Tag: Coldplay

Discover the Songs that Help Superstar Driver Lando Norris Get Ready for Race Day

May 5, 2023

He might only be 23, but McLaren Racing’s Lando Norris is already one of the world’s biggest motorsport stars. And it’s not just racing enthusiasts who are captivated by the charismatic driver—Lando is attracting new fans to the sport in droves.

Fans are showing their love for the driver through their Spotify playlists. Last fall, searches for Lando spiked more than 400%, and to date, fans around the world have made nearly 25,000 Lando-related playlists, with title themes like “driving with Lando” and “pov: you’re dating Lando Norris.”

From among all Lando Norris–related playlists, some of the top tracks added include “Yellow” and “Speed of Sound” by Coldplay, “Golden” by Harry Styles, “Smooth Operator” by Sade, “Ferrari” by James Hype and Miggy Dela Rosa, and, of course, “Let’s Go Lando!” by Pitstop Boys. 

Meanwhile, top tracks added to Lando Norris “dating” playlists include “London Boy” and “Paper Rings” by Taylor Swift, “Perfect” by One Direction, “Adore You” by Harry Styles, and “Kiss Me More” by Doja Cat (featuring SZA). 

As Lando prepares for the big race in Miami this weekend, he’s created an exclusive Spotify playlist, Sunshine & Tan Lines, that gives fans an inside look at how music helps him get into the right mindset.

Featuring hits from the likes of Bad Bunny, Drake, Burna Boy, Lizzy McAlpine, and even Alan Jackson, Lando’s playlist has a fun and laid-back vibe inspired by the Miami sunshine.

For the Record sat down with Lando to discuss the playlist, his favorite music to listen to before getting in the car, and how he likes to relax when he’s not on the track. 

How do the songs on your playlist help you get ready for a race?

Before a race, I just want to listen to songs with good energy that remind me of good times and make me happy. I like to make sure I’m in a good mood before I go into the garage. 

So there’s a bit of variety on this playlist. There are lo-fi tracks that let me relax and chill out, and upbeat ones that get me focused. But Miami is a hot and fun place, so there are also some fun, quirky, and cheerful tracks that I can have a cheesy sing-along to.  

Are there any songs on the playlist that might surprise people?

Most of them are probably songs that people know, but they may be surprised that I have some sad songs on the playlist. I don’t know why, but I love sad songs for some reason. Not because it connects me to anything. I think a lot of it is just enjoying the lyrics, the melody, and the vibe.

What’s your go-to song when you’re on a drive?

I love a bit of country, so Alan Jackson’s “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” is one of them. Not because it’s about driving necessarily, but it’s more that I like the tune. Miley Cyrus’s “Party In The USA” is another one that I like to throw on. It’s a song that always puts a smile on my face. 

When I’m driving somewhere alone, I love singing along to songs. And typically, slower-paced songs are easier for me to remember and keep up with. It’s a time to be free, so it has to be songs that I know the lyrics to.

How do you like to relax when you’re not focused on racing?

Mostly, it’s about doing ordinary things that let me be a bit more normal and less of a racing driver. My main thing is just hanging out with friends. It doesn’t really matter what we’re doing, but as long as I’m with them, it takes my mind away from racing. As much as it’s good to focus on racing, it’s easy to overthink things. So my time with friends is important.

But when I’m chilling at home, I like to play video games and binge TV shows. I also got back into cycling recently, so when I’m in Monaco, it’s nice to ride down to Cannes or Saint-Tropez and enjoy the coast and countryside.

Golfing with friends is another thing I love. It’s one of the sports I enjoy the most outside of racing. It helps take my mind off racing, but still has a competitive aspect to it where I want to strive to be better.

What’s your favorite song that you’ve discovered recently?

Probably “ceilings” by Lizzy McAlpine. My friend sent this to me yesterday and said I had to listen to it, probably because it’s a sad song. It’s a very different song than what most people would imagine I’d listen to, but we had some good laughs about that. I also watched a documentary about Lewis Capaldi recently, so I’ve also been listening to “Wish You The Best” a lot. 

Are there any Spotify playlists or features that you love?

I probably listen to my Liked Songs playlist the most, so I would say that’s my favorite. I also thank Spotify for enhancing some of my playlists—I like to find a couple of songs that I like, and then Enhance does the rest for me, saving a lot of time.

Stream all of Lando’s favorite race-day jams on his playlist, Sunshine & Tan Lines.

Coldplay Challenges Fans to a Global Scavenger Hunt—and Shares Lyrics From Their Upcoming Album That Are Out of This Universe

October 14, 2021

This week, Coldplay fans encountered an out-of-this-world mystery. Digital billboards appeared in cities across the globe, flickering with messages in an alien language that only the most dedicated listeners could decode. And online, social media was abuzz with speculation. Finally, after expert sleuthing, fans cracked the case. The symbols on the billboards were, in fact, lyrics from the group’s ninth album, Music Of The Spheres, which debuts tomorrow, October 15. Spotify partnered with Coldplay on the earthly adventure, engaging listeners worldwide in a week-long scavenger hunt to find the billboard sites. Clues on social media and on Spotify guided fans to the next location. Plus, the billboards’ cryptic displays contained a hidden Spotify code that, when scanned, took participants to the Music Of The Spheres playlist (available no matter what galaxy you’re in). The album launch marks another exciting chapter in the group’s 21 years of hit-making milestones. Coldplay has accumulated more than 16.7 billion all-time streams, so we took a look at our Spotify streaming data to see their impact. Though each of their albums is iconic, their top five most-streamed are:

      1. A Head Full of Dreams with over 2.4 billion streams.
      2. A Rush of Blood to the Head with over 2.1 billion streams.
      3. Ghost Stories with over 2 billion streams.
      4. Parachutes with over 1.7 billion streams.
      5. Mylo Xyloto with over 1.5 billion streams.

With eight studio albums already under their belts, the artists also have an impressive catalogue of tracks. The top five most-streamed tracks are:

      1. “Something Just Like This” (with The Chainsmokers) with more than 1.5 billion streams.
      2. “The Scientist” with more than 1 billion streams.
      3. “Yellow” with more than 940 million streams.
      4. “Viva La Vida” with more than 930 million streams.
      5. “Fix You” with more than 850 million streams.

And the release of Music Of The Spheres will likely add to those numbers. Already, the first single, a collaboration with K-pop sensation BTS called “My Universe,” has drawn new fans and excited longtime followers. The track also happens to have helped kick off the global scavenger hunt through a Spotify Canvas—a short looping video accompanying the track—that revealed clues to help locate the first billboard. For fans following along on social media, however, the first alien message came directly from Coldplay. On Sunday, October 10, the group sent the first hint to fans worldwide. The symbols, spheres, and coordinates teased of the adventure to come on Monday. Then, in the U.K., Londoners spotted the first billboard—quickly followed by a sighting in Moscow, Russia.

In London, fans learned the lyrics to “Biutyful.” While in Moscow, Coldplay made contact and shared “Humankind.”

Across the globe, in the United States, an unidentified floating billboard was spotted on Tuesday in Los Angeles, California. There, Selena Gomez fans had an exciting surprise—an upcoming collaboration with Coldplay on “Let Somebody Go.”

One of the final spooky sightings occurred today, in São Paulo, Brazil, where residents found extraterrestrials among themselves. The song “Human Heart” arrived courtesy of a flying saucer.

The other was in Johannesburg, South Africa, where a billboard sported the last words from outer space: “People of the Pride.”

Coldplay comes in peace. Start your intergalactic adventure and stream the Music Of The Spheres playlist now. Then, let the new release, Music Of The Spheres, transport you to another universe on October 15.

A Close Look at India’s Love for International Pop

May 4, 2020

Did you know there was once a Danish band that was more popular in India than in Denmark? The group Michael Learns to Rock shot to fame with singles like “The Actor” and “That’s Why You Go Away” in the ’90s. At the height of their success, they made tour stops in the Indian cities of Bengaluru and Chennai. The band was so well received that they amassed an enormous cult following across the country for years to come. 

“They got into cabs and went to the airport in Copenhagen—living the normal life. And when they landed in India, there was a huge entourage that greeted them with garlands, and limousines carried them to their hotels,” Padmanabhan Nurani, Spotify’s Head of Artists and Label Marketing India, tells For the Record. 

It’s just a mere glimpse of how the country’s music fans have long embraced local and global artists. 

Home to countless Bollywood stars, along with raga virtuosos, indie talent, and more, India has been a vibrant hub for international music and a top tour destination for world-class acts like Led Zeppelin and Bruce Springsteen. Sneha Singh, Head of Music Culture and Editorial India, credits the rich diversity of the country’s music landscape for this broad acceptance of global sounds.

“Because we have so many languages, it’s just ingrained in us to take in and to respect each other’s cultures,” Singh tells For the Record. “Acceptance is fairly easy and this means we listen to all kinds of music.”

The robust and rich content on Spotify India ranges from locally curated favorites like Top Hits Hindi and Punjabi 101 to global playlists like Today’s Top Hits and New Music Friday. Now, with the recent addition of the Warner Music Group catalog in India, listeners are also streaming the latest tracks from global stars such as Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, and Cardi B, and rock fans have access to entire discographies of Coldplay, Linkin Park, and The Doors, among others.

In the first two weeks of the catalog’s availability in India, Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa were the top two most-searched Warner Music artists, respectively. The most-searched-for tracks were “Dance Monkey“ by Australian songwriter Tones And I, followed by Roddy Ricch’s infectious hip-hop anthem “The Box.” 

Nurani says it’s no surprise that Ed Sheeran comes up tops for the nation of 1.3 billion people. Sheeran has performed in India twice. In 2017 he greeted his audience with a respectful “namaste” (“hello” in Hindi) before performing dressed in a blue silk kurta, the traditional shirt worn across South Asia. The “Shape of You” star’s choice of wardrobe made national headlines, and the song played on the radio for the next two years. 

Like Sheeran, Dua Lipa is also a regular in India and shows her appreciation for local culture whenever she performs there. Before playing in Mumbai last year, Dua Lipa took some time to meet with Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and even picked up a few of his dance moves. Khan’s post to Instagram fed a local media frenzy online and delighted fans everywhere—such is the interest in “Bollywood meets Hollywood.”

To editorial expert Singh, these cross-cultural collaborations are all a natural expression of how pop culture works in this diverse, music-savvy country. “We have borrowed from the West, and the other way around,” she says. “Music has always been about inspiration and evolving it for the listener’s ears.”

Looking for a deep dive into Indian pop? Start with Spotify’s Hot Hits India playlist and keep going with New Music Friday India and This Is Arjit Singh.

El Trascendente y Vivaz legado de Soda Stereo y Gustavo Cerati

September 16, 2019

Una tarde de 2012, en el recital de U2  llevado a cabo en La Plata, Argentina, durante la gira Tour Latinoamericano 360° de la banda, un inspirado Bono miró hacia la audiencia y exclamó “¡No olviden a Gustavo Cerati!”. La multitud de 60.000 fans inmediatamente ovacionó de pie, mientras Bono dedicaba su canción “Moment of Surrender” a Cerati —el adorado líder de la banda argentina Soda Stereo. Fue un momento sumamente emotivo, ya que Cerati había caído en un coma sin final a la vista. El conmovedor tributo de Bono al cantante que murió hace 5 años sería el primero de muchos. A partir de este momento, una enorme diversidad de artistas, desde Shakira hasta Coldplay, se han tomado el tiempo en sus giras para reconocer al enorme talento e impacto que ha tenido Gustavo Cerati en el rock.  

Para los fanáticos, septiembre trae la oportunidad de recordar el incomparable legado de Cerati —el icónico rockero alternativo, cuya presencia permitió atraer la atención internacional a la música de Latinoamérica. 

Conocido por su carisma, curiosidad y voluntad para experimentar, Cerati nació en Buenos Aires el 11 de agosto de 1959. Como fanático del rock and roll desde sus inicios, empezó a tocar la guitarra a los 9 años de edad, citando a Jimi Hendrix como una gran influencia. A sus 13 años ya había formado su primera banda. Otras de sus inspiraciones incluyeron al guitarrista Luis Alberto Spinetta, pionero del Rock Argentino y de la banda Almendra, y a Andy Summers de The Police.

En 1982, cuando Argentina emergía de tiempos sombríos y agitación política de varias décadas, Cerati formó Soda Stereo junto a Héctor “Zeta” Bosio como bajista, y Charly Alberti como baterista. El trío lanzó su primer álbum dos años después, conformado por canciones como “¿Por qué no puedo ser del jet-set?” y “Sobredosis de T.V.”, que tocaban temáticas relacionadas a la cultura como la lucha de clases, acompañadas de acordes sorprendentes y riffs de guitarra. Sin embargo, fue Nada Personal, el álbum lanzando al año siguiente, el que les dio proyección desde Río Grande al Río de la Plata, con canciones como “Juegos de seducción”, “Nada personal”, y “Cuando pase el temblor” —que tomaron por asalto el espectro radial, especialmente de México, Chile, Uruguay y Argentina.

Después del éxito repentino, Cerati decidió cambiar su rumbo y colaborar, en 1992, con Daniel Melero, su cercano amigo y, además, miembro de la banda argentina de tecno-pop Los Encargados. El resultado de dicha fusión fue  Colores Santos, un álbum de pistas soñadoras e introspectivas que recuerdan el sonido espacial y sintetizado de bandas británicas como New Order, gracias al uso pionero de Cerati de los samplers Akai MPC60 and Emax II. 

Cerati continuó experimentando y expandiendo su curiosidad, incluso en el sexto álbum de Soda Stereo ”Dynamo”. Más shoegaze que rock tradicional, el álbum representó un desviación completa del trabajo anterior de la banda, y marcó un nuevo momento en la evolución y escena del Rock Argentino. Hoy, Dynamo es considerado un ejemplo central del característico sonido shoegaze, comparándolo también con Loveless de My Bloody Valentine, fundamental para el género.

Para 1996, la banda Soda Stereo se había separado oficialmente, por lo que Cerati concentró su energía en la producción de música electrónica. Creó el proyecto tecno Plan V con DJs chilenos: Andrés Bucci, Christian Powditch, y Guillermo Bassard. Tres años después, lanzó Bocanada, un álbum ambicioso, concebido como un viaje musical entre las líneas de la electrónica y el rock, diseñado para ser escuchado en un orden específico, desde el comienzo hasta el final.  

Luego en 2006, Cerati sacó Ahí Vamos incluyendo el sencillo “Crimen”, que a la fecha, es la canción más popular del artista en Spotify —con más de 88 millones de streams. Su álbum siguiente, lanzado en 2009, Fuerza Natural, coproducido con el premiado productor Héctor Castillo, fue reconocido por usar el mandolín y la guitarra “Lap Steel”. Tenía un sonido más pacífico y orientado al folk —encajando, así, en la nueva dirección de lo que sería el último álbum de Cerati.

Los dúos musicales fueron los elementos definitorios de la carrera de Cerati, y según la crítica chilena del rock, Paula Molina, fue su compromiso con las técnicas y la experimentación de otros géneros, que luego fusionó e incorporó en su música, lo que lo hizo tan popular. Ahora, luego de haber reflexionado sobre lo que fue su legado, lo que se destaca es su habilidad para hacer que la música trasciende los géneros y cruza las fronteras —música para todos los latinoamericanos. Como otra estrella del rock argentino, Andrés Calamaro declaró: “millones de personas llorarán la ausencia [de Cerati], pero siempre recordarán que sus canciones cambiaron la música latinoamericana para siempre”.  

En distinción a su contribución a la música y al rock en español, escuchá esta playlist tributo que honra el imborrable legado de Gustavo Cerati.

The Transcendent and Vivacious Legacy of Soda Stereo’s Gustavo Cerati

September 16, 2019

One evening in 2012 during a stop in La Plata, Argentina on the Latin American leg of U2’s 360° tour, an inspired Bono looked out over the audience and exclaimed, “Don’t forget Gustavo Cerati!” The crowd of 60,000 fans immediately broke out into a standing ovation while Bono dedicated the band’s song, “Moment of Surrender” to Cerati—the beloved lead singer of Argentinian rock band Soda Stereo. It was an understandably emotional moment as Cerati had recently fallen into a coma with no end in sight. Bono’s touching tribute to the singer who passed away five years ago this month would be the first of many. Since then everyone from Shakira to Coldplay have taken time out of their tours to acknowledge Gustavo Cerati’s enormous talent for and impact on rock and roll.  

For music fans everywhere, September brings with it the opportunity to look back at the incomparable legacy of Cerati—the proud Latin American alt-rocker whose global appeal helped bring international attention to the region’s music. 

Known for his charisma, curiosity, and willingness to experiment, Cerati was born in Buenos Aires on August 11, 1959. A fan of rock and roll from the very beginning, he started playing guitar at the age of nine, citing Jimi Hendrix as a large influence. By 13, he had formed his first band. Other early inspirations included guitarist Luis Alberto Spinetta, of pioneering Rock Argentino band Almendra, and Andy Summers of The Police.

In 1982, just as Argentina was emerging from the shadow of decades-long political turmoil, Cerati formed Soda Stereo with bassist Héctor “Zeta” Bosio and drummer Charly Alberti. They released their eponymous first album two years later, with songs such as “¿Por qué no puedo ser del jet-set?” and “Sobredosis de T.V.,” tackling themes of class struggle and material culture with surprisingly infectious chord progressions and guitar riffs. But it was Nada Personal, their second album released the next year, that put them on the radar from the Rio Grande to the Río de la Plata, with the tracks “Juegos de seducción,” “Nada personal,” and “Cuando pase el temblor”—taking over airwaves, especially in Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina.

After so much early success, Cerati decided to switch gears in 1992 and collaborate with Daniel Melero, his close friend and a member of the Argentinean techno-pop band Los Encargados. The result was Colores Santos, an album of dreamy, introspective tracks that recall the spacey, synthed-out sounds of British New Wave bands like New Order thanks to Cerati’s pioneering use of the now-iconic Akai MPC60 and Emax II samplers. 

Cerati continued to experiment and stretched his curiosity even further on Soda Stereo’s sixth album, Dynamo. More shoegaze than traditional rock, the album represented a complete departure from the band’s previous work and marked a new moment in the ever-evolving Rock Argentino scene. Today, Dynamo is considered a core example of shoegaze’s signature woozy sound, often drawing comparisons to My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless, a touchstone of the genre. 

By 1996, Soda Stereo had officially split, and Cerati threw his energy into electronic music and production. He created the ambient techno project Plan V with Chilean DJs Andrés Bucci, Christian Powditch, and Guillermo Bassard. Three years later, he released Bocanada, an ambitious album conceived as a musical journey straddling the lines between electronica and rock, and designed to be listened to in order, from start to finish. 

Then in 2006, Cerati put out Ahí Vamos featuring the single “Crimen,” which to date is the artist’s most popular song on Spotify—with over 88 million streams. His next album, 2009’s Fuerza Natural, co-produced with award-winning producer Hector Castillo, was notable for its use of a mandolin and lap steel guitar. It had a more folk-oriented and peaceful sound—a fitting new direction for what would be Cerati’s final album. 

Musical twists and turns were the defining element of Cerati’s career, and according to Chilean rock critic Paula Molina, it was this commitment to experimentation and to techniques from other genres that he then infused back into his own music that made him so popular. Now, as we reflect on Cerati’s legacy what comes into focus was his remarkable ability to make music that transcended genres and crossed borders—music for all Latin Americans. As fellow Argentine rockstar Andrés Calamaro put it, “millions of people will mourn [Cerati’s] absence, but always remember his songs that changed Latin American music forever.”

In honor of his contribution to music and rock en español, check out this tribute playlist that honors the enduring legacy of Gustavo Cerati.