What if by Coldplay

Coldplay are a British rock band formed in London in 1997, consisting of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, lead guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer and percussionist Will Champion, and manager Phil Harvey. They are best known for their live performances, having also impacted popular culture with their artistry, advocacy and achievements.

The members of the band initially met at University College London, calling themselves Big Fat Noises and changing to Starfish, before settling on the current name. After releasing Safety (1998) independently, Coldplay signed with Parlophone in 1999 and wrote their debut album, Parachutes (2000). It featured breakthrough single "Yellow" and received a Brit Award for British Album of the Year and a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. The group's follow-up, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), won the same accolades. X&Y (2005) later saw the completion of what they considered a trilogy, being nominated for Best Rock Album as well. Its successor, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), prevailed in the category. Both albums were the best-selling of their years, topping the charts in over 30 countries. Viva la Vida's title track also became the first British act single to lead the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart simultaneously in the 21st century.

Coldplay further expanded their repertoire in subsequent albums, with Mylo Xyloto (2011), Ghost Stories (2014), A Head Full of Dreams (2015), Everyday Life (2019) and Music of the Spheres (2021) exploring sounds like electronica, R&B, ambient, disco, funk, gospel, blues and progressive rock. Additional endeavours for the band include philanthropy, politics and activism, as they donate 10% of their profits to charity and endorse various humanitarian organizations. In 2018, a career-spanning film directed by Mat Whitecross was made available in cinemas to commemorate their 20th career anniversary.

With over 100 million albums sold worldwide, Coldplay are among the best-selling music acts of all time. Fuse ranked them as the sixth-most awarded group in history, which includes securing the most Brit Award wins by a band. They own three of the 50 best-selling albums in the United Kingdom and the most number-one albums in the region without missing the top (nine), while "My Universe" is the first British group song to ever debut atop Billboard Hot 100. Coldplay have two of the 15 highest-grossing tours of all time as well. The British Phonographic Industry hailed the band as one of "most influential and pioneering" artists in the world. Similarly, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002) on the 200 Definitive Albums list and "Yellow" on the Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll exhibit. In 2023, Time stated the group were among the most impactful climate action leaders on the planet. Despite their popularity and recognition, they are considered polarising musicians.