A L I E N S

Album: Kaleidoscope (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Coldplay address the worldwide refugee crisis during this song, highlighting their plight. We hear about the migrants being forced to move "in the dead of night," children crying and the desperate people "hovering without a home."
  • Coldplay donated all proceeds from the song to Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS), an international NGO which rescues migrants and refugees in peril at sea in the Mediterranean. The band are patrons of the charity.
  • The song was written by their Viva La Vida collaborator Brian Eno. He was assisted on the production by Marckus Dravs, who is known for his work with Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons and Kings Of Leon.
  • The song's wacky animated space video was directed by Diane Martel and Ben Jones. The scenes of extraterrestrials fleeing their war torn planet acts as an appropriate metaphor for migrants around the world who have been forced to flee their homelands.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy TalentSongwriter Interviews

The frontman for one of Canada's most well-known punk rock bands talks about his Eddie Vedder encounter, Billy Talent's new album, and the importance of rock and roll.

Vince Clarke

Vince ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

An original member of Depeche Mode, Vince went on to form Erasure and Yaz.

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Michael Glabicki of Rusted RootSongwriter Interviews

Michael tells the story of "Send Me On My Way," and explains why some of the words in the song don't have a literal meaning.