'The Scientist' in Us All

Well, M said I wouldn't post, so purely out of spite, here I am.

Coldplay has always been met with acclaim by critics, but much ambivalence by the listening public. Maybe because Chris Martin's lyrics and delivery are filled with such soul-baring emotion and honesty that they're seen as soft and sappy. Or it may just be that people are over his well-publicized private life. Or it could just be that people like to knock down anything that's overly successful and write them off as U2 wannabes. Regardless, Martin has acknowledged the haters and is prone to telling crowds at the end of concerts, "Thanks for all your support and for putting up with all the crap of being Coldplay fans."

With that said, I am an unabashed Coldplay apologist. Songs like 'The Scientist' is one of the reasons why. Usually, the visuals of a music video are such that they inherently detract from the subtleties of a song's music and lyrics. Rarely do songs and videos share such a symbiotic relationship. In the case of 'The Scientist' the video enhances the viewer's understanding and appreciation of the song.

To me, the song sums up all of our own feelings of a longing for the past and the ability to change some of the decisions we may have made. Often we will think about and analyze (The Scientist in us all) our past and wonder how the present would be different had we acted differently then. In the end, the song is an emphasis for us all to take advantage of the everyday moments in our lives. It is these seemingly trivial moments of the present will soon become unchangeable decisions of the past, which rather than look back and lament, we will hopefully be able to recollect not necessarily with happiness, but rather with earnest acceptance. The reverse narrative of the video proves to be more than just aesthetically pleasing, skillful direction and artistic hubris by the video's director (Jamie Thraves) but emphasizes the song's central themes that while we should be able to look back on who we are and what we've become by examining our past, what is important is for us all to not forget to be living in the present.