A Head Full of Dreams cover art

  Studio Album · No. 7

A Head Full of Dreams Songwriting Credits by Coldplay

2015 Parlophone / Atlantic 11 tracks 46 min

Produced by Rik Simpson, Stargate, Greg Kurstin, Coldplay  ·  Engineered by Rik Simpson, Dan Green, Phil Tan, Bill Rahko

Parlophone / Atlantic PopPop RockAlternative Rock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Coldplay wrote 11 of 11 documented tracks

Authorship Breakdown 11 / 11 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether Coldplay carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
11 trackswritten by Coldplay 0 tracksoutside writers
Coldplay's roles on this album

Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer73%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

11
Tracks
3
Lyricists
4
Producers
6 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
2015
Released

Awards & Recognition 2

International Album of the Year (2017)
British Album of the Year (2016, Nominated)
Data Insight

A Head Full of Dreams keeps Coldplay's collective songwriting convention, with every track credited to Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion rather than to individual members. The band brought in the Norwegian production duo Stargate alongside long-standing collaborators Rik Simpson and Dan Green to push toward a brighter, more pop-leaning sound. The album is unusually full of guests for a Coldplay record: Beyonce co-features on the single 'Hymn for the Weekend,' Tove Lo appears on 'Fun,' Noel Gallagher plays guitar on 'Up&Up,' and Merry Clayton and Gwyneth Paltrow contribute additional vocals.

A Head Full of Dreams, released December 4, 2015, is Coldplay's seventh studio album, an extravagant, maximalist celebration of colour, joy, and optimism that stood in sharp contrast to Ghost Stories. The album was produced partly by Rik Simpson and partly by Stargate and Greg Kurstin, and features guest vocals from Beyoncé ('Hymn for the Weekend'), Noel Gallagher, Tove Lo, and others. It was later announced as the last album in a cycle before Coldplay would pause touring to focus on sustainability. The album topped charts in multiple countries and sold over 5 million copies.

Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
A Head Full of Dreams
Chris Martin Chris MartinJonny BucklandGuy BerrymanWill Champion Rik SimpsonColdplay Chris Martin (Lead Vocals)
2
Birds
Chris Martin Chris MartinJonny BucklandGuy BerrymanWill Champion Rik SimpsonColdplay Chris Martin (Lead Vocals)
3
Hymn for the Weekend #6
Chris MartinBeyonce Knowles Chris MartinJonny BucklandGuy BerrymanWill ChampionBeyonce Knowles Stargate Chris Martin (Lead Vocals)
4
Everglow
Chris Martin Chris MartinJonny BucklandGuy BerrymanWill Champion Rik SimpsonColdplay Chris Martin (Lead Vocals)
5
Adventure of a Lifetime #7
Chris Martin Chris MartinJonny BucklandGuy BerrymanWill Champion StargateRik Simpson Chris Martin (Lead Vocals)
6
Fun
Chris MartinTove Lo Chris MartinJonny BucklandGuy BerrymanWill ChampionTove Lo Greg Kurstin Chris Martin (Lead Vocals)
7
Kaleidoscope
Chris Martin Chris MartinJonny BucklandGuy BerrymanWill Champion Rik SimpsonColdplay Chris Martin (Lead Vocals)
8
Army of One
Chris Martin Chris MartinJonny BucklandGuy BerrymanWill Champion Rik SimpsonColdplay Chris Martin (Lead Vocals)
9
Amazing Day
Chris Martin Chris MartinJonny BucklandGuy BerrymanWill Champion Rik SimpsonColdplay Chris Martin (Lead Vocals)
10
Colour Spectrum
Chris Martin Chris MartinJonny BucklandGuy BerrymanWill Champion Rik SimpsonColdplay Chris Martin (Lead Vocals)
11
Up&Up
Chris Martin Chris MartinJonny BucklandGuy BerrymanWill Champion Rik SimpsonColdplay Chris Martin (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 10 contributors

More from Coldplay

Frequently Asked Questions A Head Full of Dreams

Who wrote the songs on Coldplay's A Head Full of Dreams?
All songs are credited collectively to the four members of Coldplay: Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion. Several tracks add outside writers and producers, including the duo Stargate.
Who produced A Head Full of Dreams?
The album was produced by Stargate, Rik Simpson and Dan Green, with additional work from Digital Divide. Stargate's involvement pushed the record toward a brighter, more pop-oriented sound.
Is Beyonce on A Head Full of Dreams?
Yes. Beyonce co-features on 'Hymn for the Weekend,' sharing vocals with Chris Martin. The track became one of the album's most successful singles, reaching number 6 in the UK.
Which guests appear on A Head Full of Dreams?
The album features Beyonce on 'Hymn for the Weekend,' Tove Lo on 'Fun' and Noel Gallagher on guitar for 'Up&Up.' Merry Clayton and Gwyneth Paltrow add backing vocals, and a sample of President Barack Obama singing 'Amazing Grace' also appears.
What were the singles from A Head Full of Dreams?
'Adventure of a Lifetime' was the lead single, reaching number 7 in the UK and number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. 'Hymn for the Weekend' with Beyonce followed, peaking at number 6 in the UK and number 25 in the US.
How many copies has A Head Full of Dreams sold?
A Head Full of Dreams has sold more than 6 million copies worldwide as of 2018. It earned a Diamond certification in France and 4x Platinum in the United Kingdom.

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