So for the past few weeks I haven't been able to get the chorus to Coldplay's new single, Viva La Vida out of my head, thanks mostly to the Apple commercials that play at an average rate of 6 per hour on most channels. I love Coldplay. You could say they had me at "Yellow" - get it?

Anyway, as I was listening to Viva La Vida for the fifth time in a row earlier this afternoon, a tiny voice in the back of my head said, "Hey, don't forget their other great music." It's true. Over the past few years, since X&Y burst on the scene in 2006, many of us have forgotten the great songs that made us listen to Parachutes and A Rush of Blood To the Head on repeat for weeks on end. To help us all remember why, in spite of the fact that they sold out big time with the Apple commercial, we will always have Chris Martin shaped holes in our hearts, I have put together the top best but often forgotten Coldplay songs off their first two albums that made us swoon. You know, from when they *really* ruled the world.

That's right, friends. Let's start this off with my dark horse favorite. Ending their second album, Amsterdam starts out simple and pensive before ending abruptly and powerfully, clashing Martin's light piano with harsh guitar. The soul of the song, under its light and airy notes, reflects the trials of someone struggling to keep their head above water. Allusions to stars fading, ball-n-chain dragging, and nooses left listeners steeped in angst until Martin sings, "You came along and you cut me loose." Potentially a thank you note, potentially Coldplay's version of Redemption Songs, one thing's for sure: Amsterdam deserves a re-listen, I bet you forgot how powerful it was. Oh, and as Song Facts points out, this song has nothing to do with the city it's named for. Just an FYI.

Slow, relaxed, quiet, and mild, Sparks caresses the listen's ear with a touching song about love and the connection between two people. "I promise you this, I'll always look out for you, yea that's what I'll do." Great song to stare dreamily into someone's eyes too, great song to hold hands and walk on the beach too, and great song to make out too (sorry, but it‘s true). The chorus only appears one time at the end of this song, and the thought is simple: when I saw you/touched you/am near you, I see sparks. No need to say anything more, folks. Sometimes the short, easy truth is the best. And we all know exactly what those sparks feel like.

"Honey you are the rock upon which I stand." What a great way to open a song. This ode to an unknown green-eyed woman is a fabulous love note set to guitar. Though it starts slow, by the second chorus a whole score of instruments joins the lone guitar and brings the pace up to a foot tapping, head nodding ballad of love. In my mind this is one of their catchier, more mainstream songs, though I never heard it get much radio play. Too bad for all of us we won't be hearing Coldplay perform it anymore either; Martin refuses to play it because he wrote it for a woman he was with before Gwen Paltrow. Thanks lady, like you haven't done enough to the world by naming your child Apple. Sheesh.

4) Shiver

The truth about Parachutes as an album is that in my house it would literally go on repeat the whole way through for solid weeks. In my mind, and in my musical taste, it is an all-purpose, totally enjoyable and always satisfactory listening experience. The song that I always looked forward to cycling through at the beginning of the album was Shiver. Strong guitars, a heavy back beat, and lyrics that speak to a man who loves a woman who isn't really interested make this an awesome "and if you want me to change, well I'd change for you., and I want you to know that you‘ll always get your way." Love that line. The great irony is that when Martin hits those high, falsetto notes on the line "Don't you shiver" I always get the chills. What can I say, his voice does it to me. Though I never heard any airtime for it in the States, apparently they did make a music video for it. Who knew?

Setting the stage for the power of Amsterdam, A Rush of Blood to the Head brought the namesake album down to a darker place, away from the chimey piano of Clocks and love of Green Eyes toward destruction, demise, and arson. Martin sings about starting wars, burning buildings, getting guns, and watching things crumble with glee. The feeling is one of revenge, rage, and the release of misplaced and mildly repressed anger. The beat is unstoppable, the pain in Martin's voice palpable, and the gloomy strums of each guitar enchanting and disturbing at the same time. The lyric "some will laugh, some just sit and cry, but you just sit down there and wonder why," always spoke to me about some kind of large tragedy and the lost anger that people feel in response. But to this day I have no idea what the song is really about. I just know that it is undeniable.

Each one of the songs is fabulous in their own right. Listen to them, love them, remember the early 2000s when you sat in your dorm room and blasted Yellow and wonder who those catchy Brit rockers were. Oh how far they've come. Viva la Vida!

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