Atlas (Coldplay song) explained

Atlas
Cover:Atlas cover.png
Type:single
Artist:Coldplay
Genre:Alternative rock
Label:Parlophone
Chronology:Coldplay
Prev Title:Hurts Like Heaven
Prev Year:2012
Next Title:Magic
Next Year:2014

"Atlas" is a song by British rock band Coldplay for , the soundtrack to the 2013 American science-fiction adventure film . It was released digitally as the lead single from the soundtrack on 6 September 2013 worldwide, and on 8 September in the United Kingdom. The song was accompanied by a lyric video, which also premiered on 6 September.

"Atlas" has charted in 16 countries and reached top ten positions in three of them, and has also received mostly positive reviews from music critics. The ballad, won the Hollywood Song Award at the 17th Hollywood Film Awards, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

Background and recording

"Atlas" was Coldplay's first new track in almost two years, as the band's fifth studio album Mylo Xyloto had been released in October 2011. The song was written in early 2013, at the beginning of the recording sessions for the band's sixth studio album Ghost Stories, and recorded between April and July at The Beehive, one of the band's two studios in London. The sound of "Atlas" was influential in shaping that of Ghost Stories and Coldplay had originally considered including the track on the album, but it was ultimately left out of the tracklist.[1] [2] "Atlas" is not the first musical piece Coldplay have written for a film,[3] but it's the first one the band has released exclusively as part of a soundtrack, without re-using it for any of their following studio recordings.[4] The song "We're a Team" from the same movie score is also co-written by Coldplay, and features elements of "Atlas".[5]

"I have great respect and admiration for Coldplay, and we are thrilled with how well they have connected to the themes and ideas within the film. Their unwavering passion and excitement for the project elevated the collaboration even further, and we can't wait to share this music with audiences around the world," said the film's director Francis Lawrence.[4] "We are so honored that Coldplay, one of the iconic rock bands of our generation, will perform the first song out on the new soundtrack. Knowing that Chris Martin is a fan of the books makes this even more meaningful. The Coldplay single underscores the stature of recording artists we've assembled for this powerful soundtrack," added Tracy McKnight, Lionsgate's Head of Film Music.[6]

Composition

The song was written by all band members and produced by Rik Simpson (with whom the band has previously worked on Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends and Mylo Xyloto), Daniel Green (Mylo Xyloto) and Coldplay themselves.

The song is a down-tempo ballad, featuring a delicate piano refrain with a "moody, haunting melody", and showcasing Martin's lower-register vocals.[7] According to some reviewers, it sounds "less like more recent Coldplay tracks and more like a throwback to their sound on A Rush of Blood to the Head,"[8] and "like a tossed-off remnant from the outfit's early days, before it began experimenting with deep rhythms and vivid textures." The piano builds to a bolder,[8] "anthemic-quality" chorus with richly layered production,[7] reminiscent of the band's fifth studio album, Mylo Xyloto.

Catching Fires major themes informed the song lyrics, with multiple references to recurring elements of the story as well as to mythology and spirituality. According to Billboard magazine, "the lyrics abstractly touch upon main characters Katniss and Peeta's mutual reliance."[9]

Critical reception

Upon release, "Atlas" received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Michael Nelson of Stereogum called the track "a swooning, appropriately cinematic ballad".[10] Erin Coulehan of Rolling Stone wrote, "The dreamy tune features a classic Coldplay presentation, with twinkling piano that builds as Chris Martin croons 'I'll carry your world'".[11] "The dreamy, piano-driven track was clearly written specifically for 'Catching Fire,’ with lyrics like "some bend the bow" — about bow-and-arrow-wielding heroine Katniss, presumably – and "caught in the fire" (pretty self-explanatory)," wrote Karen Lanza of PopCrush.[12]

Upon release of the soundtrack album, Consequence of Sound's Rob Hakimian called the song "spirited",[13] and AllMusic's Heather Phares described it as "typically sweeping and earnest".[14] Randall Roberts of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "Coldplay is here too, but in a battle with Lorde's haunting version of Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", Lorde would forever reign supreme".[15] Slant Magazine's Blue Sullivan commented that "'Atlas' is autopilot Coldplay dipping into its back catalogue for a paycheck, but at least it approximates a pulse. Though the band may have zero insider-cred, 'Atlas' proves that 'Clocks' played at three-quarter speed with most of the chorus scooped out still runs rings around most of the current zeitgeist".[16] 3voor12 listed the song among the best of the year.[17]

Awards and accolades

On 15 October 2013, it was announced that "Atlas" would receive the Hollywood Song Award at the 17th Hollywood Film Awards. The song was also performed at the gala ceremony, which took place on 21 October 2013 at the Beverly Hilton hotel. Carlos de Abreau, the Hollywood Film Awards founder and executive director, told The Hollywood Reporter, "The Hollywood Film Awards is thrilled to present the Hollywood Song Award to a band as globally respected and prolific as Coldplay. They continue to build their legacy and, with 'Atlas' marking the first time they have recorded for a motion picture, we cannot think of an artist better deserving of this honor."[18]

On 7 December 2013, "Atlas" received a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Song Written for Visual Media category.[19] [20] On 12 December 2013, it was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

Commercial performance

"Atlas" has achieved moderate chart success, having charted in 16 countries. The song debuted at number twelve in the United Kingdom with sales of 19,546,[21] and has reached top ten positions in the Netherlands, Italy and Switzerland. In the United States, it has reached number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 12 on the Rock Songs chart, and number 18 on the Alternative Songs chart. "Atlas" was also reported to have reached number one positions on iTunes Store charts in 43 countries upon its release.[22] As of August 2014, "Atlas" has sold 246,000 downloads in the US.[23]

Music video

A lyric video, reflecting the art style associated with The Hunger Games, premiered on music video website Vevo on the day of the single's release.[24] It was directed by Mario Hugo and featured illustration by Micah Lidberg.[24] [25] The video "follows a shooting star coursing through the universe while tracing various constellations in the zodiac to the point of supernova."[11]

Ray Rahman of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "Three things the internet is definitely not tired of yet – Coldplay, The Hunger Games, and high-production lyric videos – have all converged in the form of "Atlas." (...) The just-released visual is an intense affair set on an astral plane, full of all sorts of Olympian imagery designed to get you excited for Katniss' return to the big screen this November."[26]

Personnel

Adapted from liner notes of the "Atlas" single.[27]

Coldplay
Additional personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Atlas"! Chart (2013)! Peak
position
Iceland (RÚV)[28] 18
Italy (FIMI)[29] 9
Italy Airplay (EarOne)[30] 25
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[31] 41
Slovenia (SloTop50)[32] 44

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Atlas"! Chart (2013)! Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[33] 104
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[34] 94
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[35] 83

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatLabel
Italy[36] 6 September 2013Contemporary hit radioUniversal Music
United States[37] Digital downloadParlophone
United Kingdom[38] 8 September 2013
United States[39] [40] [41] [42] 9 September 2013Adult album alternative radioRepublic Records
10 September 2013Modern rock radio
14 October 2013Hot adult contemporary radio
15 October 2013Contemporary hit radio

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Atlas. Coldplay Timeline. 6 September 2013. 31 August 2021.
  2. Coldplay . 19 May 2014 . Making of Ghost Stories . TV show. . Ghost Stories (provisional track listing): [...] 4. "Atlas" [...].
  3. Web site: Viva la Vida track by track interview. EMI. 31 August 2021. "The Escapist" was written for a film. [...] This film company aproached us [and] wanted to use a new song for a film called The Escapist [and the song] features right at the very end of it..
  4. Web site: Coldplay reveal new song 'Atlas', taken from 'The Hunger Games' soundtrack - listen . NME. 6 September 2013. 7 September 2013.
  5. Web site: Coldplay written "Atlas" and "We're a Team" for The Hunger Games. 12 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20181119012356/https://coldplaying.com/coldplay-co-wrote-were-a-team-with-james-newton-howard-for-catching-fire-according-to-ascap/. 19 November 2018. dead.
  6. Web site: Coldplay's 'Atlas' is first single from 'Hunger Games' soundtrack . . 9 August 2013 . 11 September 2013.
  7. Web site: Coldplay unveils their new single "Atlas" . Radio Creme Brulee . 6 September 2013 . 8 December 2013.
  8. Web site: Does Coldplay's New Catching Fire Single "Atlas" Sound Like Their Old Stuff? . https://web.archive.org/web/20130911141649/http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2013-09-06/coldplay-catching-fire-atlas . dead . 11 September 2013 . . Meghan . O'Keefe . 6 September 2013 . 8 December 2013.
  9. Coldplay Heads To 'Hunger Games' on 'Atlas' Single: Listen. 6 September 2013. . 7 September 2013.
  10. Web site: Coldplay – "Atlas" . Michael . Nelson . . 6 September 2013 . 7 September 2013.
  11. Coldplay Return With 'Atlas' . Erin . Coulehan . . 6 September 2013 . 7 September 2013 . 8 September 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130908101107/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/coldplay-return-with-atlas-20130906 . dead .
  12. Web site: Listen to Coldplay, 'Atlas' From 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire'. Karen. Lanza. PopCrush. 7 September 2013. 8 September 2013.
  13. Web site: Hakimiar . Rob . 19 November 2013 . Album Review: Various Artists – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Soundtrack . Consequence of Sound.
  14. Web site: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] - Various Artists ]. Heather . Phares . . 8 December 2013.
  15. Web site: Review: 'Hunger Games' is perfect pop for the PG-13 set . . Randall . Roberts . 19 November 2013 . 8 December 2013.
  16. Web site: Original Soundtrack The Hunger Games: Catching Fire . Blue . Sullivan . . 24 November 2013 . 8 December 2013.
  17. Web site: 14 December 2013 . Daft Punk – Get Lucky Is de Song Van Het Jaar 2013 . Daft Punk – Get Lucky Is the Song of the Year 2013 . live . https://archive.today/20240109024342/https://3voor12.vpro.nl/artikelen/overzicht/2013/song-van-het-jaar/Uitslag-Song-Van-Het-Jaar-2013.html . 9 January 2024 . 9 January 2024 . 3voor12 . nl.
  18. Web site: Coldplay to Receive Honor for 'Hunger Games' Song at Hollywood Film Awards (Exclusive) . Scott . Feinberg . . 15 October 2013 . 15 October 2013.
  19. Web site: 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees . Grammy Awards . 7 December 2013.
  20. Web site: Atlas nominated for Grammy Award! . Coldplay.com . 7 December 2013 . 8 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131212020130/http://coldplay.com/newsdetail.php?id=1352 . 12 December 2013 . dead .
  21. Web site: Official Charts Analysis: Arctic Monkeys' AM doubles predecessor's week-one sales . Alan . Jones . . 16 September 2013 . 8 December 2013 . 3 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205823/http://www.musicweek.com/businessanalysis/read/official-charts-analysis-arctic-monkeys-am-doubles-predecessor-s-week-one-sales/056069 . dead .
  22. Coldplay to Be Honored for 'Hunger Games' Song . Kory . Grow . . 15 October 2013 . 8 December 2013 . 6 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160506225248/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/coldplay-to-be-honored-for-hunger-games-song-20131015 . dead .
  23. The Inside Story of How Lorde Came to Rule 'The Hunger Games' . Phil . Gallo . 8 August 2014 . Billboard.
  24. Web site: Coldplay - Atlas (Hunger Games: Catching Fire)(Lyric) . . 7 September 2013.
  25. Web site: Coldplay - Atlas . MarioHugo.com . 6 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140506210748/http://www.mariohugo.com/work/atlas-from-the-hunger-games-catching-fire-soundtrack- . 6 May 2014 . dead .
  26. Coldplay debut 'Hunger Games' song 'Atlas' via elaborate lyric video: Watch it here . Ray . Rahman. . 6 September 2013 . 7 September 2013.
  27. "Atlas" . . 2013 . liner notes . Parlophone.
  28. Web site: Coldplay Chart History. RÚV. 7 March 2016 . 19 June 2017.
  29. Web site: Top Digital Download - Classifica settimanale WK 36 (dal 02-09-2013 al 08-09-2013) . . it . 19 September 2013 . 7 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160307012334/http://fimi.it/main/chart_id/1646 . dead .
  30. Web site: Earone Airplay - Settimana #38 dal 13/09/2013 al 19/09/2013. it. Earone.
  31. Coldplay Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay) . . 24 May 2021.
  32. Web site: SloTop50: Slovenian official singles weekly chart. SloTop50. sl. 15 September 2013. 6 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180106063918/http://www.slotop50.si/Glasbene-lestvice/Tedenske-lestvice/?year=2013&week=37. dead.
  33. Web site: Jaarlijsten 2013. nl. Dutch Top 40. 11 May 2022.
  34. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2013. MegaCharts. nl. 21 December 2019.
  35. Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2013 . . 21 December 2014.
  36. Web site: Coldplay – Atlas (Universal) . https://archive.today/20140726042526/http://www.radioairplay.fm/RadioDate/PublicDetails/41175/COLDPLAY-Atlas-Universal . dead . 26 July 2014 . Radio Airplay SRL . 21 July 2014 . Mompellio, Gabriel . it .
  37. Web site: Atlas – Coldplay . . . 21 July 2014.
  38. Web site: Pre-order Atlas from UK iTunes . . 30 August 2013 . 21 July 2014 . Anchorman.
  39. Web site: Triple A > Future Releases . All Access Music Group . 5 September 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130821042353/http://www.allaccess.com/triple-a/future-releases . 21 August 2013 . live.
  40. Web site: Alternative > Future Releases . All Access Music Group . 5 September 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130628222743/http://www.allaccess.com/alternative/future-releases . 28 June 2013 . live.
  41. Web site: Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases . All Access Music Group . 5 September 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130926131837/http://www.allaccess.com/hot-modern-ac/future-releases . 26 September 2013 . live.
  42. Web site: Top 40/M Future Releases . All Access Music Group . 5 September 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130921075435/http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases . 21 September 2013 . live.