"Sparks" is a song by the British rock band Coldplay. They wrote and co-produced it with producer Ken Nelson for their debut album, Parachutes (2000). Dubbed a "calming" piece, the song experienced a chart resurgence in the 2020s.

Recording

According to producer Ken Nelson, "Sparks" was recorded at the same time as "We Never Change". He described it as "basically a live take", with Jonny Buckland adding his guitar parts afterwards. The lyrics of the song tell the story of a person asking for a second chance after letting down their partner ("And I know I was wrong" / "But I won't let you down"). Mary Siroky from Consequence noted that "the waltz tempo ensures a feeling of intimacy and romantic longing persists".

Reception

"Sparks" has been ranked among Coldplay's best works by Billboard, and Consequence. The former also included the song on their "40 Best Deep Cuts of 2000" list, pointing out that it contains "many of the touchstones that would become synonymous with the British rock band in the ensuing decades", from the hopeless romanticism of the lyrics to the use of interjections. The song experienced a resurgence on the music charts in the 2020s, after going viral on TikTok.

Performances

The band have consistently performed "Sparks" throughout the Parachutes (2000–01), and Music of the Spheres (2022–25) tours.

Covers and samples

American R&B singer Brandy integrated the opening lyrics of the song in "I Tried", from her album Afrodisiac (2004). Kristina Train covered "Sparks" for I Give It a Year, a British romantic comedy released in 2013. Ten years later, Jordana shared a cover of the track as well.

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.

Charts

Certifications