producer Ken Nelsen merely suggested that everyone “look at the stars” and organically inspired the lyrics of “Yellow.”

What have the artists said about the song?
Genius Answer

According to Unmask Us, singer Chris Martin said in an unquoted interview:

“Yellow” refers to the mood of the band. Brightness and hope and devotion. It’s quite concise – you don’t have to expand on it. It strikes a chord, gets across.

In 2005, during Coldplay’s performance on MTV Storytellers, Martin revealed the origins of the song:

This song just came out of the blue one night in Wales. Originally, it sounded like a Neil Young song, but it was missing this key word, and it used to go, “Look at the stars, look how they shine for you/And all the things you do…”, and there was this gap. So I was sitting there singing the song and I looked to the nearest book to me, and it was the Yellow Pages. In an alternate universe, this song would be called “Playboy.”

Live Performance
Genius Answer

Credits
Produced By
Percussion
Recording Engineer
Assistant Engineer
Mastering Engineer
Bass Guitar
Electric Guitar
Mellotron
Acoustic Guitar
Recorded At
Rockfield Studios
Release Date
June 26, 2000
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