Midnight - your review

[Sparky]

I am compiling an ultimate Coldplaying fan review of Ghost Stories.

 

It will be posted on the main site shortly after the best review for each song on the album is picked, your name will be listed in credit should your review be chosen! Closing date is Monday 26th May

 

Get your writing fingers ready! Good luck! :)

 

You can also vote in the poll too, out of 10 which will be interesting as its usually only when a pre-album single is released.

[lennyrott2]

Midnight, Coldplay's surprise single from Ghost Stories is perhaps its best crafted. Based on a Jon Hopkins track, it quickly becomes Coldplay's own, a pulsating dark, shimmering, and symbolic piece of work that brings the band's strengths for atmosphere to fruition. The song smartly takes its time to build, adding texture and electronics slowly and beautifully. Chris' vocoded voice is refreshing and haunting at the same time, and while properly drawing comparisons to Bon Iver and Imogen Heap, they remain distinctly his. The bleak lyrics also exemplify the vocal minimalism that is needed for such a track, and helps make the it all the more peaceful. The building synths near the climax are the best Ghost Stories has to offer, and the deep bass drum and unique flutelike notes paint an absolutely sublime picture of a dark, hazy sky speckled with stars. This is easily one of Coldplay's most beautiful and effective songs.

 

10/10

[the_escapist]

Without a doubt, Midnight is Coldplay's most experimental track to date. With its dark lyrics, it sees the use a vocal effect on Chris Martin's voice, which suits quite perfectly. It is a weird track not only because of the effects used, but also because there is no real climax: once you think the song is about to explode, it comes back down abruptly. On a first listen, it does not sound like classic Coldplay but rather like a very dark track from Bon Iver or James Blake. But as time goes by, the listener can find that it does count with some recognizable traits from the band. The effort is commendable in the sense that it shows that the band is willing to experiment and surf new waves when it comes to creating new music.

 

8/10

[SeeYouSoon42]

Musically the most experimantal song Coldplay have ever produced. Chris' vocals hiding behing a vocoder and the dark, deep pulsating bass make the song feel dark and like there's something hiding and there's something deeper to this track. The layers of synth are carried along by the repetitive bass and loops that are constantly being added to.

 

For me, Midnight is one of the best songs, musically, Coldplay have ever made.

 

9/10

[RhysBP]

Launched before the release announcement of the album, Midnight is as far away from old Coldplay as the band can get. Built around a pre-existing track from producer Jon Hopkins, Midnights features no guitar, minimal drums and a very different vocal sound. Yet, the experiment works a treat.

 

The song begins with the ticking of synthesizers that sound very foreboding before a heavily vocoded Martin chimes in with some rather dark lyrics. There aren’t a lot of lyrics in Midnight but you get the feeling this song is all about danger; just read the opening verse - “In the darkness before the dawn / In the swirling of the storm / When I’m rolling with the punches and hope is gone / Leave a light, a light on”.

 

A laser harp that produces the bass note takes part as the second verse commences, which again features dark lyrics (“When I’m rolling with the thunder / But bleed from thorns”). Some minimal piano helps bridge the choruses and you can feel a big climax coming in very soon. However, listeners will be very surprised. As Martin pleads for a light to be left on, the bass and drums pick up tempo as a rave like aura builds. Eventually, an arrangement of bubbling synths come in as they help bring the rave to a restrained end. You can be forgiven for not seeing that coming.

 

Whilst this song has be known to alienate Coldplay die hards, Midnight is the best song on the album. It is something new from the band and it remains to be seen if whether or not the quartet will go in this direction in the near future.

 

RATING - 5/5

[Lodova]

"Midnight"

I remember how boys threw this for us few months ago. I was afraid and at the same time excited. I was afraid because I thought full album is going to be like this. Don't get me wrong. I love music and melody, but vocals was too harmonized. And I was excited because I saw that they finally are going to a darker side. I like the fact that a lot of people don't like it. Boys aren't afraid of this kind of experiments and I feel grateful for them.

[Batman]

I like the fact that a lot of people don't like it.

Now that's such a hipster thing to say :lol:

 

 

Don't worry, I think I know why you do though. It kinda filters out all of them MX fangirlies that where like "OMFG EVERY TEAR IS A PARADISE IS MY FAV SONG~"

 

[getithom]

Oh God, this song. :dazzled: So many memories.

 

I had just arrived at work when this song premiered, and I was so, so mad about that. For some reason, this was the only day of the week where I was supposed to come in an hour earlier than I was supposed to, meaning I couldn't enjoy the premiere with everyone else like I was wanting to. Luckily (!!!), there was no business, so I snuck away into a car on the lot and listened.

 

I wish I had a .gif to express how I felt, honestly. I remember the common complaint with this song was, "Where's the climax?" and my face went from a smile-expecting-a-big-climax, to a half-smile-disappointed-no-climax-came. It didn't bother me too much, but I remember what we did get as a climax had me moving around and sort of dancing in the car I was in. Even though I had a hard time getting used to it, I did very much like the song, but was so not used to the sound and departure of their "signature sound", that I convinced myself (and others, too!) that it would be the A Spell A Rebel Yell of this era. I was wrong of course, but have since come around greatly to it and consider it one of the best things Coldplay has made.

 

Also: dat laser bass.

 

4/5

[charliebrown0012]

Im a huge coldplay fan

but i feel this song is such a letdown in the album the only bad song in it.

I tried my best to love or like this song since Feb. but the highest it got to my rating is a 5/10

but now its just a 3/10

 

BORING

worst part of the album........ i want to skip this so bad.....

vocoder doesnt work anymore for me feel unnatural and too empty

I cant force myself to love this anylonger - 3/10

[Wilson]

Honestly after the first listen I didn't really know what to think of this song. I remember thinking "I've waited 3 years for this?". I thought it was a huge change for Coldplay. I didn't know what to think about their new direction they were going in. After listened to it 10 more times or so it began to grow on me tramendously! So much so to where now it's probably my favorite song off the album! I love how the vocoder Chris uses makes me feel alone in a cold winter night! This song is so relaxing! Every time I close my eyes the song just takes me into another world! I'd give this song a 8/10

[wcd199317]

My favorite song of the album after the first listen. Love the vocader Chris used in this song, it's suit perfectly with the electronic, spiritual and ambient vibe of this song. A piece of art and so beautiful to listen to debut of end. Perfect for all mood (calm or agited). The lyrical content, so personal, was also the major point of this song. A piece of art.

Edited May 11, 2022 by wcd199317