A Rush of Blood to the Head is the second album by Coldplay, released on August 26, 2002 in the UK and on August 27 in the U.S.. It was as successful as its predecessor, Parachutes, debuting at #1 in the United Kingdom, moving 273,000 copies, and at #5 in the United States, moving 144,000 copies in the first week.

A Rush of Blood to the Head won the 2002 Grammy for Best Alternative Album. The album received generally good reviews, and many critics considered it better than Coldplay’s first album, Parachutes. In 2003, the album was ranked number 473 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

The album includes “guitar-pop” singles (“In My Place“), ballads (“The Scientist“), and acoustic songs (“Green Eyes“). However, the U2-esque epic rock of the album’s opening track “Politik“, the synth-driven “Clocks“, and the loud guitars of “A Whisper” were seen to extend the band’s musical range. The album also had greater use of piano than Coldplay’s debut album or that of many other rock bands popular at the time. “Clocks,” a song centered around a cyclic piano riff and included on the album only at the last minute, ultimately became the band’s largest hit to date, earning the band a Grammy for Record of the Year.

A Rush Of Blood To The Head: Album Reviews

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Tracklisting

All songs written by Berryman/Buckland/Champion/Martin.

Cover Art

The cover art for A Rush of Blood to the Head was designed by photographer Sølve Sundsbø. Sundsbø had been hired by fashion magazine Dased and Confused in the late 1990s to produce something with a “technological feel, something all white”. As an artist, he tried to do “stuff that hasn’t been done before, which is virtually impossible”; he suggested taking shots using a three-dimensional scanning machine.

The model for the shot wore an all-white makeup because it produces the “best results”; for the image, the model wore a twill-coloured cape. The computer could not read the colours so it was replaced with spikes, and the head in the image was chopped because the machine only scanned 30 centimetres. The editor of the magazine liked the image and eventually featured it in one of their publications. Chris Martin saw the image in the magazine and approached Sundsbø for permission to use the image as the cover of A Rush of Blood to the Head. For the album’s singles, Martin asked Sundsbø what he could do; the latter suggested scanning the head of each member of the band. The album cover was among the ten chosen by the Royal Mail for a set of “Classic Album Cover” postage stamps issued in January 2010.

Awards

Singles

Cover
	“In My Place“ Released: 5 August 2002 Producers: Coldplay, Ken Nelson Video Director: Sophie Muller Chart position: #2 (Canada, UK), #3 (Latvia), #17 (US Modern Rock)
	“The Scientist“ Released: 4 November 2002 (UK), 11 November 2002 (US) Producers: Coldplay, Ken Nelson Video Director: Jamie Thraves Chart positions: #1 (Peru), #6 (Latvia), #10 (UK), #18 (US Modern Rock), #16 (Canada), #40 (Australia)
	“Clocks“ Released: 24 March 2003 Producers: Coldplay, Ken Nelson Video Directors: Dominic Leung Chart position: #1 (Latvia), #2 (Netherlands), #7 (Canada), #9 (UK Singles Chart, U.S. Modern Rock), #28 (Australia), #29 (U.S. Billboard Hot 100)
	“God Put A Smile Upon Your Face“ Released: 14 July 2003 Producers: Coldplay, Ken Nelson Video Director: Jamie Thraves Chart position: #13 (Latvia), #43 (Australia), #38 (NL), #100 (UK Import)

Release

The album was released in various countries.

Certifications, peaks and sales

The Oracle on A Rush of Blood to the Head

January 24, 2011 – submitted by Veronica, Argentina

Q. Dear Oracle,

Recently you have answered a question from Stephen affirming that there’s a song of AROBTTH that was “sort of dedicated to a flower”. Could you tell us which is it?

Thanks a lot and greetings from Argentina!

The Oracle replies:

I’ll tell you the song yeah, it’s Warning Sign.

January 19, 2011 – submitted by Stephen, United Kingdom

Q. I was a little unwell when it came out but I developed a theory that every song on A Rush of Blood to the Head was dedicated to a flower. Was I mad?

The Oracle replies:

You were indeed mad Stephen although… one track was sort of dedicated to a flower.

July 5, 2010 – submitted by Jay, United Kingdom

Q. Dear Oracle,

I have been trying to work this out for months now, and I had the idea to ask you.

What is the Rush of Blood to the head Album artwork based on?

Thanks in Advance

The Oracle replies:

Watch out for Anchorman’s look at AROBTTH in a future installment of his Cover Artwork series…

October 24, 2008 – submitted by Hector, United States of America

Q. Who came up with the album cover of Coldplays 2nd album, A Rush of Blood to the Head? It’s amazing.

The Oracle replies:

The cover is the creation of Norwegian artist Solve Sundsbo.

August 21, 2008 – submitted by hera, United States of America

Q. On the cover of A Rush of Blood to the Head, it says; The Scientist is Dan. What does that mean?

The Oracle replies:

Dan Keeling was the guy who signed them to Parlophone. He was their A&R man before he moved on a few years ago. Dan not only bore inspiration for the song of the same name but also the album in terms of being quite harsh with his honest opinions during recording. Referring to him as The Scientist was a compliment even though The Scientist isn’t a biographical song about Dan.

Parachutes is the debut album by Coldplay, released on July 10, 2000 in the UK and on November 7 in the U.S., making it the only Coldplay album to have a delayed release in America. Parachutes quickly shot to number one in the United Kingdom, staying in the top ten for thirty-three weeks.

The album produced four hit singles: “Shiver“, “Yellow“, “Trouble“, and “Don’t Panic“. In the United States, the album peaked at fifty-one on the Billboard 200, eventually selling over two million copies.

Parachutes was placed #14 in Channel 4’s 100 greatest albums of all time. In 2006 the album was placed #33 in NME’s 100 greatest British albums. Still, Chris Martin said in 2006 that Coldplay looks beyond Parachutes: “We know that’s terrible music,” he said, “and we always try to think about what we can do next.[1]

Parachutes: Album Reviews

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Parachutes was recognized to have an alternative rock sound similar to alt-rock band Radiohead in their The Bends–OK Computer era. In fact, it has been suggested that the album’s commercial success was due in part to a portion of Radiohead’s audience being alienated by the band’s experimental and more electronic-influenced Kid A album.[2][3]

Lush and often quiet, the music in Parachutes is quite removed from the pop/rock anthems that would dominate Coldplay’s later works, especially X&Y. The folksy, easy listening feel of the album is the only one of its kind in the band’s discography, and most songs here, such as “High Speed”, “We Never Change” and the title track, are driven by acoustic guitars, subtly layered electric parts, and delicate piano melodies. More upbeat tracks like “Shiver” and “Yellow” employ louder guitar riffs, albeit never entering the genre of ‘hard rock’. This proved to be rather unique at its time, as the British music scene was just emerging from the 90’s, wherein the crunching guitar songs of bands such as Oasis reigned. However, the highest selling UK album of the previous year had been The Man Who, by the Scottish rock band Travis. Coldplay was seen to benefit from the path Travis had paved, subsequently eclipsing the band in popularity.

The album’s third track “Spies” drew some attention from the Chinese government, who interpreted it as an anti-Communist song. This led to the album being banned in the country. Guitarist Jon Buckland comments, “We’ve been banned in China because of the song ‘Spies’. Very strange.[4]

Just as distinguishing as the instrumental compositions is lead singer Chris Martin‘s vocals, often reaching falsetto. This is most prominent in the last track, “Everything’s Not Lost”, which begins as a piano ballad leading to a climax of harmonious falsetto singing. A hidden track, “Life is for Living”, follows soon after.

Trivia

Track listing

[caption id=attachment_55982" align="alignnone" width="1000] A picture from the Parachutes inner sleeve.[/caption]

* Hidden track contained within “Everything’s Not Lost” from 5:39.

† Japanese version only.

Awards

Singles

Cover
	“Shiver“ Released: 6 March 2000 Producers: Coldplay, Ken Nelson Video Director: Grant Gee Chart position: #35 (UK)
	“Yellow“ Released: 26 June 2000 Producers: Coldplay, Ken Nelson Video Director: James & Alex of The Artists Company Chart positions: #4 (UK), #48 (US)
	“Trouble“ Released: 26 October 2000 Producers: Coldplay, Ken Nelson Video Directors: Sophie Muller (UK) / Tim Hope (US) Chart position: #10 (UK)
	“Don’t Panic“ Released: 27 August 2001 Producers: Coldplay, Ken Nelson Video Director: Tim Hope

Release details

The album was released in various countries.

The Oracle on Parachutes

September 6, 2012 – submitted by Sam, United States of America

Q. Dear Oracle

I was wondering if the names of the songs in the parachutes album, were chosen to sort of show someones thought while skydiving for example, or on a less literal scale, doing something that they’re nervous about. Please let me know I’m quite curious.

Thanks

The Oracle replies:

There wasn’t a deliberate pre-planned theme to the Parachutes album even if the songs’ contents seem linked. The time scale between the writing of the first to last song is so vast that it’s merely coincidence that they appear to allude to similar subjects – though not unusual if we look at Chris’ writing historically.

The title definitely represents the feeling they had prior to releasing their debut album. When they were deciding upon a name, they decided it summed it up perfectly.

February 22, 2011 – submitted by Lilac, United Arab Emirates

Q. Hello Oracle!

Did you ever wonder if the globe on the Parachutes album cover is glowing? Is it actually glowing?

The Oracle replies:

I didn’t wonder myself Lilac because I know that yes, the globe is glowing as it is in fact a lamp.

January 5, 2011 – submitted by Madeline, United States of America

Q. Dear All-Mighty Oracle,

On the back of the Parachutes album, there are four people. Which one is which band member?

Thanks,

Mad :)

The Oracle replies:

I’m sure there are people who have a different back cover to the album, but the photo on the back of Parachutes shows the band from left to right: Guy, Will, Chris & Jonny.

There were photos in the NME on July 8th 2000 with photos from the same shoot.

There’s also one of the back of their heads; that’s trickier to see who’s who but not impossible as I have already answered that.

September 7, 2010 – submitted by Jack, United Kingdom

Q. Hi!! I have been wondering for a while…where were the pictures of the band taken on the back of Parachutes? It looks like a spot in Hull. I really want to go there! Thanks

The Oracle replies:

It’s not Hull; it’s Blackpool.

August 9, 2010 – submitted by Teddy, United States of America

Q. O Oracle,

I was wondering who did the cover Parachutes and how they got the effect of the lit spinning globe and such. I was really stunned by the artwork and that was ultimately what compelled to buy the record, which in turn created my lifelong love of Coldplay.

Thanks!

The Oracle replies:

It was actually a lamp so the light was already inside the globe. The shutter speed of the camera is key to the actual effect.

August 6, 2010 – submitted by Jason, United States of America

Q. Hello Oracle!

I would like to know what’s the difference between this Parachutes and this one.

Why are there two of them?

The Oracle replies:

The difference is immense; they’re not the same song. The former is Coldplay’s Parachutes (plural) and the latter is Guster’s Parachute (singular).

So there are not two versions of Parachutes, just the one.

May 10, 2010 – submitted by William, United States of America

Q. Dear Oracle, Was the original parachute globe bought specifically for the album cover, or was it just a globe that one of the band mates had lying around at their house?

The Oracle replies:

It wasn’t bought for the album cover. The globe was used during their live shows at the time and was only used for the cover as a last minute idea.

February 10, 2010 – submitted by Mat, United States of America

Q. In one of the Coldplay posters featured during the Viva tour there is a globe that is above Chris’ and Guy’s head. Is this the same globe pictured on the Parachutes album?

The Oracle replies:

It isn’t the same globe. Up until the recent Kids Company auction the original globe was in storage; now it belongs to Carrie in Michigan.

January 20, 2010 – submitted by Virgil, Australia

Q. Hello, would you please tell me about the cover art of the first album. The spinning globe…why it was chosen by the band. Thank you.

The Oracle replies:

The pressure to come up with an idea for the Parachutes cover was mounting. At that time, the globe was being used at live shows sitting atop Chris’s piano and had been a fixture during the recording process. It was almost a whimsical last minute decision in absence of any other idea. As it goes, it was the perfect image to fit with the songs contained within.

November 21, 2008 – submitted by Jon, United States of America

Q. What ever happened to the globe on the cover of parachutes? I know the band took it on tour with them, but where is it now?

The Oracle replies:

They’re all in storage. I say “all” because there wasn’t just one globe lamp, there were several.

August 26, 2008 – submitted by Jasmine, United States of America

Q. I’ve heard rumors of Coldplay bring a globe from Parachutes with them on tour in the past, and I’ve seen them with an old tv set on stage for Viva La Vida. Is it a habit of theirs to bring props with them on tour? If so, what other objects have they brought along before, and is there some sort of meaning behind them? Thanks, Oracle.

The Oracle replies:

Back in the days of the Parachutes tour they did indeed have the globe lamp lit on the piano. They only had a backdrop in those days and a simple light show. These days there’s an elaborate set so there’s not what you’d call props. The globe was one of several that are now housed in a storage unit. The fact the globe became the cover for the Parachutes album was more of a last minute panic rather than a pre-determined decision.