Humankind

Album: Music Of The Spheres (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Music of the Spheres is a concept album based around an imaginary solar system called The Spheres. It contains nine planets, three natural satellites, a star and a nebula, with each corresponding to a certain track on the record. Chris Martin sings "Humankind" from the perspective of an alien citizen on the planet Echo, who hears human songs on Alien Radio FM. The Spheres ban music, but rebel DJ Lafrique broadcasts tunes with messages of inclusion and love for all on Alien Radio. For the Echo citizen, the music is exhilarating.
  • The song starts off with a countdown in Kaotican (the language of another of the planets Kaotica). English actor and writer Stephen Fry recites the countdown in filtered vocals.
  • Coldplay wrote "Humankind" with the Argentine jazz pianist Federico Vindver, electro singer-songwriter Jon Hopkins, and the song's producers, Max Martin, Daniel Green, Bill Rahko and Oscar Holter. The band struggled with the feel of the song until Max Martin took the reins at the end of the sessions.

    "It didn't sound very fresh; it had a good energy, but was maybe just a little bit too rock for us, and he really gave it more of a modern shine," Chris Martin told Apple Music. "It could be from just editing the basic song and the song structure or it could be adjusting slightly the rhythm pattern to make it all stick together better."
  • The song became a live favorite on the Coldplay's Music Of The Spheres World Tour, so they hired Stevie Rae Gibbs and James Marcus Haney to direct a live performance video. The visual shows the band playing "Humankind" during their four sold-out April 2022 shows at Mexico City's Foro Sol stadium.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes

Chris Robinson of The Black CrowesSongwriter Interviews

"Great songwriters don't necessarily have hit songs," says Chris. He's written a bunch, but his fans are more interested in the intricate jams.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Psychedelic Furs lead singer Richard Butler talks about their first album since 1991 and explains what's really going on in "Pretty In Pink."

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.