SPEED OF SOUND (SONG)

(Redirected from Speed of Sound (single))

{{Single infobox |
Name = Speed of Sound |
Cover = Coldplay speedofsound.png |
Artist = Coldplay |
from Album = X&Y |
B-side = "Things I Don't Understand", "Proof" |
Released = 23 May 2005 |
Format = 7", CD, 10", 12" |
Genre = Alternative Rock |
Length = 4:49 |
Label = Parlophone |
Producer = Coldplay, Ken Nelson, Danton Supple |
Writer = Berryman, Buckland, Champion, Martin |
Chart position =

#2 (Canada, UK Singles Chart)

#5 (Latvia, US Modern Rock)

#8 (US Billboard Hot 100)

#9 (Australia)

|
Reviews =

★ ''Pitchfork'' (2.5/5) 4/28/05 |
Last single = "God Put A Smile Upon Your Face"
(2003) |
This single = "Speed of Sound"
(2005) |
Next single = "Fix You"
(2005) |
| Misc =
"'Speed of Sound'" is the lead single from Coldplay's 2005 album, ''X&Y''. It made its radio premiere on BBC Radio 1 with Lamacq on the evening of Monday, 18 April 2005. Beginning with a piano riff the song builds into a huge, synth-heavy chorus: "Birds go flying at the speed of sound, to show you how it all began / Birds came flying from the underground, if you could see it then you'd understand." The song was inspired by the drum beat of Kate Bush's song, "Running Up That Hill".
"Speed of Sound" was infamously beaten to the number one spot on the UK Singles Chart by the novelty song "Axel F" by the Crazy Frog, instead peaking at number two for a week, although it did stay in the Top 75 for sixteen non-consecutive weeks. However, it became Coldplay's first UK Download #1 and was the one billionth song to be downloaded from iTunes. It also became Coldplay's first and biggest single to chart in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #8, making it arguably Coldplay's most successful single.

Contents

Track listings

Japan

UK

Australia

Music video

Awards and nominations

Awards

Nominations

Trivia

External links

Track listings

Japan

★ CD TOCP-40179 released 11 May 2005 by Toshiba-EMI
#"Speed of Sound" - 4:49
#"Things I Don't Understand" - 4:55
#"Proof" - 4:10

UK

★ CD CDR6664, 7" R6664, 12" 12R6664, 10" 10R6664
#"Speed of Sound" - 4:49
#"Things I Don't Understand" - 4:55
#"Proof" - 4:10 (CD and 10" only)

Australia

★ CD 872 9862 released 23 May 2005 by Capitol Records
#"Speed of Sound" - 4:49
#"Things I Don't Understand" - 4:55
#"Proof" - 4:10

Music video

The video promo for "Speed of Sound" was shot on a Los Angeles sound stage over 22–23 April 2005. Shooting took place on large sets backed by large LED displays. The performance based video was helmed by Mark Romanek, who was responsible for Linkin Park's "Faint," Johnny Cash's "Hurt" and Jay-Z's "99 Problems". The video earned 4 nominations at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards.

Awards and nominations

Awards

Year	Award	Category
2005	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best Song
2006	BRIT Awards	Best British Single
2006	ASCAP Awards	Song of the Year

Nominations

Year	Award	Category
2005	MTV Video Music Awards	Video of the Year
2005	MTV Video Music Awards	Best Special Effects
2005	MTV Video Music Awards	Best Editing
2005	MTV Video Music Awards	Best Cinematography
2006	Grammy Awards	Best Rock Song
2006	Grammy Awards	Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

Trivia

★ Coldplay were the first British band to enter directly in the top ten of Billboard Hot 100 chart since "Say You'll Be There" by the Spice Girls.

★ Coldplay premiered "Speed of Sound" at a small warm-up gig in London in March 2005.

★ During their performance of "Speed of Sound" at the 2005 Glastonbury Festival, Chris asked "Crazy Frog, where are you now?". This was a reference to the fact "Speed of Sound" was beaten to the UK number 1 spot by "Crazy Frog".

★ Similarly at a gig in Crystal Palace, Chris exclaimed "This would have been our first number one if it hadn't have been for that f
★
★
★ ing frog".

★ There is another song by this title, written by Chris Bell.

★ "Speed of Sound" appears on the videogame ''SingStar Rocks!''.

★ The song is a part of the comedian "Weird Al" Yankovic's polka medley Polkarama in his October 2006 hit album, ''Straight Outta Lynwood''.

★ "Speed of Sound" was the billionth song downloaded from iTunes.

External links

★ Official website

★ Official Fansite

★ Coldplay Wiki

★ Speed of Sound lyrics