Recorded 2007–2008 Length 3:57 | Genre Alternative rock Label EMI/Parlophone/Capitol | |
Writer(s) Guy Berryman
Jonny Buckland
Will Champion
Chris Martin Producer(s) Markus Dravs
Brian Eno
Jon Hopkins
Rik Simpson | ||
"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, composition and meaning
The mysterious title "42" may be related to 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 that the song was about midlife crisis at the age of 42. The band originally considered this song as the album's first single.
The song is a distinctive for Coldplay as it has no chorus and it's divided into three parts. In a track-by-track analysis, 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." Frontman Chris Martin added, "Although every time we tried we've called it 42, that's about the ninth '42'" Martin also said, in an interview for MTV, that the track was called 42 because it was his "favorite number". Buckland used an ostrich tuning in this song, tuning his guitar to F-F-F-f-f-f.