‘Orphans’ by Coldplay is one of the two singles released (the other titled ‘Arabesque’), ahead of their upcoming album Everyday Life, after being under the radar for four years. Typical of the band’s style, immediately you can imagine this song being performed to a stadium crowd, shouted back to them. The opening chant that remains the melodic theme and chorus of the song is catchy and repetitive without being annoying or jarring to the ear. By the second chorus, you are naturally humming along. The song ends as strongly as it starts with a musical finale, creating a cyclical sense, easy to be repeated (no doubt a well thought through production decision by the band and their team). There is a definite sense of community to the song which is enhanced by the additional chorus/choir singing with lead singer, Chris Martin.

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Typical of Coldplay’s more mainstream style, this is a feel-good song that will probably be circulating radio stations for the coming months

Throughout, you feel energised and empowered. When interviewed on BBC Radio 1, Martin stated that for himself, ‘[the album] is just all about being human’. Poignantly, there are direct references to crises happening around the world to enforce this idea of communal struggle and shared understanding of the human experience in the world we live in today. ‘Rosaleen of the Damascene’, is just one of the intricate details layered within the song, paying homage to the bombings that happened in Syria in April 2018. Automatically, this shifts ‘Orphans’ from a pop hit, to a meaningful anthem. The bridge is brief yet effective, ensuring no life is drawn from the mood set in place. Overall, typical of Coldplay’s more mainstream style, this is a feel-good song that will probably be circulating radio stations for the coming months. Has Coldplay achieved their aims to convey that, ‘there is a lot of trouble, but there’s also so much positivity and so much great life happening’? Absolutely.

Everyday Life is scheduled for release on Nov 22nd, 2019.