Major Minus

"Major Minus"
Promotional single by Coldplay from the album Mylo Xyloto
Released 3 June 2011 (2011-06-03)
Format
A-side "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"
Recorded 2008–10
Genre Alternative rock
Length 3:30
Label Parlophone
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Mylo Xyloto track listing
  1. "Mylo Xyloto"
  2. "Hurts Like Heaven"
  3. "Paradise"
  4. "Charlie Brown"
  5. "Us Against the World"
  6. "M.M.I.X."
  7. "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"
  8. "Major Minus"
  9. "U.F.O."
  10. "Princess of China"
  11. "Up in Flames"
  12. "A Hopeful Transmission"
  13. "Don't Let It Break Your Heart"
  14. "Up with the Birds"

"Major Minus" is a song by British alternative rock band Coldplay and the eighth track from their fifth studio album Mylo Xyloto.[1] The song takes its title from a fictional character of the same name created by the band, who is based on a collection of various media oligarchs and politicians.[2]

Recording

The song was recorded by aLEca in the "Beehive", the band's personal recording studio in London. It was one of the first songs from Mylo Xyloto to be recorded, having been primarily recorded in 2008, with the final touches being added in early 2010.

Development

According to excerpts from the band's personal notes contained within the limited, pop-up edition of the album, the song was originally titled "Silencia". The lead singer of the band, Chris Martin said that the song was inspired by Cormac McCarthy's book The Road. In an interview with the band by the American publication Billboard Martin described the song as "a sort of villainous, dark piece", adding:

"It's the idea of two people running away from a Kafka environment, or an Orwellian thing."

Other sources of inspiration for the song include the 1970s and 80s graffiti movement of New York City and the White Rose movement. According to Martin, he admires people who speak out and express themselves in negative environments, admitting he's not always done that himself.

"I admire it. I've spent a lot of my life playing it a bit safe or conforming to something, even though I didn't agree with it. So I have respect and admiration for people who don't. The ideas come from graffiti art of the 70s in New York, where people were expressing themselves with paint. Then there was the White Rose Movement. Anybody who's standing up for themselves. It's about being free to be yourself and to express yourself among negative surroundings. Being able to speak out or follow your passion, even if everybody seems against it."

Release

The song was first released on 23 June 2011, as the b-side to "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall".[3] It was then re-released with the companion track "Moving to Mars" on the Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall EP on 27 June.[4] Finally, it was released as part of the band's fifth album Mylo Xyloto on 24 October.

Reception

In a cover story run by the American publication Billboard on Mylo Xyloto,[5] they described "Major Minus" as:

"... an ominous, thundering beast of a song with rattling guitars, potent (and rare) Buckland solos and restless, shifting musical patterns."

In an article published by Q on 10 October 2011 entitled "First Impressions of... Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto"[6] they wrote:

"Beginning with the jagged strum of a detuned acoustic guitar, Major Minus sounds like the bitter flipside of God Put A Smile Upon Your Face. Chris Martin's vocals sounding like they were recorded in a seedy phonebox, the "they got one eye on the road/ And one on you" chorus delivered amidst guitar shards and a kinetic percussive groove. One of the most immediate songs on the album, and the most darkly playful thing they've done since Daylight."

Live performances

Coldplay first performed "Major Minus" at a friends and family gig at The Forum, Kentish Town, London on 31 May 2011. They then continued to play it throughout the 2011 Summer Festival Tour, playing it in front of the general public for the first time at Rock im Park Festival in Nürnberg, Germany on 3 June 2011, and playing it again at Rock am Ring the following day, which was the first live broadcast of the song officially authorised by the band and management.[7]

During Coldplay's headlining performance on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival on 25 June 2011, the hashtag #MajorMinus trended on Twitter worldwide after the song had been played.

Charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 72
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 50
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] 68
France (SNEP)[11] 71
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[12] 26
South Korea (Gaon)[13] 40
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[14] 133
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 92

References

  1. ↑ "Coldplay - Recordings".
  2. ↑ "Amex Unstaged Concert Coldplay Song Facts". Coldplaying.com. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  3. ↑ "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall / Major Minus - CD, vinyl and digital release".
  4. ↑ "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall EP out now".
  5. ↑ "Coldplay: The Billboard Cover Story". Billboard magazine. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  6. ↑ "First Impressions of... Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto".
  7. ↑ "Coldplay - Major Minus Live Rock am Ring".
  8. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Coldplay – Major Minus". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  9. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Coldplay – Major Minus" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  10. ↑ "Coldplay – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Coldplay.
  11. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Coldplay – Major Minus" (in French). Les classement single.
  12. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Coldplay – Major Minus" Canciones Top 50.
  13. ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart - Week: October 23, 2011 to October 29, 2011" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Retrieved 2011-10-29.
  14. ↑ http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/110709cluk.txt
  15. ↑ "Coldplay > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
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