Staff Writer Brendan Shanahan is journaling his life through the medium of Phonomancy. Follow his magic with every track released under The Phonogram EP.
I previously expressed that my early music journey consisted of music beginning and ending with the Beatles. However, that’s not entirely true. I was also a keen fan of some other British bands like U2, Oasis, and Coldplay.
I’ve worked out I’m a sucker for a good melody and catchy hook, something that Coldplay excelled in. Also, my dad liked them and would let me play them in the car, so that contributed to my enthusiasm.
Their second album A Rush of Blood to the Head is most famous for the hits ‘Clocks’, ‘In My Place’, and ‘The Scientist’. But my selection for this track was prompted by a video by one of my favorite Youtubers, Rick Beato.
If you’re into music and want to understand why your favorite songs sound like they do, I would very much recommend checking his channel out. In this video, he breaks down why the final track ‘Amsterdam’ from A Rush of Blood to the Head is a great song. Watch the video for yourself to see the technical analysis of what makes this song great. But for me, this one hits an emotional nerve.
Despite having spun the album numerous times for years as a teenager, it had largely been forgotten in light of new and exciting sounds and bands. Watching Rick pick it a part and play it again and again, I found that the lyrics really resonated with me.
The track has the typical early Coldplay sound. Cue the solo piano and Chris Martin’s voice, before the rest of the band comes in to really hammer home the main chorus.
I was feeling a bit trapped in my day job, particularly with my mentor (and fellow team mate) leaving and a lot of responsibilities dropping on to me. I felt as if I couldn’t go the direction that I wanted to go, as I had to help the company moving forward.
What this track taught me was that everything doesn’t have to happen at once. As some things end, other things begin, and the right path might not need to be the fastest one to get you there.
So I’m taking the opportunity that’s been presented to me, and seeing how I go. Who knows, I may end up somewhere better than where I thought I could go before.
Next Time, Track 6: A Song That Makes You Dance For You
