It seems the really provocative and interesting videos are all directed by the same group of people. Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry are definitely in that group, and so is Jamie Thraves, who directed Radiohead’s video for ‘Just’ and is my connection to today’s song, ‘The Scientist’ by Coldplay.

Inspired by the lyric “Oh let’s go back to the start,” Thraves came up with the reverse-action concept for this video, his goal being to tell a tragic tale with a happy ending. It’s a powerful bit of filmmaking, all the better for the lovely song it accompanies.

Coldplay is an odd case. Their debut album Parachutes was a neat little collection of elegant piano pop, but nothing that signaled the success they would find in later years. I remember seeing Chris Martin in the video for ‘Yellow’ and thinking he was the most pathetic looking rotten-toothed little troll. The fact that he’s now married to Gwyneth Paltrow and popping up in magazine ads is hilarious.

The band’s second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head, was a minor masterpiece and earned them lavish critical praise and the beginning of their star status. Songs such as ‘In My Place,’ ‘Clocks’ and this one became instant favorites.

They reached a peak in their popularity right before they released X&Y, a somewhat disappointing follow-up to Rush of Blood. ‘Speed of Sound’ was a fine first single but the rest of the album was mostly forgettable. Then came the backlash, and it was suddenly not cool to like Coldplay anymore.

But their latest album, Viva la Vida, made them cool again. It won a ton of Grammys, stayed high on the charts and earned plenty of rave reviews. Its charms have eluded me, however… I don’t hear enough songs on the album. I’m still waiting for them to put out another Rush of Blood to the Head.