Unreleased songs

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Coldplay have written and performed numerous songs that ultimately never were officially released. Some of them circulate on the internet as bootlegs, specially demo recordings from Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008) and Mylo Xyloto (2011). The latter is a result of the band merging two different projects, one was meant to be acoustic and stripped down, while the other upbeat and electric.[1] Therefore, unreleased material from those sessions was not necessarily intended to be on the same album.[2] Many of these tracks were leaked on the internet and registered by fansites and forums,[3] while others were officially submited by Coldplay to ASCAP and BMI as well.[4]

Name of the song, period when it was written, intended album and details
Title Period Intended album Details
"1000 – 1 (Ballad of...)" 2008–2011 Mylo Xyloto [a]
"Aiko" 2008–2011 Mylo Xyloto [a][b]
"Alien Radio" 2008–2011 Mylo Xyloto [c][a][d]
"Alive Day" 2008–2011 Mylo Xyloto [a][b]
"Arabesque" 2008–2019 Mylo Xyloto [a][b][e]
"Bit of a Bastard" 2015 Game of Thrones: The Musical [f][g]
"Blasphemy" 2002–2005 X&Y [h]
"Bloodless Revolution" 2006–2008 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends [i]
"The Blue Room" 1998–1999 The Blue Room EP [j]
"Boyfriend" 2008–2011 Mylo Xyloto [a][b]
"Break of Dawn" 2014–2015 A Head Full of Dreams [k]
"Brilliant" Unknown Unknown [f]
"Bucket for a Crown" 2006 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends [l]
"Buzz" 2008–2011 Mylo Xyloto [a][b]
"Car Kids" 2008–2011 Mylo Xyloto [a][b][m]
"Cartoon Head" 2008–2010 Mylo Xyloto [a][n]
"Cartoon Heart" 2008–2010 Mylo Xyloto [a][n]
"Closer to Home" 2014–2015 Game of Thrones: The Musical [g]
"December" 1997 Unknown [o]
"Déjà Vu" 2002–2005 X&Y [h]
"Deserter" 2000–2002 A Rush of Blood to the Head [f][16]
"Drift" 2014–2015 A Head Full of Dreams [f]
"Drunks and Guns" 2008–2011 Mylo Xyloto [a]
"The Dubliners" 2006–2011 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends [f][p]
"Echo My Name (I Can't Believe You're Gone)" 2002–2005 X&Y [h]
"Eyes for Eyes" 2000–2002 A Rush of Blood to the Head Scrapped from the album.
"The Fall of Man" 2006–2008 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends [i]
"Family Tree" / "A Head Full of Dreams" 2014–2015 A Head Full of Dreams [k][q]
"Famous Old Painters" 2008 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends / Mylo Xyloto [f][r][a][i]
"Far Out" 2014–2015 A Head Full of Dreams [k]
"Fingers Crossed" 2000–2002 A Rush of Blood to the Head [f][16]
"First Steps" 2006–2008 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends [i]
"Forever, Whatever" 2014–2015 A Head Full of Dreams [k]
"Fun"[s] 2006–2008 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends [t]
"Fury" 2002–2005 X&Y [h]
"Gardeners on the Frontline" 2008–2011 Mylo Xyloto [a]
"A Ghost" / "Ghost" 2001 A Rush of Blood to the Head [u][f]
"Ghost Stories" 2012–2014 Ghost Stories [v][w]
"Gold" 2014–2015 A Head Full of Dreams [k]
"Golden Arrow" 2008–2010 Mylo Xyloto [a][x]
"Gone But Not F. Cotton" 2015 None [y][f]
"Goodbye and Goodnight" 2006–2008 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends [i]
"Great Expectations" 2008–2011 Mylo Xyloto [f][a][b][m]
"Harbingers of Doom" 2008–2011 Mylo Xyloto [a][b]
"Harmless" 2000 Unknown [f][z]
"Harmony" / "Harmony for My Song" 2008–2011 Mylo Xyloto [a][b]
"Heart on Fire" 2014–2015 A Head Full of Dreams [k]
"Hook Up" 2008–2011 Mylo Xyloto [b][aa]
"Houston #1" 2017 None {{efn|name="ASCAP"]]{{efn|[[This song was played during a concert of the A Head Full of Dreams Tour, after Hurricane Harvey.}}
"I'm Strong" 1998 Safety EP Early version of "Bigger Stronger".
"Idiot" 2001 A Rush of Blood to the Head Registered on the ASCAP website. Written for A Rush of Blood to the Head but ultimately scrapped.[23] Some live performances of the song can be found on the internet.
"If All Else" 1998 Unknown Performed under the name "Starfish" in 1998.
"If I Ever Fall in Love Again" 2008–2010 Mylo Xyloto Appeared on a list written in a whiteboard the band used to decide which songs would enter on their fifth album.[5]
"If She Comes Back" 2002 Unknown Played once during a soundcheck in 2002, but never performed in a proper concert. A sketchy recording of the song can be found on the Internet. No official title has been given to the song; "If She Comes Back" was the title given to the song by one of its listeners.
"In Isolation" 2000–2002 A Rush of Blood to the Head Registered on the ASCAP website.[16]
"It Was a Wonderful Day" 2008–2011 Mylo Xyloto Appeared on a list written in a whiteboard the band used to decide which songs would enter on their fifth album,[5] as well as marked on a piano alongside other titles.[6]
"Julens Ljus" 2015 Game of Thrones: The Musical Registered on the ASCAP website and written for Game of Thrones: The Musical.[9]
"Julia Robert's Smile" 2017 Unknown Registered on the ASCAP website.
"Kaleidoscope" 2014–2015 A Head Full of Dreams Not to be confused with the instrumental piece that appears on the album. It is a reworked of unreleased song "The Race" which had originated from the Ghost Stories sessions. Two demos leaked on the internet.
"Ladder to the Sun" 2002–2003 X&Y Registered on the ASCAP website and played live during 2003 as the final act. It has not been played since.[24]
"LeftRightLeftRightLeft" 2006–2009 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends Violinist Davide Rossi said in an interview that he had been playing the electric violin on this song during his sessions with Coldplay.[25] The title was later used for a live album released in 2009.[26]
"Legends" 2015 A Head Full of Dreams The song's guitar riff was sped up and incorporated into "Adventure of a Lifetime", as well as other elements from the song. This evolution is mentioned in the documentary Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams.[27] It leaked on the internet in 2021.
"Life Is Beautiful" 2017 A Head Full of Dreams First played in San Diego, California on the last leg of the A Head Full of Dreams Tour. It is dedicated to the victims of the 2017 Puebla earthquake. Multiple elements of the song, including its opening synthesizer and its basis in the "Olé, Olé, Olé" football chant, were included in " " ("Infinity Sign") from Music of the Spheres.
"Love I'm So Tired" 1998 Unknown Believed to be the first Coldplay song in history. It might be recorded on a tape (along with "So Sad") which supposedly belongs to Debs Wild.
"Love in a Lethal Dose" 2008–2010 Mylo Xyloto Appeared on a list written in a whiteboard the band used to decide which songs would enter on their fifth album.[5] It was re-written during the Avicii sessions and renamed "Lethal Drug", but scrapped once again. This last version eventually leaked. In March 2022, another version of the song was leaked, with different parts by Chris Martin and with the collaboration of the American singer SZA.
"Loveless" 2005–2006 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends A demo version of the song can be found on the internet.[citation needed]
"Lucky Sevens" 2008–2010 Mylo Xyloto Appeared on a list written in a whiteboard the band used to decide which songs would enter on their fifth album.[5]
"Lukas" 2006–2009 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends Recorded by Natalie Imbruglia and included on her 2009 album Come to Life, an album in which she collaborated with lead singer and pianist Chris Martin on some songs. An instrumental version performed by the band has leaked onto the internet.
"A Man for All Seasons (Still Goin' Strong)" 2015 Game of Thrones: The Musical Registered on the ASCAP website and written for Game of Thrones: The Musical.[9]
"The Man Who Swears" 2006–2008 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends A two-parted-demo version of the song can be found on the Internet. Lyrics and multiple other elements of the demo were later used in "People of the Pride" from Music of the Spheres.[28]
"Mining on the Moon" 2006 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends Performed live in by Chris Martin in a charitable concert. It has not been mentioned since.
"Mist" 2012–2014 Ghost Stories Shown in a list of songs written on a whiteboard that were being considered for the band's sixth studio album in the "Making of Ghost Stories" documentary.[19]
"Name and Likeness" 2014–2015 A Head Full of Dreams Registered on the ASCAP website.
"The Nappies" 2004 X&Y A joke song written by Chris Martin for his then wife Gwyneth Paltrow for the birth of their daughter. A video can be found on the band's timeline website.
"Nobody Will Understand" 1998 Safety EP Originally performed under the name "Pectoralz". Meant to be included in Safety EP, but it was not recorded.
"O (Part 2)" 2013–2014 Ghost Stories Not to be confused with "O (Reprise)". Registered on the ASCAP website.
"On My Way Home" 2014–2015 A Head Full of Dreams The song was given to American a cappella group Pentatonix for their fourth extended play, PTX, Vol. III.
"One Day" 2015 A Head Full of Dreams Written during the recordings of the album but it got considered as a 'bad song' and was not recorded. "One Day" was also played during the Kaleidoscope EP sessions, although again not being recorded.
"Original U.F.O." 2009–2011 Mylo Xyloto Registered on the ASCAP website.
"Out of this World" 2014–2015 A Head Full of Dreams Unreleased demo for "Miracles". Leaked in late 2021.
"Poor Me" Unknown Unknown Not to be confused with "Fix You" b-side "Pour Me". Registered on the ASCAP website.
"The Race" 2012–2014 Ghost Stories / A Head Full of Dreams Shown in a list of songs written on a whiteboard that were being considered for the band's sixth studio album in the "Making of Ghost Stories" documentary. It was recorded alongside "Always in My Head" during the Madeon sessions. The song was later reworked, with different lyrics, for their seventh album but was eventually scrapped. A studio version of the track was leaked onto the internet.[19]
"Rastafarian Targaryan" 2015 Game of Thrones: The Musical Registered on the ASCAP website and written for Game of Thrones: The Musical.[9]
"Red Wedding" 2015 Game of Thrones: The Musical Registered on the ASCAP website and written for Game of Thrones: The Musical.[9]
"Rescue Street" 2008–2010 Mylo Xyloto The song was mentioned by Chris Martin in an interview, where he said the song had an a cappella section but that it "sounded horrific".[29]
"School" 2006–2008 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends The first section of "Death and All His Friends". Originally it was intended as an intro to "Rainy Day" (featured on Prospekt's March EP).[30]
"Set Me Free" 2014–2015 A Head Full of Dreams An alternative name for "Birds". A demo was leaked on the internet in late 2021.
"Sex & Violence" 2008–2011 Mylo Xyloto [f][a][b]
"Silencia" 2008–2010 Mylo Xyloto Presumably the working title for "Major Minus".
"So Sad" 1997–1998 Unknown Performed in 1998 under the name "Starfish".
"Solid Ground (Until the Water Flows Over)" 2003 X&Y It was performed live only once in 2003. It was intended to be a short opening of the song "Violet Hill" but was scrapped. An instrumental version of the track was leaked onto the internet.[31]
"Someone to Love" 2002 Unknown Played once during a soundcheck in 2002, but never performed in a proper concert. A very sketchy recording of the song can be found on the Internet. No official title has been given to the song; "Someone to Love" was the title given to the song by one of its listeners.
"Something Ain't Right" 2004–2005 X&Y Written for X&Y and scrapped prior to its release.[10]
"Space Symphony" 2008–2010 Mylo Xyloto Appeared on a list written in a whiteboard the band used to decide which songs would enter on their fifth album.[5] Presumably the original title of "Moving to Mars".
"Spanish Rain" / "Don Quixote" 2008–2010 Mylo Xyloto The title "Spanish Rain" appeared on a list of songs written on a whiteboard that were being considered for the band's fifth studio album.[5] A live version, which can be found on the internet, was played during the band's last leg of the Viva La Vida Tour in February and March 2010. The song was then referred to as "Don Quixote" and got registered on the ASCAP website under said name. It shares some similarities with the later-released songs "Charlie Brown" and "Don't Let It Break Your Heart" from the band's fifth studio album, Mylo Xyloto.
"Spiderwebs" 2000 Parachutes Early version of "Trouble". A snippet is available in the band's timeline website.
"St. Stephen" 2006–2008 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends A demo version of the song can be found on the Internet.
"Sweet Marianne" 2002–2004 Unknown Also referred as "Marianne" only. Written by Will Champion for his then girlfriend.[24]
"This Hollow Frame" 2000–2002 A Rush of Blood to the Head Scrapped from the album.[16]
"Thought You Might Be a Ghost" 2008 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends Likely the working title for "42".[16]
"To Likely You" 1999 The Blue Room EP [citation needed]
"Tomorrow" 2011–2014 Mylo Xyloto / Ghost Stories Registered on the ASCAP website. A song with the same name was initially included in a provisional track listing for Ghost Stories.[19]
"Touch Me (All Night Long)"
(with The Chainsmokers)
2016–2017 Unknown Registered on the ASCAP website.
"Turn Your World Around" 2004–2005 X&Y [citation needed]
"Unbroken" 2013–2014 Unbroken Soundtrack Registered on the ASCAP website. Likely the original title for "Miracles".
"Vampire Symphony" 2014–2017 Unknown Found on a large poster with their guitar tunings. It is Likely an alternative name for "Break of Dawn" and the song leaked in late 2021.
"A View from the Top" 2002 A Rush of Blood to the Head Played once during a soundcheck in 2002, but never in a proper concert. A very sketchy recording of the song can be found on the internet. The title is unofficial and was given by the first listener.[citation needed]
"Vitamins" 1998 Unknown Performed in 1998 under the name "Starfish".
"Voldemort" Unknown Unknown Registered on the ASCAP website in 2015.
"Waiting in Line" 1999–2000 Parachutes Appeared on Coldplay's website as a working title for their debut album Parachutes in 1999. Likely the original title for "Shiver".
"Walking for Always" 2009–2010 Unknown The title of the song comes from a verse of b-side "Waiting to Get to Your Face".
"Wedding Bells" 2008–2010 Mylo Xyloto Appeared on a list of songs written on a whiteboard that were being considered for the band's fifth studio album and was performed on guitar by Martin during an episode of The South Bank Show.[5] The lead singer also played the song on other occasions, such as the Apple Keynote convention press conference in 2010, when he played it on piano.
"Wilderness" 2008–2010 Mylo Xyloto Appeared on a list written in a whiteboard the band used to decide which songs would enter on their fifth album,[5] as well as marked on a piano alongside other titles.[6]
"Wondering Star" 2008–2010 Mylo Xyloto Appeared on a list written in a whiteboard the band used to decide which songs would enter on their fifth album.[5]
"World Without You" 2012–2014 Ghost Stories Shown in a list of songs written on a whiteboard that were being considered for the band's sixth studio album in the "Making of Ghost Stories" documentary.[19]
"Your Guess Is as Good as Mine" 2001 A Rush of Blood to the Head Early version of "God Put a Smile upon Your Face". Played during 2001.
"Your World Turns Upside Down" 2003 X&Y Not to be confused with B-side "The World Turned Upside Down". It was only played in 2003 but live versions can be found on internet.[citation needed]


Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r This song is included in a list of songs the band were considering for their fifth studio album. The list appears written on a whiteboard in a documentary from September 2009.[5]
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k The title of this song appears written on a white piano alongside other tracks the band were considering for their fifth studio album. The piano is shown in an interview from December 2008.[6]
  3. ^ The song title was written in graffiti on Jonny Buckland's guitar
  4. ^ In 2021, the band created a website named "Alien Radio FM" to promote their ninth studio album Music of the Spheres.[7]
  5. ^ In 2019, a song with the same title was released as part of Coldplay's eighth studio album Everyday Life. Guy Berryman and Chris Martin explained that the new song had been built upon the old one. A snippet of the original version can be heard at the very beginning of the 2019 song.[8]
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l This song is registered on the ASCAP website.
  7. ^ a b This song was written for Game of Thrones: The Musical.[9]
  8. ^ a b c d This song was written for X&Y but scrapped prior to the album's release.[10]
  9. ^ a b c d e A demo of this song was leaked online in 2010, together with other compositions from the Viva la Vida and Mylo Xyloto sessions.
  10. ^ This is one of the songs the band were working on with producer Ken Nelson in late 1999.[11]
  11. ^ a b c d e f This song was written for the band's seventh studio album A Head Full of Dreams, but scrapped prior to its release. It leaked on the internet in late 2021, together with other songs from the same era.
  12. ^ This song was performed live by Chris Martin and Davide Rossi on 27 November 2006 as part of Mencap's Little Noise Sessions.[12]
  13. ^ a b This song is mentioned in Chris Martin's studio diary from 2010. Scans of the diary were included in a limited pop-up edition of Mylo Xyloto, released in December 2011.[13][14]
  14. ^ a b Elements of this song have been incorporated into "Charlie Brown".
  15. ^ This song was written by Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland in 1997. A line from this song would later end up as the opening line of "Violet Hill".[15]
  16. ^ This song was performed live during the Viva La Vida Tour.
  17. ^ This song is an alternative version of "A Head Full of Dreams" with different music and lyrics. The guitar solo bridge from "A Head Full of Dreams" is present throughout "Family Tree".
  18. ^ This song was considered for inclusion on Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (and later on the Prospekt's March EP), but was never released.[17]
  19. ^ Not to be confused with the song "Fun" from A Head Full of Dreams.
  20. ^ This song was considered for Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, but scrapped. It was eventually recorded by Natalie Imbruglia and included on her 2009 album Come to Life.
  21. ^ This song was played once by Chris Martin on the American radio station KCRW on 10 December 2001.[18] It was intended for A Rush of Blood to the Head but was eventually scrapped.[16]
  22. ^ This song appears in an early tracklist for the band's sixth studio album Ghost Stories.[19]
  23. ^ A song named "Ghost Story" was eventually released as part of the A Sky Full of Stars EP and in the Target deluxe edition of the album. It is not clear whether the two titles actually refer to the same song.
  24. ^ The title of this song was spray-written on a wall at the band's studio, as shown in a 2011 interview.[20]
  25. ^ Written and recorded on Fearne Cotton's last show for BBC Radio 1.[21]
  26. ^ This song was performed only once, during Coldplay's 2 Meter Sessies performance on 26 June 2000.
  27. ^ A song titled "Hook Up" was offered by Chris Martin to Beyoncé, but she turned it down.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "Coldplay Call Mylo Xyloto A Schizophrenic Album". MTV News. 24 October 2011. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Coldplay Is The Playing Field". The Herald Sun. 16 October 2011. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 22 January 2012 suggested (help)
  3. ^ "Unpublished Songs". Coldplay Zone (in Italian). Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Ace Repertory: Coldplay - Songview". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Coldplay, Melvyn Bragg (20 September 2009). The South Bank Show - Coldplay (TV show). ITV.
  6. ^ a b c "Coldplay on 60 Minutes (CBS) in 2009". YouTube. 8 February 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Alien Radio FM". Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Rehearsing Orphans for Everyday Life – Live in Jordan". YouTube. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Coldplay's Game of Thrones: The Musical". YouTube. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Coldplay – New Album Details Emerge". Xfm. 14 February 2005. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
  11. ^ "Coldplay, News". Coldplay Official website. Archived from the original on 27 November 1999. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Coldplay cover The Killers". NME. 28 November 2006. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  13. ^ "Mylo Xyloto, Behind the Scenes". ColdplayZone (in Italian). Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Mylo Xyloto Pop-up Edition shipping now". Coldplay Official website. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Coldplay - Viva la Vida and All His Friends (Interview Disc)". EMI, Parlophone. 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2022. We wrote that one line ['It was a long and dark December'] in 1997, and then the other fifty lines came in 2007.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Roach (2003) p.89
  17. ^ "Prospekt: "The nextfew weeks will be intense."". Coldplay Timeline. 26 October 2007. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Limited edition, for KCRW members Live at KCRW on Morning Becomes Eclectic 12.10.01". KCRW. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  19. ^ a b c d e Coldplay (19 May 2014). Making of Ghost Stories (TV show). Sky Arts.
  20. ^ "Coldplay on Sunday Morning (CBS) in 2011". YouTube. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Coldplay - Gone But Not F. Cotton". BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Beyoncé turned down 'awful' Chris Martin song 'Hook Up'". NME. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  23. ^ Roach (2003) p.90
  24. ^ a b Slender Fungus (16 April 2010). "Roadie #42 – Blog #119". Coldplay.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  25. ^ "Intervista a Davide Rossi (#1)". ColdplayZone (in Italian). 28 May 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  26. ^ "Prospekt: "The arguments about tracklisting have begun"". Coldplay Timeline. 5 September 2007. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  27. ^ Whitecross, Mat (director) (14 November 2018). Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams (documentary). Amazon Video.
  28. ^ @coldplaying (24 September 2021). "People Of The Pride seems to have originated from the old Viva demo of "The Man Who Swears"" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 September 2021 – via Twitter.
  29. ^ "Interview: Coldplay (Part Two)". YouTube. MAXmusicTV. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  30. ^ "Coldplay Promo Interview on Viva La Vida, Part Six (2008)". YouTube. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  31. ^ "Coldplay - Solid Ground (Until the Water Flows Over) & Violet Hill [Instrumental Studio Version]". YouTube. Retrieved 22 May 2020.