Original analysis of Chainsmokers & Coldplay’s music video and lyrics
A song can tell a different message based on the listener’s needs / preferences at the time. Here’s what The Chainsmokers with Coldplay gave us:
“She said where d’ you wanna go?”
- where DID you want to go? — she is asking about his past. She could be helping him sort out past hurt.
- where DO you want to go? — she is asking about his future. She could be trying to carefully understand his dreams.
- why are you leaving? — she could be challenging him to recognize happiness now. Brilliant use of the d’ contraction.
“How much you wanna risk?”
- don’t throw your life away chasing ghosts — she is expressing disagreement or concern regarding his choice
- go all in — she is challenging him to put it all on the line and make his dreams happen. she is happy with him however he is.
“Superhuman”, “Superhero”, “Fairytale”
Although she isn’t looking for those, the chorus emphasizes those words. It is also followed by the whimsical “do, do, do, do, do, do” lyrics that sound like a cherubic wonderland. As listeners, we can feel and enjoy these fantasies.
“I want something just like this”
The speaker flips our dreams of unicorns with this compelling and empowering statement. She loves you exactly as you are. You don’t need to be anything else, or anything more. We can be loved right here and now. Our relationships, our lives, our experiences. We are the fantasy worth loving. Her boldness in stating her dreams demonstrates her own self awareness while enlightening, assuring, and uplifting the listener. We can love her and others back. Sometimes we need someone to remind us that what we want is right in front of us.
In the video, when this phrase is repeated, the visual shows a galaxy spiraling in place of the iris of his eye. It is perfect.
It could be that she sees the universe within him, or within his grasp. She may see his soul, his dreams, or where he’s headed. It could also be that this is a reflection of her, and her own wonder. It suggests the possibility that they journey through the universe together.
Who is she?
She is a mother, girlfriend, wife, or other close relation. She represents someone wise and desirable. The music and repetition beautifully reinforces the power of her words.
“Someone to kiss” / “something to turn to” / “someone to miss”
- Romantic relationship: These lyrics are often taken to indicate a romantic relationship. It may sound like she is trivializing what she wants. She is just beginning to let him know all the ways she loves him. There may be more not yet spoken.
- Parental love: The video portrays him as a young boy, and parent could be awestruck at what their child can do in this world. A parent can’t help but let them know how precious they are. “I want something just like this” is immediately followed by an image of the child’s face. It is truly amazing.
Who is he?
He is any of us. He is us when we dream or aspire to something great. The artist portrays him as a rather plain child. What makes him special is his playful superhero mask and perfectly curious smile. The burst of energy that radiates from him is a dramatic contrast. Movement is only projected around him as a spectacle of stars. We each view others through our own lens, and this visual remind us what a lens of love can look like. No Instagram filter is needed when we see the magic in our own humanity.
He could be:
- a child; innocently learning how to face the impossible (the expectations of the world / family / his own aspirations).
- an adult trying to navigate a relationship (and feeling insecure or like a novice).
- someone who just lost their job, or is feeling like a failure for any number of reasons.
- anyone / everyone / a magical person to be loved
