Sparks

Album

Parachutes

Label

Parlophone

Genre

Dream pop

Composer(s)

Guy Berryman;Jonny Buckland;Will Champion;Chris Martin

Entered Chart

Jun 28, 2025

Peak Date

Sep 27, 2025

Released

10 July 2000

Recorded

November 1999 – May 200

This song depicts Coldplay frontman Chris Martin pleading with his former lover to give him another shot. Martin reflects on how there were once "sparks" between the pair, and now he wants to find that connection again. Martin promises not to let the girl down in the future before quickly turning back on his pledge: And I know I was wrong But I won't let you down Oh yeah, I will, yeah I will, yes I will Speaking to BBC Radio 2's Jo Whiley on the 20th anniversary of Parachutes, Coldplay lead guitarist Jonny Buckland revealed he had fond memories of recording "Sparks." "It was the one song we basically got in two takes or something, and we just played it all together in a room, and we didn't have any arguments about it," he said. "Just played it, and everybody went, 'Oh yeah, there we go, done.'" During a Q&A with fans on Instagram in 2020, Coldplay bassist Guy Berryman said "Sparks" has his favorite bassline on Parachutes. This song features in the 2005 movie Wedding Crashers, directed by David Dobkin. It plays during a scene when John (Owen Wilson) and Claire (Rachel McAdams) tiptoe to each other's rooms during the night. Wedding Crashers was a box-office success and later credited with reviving R-rated comedies. "Sparks" is mentioned on "I Tried" from Brandy's 2004 album, Afrodisiac. Brandy and the song's producer, Timbaland, had been listening to a lot of Coldplay at the time, with the pair also sampling "Clocks" on Afrodisiac's closing cut, "Should I Go." Even though it was never released as a single, "Sparks" is a very popular deep cut among Coldplay fans. While they rarely play it live, the band did perform the song at the Amman Citadel in Jordan in 2019 after it was voted for in an online poll. Martin performed this song with the British singer and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier over Instagram Live as part of the Together at Home concert in 2020. The Coldplay frontman was visibly overcome with emotion during the broadcast and complimented Collier on his moving rendition. "Sparks" is the fourth song on Coldplay's debut album, Parachutes. The 10-song collection scooped British Album of the Year at the BRIT Awards in 2001 and Best Alternative Music Album at the Grammy Awards in 2002. The spinning globe on the album cover was shot on a disposable camera by Chris Martin. It can also be seen in the music videos for "Shiver" and "Don't Panic" and was used as a prop on their world tour to support the album. In early June 2025, reports surfaced that Chris Martin and actress Dakota Johnson had ended their on-and-off relationship after eight years. Around the same time, Coldplay was deep into their massive Music of the Spheres tour, playing stadiums across the US. Martin's emotional delivery of "Sparks" during those shows elicited speculation and sympathy online, with TikTok videos zeroing in on his anguished expression during the chorus. After Coldplay's back-to-back nights at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium and their June 10 stop at Denver's Empower Field, one clip went viral with the caption: "Homie is heartbroken" prompting a surge in streams. "Sparks" entered the singles charts all over the world the following week.

Did I drive you away?
I know what you'll say
You say, "Oh, sing one we know"
But I promise you this
I'll always look out for you
Yeah, that's what I'll do

I say, oh
I say, oh

My heart is yours
It's you that I hold on to
That's what I do
And I know I was wrong
But I won't let you down
Oh yeah, I will, yeah, I will, yes, I will

I said, oh
I cry, oh

Yeah, I saw sparks
Yeah, I saw sparks
And I saw sparks

Yeah, I saw sparks
Sing it loud

La, la, la, la, oh
La, la, la, la, oh
La, la, la, la, oh
La, la, la, la, oh