Orphans (Coldplay song)

2019 single by Coldplay

"Orphans"

Dual single cover

Single by Coldplay
from the album  Everyday Life
Released| 24 October 2019 (2019-10-24)
Length| 3:17
Label| Parlophone
Songwriter(s)|

* Guy Berryman
* Jonny Buckland
* Will Champion
* Chris Martin
* Moses Martin

Producer(s)|

* Rik Simpson
* Dan Green
* Bill Rahko

Coldplay singles chronology
| "Miracles (Someone Special)"
(2017)  | "Orphans" / "Arabesque"
(2019)  | "Higher Power"
(2021)

|
|

Music video
"Orphans" on YouTube

"Orphans" is a song by British rock band Coldplay from their eighth studio album Everyday Life. It was released on 24 October 2019, along with the single "Arabesque" and appears on the second side of the album Sunset.[1] The song was written by the band members and produced by The Dream Team.[2][3]

## Background and promotion[edit]

On 24 October 2019, the band announced the release (on the same day) of the songs "Arabesque" and "Orphans" as a dual release and as the first singles of Everyday Life.[4] About the content of the songs, lead singer Chris Martin said in an interview with BBC Radio 1 that "some of it’s very personal, about real things in my life, and some of it’s about things that I see or we see, and some of it’s about trying to empathise about what other people are going through".[5] On the day of the release, the band set up a timer counting down to the release of the songs.[6]

The subject matter of the song includes the plight of refugees of the Syrian civil war. Martin told the BBC, “It seems to me that one of the things that might help people have a better time is to put themselves in other people’s shoes, whether that’s these kids who have to leave Syria, or who grew up in Baltimore, or whatever it might be. Rather than judging from afar, maybe to think ‘I wonder what it’s like to be there.'” Coldplay donated 10% of the worldwide proceeds from the song to the refugee charity Hopeland.[7]

## Recording[edit]

The song was recorded last-minute during the mixing of the album Everyday Life, for which it served as one of two lead singles.[8]

## Music video[edit]

The song's music video, directed by Mat Whitecross,[9] premiered on 25 October 2019.[10] The music video shows the development of the song from its earliest roots, a voice memo by Chris Martin in which the singer is heard talking about the tuning of his guitar before playing what would become the song's main riff, to the fully polished song that was released.[11] The music video won an award at the 2020 MTV VMAs for 'Best Rock' music video.[12]

## Reception[edit]

3voor12 (61),[13] Billboard (93),[14] and NME (41) included the track on their "Best Songs of 2019" lists.[15]

## Live performances[edit]

The song was performed live for the first time during NBC's Saturday Night Live on 2 November 2019. In a rehearsal, Martin explained to the dancers who accompanied the band's performance, "This song is about, you see all these pictures of young people like you and a bit older people like us, having to leave their countries and everyone calls them refugees or migrants rather than just people. So we were thinking about, this could be any of us who is in these camps or at the border or whatever. And that's what this song’s about, it's like people like us saying, 'I just want to go home and be normal.'"[16] "Orphans" was later played live on the Annie Mac Show on BBC Radio 1 on 27 November 2019 along with "Arabesque", "Everyday Life", "Lovers in Japan", and "Guns".

## Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from the "Orphans / Arabesque" liner notes.[17]

* Recording
* Coldplay

* Guy Berryman – bass guitar
* Will Champion – drums, percussion, backing vocals
* Jonny Buckland – guitar
* Chris Martin – guitar, vocals

Additional musicians

* Aluna – choir vocal
* Garine Antreassian – choir vocal
* Jocelyn 'Jozzy' Donald – choir vocal
* Nadeen Fanous – choir vocal
* Marwa Kreitem – choir vocal
* Apple Martin – choir vocal
* Max Martin – keyboards
* Moses Martin – choir and backing vocal
* Bashar Murad – choir vocal
* Ben Oerlemans – choir vocal
* Bill Rahko – choir vocal
* Norah Shaqur – choir vocal
* Rik Simpson – keyboards

* Production
* Main

* Daniel Green – producer
* Emily Lazar – mastering
* Max Martin – producer, programming
* Bill Rahko – producer
* Rik Simpson – producer

Assistants

* Erwan Abbas – assistant engineering
* Chris Allgood – assistant mastering
* Matt Glasbey – assistant engineering
* Pierre Houle – additional engineering
* Matt Latham – assistant engineering
* Baptiste Leroy – assistant engineering
* Bastien Lozier – additional engineering
* Issam Murad – assistant engineering
* Anthony De Souza – assistant engineering
* Federico Vindver – additional engineering

|

## Charts[edit]

### Weekly charts[edit]

| Chart (2019–2020)  | Peak
position

|

Argentina (Argentina Hot 100)[18] | 62
Australia (ARIA)[19] | 71
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] | 9
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[21] | 7
Bolivia (Monitor Latino)[22] | 14
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[23] | 59
Canada AC (Billboard)[24] | 33
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[25] | 47
Canada Rock (Billboard)[26] | 27
Croatia (HRT)[27] | 4
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[28] | 27
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[29] | 56
Estonia (Eesti Ekspress)[30] | 31
France (SNEP)[31] | 172
Germany (Official German Charts)[32] | 94
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[33] | 20
Hungary (Single Top 40)[34] | 37
Ireland (IRMA)[35] | 31
Israel (Media Forest)[36] | 4
Italy (FIMI)[37] | 55
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[38] | 87
Latvia (LAIPA)[39] | 23
Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[40] | 7
Lithuania (AGATA)[41] | 28
Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[42] | 24
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[43] | 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[44] | 15
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[45] | 37
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[46] | 10
Norway (VG-lista)[47] | 33
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[48] | 20
Portugal (AFP)[49] | 65
Scotland (OCC)[50] | 13
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[51] | 91
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[52] | 45
Slovenia (SloTop50)[53] | 25
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[54] | 88
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[55] | 37
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[56] | 25
UK Singles (OCC)[57] | 27
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[58] | 6
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[59] | 28
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[60] | 3
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[61] | 1

### Year-end charts[edit]

| Chart (2019)  | Position

|

Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[62] | 88
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[63] | 98
Chart (2020)  | Position

|

Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[64] | 82
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[65] | 99
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[66] | 7
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[67] | 27

## Certifications[edit]

Certifications for "Orphans"  Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[68] | Platinum  | 70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[69] | Gold  | 20,000‡
France (SNEP)[70] | Gold  | 100,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[71] | Gold  | 25,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[72] | Gold  | 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[73] | Silver  | 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Release history[edit]

Region  | Date  | Format  | Label  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

Various  | 24 October 2019  |

* Digital download
* streaming

| Parlophone | [74]
Australia  | 25 October 2019  | Contemporary hit radio |

* Warner
* Parlophone

| [75]
Italy  | Warner  | [76]
United Kingdom  | Parlophone  | [77]
2 November 2019  | Adult contemporary | [78]

## References[edit]

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2. ^ Strauss, Matthew (24 October 2019). "Coldplay Share New Songs "Orphans" and "Arabesque": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
3. ^ "Orphans / Arabesque / Coldplay – TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
4. ^ White, Jack (24 October 2019). "Coldplay announce tracklist to new double album Everyday Life released on November 22". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
5. ^ Trendell, Andrew (24 October 2019). "Coldplay's Chris Martin explains the inspiration behind new tracks "Orphans" and "Arabesque" and new album Everyday Life". NME. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
6. ^ Cross, Alan (24 October 2019). "Coldplay has been quietly planting Easter eggs ahead of their new album". ajournalofmusicalthings.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
7. ^ "Coldplay Supports Hopeland with the Song 'Orphans'". Our Homeland. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 2021-07-25.
8. ^ "Chris Martin gives a world-exclusive interview ahead of new Coldplay album Everyday Life". YouTube. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
9. ^ Ulitski, Rob (6 November 2019). "Coldplay 'Orphans' by Mat Whitecross". Promonews. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
10. ^ DeVille, Chris (24 October 2019). "Coldplay – "Orphans" & "Arabesque"". Stereogum. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
11. ^ "Chris Martin gives a world-exclusive interview ahead of new Coldplay album Everyday Life". YouTube. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
12. ^ Rabab Al-Sharif. "Coldplay Win Best Rock Music Video at 2020 VMAs". Loudwire. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
13. ^ "Merol Wint de Song Van Het Jaar 2019" [Merol Wins Song of the Year 2019]. 3voor12 (in Dutch). 6 December 2019. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
14. ^ "The 100 Best Songs of 2019: Staff List". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
15. ^ "Rocklist - NME End of Year Lists 2019". Rocklist UK. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
16. ^ @coldplay (November 5, 2019). "Chris explains what Orphans is about at last week's rehearsals with the band's SNL dancers. A #EverydayLife" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
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22. ^ "Bolivia General" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
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25. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
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28. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201949 into search. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
29. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201944 into search. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
30. ^ "EESTI TIPP-40: Eesti rahvas jumaldab Kanye Westi värsket gospel-oopust". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). Retrieved 5 November 2019.
31. ^ "Top Singles (Week 48, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
32. ^ "Coldplay – Orphans" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
33. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
34. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
35. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
36. ^ "Media Forest Week 52, 2019". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
37. ^ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 44" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
38. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 2019/11/11". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 November 2019.
39. ^ "Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 44. nedēļa" (in Latvian). LAIPA. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
40. ^ "The Official Lebanese Top 20". The Official Lebanese Top 20. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
41. ^ "2019 48-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
42. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Mexico Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
43. ^ "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard.
44. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 47, 2019" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
45. ^ "Coldplay – Orphans" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
46. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
47. ^ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single uke 44, 2019". VG-lista. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
48. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
49. ^ "Coldplay – Orphans". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
50. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
51. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201948 into search. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
52. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201944 into search. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
53. ^ "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
54. ^ "Top 100 Canciones: Semana 44". Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
55. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 44". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
56. ^ "Coldplay – Orphans". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
57. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
58. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
59. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
60. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
61. ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
62. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2019". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
63. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
64. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2020". Ultratop. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
65. ^ "Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2020". Mahasz. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
66. ^ "Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
67. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
68. ^ "March 2024 Album Accreds" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
69. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Coldplay – Orphans" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
70. ^ "French single certifications – Coldplay – Orphans" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
71. ^ "Italian single certifications – Coldplay – Orphans" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 3 January 2022. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Orphans" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
72. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Coldplay – Orphans". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
73. ^ "British single certifications – Coldplay – Orphans". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
74. ^ Strauss, Matthew (24 October 2019). "Coldplay Share New Songs "Orphans" and "Arabesque": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
75. ^ "SINGLES TO RADIO". The Music Network. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
76. ^ "Orphans COLDPLAY". Radio Date. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
77. ^ "Radio 1 Playlist". BBC. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
78. ^ "Radio 2 New Music Playlist". BBC. Archived from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.

* v
* t
* e

Coldplay songs

* Discography
* Videography
* Covers

Parachutes|

* "Don't Panic"
* "Shiver"
* "Sparks"
* "Yellow"
* "Trouble"

A Rush of Blood
to the Head|

* "In My Place"
* "God Put a Smile upon Your Face"
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* "Clocks"

Live 2003|

* "Moses"

X&Y|

* "Fix You"
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Viva la Vida or Death
and All His Friends|

* "Lost!"
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Prospekt's March|

* "Life in Technicolor II"
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Mylo Xyloto|

* "Hurts Like Heaven"
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Ghost Stories|

* "Magic"
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A Head Full of Dreams|

* "A Head Full of Dreams"
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* "Everglow"
* "Adventure of a Lifetime"
* "Fun"
* "Up&Up"

Kaleidoscope EP|

* "All I Can Think About Is You"
* "Miracles (Someone Special)"
* "Aliens"
* "Something Just Like This"
* "Hypnotised"

Everyday Life|

* "Daddy"
* "Arabesque"
* "Orphans"
* "Champion of the World"
* "Everyday Life"

Music of the Spheres|

* "Higher Power"
* "Let Somebody Go"
* "My Universe"
* "Coloratura"

Other songs|

* "Brothers & Sisters"
* "How You See the World No. 2"
* "Gravity"
* "Christmas Lights"
* "Moving to Mars"
* "Atlas"
* "Miracles"

* Category

* v
* t
* e

MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video

* "Sweet Child o' Mine" (1989)
* "Janie's Got a Gun" (1990)
* "The Other Side" (1991)
* "Enter Sandman" (1992)
* "Jeremy" (1993)
* "Black Hole Sun" (1994)
* "More Human than Human" (1995)
* "Until It Sleeps" (1996)
* "Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)" (1997)
* "Pink" (1998)
* "Freak on a Leash" (1999)
* "Break Stuff" (2000)
* "Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)" (2001)
* "In the End" (2002)
* "Somewhere I Belong" (2003)
* "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" (2004)
* "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (2005)
* "Miss Murder" (2006)
* "Shadow of the Day" (2008)
* "21 Guns" (2009)
* "Kings and Queens" (2010)
* "Walk" (2011)
* "Paradise" (2012)
* "Up in the Air" (2013)
* "Royals" (2014)
* "Uma Thurman" (2015)
* "Heathens" (2016)
* "Heavydirtysoul" (2017)
* "Whatever It Takes" (2018)
* "High Hopes" (2019)
* "Orphans" (2020)
* "Last Train Home" (2021)
* "Black Summer" (2022)
* "The Loneliest" (2023)

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