Sparks (Coldplay song)

Last updated

"Sparks"
Song by Coldplay
from the album Parachutes
Released10 July 2000 (2000-07-10)
RecordedNovember 1999 – May 2000 [1]
Genre
Length3:47
Label Parlophone
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"Sparks" is a song by the British rock band Coldplay. It was written by all members of the group and co-produced by Ken Nelson for their debut album, Parachutes (2000). [2] Described as a "calming" piece, the song had a chart resurgence in the 2020s. [3]

Contents

Recording

According to producer Ken Nelson, "Sparks" was recorded at the same time as "We Never Change". [2] He described it as "basically a live take", with Jonny Buckland adding his guitar parts afterwards. [2] The lyrics of the song tell the story of a person asking for a second chance after letting down their partner ("And I know I was wrong" / "But I won't let you down"). [4] Mary Siroky from Consequence noted that "the waltz tempo ensures a feeling of intimacy and romantic longing persists". [5]

Reception

"Sparks" has been ranked among Coldplay's best works by Billboard , [6] and Consequence . [5] The former also included the song on their "40 Best Deep Cuts of 2000" list, pointing out that it contains "many of the touchstones that would become synonymous with the British rock band in the ensuing decades", from the hopeless romanticism of the lyrics to the use of interjections. [7] The song experienced a resurgence on music charts in the 2020s, [3] after going viral on TikTok. [8]

Performances

The band have consistently performed "Sparks" throughout the Parachutes (2000–01), [9] and Music of the Spheres (2022–25) tours. [10]

Covers and samples

American R&B singer Brandy integrated the opening lyrics of the song in "I Tried", from her album Afrodisiac (2004). [11] Kristina Train covered "Sparks" for I Give It a Year , a British romantic comedy released in 2013. [12] Ten years later, Jordana shared a cover of the track as well. [13]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. [14]

Band members
Additional personnel

Charts

Chart performance for "Sparks"
Chart (2022–2025)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [15] 71
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [16] 64
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [17] 68
Greece International (IFPI) [18] 52
Ireland (IRMA) [19] 32
Lithuania (AGATA) [20] 82
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit) [21] 49
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [22] 95
Norway (IFPI Norge) [23] 71
Philippines (Philippines Hot 100) [24] 71
Portugal (AFP) [25] 95
Singapore (RIAS) [26] 19
UK Singles (OCC) [27] 19
US Billboard Hot 100 [28] 77
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [29] 9

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for "Sparks"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [30] 2× Platinum140,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [31] Gold45,000
Italy (FIMI) [32]
Sales since 2009
Gold50,000
New Zealand (RMNZ) [33] 3× Platinum90,000
Portugal (AFP) [34] 2× Platinum50,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [35] Gold30,000
United Kingdom (BPI) [36] Platinum1,075,997 [a]

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. British total sales for "Sparks" as of September 2025. [37]

References

  1. Wild, Debs; Croft, Malcolm (2018). Life In Technicolor: A Celebration of Coldplay. ECW. p. 46–50. ISBN   9781787391093.
  2. 1 2 3 "Ken Nelson: Recording Coldplay's Parachutes". Sound On Sound. October 2000. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Coldplay's Sparks Ignites on Charts After Chris Martin & Dakota Johnson Breakup". Billboard. 18 June 2025. Archived from the original on 18 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  4. "Coldplay: The Hidden Stories and Meanings Behind Every Song on Parachutes Revealed". NME. 15 July 2015. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Coldplay's 10 Best Songs". Consequence. 13 October 2021. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  6. "The 50 Best Coldplay Songs: Staff Picks". Billboard. 21 November 2019. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  7. "The 40 Best Deep Cuts of 2000". Billboard. 26 March 2020. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  8. "Every Coldplay Album, Ranked". Spin. 6 October 2024. Archived from the original on 12 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  9. "Coldplay Concert Setlist at Shepherd's Bush Empire, London". Setlist FM. 23 October 2000. Archived from the original on 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  10. "Scaletta Concerto Coldplay 2023: Music of the Spheres World Tour" [Coldplay's 2023 Concert Setlist: Music of the Spheres World Tour]. Tag 24 by Unicusano (in Italian). 19 April 2023. Archived from the original on 25 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  11. "Afrodisiac". Entertainment Weekly. 5 July 2004. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  12. "UMP Syncs for I Give It A Year". Universal Music Publishing Group. 30 January 2013. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  13. "Jordana – Sparks (Coldplay Cover)". Stereogum. 30 May 2023. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  14. "Credits / Parachutes / Coldplay". 10 July 2000. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  15. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 18 August 2025". The ARIA Report. No. 1850. Australian Recording Industry Association. 18 August 2025. p. 4.
  16. "Coldplay Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  17. "Coldplay Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  18. "Official IFPI Charts — Digital Singles Chart (International) — Εβδομάδα: 24/2024" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  19. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  20. "2025 36-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  21. "Top Radio Hits Lithuania Weekly Chart: Jul 3, 2025". TopHit. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  22. "Coldplay – Sparks" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  23. "Singel 2025 uke 36". IFPI Norge . Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  24. "Philippines Hot 100 (Week of August 16, 2025)". Billboard Philippines . 13 August 2025. Archived from the original on 13 August 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  25. "Coldplay – Sparks". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  26. "RIAS Top Charts Week 5 (26 Jan – 1 Feb 2024)". RIAS. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  27. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  28. "Coldplay Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  29. "Coldplay Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  30. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  31. "Danish single certifications – Coldplay – Sparks". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  32. "Italian single certifications – Coldplay – Sparks" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  33. "New Zealand single certifications – Coldplay – Sparks". Radioscope. Retrieved 17 July 2025.Type Sparks in the "Search:" field.
  34. "Portuguese single certifications – Coldplay – Sparks" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa . Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  35. "Awards Record". El Portal de Música (Select "Coldplay" on the "Artist" drop down menu) (in Spanish). 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  36. "British single certifications – Coldplay – Sparks". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  37. "Charts Analysis: Record-Breaking K-Pop Chart Takeover Led by K-Pop Demon Hunters" . Music Week. 29 August 2025. Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.