Coldplay’s 20 Biggest Hits: Revisited & Ranked

Idolator Staff | February 5, 2016 9:20 am

15. “Princess Of China” Year: 2011 Album: Mylo Xyloto

They don’t come cooler than Rihanna, whose icy presence steals this gem right from under the band. Although the concept’s a little half-baked — if Rihanna’s a princess, can Chris be her king if he’s not her dad? — this song, while polarizing, is cool, especially with that wall-of-sound chorus channeling the Atlanta Braves Tomahawk Chop a la “Shake Ya Tailfeather.” — JONATHAN RIGGS

14. “Violet Hill” Year: 2008 Album: Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends

Coldplay’s catalog is plenty dreary, but this antiwar salvo was really the first time they sounded downright mad. Martial drums help this battle hymn build on the album cover’s war theme and the band’s fashion go-to at the time, the military jacket. But Martin still fits in his flowery falsetto, here contrasting it with Buckland’s crunchy, buzzy riff like an epaulet snagged on a piece of shrapnel. It turns out bleak and blunt was a good look for Coldplay — better than those jackets, anyway. — CARL WILLIOTT

13. “Paradise” Year: 2011 Album: Mylo Xyloto

Poor Chris Martin. When you marry a famous movie star, everyone assumes that each time you sing “she” in a song, you’re singin’ about your lady. Gwyneth-based or not, “Paradise” is actually a pretty tune. Opening with strings, the song swiftly leaps into a kind of stately bombast. Again, Coldplay is shameless with the stadium aspirations for this one – cell phones aloft, everyone chanting “para-para-paradise” — but it’s well constructed and sounds even stronger years later. — STEPHEN SEARS

12. “Magic” Year: 2014 Album: Mylo Xyloto

Stripped-down and intimate, “Magic” aims to enchant quietly, proving the boys still certainly had a few tricks left up their sleeves by 2014. Eschewing their trademark bombastic dazzle, here they serve subtlety and warmth. It works for the most part, although the lyrics are a little weak and the music video ends up downright silly. — JONATHAN RIGGS

11. “Adventure Of A Lifetime” Year: 2015 Album: A Head Full Of Dreams

There’s every reason this song shouldn’t work. The music video is tragic, with its CGI “gorillas in the midst” (of a dance party) making one actively root for poachers. Plus, the lyrical inspiration — ostensibly the restorative effect of boinking Jennifer Lawrence, post-Paltrow. Eesh! And yet this joyful disco-ball twirl of a tune rings more vibrant, creative and infectious than most of Coldplay’s output in recent years. Even better, it makes the glittery case for how much we need a collab between Chris Martin and Brandon Flowers, stat. “Princess of China 2,” please! — JONATHAN RIGGS

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