42 (song)

"42" is a song by alternative rock band Coldplay. It was written by all members of the band for their fourth album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends. The song, divided into three parts, does not have a chorus. The first part is a ballad with piano and strings. It then transforms into an uptempo rock arrangement with a guitar solo. Finally, the song ends with a multi-instrumental part.

A live version of "42" was featured on the band's 2009 live album, LeftRightLeftRightLeft.

Writing and composition

The mysterious title "42" may have to do with the fact that there were 42 songs that were trashed during the X&Y recording sessions, or it may be a reference to Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Many fans were also led to believe the song is about midlife crisis at the age of 42. The band originally considered this song as the album's first single. "42" is a different song on Coldplay's career as it doesn't have a chorus and it's divided into three parts, starting with swirling pianos, then strings and beat loops that eventually build to an uptempo climax. In a track-by-track interview, the guitarist Jonny Buckland revealed: "We've been trying for about two years now to record a song that didn't have any chorus and didn't really have any verses...and '42' was the only time we were able to do it successfully." Then frontman Chris Martin added, "Although every time we tried we've called it 42, that's about the ninth '42'" Chris Martin also said in an interview for MTV that the track was called 42 because it was his "favorite number". Jonny Buckland used an ostrich tuning in this song, tuning his guitar to F–F-F-f-f-f.

Song

A song is a single (and often standalone) work of music intended to be sung by the human voice with distinct and fixed pitches and patterns using sound and silence and a variety of forms that often include the repetition of sections. Written words created specifically for music or for which music is specifically created, are called lyrics. If a pre-existing poem is set to composed music in classical music it is an art song. Songs that are sung on repeated pitches without distinct contours and patterns that rise and fall are called chants. Songs in a simple style that are learned informally are often referred to as folk songs. Songs that are composed for professional singers are called popular songs. These songs, which have broad appeal, are often composed by professional songwriters, composers and lyricists. Art songs are composed by trained classical composers for concert performances. Songs are performed live and recorded. Songs may also appear in plays, musical theatre, stage shows of any form, and within operas.

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