Coldplay made an unexpected appearance in this year’s Album of the Year Grammy nominations. The band hasn’t shown up in this category since 2008’s Viva La Vida, their only other nod for Best Album.
Four years after the release of 2015’s A Head Full of Dreams, an album the band said might be their last, they dropped Everyday Life, an album that sold relatively well and received critical praise, but was not expected to turn up on this category.
The band found inspiration for the album during the world tour for their previous release. They wound up including sounds and contributors from many different cultures. Everyday Life is a very hopeful and forward-looking album that also touches on such societal issues as police brutality and gun culture.
While it’s an admirable idea, and a fine-sounding album, I don’t hear a lot on Everyday Life that will keep me coming back. Today’s SOTD is probably my favorite on an album that otherwise feels like it’s made up mostly of filler.
Gi nwa nke chukwu, gini ka ina ekwu
N’ihi ihe nile
Nke chukwu mere
[Verse 1: Chris Martin]
I tried my best to be just like
The other boys in school
I tried my best to get it right
And died at every duel
This mountainside is suicide
This dream will never work
Still the sign upon my headstone, write
“A champion of the world”
[Interlude]
Oh oh-oh
Oh oh-oh-oh oh oh
[Verse 2: Chris Martin]
I tried my best to stay alight
Fly like a firework
I tried my best at taking flight
But my rocket ship reversed
Oh, referee, don’t stop the fight
Everyone can see I’m hurt
But I’ll stand before conquistadors
Till I’m champion of the world
[Chorus: Chris Martin, Chris & Will]
(When I sail) And when I sail
I’m sailing west
(Know I might fail) Knowing I might fail
But still I’m hoping for the best
(In my dreams) And in my dreams
Onto my chest
She’ll pin the colours and say
“I wandered the whole wide world but
Baby, you’re the best”
[Interlude: Chris Martin]
Lo lo-lo-lo lo oh
Ee-yo-ee-yo-ee-yo-ee-yeah
Lo lo-lo-lo lo
[Outro: Chris Martin & Will Champion]
So I’m flying on my bicycle
Heading upwards from the Earth
I am jumping with no parachute
Out into the universe
I have E.T. on my bicycle
Because giving up won’t work
Now I’m riding on my rocketship
And I’m champion of the world
Meet Me In Montauk 
I was surprised by this nomination as well, but I guess the Grammys wanted to give some nostalgic love to Coldplay.
Coldplay has some brilliant songs. I’ve had an admiration for them ever since I discovered their performance on Letterman where they performed all the expected songs, but with a level of energy and skill that lead me to want to be in a band myself. This new direction for them is interesting. I don’t think they’ve fully made the transition in a natural enough way where it doesn’t feel like they’re still discovering the genre themselves. However, they’re a very talented band who’ve been in the industry a long time and it’s nice to see attempts at innovation rewarded!