Coldplay – Everyday Life (2019): A Reflective Double Album About Life, Love & Humanity
Released on 22 November 2019, Everyday Life is the eighth studio album by British rock band Coldplay, and one of their most ambitious and introspective projects to date. Unlike their previous polished pop‑rock efforts, this album is a double LP that divides itself into two thematic halves — Sunrise and Sunset — representing the duality of human experience: hope and hardship, sorrow and joy, personal reflections and global sociopolitical commentary.
Coldplay took a unique promotional approach by sending typed letters to fans announcing the album and revealing the tracklist in local newspapers — a nostalgic and personal touch fitting the album’s themes.
🎧 Tracklist – Sunrise & Sunset (2019)
Everyday Life is a 16‑track double album featuring a wide range of musical styles and lyrical themes.
🌅 Sunrise
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Sunrise
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Church
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Trouble in Town
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BrokEn
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Daddy
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WOTW / POTP
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Arabesque
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When I Need a Friend
🌇 Sunset
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Guns
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Orphans
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Èkó
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Cry Cry Cry
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Old Friends
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بنی آدم (“Bani Adam” in Arabic script)
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Champion of the World
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Everyday Life
The double album format allows the band to explore contrasting moods and narratives, from intimate piano pieces to socially conscious anthems.
🎙️ Album Credits & Production
Everyday Life boasts a large ensemble of collaborators and producers, reflecting the diversity of its sound and themes.
Main Performers:
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Chris Martin – lead vocals, piano, acoustic guitar
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Jonny Buckland – guitars, keyboards
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Guy Berryman – bass, keyboards
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Will Champion – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Production Team:
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Rik Simpson – producer, keyboards, programming
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Max Martin – producer, keyboards
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Bill Rahko – producer, programming
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Dan Green – producer, keyboards
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Mark “Spike” Stent – mixing
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Emily Lazar – mastering
Additional Musicians & Contributors:
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Guest vocals from Stromae
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Horns from Femi Kuti and family
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Strings from Davide Rossi
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Choir vocals including Apple Martin & Moses Martin (Chris Martin’s children)
Artwork and design were overseen by Pilar Zeta, giving the album a visually striking and evocative presentation.
📈 Commercial Success & Reception
Everyday Life marked an artistic shift for Coldplay with a focus on human stories, emotional honesty, and global awareness.
Chart Performance & Sales:
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#1 on the UK Albums Chart, becoming Coldplay’s eighth consecutive studio album to debut at number one in the UK.
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Debuted at #7 on the US Billboard 200.
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Sold around 740,000 pure copies globally in 2019 and has surpassed 1 million total units worldwide.
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Certified Platinum in the UK (300,000 sales) and charted in multiple major markets.
Critical Response:
Everyday Life was generally well‑received. On Metacritic, the album holds a “generally favorable” score, with many critics appreciating its ambitious breadth and emotional depth.
🎵 Key Singles & Standout Tracks
Coldplay supported Everyday Life with several notable singles and tracks that resonated with audiences:
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“Orphans” – An anthemic, socially conscious single released ahead of the album.
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“Arabesque” – A celebrated collaboration featuring Stromae and Femi Kuti’s horn section.
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“Everyday Life” – The title track was released on 3 November 2019 and debuted live on Saturday Night Live.
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“Daddy” – A tender song with an animated video that explores themes of love and loss.
Each track contributes to the album’s theme of exploring everyday experiences and global realities — both personal and collective.
📚 Fun Facts
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📜 Letters to Fans: Coldplay fans received hand‑typed letters announcing Everyday Life before its official release — a nostalgic and deeply personal promotional move.
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🌍 Global Themes: The album addresses topics like empathy, war, inequality, and unity — inspired partly by frontman Chris Martin’s reflections on the world’s state.
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🎤 Live Debut on SNL: The band premiered the title track on Saturday Night Live, giving the album early spotlight in the U.S. media.
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🪩 Arabic Script: The track بنی آدم (Bani Adam) features a title in Arabic script — inspired by a poem on human unity.
🧠 Trivia
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🎶 Everyday Life was Coldplay’s first full album after A Head Full of Dreams (2015), coming nearly four years later.
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🌅 The double album’s structure (Sunrise / Sunset) mirrors a day in the life, symbolizing human highs and lows.
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🤝 Multiple collaborators from around the world — including African, European, and Middle Eastern artists — reflect the album’s global narrative.
🤦♂️ Goofs & Album Quirks
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😅 Despite strong artistic ambition, some fans felt the album’s experimental and sprawling nature made it less cohesive compared to earlier, more streamlined Coldplay releases.
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🎧 The decision not to tour extensively in support of the album (due to environmental concerns) limited its mainstream exposure compared to previous albums.
