Coldplay & BTS, My Universe | Track Review

Alternative collective Coldplay and K-Pop superstars BTS successfully collaborate on the entertaining, ‘universal’ single, “My Universe.”

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ike so many ‘rock’ bands (alternative rock included), Coldplay has embraced pop, period.  Following Viva La Vida or Death to All His Friends, the band incorporated more synths and programming.  Purists cry foul, while I understand, though don’t always get as enthusiastic about the Grammy-winning collective. Nonetheless, as singles suggest, Music of the Spheres is set to be an enjoyable alternative POP album.  The band got off to a roaring start with “Higher Power” and go even ‘higher’ by collaborating with the band with the biggest army of fans, BTS on “My Universe”.

So, Coldplay and BTS? Let that sink in.  This is a collaboration you shouldn’t expect to work in the least but “My Universe” is successful, undoubtedly!  From the production end of things, the sound is incredibly slick.  Thank the production team that’s comprised of Bill Rahko, Max Martin, and Oscar Holter.  This is a bright, energetic, and warm ‘universal’ experience! In addition to the production, those three are credited as writes alongside Coldplay ( Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, and Will Champion) and select members of BTS ( j-hope, RM, and SUGA). Is the writing so good it required a million writers? That’s debatable, but the results are positive, particularly on the simple but gargantuan chorus (“You, you are my universe / And I, just want to put you first”).  The chorus sums up what Chris Martin and the respective members of BTS ( Jung Kook, RM, Jimin, Jin, j-hope, and SUGA) sing (or rap) on their respective verses and bridge.

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Final Thoughts

Should a Coldplay x BTS collaboration work? No, but just to reiterate, IT DOES! After listening just one time, you’ll find yourself moving and singing along to this infectious POP record.  No, it’s not like the Coldplay of old (it fits BTS best, of course), but the entertainment value is high.

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Coldplay • Music of the Spheres • Parlophone • 10.15.21
[: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay, Parlophone]

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