I mention Coldplay’s song “Green Eyes” in my May 22, 2021 post on “The Scientist,” saying today’s selection is one of the better-known of the British band’s earlier songs.
But re-reading that post today, I’m not so sure that is an accurate statement after all. Coldplay never released “Green Eyes” as a single, and I’m really not sure what type of attention it received when the album A Rush of Blood to the Head came out in 2002 as I wasn’t a fan at the time. And anything I’ve read about the collection doesn’t shine a particular light on the song.
It’s a fabulous piece of music, though, so I must have just been projecting my own assessment of the song’s worthiness. The music, lyrics and singing in “Green Eyes” all carry a definite country music vibe I’ve never heard any commentary about. When I listen really hard, I feel like I can hear a pedal steel guitar in the last half of the song when it transitions from acoustic guitar and vocal to full band plus strings and vocal, but I think it’s just effects on the electric guitar. There does seem to be a country influence elsewhere on the album, too, and critics have noted the strummy electric guitar of “Warning Sign” to be country rock-inspired (and, again, if I listen really closely I’m sure I hear accordion on that one). In my opinion, the title track “A Rush of Blood to the Head” also keeps that country vibe going. It would be interesting to know if this is just my impression or if it was intentional on Coldplay’s part. I think it was the band experimenting with various styles of songwriting and performance, later complemented by the lavish, multi-layered production Brian Eno brought to Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008).
Hearing other tracks while reading up on the song tonight makes me think about sitting through the whole album many times when I discovered it a few years after its release. A Rush of Blood to the Head is an amazing album, probably one of Coldplay’s best, and to me, much more enjoyable than their more pop-oriented music of the last few years.
Now you know a little about why this is My Song of the Day for Today. Thanks for joining me here, and please enjoy.
Here’s the audio for the song from Coldplay’s official YouTube channel:
Full, unofficial lyrics are available at AZLyrics.com.
Song of the Day for Today 