Chainsmokers and Coldplay “Something Just Like This” premiered at Brit Awards

Something Just Like This The Chainsmokers with Coldplay

Writer(s): Andrew Taggart, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, Chris Martin (see lyrics here) Released: February 22, 2017 First Charted: March 11, 2017 Peak: 3 US, 11 RR, 14 AC, 17 A40, 15 AA, 16 MR, 2 UK, 3 CN, 2 AU, 22 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 10.0 US, 0.76 UK, 21.50 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 2802.5 video, 2194.29 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: The DJ and production duo of Alex Pall and Drew Taggart formed The Chainsmokers in 2012. They experienced their first chart success with 2014’s “#Selfie,” a #16 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. They followed with top-ten hits “Roses,” “Don’t Let Me Down,” “Paris,” and, most notably, “Closer,” a chart-topper for 12 weeks. “Something Just Like This” was the second single from Memories…Do Not Open, a #3 album in the UK and a million-selling, chart-topper in the United States. Coldplay had an even deeper history, forming in London in 1997. They’d already chalked up seventeen top-ten hits in the UK, including #1 songs “Viva La Vida” and “Paradise,” before their collaboration with the Chainsmokers hit #2. In the United States, it was their fourth top-ten. Meanwhile, they’d topped the album chart eight times in the UK and four in the United States. Both bands were involved in writing the song. Most of the song was written when the Chainsmokers first met with Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay. SF The Chainsmokers said, “We found some chords that everyone loved and then Chris…freestyled for an hour.” SF The Chainsmokers explained it is about “a relationship that doesn’t need to be superhumanly perfect, an ordinary love.” SF Martin sings about wanting to be like Hercules or Batman, he knows he isn’t like them but fortunately his girlfriend just wants “a simple relationship with a straightforward guy.” SF The lyric video set a record for single-day views with more than nine million in its first 24 hours. SF The previous record holder, with 8.2 million plays, was Justin Bieber’s “What Do You Mean?” SF “Just Like This” has gone on to amass more than two billion views. The song was premiered with a live performance by both bands at the Brit Awards on February 22, 2017. It debuted at #56 on the Billboard Hot 100 and soared to #5 the next week. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for The Chainsmokers AMG All Music Guide SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 7/30/2023.

The Chainsmokers spend 12th week at #1 with “Closer”

Closer The Chainsmokers with Halsey

Writer(s): Andrew Taggart, Ashley Frangipane, Shaun Frank, Frederic Kennett, Isaac Slade, Joe King (see lyrics here) Released: July 29, 2016 First Charted: August 20, 2016 Peak: 112 US, 110 RR, 111 BA, 113 DG, 112 ST, 8 AC, 14 A40, 14 UK, 113 CN, 19 AU, 12 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 15.0 US, 1.8 UK, 20.7 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 2972.6 video, 2584.27 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: “Closer” was about a couple rekindling their romance. The Chainsmokers’ Andrew Taggart and guest vocalist Halsey each sing their sides of the story before coming together by chance at the end. SF Right after the song’s release, the Chainsmokers tweeted “This song is dedicated to anyone that hooked up with their EX and right after remember all the reasons why they broke up.” SF Taggart said the “EDM song with a retro style synthesizer” WK was inspired by Blink-182. SF Taggart crafted the beat during a studio session with Freddy Kennett (from EDM duo Louis the Child) and then wrote the words with Shaun Frank – a Canadian DJ, singer, and producer. SF Taggart said Shaun convinced him he could sing – so Taggart sang on a Chainsmokers’ song for the first time. SF When similiarities were noted between “Closer” and the Fray’s “Over My Head (Cable Car),” the Chainsmokers reached out to the Fray’s Isaac Slade and Joe King. SF King told ABC Radio that “There was no friction or tension…So it’s all good.” SF Slade and King were added to the songwriting credits on September 2, 2016. WK Billboard’s Matt Medved said the song “sounds like an instant classic” and boasts “an earworm chorus and evocative verses.” WK MTV’s Deepa Lakshmin called it “an upbeat dance-worthy jam that deserves a spot on your summer playlist.” WK The Chainsmokers became the first duo or group since Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (“Thrift Shop”) more than two years earlier to top the Billboard Hot 100. WK It was the longest-running #1 song of the year and also spent more time in the top 5 (26 weeks) than any song in history SF and was only the second song – the other being LeAnn Rimes’ “How Do I Live” – to spend 32 weeks in the top ten. WK It also topped the charts in 10 other countries WK and was the first song since “Harlem Shake” by Baauer to top the Hot 100 and Hot Dance/Electronic Songs charts. SF In May 2017, it became only the second song to surpass one billion streams on Spotify. WK Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for The Chainsmokers DMDB encyclopedia entry for Halsey SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Last updated 7/20/2023.