Magic

Album: Ghost Stories (2014)
Charted: 10 14
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The lead single from Ghost Stories is an intimate meditation on love sung by Chris Martin over minimalist, bass heavy instrumentation.

    Call it magic
    Call it true
    Call it magic when I'm with you


    The song was recorded by Coldplay in 2013 during sessions for Ghost Stories at their purpose-built studios, The Bakery and The Beehive in North London.
  • The artwork for the release depicts a white dove imposed onto a blue canvas. It was done by British etching artist Mila Fürstová, who also created a pair of wings in the shape of a broken heart for the Ghost Stories album cover.
  • The song's music video was directed by Jonas Åkerlund, who has previously worked with Madonna, Lady Gaga and U2. The Swedish filmmaker and video director's best known achievement is his Grammy-winning contribution to the promo of Madonna's "Ray Of Light."

    The clip stars Ziyi Zhang (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) as a "beautiful young magicienne" in a 1920s traveling circus, with Chris Martin doubling up as both her loyal assistant and jealous husband.
  • Explaining the song to BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe, Martin said: "It's not a question of you either really love someone or you really hate someone, it's more nuanced than that - especially with the modern world's complications - like traveling and all the stuff that comes to life, and illness and addiction and all that sort of thing."

    It's just saying," he added, "ultimately there is magic between two people no matter what anyone else thinks."
  • Martin told Zane Lowe that the song came from a jam with the rest of Coldplay, making it one of the first band's songs not kick-started by the frontman himself.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Thomas Dolby

Thomas DolbySongwriter Interviews

He wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct a video about a home for deranged scientists.

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.