"My Universe" is a song by Coldplay from their ninth studio album, Music of the Spheres (2021). It is the tenth track on the album and features South Korean K-pop boy band BTS. It was released on 24 September 2021, through Parlophone and Atlantic Records, as the album's second single and accompanied by a lyric video. The official music video premiered on 30 September 2021. The song features both English and Korean vocals and marks the first musical collaboration between Coldplay and BTS. On the concept of the record, the track represents Epiphane, the ninth planet on The Spheres solar system.
"My Universe" received positive reviews by music critics. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Coldplay's second US chart-topper after "Viva la Vida" and BTS' sixth. The single is also the first track by two co-billed lead groups to top the chart and the first song by a British group to debut at number one in the United States' history.[1][2] It premiered at number three on the UK Singles Chart, being Coldplay's highest peaking single since "Something Just Like This", and claimed the second-biggest week of downloads for a song of the year,[3] eventually becoming the most downloaded song of 2021 by a group in the country.[4] "My Universe" also reached number one in Hungary, Malaysia and Singapore; the top ten in Australia, Belgium, Canada, India, Ireland, and South Korea, and the top twenty of twelve other countries, including Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, and New Zealand.
A making-of documentary of the song titled Inside My Universe was released on 26 September 2021. An acoustic version and a remix by Guy Berryman titled "Supernova 7 Mix" were released digitally on streaming platforms on 27 September. A third remix, handled by Suga of BTS, was released on 18 October, and additional remixes by Galantis and David Guetta were released in November.
Background[]
BTS has been outspoken about their admiration of Coldplay over the years. In 2014, the group shared a screenshot of a music player reproducing "A Sky Full of Stars", from Coldplay's sixth studio album Ghost Stories (2014), with the caption “사랑해요 콜드플레이!!!”, which means, “I love you Coldplay!!!”[5] In 2019, for the band's six-year anniversary, BTS tweeted a clip while listening to "Fix You", from Coldplay's third studio album X&Y (2005).[6]
Of all band members, Kim Tae-hyung, also known by his stage name V, always made his interest in working with Coldplay public. On 14 May 2019, BTS was interviewed by KIIS-FM's JoJo Wright and when asked which collaborations they were eventually hoping to do, V revealed he wanted to work with Coldplay.[7] On 21 May, the South Korean group appeared on iHeartRadio Live after releasing their sixth EP, Map of the Soul: Persona; in the interview, they were asked about any other artists they would like to collaborate with in the future, to which V answered, “I really want Coldplay.”[8]
On 1 June 2019, during a press conference before their BTS World Tour Love Yourself: Speak Yourself concert at Wembley Stadium, the group were asked if there was any British band they wanted to collaborate with. V once again mentioned Coldplay, saying, “For a long time, I have loved Coldplay and I have always enjoyed listening to their music. We turned on Coldplay when we got in the car in the UK. In the past, I had a chance to go to a Coldplay concert. If there's an opportunity, I would like to collaborate with [them].” Bandmate Kim Nam-joon, better known by his stage name RM, also recalled his and J-Hope's experience in a Coldplay concert in South Korea for the A Head Full of Dreams (2015) album, stating it was “a great memory” and that “everybody loves Coldplay”.[9]
Speculations about a collaboration between both bands started when BTS covered "Fix You" for their MTV Unplugged performance on 23 February 2021. BTS' Jimin stated that they chose the song because it “gave us comfort, so we wanted to prepare this cover to comfort you as well.”[10] It was later revealed that performing "Fix You" was V's idea.[11] Coldplay praised the group's rendition of the song and wrote in Korean on their social media, “아름다운”, which translates to “Beautiful”.[12][13]
In mid-April 2021, Chris Martin was reported to be in South Korea, based on an Instagram post by a Korean staff member from Incheon Airport. The photo — which featured Chris' autograph[14] — sparked rumours about his intentions in visiting the country, and whether it was indeed related to a possible collaboration with BTS or Younha, a South Korean singer-songwriter who Chris had previously worked with in January of the same year.[15][16]
In an interview, after the release of "Higher Power", the lead single of Music of the Spheres, Chris was asked about his trip to Korea, and whether he had “bumped into a certain K-pop band named BTS”. He jokingly avoided to talk about the report and claimed that there was “a glitch” in the connection.[17] In late May, Chris recommended BTS's 2021 single "Butter" on Coldplay's social media, along with other songs, books and films, in a list of things that he “have found helpful and wonderful.”[18] The song was later added on "Chris's playlist" on Spotify, while BTS member V mentioned "Daddy", from Coldplay's eighth studio album Everyday Life (2019), as one of his current go-to songs at the time.[19]
On 30 May, rumours about the alleged collaboration increased, after the lyrics of the old version of "My Universe" was uploaded on the music lyric database website MatchLyric, revealing the song title for the first time and crediting both Coldplay and BTS as the featured artists.[20]
Chris stated in an interview for PopCrush that “when it comes to BTS, I just have nothing but love and respect for them. All seven guys I think are just cool and stand for good things, and sing about cool things. I love the fact that they are so huge and sing a lot in Korean, they don't have to always sing in English... So, I love them, a lot.” He also did not rule out the possibility of an eventual partnership, adding that “If the right song came along, I wouldn't ever say no.”[21]
Following leaked sound sources of "My Universe" that spread online in mid-July, Warner Music Korea and BTS' record label and management team Big Hit Music released a press statement about the rumoured collaboration, declaring it was “difficult to confirm the related content.”[22] However, an early version of the song in full leaked online later that month.[23]
In August 2021, BTS member Jin said on a livestream that the South Korean group would collaborate with a foreign artist and that an announcement was soon expected. He revealed, “I've been a fan of them since I was young and Tae-hyung has taken a polaroid pic us together, which I keep on the back of my phone.”[24][25]
After the release of the music video for BTS' single "Permission to Dance" in early July 2021, the groups first collaborated during an episode of the YouTube Originals music series Released, which aired on 10 September 2021. During the release party, BTS joined in a discussion with Chris Martin on what inspired their song and the "#PermissiontoDance Challenge".[26] Three days after this broadcast, "My Universe" was officially announced.
During the American variety talk show The Kelly Clarkson Show, which aired the day "My Universe" was officially announced, Chris revealed why Coldplay decided to work with the South Korean group, saying, "We thought it would be good to sing this with BTS because maybe we're not supposed to be together. And it turned out to be one of the most fun things ever. I went to Korea to be with them, its been amazing."[27]
Writing and recording[]
"My Universe" was written by all Coldplay members, album producer Max Martin, co-producers Oscar Holter and Bill Rahko, and BTS members RM, Suga and J-Hope. The song title came straight from a loving text that Chris had received from a friend; he wrote the phrase down as he thought it would be an interesting title.
From left to right: V, RM and Chris on studio
Eighteen months prior to the first recording session with BTS, Coldplay's creative director and fifth member Phil Harvey mentioned to Chris that the South Korean group would like Coldplay either to write a song for them or do a song with them.[28] In the meantime, Chris took away a spare loop track with a bit of vocals that the band's long-time producer Bill Rahko was working on, and, while Chris was driving around, the song chorus "just landed". In an interview to Zane Lowe, he recalled, "Right back to the studio, I said, 'Okay, let's put this down now', this all [happened] in the same day. Then I sit down and I started singing the chorus and it felt so good; so then I called Phil and Max Martin and said, 'I think we got a song to give to BTS', and they said, 'Why don't we hold on to it and give it to BTS?'"[29]
The vocal performances of BTS for "My Universe" were recorded in Yongsan, South Korea, in the studios of the HYBE Building, Big Hit Music's new headquarters. The recording sessions were held in April 2021 and took two days to complete.
Chris and BTS recording together the last chorus and dance outro
Chris travelled to South Korea to record some vocal takes with BTS and direct their performances; he was the only Coldplay member who was allowed to visit the country due to COVID-19 restriction orders and could only stay for a limited amount of time. Most of the Korean lyrics were written on the day BTS recorded their parts. RM revealed on the Inside My Universe Documentary that, in order to make the song relevant to BTS, he wrote his part of the lyrics while picturing the day the group would reunite with their fans (called ARMY) again when the COVID-19 pandemic is over. The dance break outro was added in by Chris after watching BTS's dance videos, "so [both groups] could dance on stage someday."[30]
Composition[]
"My Universe" is an English and Korean language-sung uplifting track that "home[s] in on prioritising love over differences",[31] and "a relationship that might be forbidden but whose beauty can't be extinguished."[32] The album version of the song has faint cheering sounds in the beginning, segueing from Music of the Spheres II, unlike the single, music video, and lyric video versions.
Release and promotion[]
"My Universe" was first announced as part of the track listing release of Music of the Spheres on 10 July 2021, without any mention of the song featuring BTS. A snippet of the track was included in the album trailer "Overtura", also omitting any evidence of the South Korean group being involved.[33]
On 13 September 2021, the single was teased through a coded message in Spheric (the official fictional language of the song's planet Epiphane) on Alien Radio FM's social media accounts. The message read "Coldplay x BTS My Universe".[34] Coldplay announced the single two hours later, officially confirming the collaboration with BTS on the track.[35]
Along with the dissemination of the partnership, a pre-sale of a limited physical CD single was also made available, which sold out minutes after the announcement. On 20 September 2021, an alternate CD single titled "Epiphane Edition" was made available to pre-order worldwide.[36]
Coldplay's label Parlophone Records announced a schedule of upcoming releases tied to "My Universe" with BTS, including a documentary called Inside My Universe on 26 September at 8 a.m. ET, and the "Supernova 7 Mix" and an acoustic version at 7 p.m. on 27 September. The official music video, directed by Dave Meyers, would be "coming soon," according to Parlophone's update, and it was ultimately released on 30 September 2021.
Lyrics[]
[Intro: Chris Martin, All]
You (You), you are (You are) my universe
And I (I), just want (Just want) to put you first
You (You), you are (You are) my universe, and I
[Verse 1: Chris Martin]
In the night, I lie and look up at you
When the morning comes, I watch you rise
There's a paradise they couldn't capture
That bright infinity inside your eyes
[Pre-Chorus: Jungkook, All, Jungkook & Chris Martin]
매일 밤 네게 날아가 (가)
꿈이란 것도 잊은 채
나 웃으며 너를 만나 (나)
Never ending forever, baby
[Chorus: Chris Martin, All]
You (You), you are (You are) my universe
And I (I), just want (Just want) to put you first
And you (You), you are (You are) my universe
And you make my world light up inside
[Verse 2: V, RM, RM & Chris Martin, RM & Jimin]
어둠이 내겐 더 편했었지
길어진 그림자 속에서 (Eyes)
And they said that we can't be togethеr
Because, becausе we come from different sides
[Chorus: Chris Martin, All]
You (You), you are (You are) my universe
And I (I), just want (Just want) to put you first
And you (You), you are (You are) my universe
And you make my world light up inside
[Post-Chorus: All, Jin]
My universe (Do-do, do-do)
My universe (Do-do, do-do)
My universe (Do-do, do-do)
(You make my world)
You make my world light up inside
Make my world light up inside
[Bridge: J-Hope, Suga]
나를 밝혀주는 건
너란 사랑으로 수 놓아진 별
내 우주의 넌
또 다른 세상을 만들어 주는 걸
너는 내 별이자 나의 우주니까
지금 이 시련도 결국엔 잠시니까
너는 언제까지나 지금처럼 밝게만 빛나줘
우리는 너를 따라 이 긴 밤을 수놓을 거야
[Pre-Chorus: Jungkook, Jungkook & Jimin, Chris Martin & Jungkook]
너와 함께 날아가 (가)
When I'm without you I'm crazy
자 어서 내 손을 잡아 (아)
We are made of each other, baby
[Chorus: Chris Martin, All]
You (You), you are (You are) my universe
And I (I), just want (Just want) to put you first (To put you first)
And you (You), you are (You are) my universe
And you make my world light up inside
[Post-Chorus: All]
My universe (Do-do, do-do)
You, you are (You are)
My universe (Do-do, do-do)
I, just want (Just want)
My universe
You, you are (You are) my universe, and I
My universe
[Outro: All]
(Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy)
(Ayy, ayy, ayy)
[Intro: Chris Martin, All]
You (You), you are (You are) my universe
And I (I), just want (Just want) to put you first
You (You), you are (You are) my universe, and I
[Verse 1: Chris Martin]
In the night, I lie and look up at you
When the morning comes, I watch you rise
There's a paradise they couldn't capture
That bright infinity inside your eyes
[Pre-Chorus: Jungkook, All, Jungkook & Chris Martin]
Maeil bam nege naraga (Ga)
Kkumiran geotdo ijeun chae
Na useumyeo neoreul manna (Na)
Never ending forever, baby
[Chorus: Chris Martin, All]
You (You), you are (You are) my universe
And I (I), just want (Just want) to put you first
And you (You), you are (You are) my universe
And you make my world light up inside
[Verse 2: V, RM, RM & Chris Martin, RM & Jimin]
Eodumi naegen deo pyeonhaesseotji
Gireojin geurimja sogeseo (Eyes)
And they said that we can't be togethеr
Because, becausе we come from different sides
[Chorus: Chris Martin, All]
You (You), you are (You are) my universe
And I (I), just want (Just want) to put you first
And you (You), you are (You are) my universe
And you make my world light up inside
[Post-Chorus: All, Jin]
My universe (Do-do, do-do)
My universe (Do-do, do-do)
My universe (Do-do, do-do)
(You make my world)
You make my world light up inside
Make my world light up inside
[Bridge: J-Hope, Suga]
Nareul balkyeojuneun geon
Neoran sarangeuro su noajin byeol
Nae ujuui neon
Tto dareun sesangeul mandeureo juneun geol
Neoneun nae byeorija naui ujunikka
Jigeum i siryeondo gyeolgugen jamsinikka
Neoneun eonjekkajina jigeumcheoreom balgeman binnajwo
Urineun neoreul ttara i gin bameul sunoeul geoya
[Pre-Chorus: Jungkook, Jungkook & Jimin, Chris Martin & Jungkook]
Neowa hamkke naraga (Ga)
When I'm without you I'm crazy
Ja eoseo nae soneul jaba (Ja)
We are made of each other, baby
[Chorus: Chris Martin, All]
You (You), you are (You are) my universe
And I (I), just want (Just want) to put you first (To put you first)
And you (You), you are (You are) my universe
And you make my world light up inside
[Post-Chorus: All]
My universe (Do-do, do-do)
You, you are (You are)
My universe (Do-do, do-do)
I, just want (Just want)
My universe
You, you are (You are) my universe, and I
My universe
[Outro: All]
(Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy)
(Ayy, ayy, ayy)
[Intro: Chris Martin, All]
You (You), you are (You are) my universe
And I (I), just want (Just want) to put you first
You (You), you are (You are) my universe, and I
[Verse 1: Chris Martin]
In the night, I lie and look up at you
When the morning comes, I watch you rise
There's a paradise they couldn't capture
That bright infinity inside your eyes
[Pre-Chorus: Jungkook, All, Jungkook & Chris Martin]
I fly to you every night (Fly)
Forgetting that it's just a dream
I meet you with a smile (Meet)
Never ending forever, baby
[Chorus: Chris Martin, All]
You (You), you are (You are) my universe
And I (I), just want (Just want) to put you first
And you (You), you are (You are) my universe
And you make my world light up inside
[Verse 2: V, RM, RM & Chris Martin, RM & Jimin]
I was more at ease in the dark
In the shadows that grew long (Eyes)
And they said that we can't be togethеr
Because, becausе we come from different sides
[Chorus: Chris Martin, All]
You (You), you are (You are) my universe
And I (I), just want (Just want) to put you first
And you (You), you are (You are) my universe
And you make my world light up inside
[Post-Chorus: All, Jin]
My universe (Do-do, do-do)
My universe (Do-do, do-do)
My universe (Do-do, do-do)
(You make my world)
You make my world light up inside
Make my world light up inside
[Bridge: J-Hope, Suga]
What light me up are
Stars adorned with love made of you
In my universe, you
Make another world for me
Because, you are my stars and my universe
These hardships are just temporary
Just shine as bright as you shine now
We'll follow you to adorn this long night
[Pre-Chorus: Jungkook, Jungkook & Jimin, Chris Martin & Jungkook]
I fly away with you (Fly)
When I'm without you I'm crazy
Please hold my hand (Hand)
We are made of each other, baby
[Chorus: Chris Martin, All]
You (You), you are (You are) my universe
And I (I), just want (Just want) to put you first (To put you first)
And you (You), you are (You are) my universe
And you make my world light up inside
[Post-Chorus: All]
My universe (Do-do, do-do)
You, you are (You are)
My universe (Do-do, do-do)
I, just want (Just want)
My universe
You, you are (You are) my universe, and I
My universe
[Outro: All]
(Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy)
(Ayy, ayy, ayy)
Music video[]
The official poster for the music video
The official music video for "My Universe" premiered on 3 September 2021 at 5 a.m. BST (midnight ET). It was directed by Dave Meyers, who had previously directed the music video for "Higher Power". Set in The Spheres solar system, where music has been forbidden by the Silencers, the video depicts Coldplay, BTS, and the fictional alien band Supernova 7, performing "My Universe" together. Although located on different planets (Floris, Calypso, and Supersolis, respectively), the three groups are united as holograms through Holoband technology controlled by DJ Lafrique, who broadcasts their performance throughout the system from her alien radio ship while being hunted by the Silencers. The introduction of the Silencers on the music video calls back to the storyline presented on Coldplay's fifth studio album, Mylo Xyloto (2011); Silencers' aim is to take any sound and colour off the streets.
Coldplay filmed the video at an empty, abandoned municipal swimming pool complex in Rubí, Barcelona, in July 2021. The BTS portion was shot on a green screen stage at a studio in Seoul, South Korea, two weeks after the Barcelona shoot.[37] The green screen was useful to make the visual effects, such as the groups' holographic versions, and to unite the scenes from both groups.[38]
Coldplay x BTS - My Universe (Official Video)
Behind the Scenes[]
Videos[]
Coldplay x BTS - My Universe (Official Video - Behind the Scenes)
BTS (방탄소년단) Coldplay x BTS ‘My Universe’ MV Shoot
Lyric video[]
A space-themed lyric video, featuring animated handwritten lyrics from both bands in English and Korean, was released together with the song on 24 September 2021.
Coldplay x BTS - My Universe (Official Lyric Video)
Instrumental video[]
A visualiser for the instrumental version showing the fictional planet Epiphane rotating, alongside "My Universe" written up above it in Spheric, was uploaded on Coldplay's YouTube channel on 24 September 2021.
Coldplay x BTS - My Universe (Instrumental)
Official audios[]
Gallery[]
Artworks[]
All artworks designed by Pilar Zeta.
.jpg "My Universe (Supernova 7 Mix).jpg (4.04 MB)")
.jpg "My Universe (Suga's Remix).jpg (4.26 MB)")
.jpg "My Universe (Galantis Remix).jpg (4.31 MB)")
.png "My Universe (Epiphane Edition).png (1.03 MB)")
Critical reception[]
Rhian Daly from NME gave the song four stars out of five and called it "a celestial ode to unity, hope and the power of love". She also noted that while some might view the track an unusual pairing, the two acts joining forces makes complete sense because "both share a predilection for a poetic and heartfelt approach to their music; as well as being two of the biggest bands in the world, they are also two of modern pop's deepest thinkers, imbuing their lyrics with touching statements on love and life."[39]
References[]
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9640332/coldplay-bts-my-universe-tops-billboard-hot-100
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/photos/426225/billboard-hot-100-number-1-song-debuts
- ↑ https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ed-sheeran-s-shivers-claims-third-week-at-number-1-on-the-official-singles-chart__34150/
- ↑ https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-40-biggest-songs-of-2021__34857/
- ↑ https://twitter.com/bts_twt/status/470159937260097536?lang=en
- ↑ https://twitter.com/BTS_twt/status/1138840030015676416?s=20
- ↑ https://youtu.be/4YuB9mut1WY?t=588
- ↑ https://twitter.com/beartaehyungkim/status/1415806588070232068
- ↑ http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190602000097&mod=skb
- ↑ https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bts-fix-you-coldplay-who-originally-wrote-1132681/amp/
- ↑ https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/bts-v-mastermind-behind-group-s-stunning-rendition-fix-you-mtv-unplugged-745845
- ↑ https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nme.com/news/music/bts-fix-you-coldplay-react-2888714%3famp
- ↑ https://mobile.twitter.com/coldplay/status/1364530788117729280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1364530788117729280%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-7538348732673286618.ampproject.net%2F2108280007001%2Fframe.html
- ↑ https://mobile.twitter.com/koryodynasty/status/1382916396376477697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1382916396376477697%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-39515618851679414090.ampproject.net%2F2108280007001%2Fframe.html
- ↑ https://www.republicworld.com/amp/entertainment-news/music/coldplays-chris-martins-arrival-in-south-korea-sparks-rumours-about-collab-with-bts.html
- ↑ https://www.sportskeeda.com/amp/pop-culture/welcome-korea-coldplay-trends-bts-fans-speculate-collaboration-k-pop-band
- ↑ https://youtu.be/O-pm6IWc1Pk?t=461
- ↑ https://twitter.com/coldplay/status/1397682754456850434/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1397682754456850434%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.terra.com.br%2Fdiversao%2Fmusica%2Fchris-martin-do-coldplay-recomenda-o-single-butter-do-btsa3510f56a74e8c95e3667547fe684052zo34vl7j.html
- ↑ https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/bts-butter-choreography-music-quotes
- ↑ https://meaww.com/coldplay-bts-my-universe-song-lyrics-leak-collaboration-army-music-of-the-spheres
- ↑ https://youtu.be/ttS-oEfPpkY?t=193
- ↑ https://m.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=202107151302540410&r=1
- ↑ https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/07/21/my-universe-bts-army-speculates-v-and-jungkook-subunit-for-new-coldplay-track/
- ↑ https://mobile.twitter.com/btstranslation7/status/1424724720050655233
- ↑ https://www.elitedaily.com/entertainment/bts-coldplay-collaboration-song
- ↑ https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-bts-discuss-fame-with-coldplays-chris-martin-on-youtubes-released-3042309
- ↑ https://mobile.twitter.com/coldplayxtra/status/1437428247113961475
- ↑ https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1199840161?t=0h16m51s
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vgv__l7bpTs?t=34
- ↑ https://youtu.be/viM_c-Fc7sc?t=511
- ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/coldplay-bts-my-universe-song-1231653/amp/
- ↑ https://www.nme.com/reviews/track/coldplay-bts-my-universe-new-song-review-3054021?amp
- ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/coldplay-music-of-the-spheres-1199467/
- ↑ https://mobile.twitter.com/coldplayxtra/status/1437375465594007554
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CTw0IGpoLbT/?utm_medium=copy_link
- ↑ https://twitter.com/coldplay/status/1439948846893871108?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
- ↑ https://www.audouy.com/case-studies/coldplay-x-bts-my-universe/
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9642293/coldplay-bts-behind-the-scenes-my-universe-video
- ↑ https://www.nme.com/reviews/track/coldplay-bts-my-universe-new-song-review-3054021?amp
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