Coldplay, WE PRAY | Song Review 🎵

Decorated alt-rock collective Coldplay enlists Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna, and TINI for the thoughtful, uplifting faith-driven single, “WE PRAY.”

“And so, we pray / For someone to come and show me the way / And so, we pray / For some shelter and some records to play.” Amen! Coldplay are OGs in the music industry – facts.  The decorated British alt-rock collective is back with their 10^th studio album, Moon Music (arrives October 4, 2024).  After Chris Martin informed us he “feelslikeimfallinginlove”, he and the boys bring prayers on “WE PRAY”.  Coldplay enlists four unique guests on this faith-based single: British rapper Little Simz, Nigerian singer Burna Boy, Palestinian-Chilean singer, Elyanna, and Argentinian singer, TINI.  “WE PRAY” features numerous credited songwriters. Bill Rahko, Daniel Green, ILYA, Max Martin, and Michael Ilbert produced.  The instrumental backdrop is modern, rhythmic, and sleekly produced.  The strings, when they enter the mix, and the groove are two of the best features.  Fuel for the vocalists’ fire.

Following a prayerful intro, Chris Martin sings the first verse. The prayer is ample: “I pray that I don’t give up, pray that I do my best / Pray that I can lift up, pray my brother is blessed / Praying for enough, pray for Virgilio wins.” The Virgilio reference is ultra-specific.  Martin also sings on the chorus (excerpted at the top), joined at times with Little Simz and Burna Boy.  Little Simz takes the reins in the second verse, dropping an uplifting verse asserting, “Pray I speak my truth and keep my sisters alive,” adding, “Pray when she looks at herself in the mirror / She sees a queen, see sees a goddess.” Thoughtful to the nth degree. Burna Boy performs the bridge, where he prayerfully “Keep a smiling face, only by His grace.” As for Elyanna and TINI, they appear in the final chorus, lending their vocal talents.  All told, “WE PRAY” is an entertaining, socially conscious, and thoughtful pop record.  Is it light years from the ‘alternative’ part of Coldplay’s catalog from earlier in their career? Yes, but the tunefulness and messaging go a long way here.

Coldplay // Moon Music // Coldplay / Parlophone // 10.4.24

Coldplay, WE PRAY [📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Coldplay / Parlophone; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Królestwo Nauki, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pete Linforth, Tumisu from Pixabay]