"The Scientist" is a song by British rock band Coldplay. The song was written collaboratively by all the band members for their second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head. It is built around a piano ballad, with lyrics telling the story about a man's desire to love and an apology. The song was released in the United Kingdom on 11 November 2002 as the second single from A Rush of Blood to the Head and reached number 10 in the UK Charts. It was released in the United States on 15 April 2003 as the third single and reached number 18 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 34 on the Adult Top 40 chart.
"The Scientist" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Single by Coldplay | ||||
from the album A Rush of Blood to the Head | ||||
B-side |
| |||
Released | 11 November 2002[1] | |||
Genre | Rock[2] | |||
Length |
| |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Coldplay singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"The Scientist" on YouTube |
Critics were highly positive toward "The Scientist" and praised the song's piano riff and Chris Martin's falsetto. Several remixes of the track exist, and its riff has been widely sampled. The single's music video won three MTV Video Music Awards, for the video's use of reverse narrative. A striking aspect of the video that is often missed is that, while most of the scenes appear to play backwards, the mouth movements are in the expected forward pattern. The song was also featured on the band's 2003 live album Live 2003 and has been a permanent fixture in the band's live set lists since 2002.
Background
editLead singer Chris Martin wrote "The Scientist" after listening to George Harrison's All Things Must Pass.[3] In an interview with Rolling Stone, Martin revealed that while working on the band's second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head, he knew that the album was missing something.[4] One night, during a stay in Liverpool,[5] Martin found an old piano that was out of tune. He wanted to work on Harrison's song, "Isn't It a Pity", but he could not manage to do so. When the song came to Martin, he asked that the recorder be turned on.[4] He concluded by saying that he came across this chord sequence and noted that the chord was "lovely".[6] Martin recorded the vocals and piano takes in a studio in Liverpool.[7]
When asked about the development of the song, during a track-by-track reveal, Martin said: "That's just about girls. It's weird that whatever else is on your mind, whether it's the downfall of global economics or terrible environmental troubles, the thing that always gets you most is when you fancy someone."[8] The liner notes from A Rush of Blood to the Head, on the other hand, state that "The Scientist is Dan", a reference to Dan Keeling, the A&R man who signed the band to Parlophone.[8]
Composition
edit"The Scientist" is a melancholic, piano-driven ballad written in the key of F major.[9][10] The lyrics to the song allude to a man's powerlessness in the face of love.[11][12] It begins with the main four-chord piano melody created by lead singer Chris Martin, then joined by the first verses. He is then accompanied by the rest of the band after the first chorus. In addition to the main piano melody, the music of the song is created by a string arrangement,[13] harmony, acoustic guitar, with its rhythm being slow tempo drums and bass guitar riffs. After the second chorus, Jonny Buckland plays an electric guitar riff.
Release
editColdplay released "The Scientist" in the United Kingdom on 11 November 2002 as the album's second single.[14] The single was pressed with two B-sides: "1.36" and "I Ran Away."[15] While preparing for the song as the album's second release, the band's US label felt the song failed to "provide enough of a blood rush for American listeners"; instead, they released "Clocks" as the second single in the US.[16] The song was released on 15 April 2003 in the US.[16]
"The Scientist" was released as a CD single in New Zealand on 9 December 2002, while in Australia, the song was not released until 27 October 2003.[17][18] The song appeared on Australian Singles Chart at number 40 on 1 November 2003.[19] It appeared on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks at number 18.[20] The song peaked at number sixteen at Canada Singles Chart. The song peaked at number 10 in UK Top 75 on 17 November 2002.[21][22]
The single's cover image was created by Norwegian photographer Sølve Sundsbø. Sundsbø originally created the image that would later be used as the cover art of A Rush of Blood to the Head for the fashion magazine Dazed and Confused, in the late 1990s.[23] As with the album's other singles, "The Scientist"'s cover art features a black and white 3D scan of one of the band members, in this case drummer Will Champion.[clarification needed]
Reception
edit"The Scientist" received widespread critical acclaim. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone Magazine, in his review of the album, wrote: "The fantastic piano ballad 'The Scientist' ... [has] a cataclysmic falsetto finale that could raise every hair on the back of your neck."[24] Nick Southall of Stylus magazine wrote: "The piano that chimes through 'The Scientist' is captured perfectly, the warm depression of each individual key caught rather than a shrill ringing as is so often the case."[25] Ian Watson of NME wrote: "'The Scientist' is a song inexorably linked with the endless night sky and the secret hopes and regrets of a hundred thousand strangers."[26] In October 2011, NME placed it at number 37 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[27] In 2009, Rolling Stone ranked it number 54 on its "100 Best Songs of the Decade" list.[28] In 2018, the same magazine placed the track at #50 in their "100 Greatest Songs of the Century" list.[29] In 2019, Billboard ranked the song number five on their list of the 50 greatest Coldplay songs,[30] and in 2021, American Songwriter ranked the song number six on their list of the 10 greatest Coldplay songs.[31]
Rankings
editPublisher | Year | Listicle | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Billboard | 2023 | The 100 Greatest Songs of 2003 | 47 | [32] |
The 100 Best Pop Songs Never to Hit the Hot 100 | 61 | [33] | ||
Blender | 2005 | Top 500 Songs of the 1980s–2000s | 55 | [34] |
Consequence | 2009 | The Top 50 Songs of the 2000s | 36 | [35] |
The Guardian | 2009 | 1000 Songs Everyone Must Hear | Placed | [36] |
NME | 2011 | 150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years | 37 | [37] |
2014 | The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time | 448 | [38] | |
NPO Radio 2 | 2013 | Top 2000 | 29 | [39] |
Panorama | 2023 | The 100 Most Beautiful Songs of All Time | Placed | [40] |
Parade | 102 Best Music Videos of All Time | 69 | [41] | |
Q | 2004 | 50 Greatest British Tracks | 20 | [42] |
2006 | 100 Greatest Songs of All Time | 81 | [43] | |
Radio X | 2023 | The Best Music Videos of the 2000s | 1 | [44] |
Rolling Stone | 2011 | 100 Best Songs of the 2000s | 54 | [28] |
2018 | The 100 Greatest Songs of the Century So Far | 50 | [29] | |
The Telegraph | 2018 | The 100 Greatest Songs of All Time | 65 | [45] |
Other versions
edit"The Scientist" has been featured on two of Coldplay's live albums, Live 2003 (2003)[46] and Live in Buenos Aires (2018). The song was covered live by Aimee Mann and released on a special edition of her album Lost in Space.[47] Natasha Bedingfield and Avril Lavigne covered the song on Jo Whiley's Live Lounge radio show.[48][49] Also, Belinda Carlisle did a live rendition on the ITV1 reality show Hit Me Baby One More Time.[50][51] The British female quartet All Angels did a choral arrangement of the song on their second album Into Paradise, which was released in 2007.[52] In addition, the American television show MADtv did a parody of the video, called "The Narcissist."[53] Coldplay's original version plus a cover of the track performed by Johnette Napolitano and Danny Lohner were featured in the 2004 film Wicker Park.[54][55] Allison Iraheta and Kris Allen performed an acoustic duet of the song at Oprah Winfrey's "No Phone Zone" rally in Los Angeles.[56]
In 2011, Willie Nelson covered the song for a Chipotle Mexican Grill short film titled Back to the Start, highlighting the problems of concentrated animal feeding operations.[57] It also appears as the final track on his 2012 album Heroes. Nelson's version plays during the closing credits of the 2014 film The Judge.[58] The song was used on 23 May 2011 episode of WWE Raw in a tribute video to wrestler "Macho Man" Randy Savage who had died three days earlier.[59] The song was performed in the Glee episode "The Break Up" on 4 October 2012 by Cory Monteith, Darren Criss, Naya Rivera, Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Heather Morris and Jayma Mays.[60] In 2014, Miley Cyrus covered the song at selected stops of her Bangerz Tour.[61] Corinne Bailey Rae covered "The Scientist" for the soundtrack to the 2017 film Fifty Shades Darker.[62] The bluegrass group The Petersens covered the song in 2020.[63] In 2021 Zucchero Fornaciari covered the song for his first cover album Discover.[64] Rachel Chinouriri covered the song in 2024 for the Spotify Singles series.[65]
Music video
editThe music video for "The Scientist" was notable for its distinctive reverse narrative, which employed reverse motion. The same concept had been previously used for Spike Jonze's 1995 music video for The Pharcyde's "Drop". The reverse-motion style had first been seen in 1989 for the video for the song "The Second Summer of Love" by Scottish band Danny Wilson. In order for Martin to appear to be singing the lyrics in the reversed footage, he had to learn to sing the song backward, which took him a month.[66] The video was filmed at various locations, including London and at Bourne Woods in Surrey, before the first leg of the A Rush of Blood to the Head tour.[66] It was directed by Jamie Thraves.[66] The video was shot between 30 September and 3 October 2002, premiering on 14 October.[67]
The video opens on Martin lying on a mattress before a public building covered in thick graffiti. Martin is shown, in reverse motion, wandering through a variety of locations such as through a pick-up basketball game, a high street and train tracks before falling on the mattress. After the second chorus, Martin is shown getting out of his right hand drive BMW 5 Series automobile with a Wyoming license plate in the woods and an unconscious woman (played by Irish actress Elaine Cassidy) is shown, and it is revealed that Martin and the woman were involved in a car accident; the passenger went flying through the windshield because she was not wearing her seatbelt.[66][66]
In 2003, "The Scientist" won multiple MTV Video Music Awards for Best Group Video, Best Direction, and Breakthrough Video.[68] It was also nominated at the 2004 Grammy Awards for Best Short Form Music Video but lost to Johnny Cash's video for "Hurt".[69]
On the 20th anniversary of A Rush of Blood to the Head, the band released a new version of the video in 4K resolution, which was restored and re-graded from the original 35 mm film.[70]
Track listing
editNo. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The Scientist" | 5:11 |
2. | "1.36" | 2:05 |
3. | "I Ran Away" | 4:26 |
- "1.36" features Tim Wheeler of Ash on guitar.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The Scientist" (Edit) | |
2. | "The Scientist" (video running backward) | |
3. | "Lips Like Sugar" (Live, Echo & the Bunnymen–Cover) | |
4. | "Interview with band members" |
Personnel
editColdplay
- Chris Martin – lead vocals, piano, string arrangements
- Jonny Buckland – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, string arrangements
- Guy Berryman – bass guitar, string arrangements
- Will Champion – drums, percussion, backing vocals, string arrangements
Additional Personnel
- Audrey Riley - string arrangement, string performer
- Ann Lines – string performer
- Chris Tombling – string performer
- Dan Green – string performer
- Laura Melhewish – string performer
- Leo Payne – string performer
- Peter Lale – string performer
- Richard George – string performer
- Susan Dench – string performer
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[105] | 6× Platinum | 420,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[106] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI)[107] | Gold | 300,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI)[108] | 3× Platinum | 150,000‡ |
Portugal (AFP)[109] | 4× Platinum | 160,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[110] | 3× Platinum | 180,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[111] | 3× Platinum | 1,800,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[112] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
edit- ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 11 November 2002: Singles". Music Week. 9 November 2002. p. 25.
- ^ Mulopo, Keith (26 August 2022). "Album Review: A Rush of Blood to the Head // Coldplay". Inidependant. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ "Coldplay — Going Out of My Head". VH1. 13 August 2002. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
- ^ a b Scaggs, Austin (16 June 2005). "Q&A: Chris Martin". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
- ^ Oldham, James (July 2002). "Coldplay Yellow Fever". Auckland, New Zealand Newspaper.
- ^ "ShakenStir Interview about A Rush of Blood to the Head (September 2002)". ShakenStir. Archived from the original (Internet Archive) on 28 October 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
- ^ "Coldplay — The Scientist". BBC Music. BBC. 18 November 2002. Archived from the original on 21 September 2005. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
- ^ a b "Coldplay E-Zine: Issue 6" (PDF). Coldplay.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
- ^ Parker, Nigel (23 August 2002). "Coldplay's Rush is near-flawless". BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on 16 July 2004. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
- ^ "The Scientist by Coldplay; sheet music". Musicnotes.com. 2002. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
- ^ Gray, Christopher (4 October 2002). "Phases and Stages — Record Review". The Austin Chronicle. Archived from the original on 17 April 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
- ^ "The State of Coldplay". Q. August 2002.
- ^ Denning, Adrian. "Coldplay album reviews". Adrian Denning.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
- ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 11 November 2002: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 9 November 2002. p. 25. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ^ "Coldplay Scientist B-Sides". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 10 October 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
- ^ a b Wiederhorn, Jon (15 October 2002). "Coldplay Singer Questions Whether He's The Devil". MTV News. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
- ^ "New Releases". netcd.co.nz. 9 December 2002. Archived from the original on 11 December 2002. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 27th October 2003" (PDF). ARIA. 27 October 2003. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 November 2003. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
- ^ "Coldplay — The Scientist at Top40-Charts". Top 40-Charts. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
- ^ "Artist Chart History — Coldplay". Billboard. Archived from the original on 5 April 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
- ^ Jones, Alan (12 March 2008). "The 20 biggest selling albums of the 21st century". Music Week. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
- ^ "Official UK Top 75: 17/11/02". Vibe Waves. 17 November 2002. Archived from the original on 14 November 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
- ^ "Sølve Sundsbø's best shot". The Guardian. 14 February 2008. Archived from the original on 2 October 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
- ^ Sheffield, Rob (26 August 2002). "A Rush Of Blood To The Head". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 24 October 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
- ^ Southall, Nick (1 September 2002). "Coldplay — A Rush Of Blood To The Head Review". Stylus. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
- ^ Watson, Ian (31 October 2002). "Coldplay: The Scientist". NME. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
- ^ NME.COM (6 October 2011). "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years". NME.COM. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- ^ a b "100 Best Songs of the 2000s". Rolling Stone. 17 June 2011. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
- ^ a b "The 100 Greatest Songs of the Century - So Far". Rolling Stone. 28 June 2018. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ "The 50 Best Coldplay Songs: Staff Picks". Billboard. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ^ D'Amico, Anna (9 December 2021). "Top 10 Coldplay Songs". American Songwriter. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ^ "The 100 Greatest Songs of 2003: Staff Picks". Billboard. 11 April 2023. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ "The 100 Best Pop Songs Never to Hit the Hot 100: Staff List". Billboard. 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born: 51–100". Blender: The Ultimate Guide to Music and More. 28 December 2008. Archived from the original on 28 December 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ "The Top 50 Songs of the 2000s". Consequence. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ "The Guardian Best Albums Lists". Rocklist UK. Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years". NME. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". NME. 31 January 2014. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Top 2000 – Jaar 2013" [Top 2000 – Year 2013]. NPO Radio 2 (in Dutch). 31 December 2023. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ "Le 100 Canzoni Più Belle (e Famose) di Sempre" [The 100 Most Beautiful (and Famous) Songs of All Time]. Panorama (in Italian). 26 July 2023. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "Stop, Look and Listen – Here are the 102 Best Music Videos of All Time, Just in Time for the 2023 VMAs!". Parade. 10 September 2023. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ^ "Rocklist - Q End Of Year Lists". Rocklist UK. Archived from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ "Rocklist - Q Magazine Lists". Rocklist UK. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ "The Best Music Videos of the 2000s". Radio X. 1 August 2023. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ^ "The 100 Greatest Songs of All Time". The Telegraph. 22 June 2018. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ Magill, Jeff (21 November 2003). "Review: Mighty rush from world's best band". Europe Intelligence Wire. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
- ^ "Blender:The 500 greatest songs since you were born". Blender. Archived from the original on 13 July 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
- ^ "Live Lounge, Various Artists". Spotify. 1 January 2006. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "Avril Lavigne "The Scientist" – Coldplay Cover". Mixtape Maestro. 9 July 2007. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
- ^ "Living Legends Music: Belinda Carlisle". Living Legends. Archived from the original on 10 January 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
- ^ Semioli, Tom (29 May 2007). "Johnette Napolitano — Running Scarred". Amplifier Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
- ^ Jewers, Jack (21 November 2007). "All Angels, Into Paradise". BBC Music. BBC. Archived from the original on 14 December 2007. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
- ^ "MADtv (season 9)". Mad TV. Season 9. Episode 905. 1 November 2003. 60 minutes in. Fox.
- ^ Wicker Park (DVD). Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. 2005.
- ^ "The Scientist by Coldplay". Song Facts. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
- ^ "Kris Allen & Allison Iraheta Don't Phone It In On 'Oprah' Duet". Archived from the original on 8 May 2010. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
- ^ "Willie Nelson Covers Coldplay's 'The Scientist'". Taste of Country. Archived from the original on 18 September 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ "'The Judge' Ends With A Willie Nelson Coldplay Cover". The Huffington Post. 6 September 2014. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- ^ "YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 12 February 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- ^ "[VIDEO] Cory Monteith + Glee cast perform Coldplay's 'The Scientist'". 103.5 KTU. Archived from the original on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- ^ "10 THINGS I LEARNED FROM THE MILEY CYRUS CONCERT LAST NIGHT | DigBoston". Archived from the original on 20 April 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
- ^ Wass, Mike (11 January 2017). "'Fifty Shades Darker' Soundtrack Features Halsey, Tove Lo & Nicki Minaj". Idolator. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- ^ The Scientist - The Petersens (LIVE) (Acoustic), 23 October 2020, archived from the original on 19 August 2013, retrieved 12 March 2021
- ^ Madeddu, Paolo (16 November 2021). "Zucchero: "In Discover ho messo le mie due anime"". Rolling Stone Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "Listen to Rachel Chinouriri's Radiant Cover of Coldplay's The Scientist Ahead of Glastonbury". NME. 26 June 2024. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Kaufman, Gil (1 August 2006). "The Story Behind Coldplay's 'The Scientist'". MTV News. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
- ^ "Coldplay — The Scientist". Mvdbase.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
- ^ "Old and new battle for MTV awards". BBC News. BBC. 27 July 2003. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
- ^ Sal Cinquemani and Eric Henderson (8 January 2004). "Forecast: 46th Annual Grammy Awards". Slant. Archived from the original on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
- ^ "Coldplay Upgrades 'The Scientist' Video to 4K on 20th Anniversary of Album".
- ^ "Coldplay – The Scientist". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Coldplay – The Scientist" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ "Coldplay – The Scientist" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
- ^ "Coldplay – The Scientist" (in French). Ultratip.
- ^ "Coldplay – Awards (Billboard Singles)". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
- ^ "Coldplay – The Scientist" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Scientist". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ "Hits of the World - Italy". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 7 December 2002. p. 78. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
- ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 49, 2002" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Coldplay – The Scientist" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Coldplay – The Scientist". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
- ^ "Coldplay – The Scientist" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
- ^ "Coldplay – The Scientist". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
- ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
- ^ "Coldplay – Chart History (Argentina Hot 100)" Billboard Argentina Hot 100 Singles for Coldplay. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- ^ "Coldplay: The Scientist" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ "Official IFPI Charts — Digital Singles Chart (International) — Εβδομάδα: 24/2024" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "Coldplay Chart History (Malaysia Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ "TOP 20 Most Streamed International Singles In Malaysia Week 47 (17/11/2023- 23/11/2023)". RIM. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023 – via Facebook.
- ^ "Coldplay – The Scientist". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ "RIAS Top Charts Week 5 (26 Jan - 1 Feb 2024)". RIAS. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002". Jam!. 14 January 2003. Archived from the original on 6 September 2004. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "Top 200 faixas em streaming - 2017" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 200 Streaming 2018" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ "Top 100 Álbuns – Semanas 1 a 52 – De 31/12/2021 a 29/12/2022" (PDF). Audiogest (in Portuguese). Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Coldplay – The Scientist". IFPI Danmark.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Coldplay; 'The Scientist')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – Coldplay – The Scientist" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Coldplay – The Scientist" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Spanish single certifications – Coldplay – The Scientist". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – Coldplay – The Scientist". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ "American single certifications – Coldplay – The Scientist". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- Roach, Martin (2003). Coldplay: Nobody Said It Was Easy. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-9810-8.