On This Day in 2000, Coldplay Introduced Themselves to the World With Their Debut Album

Before the pop boom of 2010, rock bands were still major forces in the music industry. Though, as current events show us, bands are not the most popular musical acts anymore. Well, there is still one band that continues to sell out stadiums and find its way into the ears of listeners across the world, and that is Coldplay. Founded in 1997, the band introduced itself to the world on this day, July 10, 2000, with the release of their highly praised debut album, Parachutes.

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Comprised of Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion, Coldplay is still just a group of college pals. Founded in 1997 at University College in London, England, Coldplay has come a long way since their humble beginnings, and that is an understatement. Regardless, their road to the top wouldn’t have transpired without their masterclass debut album, Parachutes.

The Soundtrack of the 2000s: Coldplay’s ‘Parachutes’

If you are a member of Generation Z, there is a high likelihood that you have at least one fond memory of Coldplay. Also, there is a very high likelihood that the memory includes a song from their 2000 debut album, Parachutes. After all, it is without a doubt one of the most popular albums of the early 21st century.

In the United States, the album itself had some chart success, but it was nothing too out of the ordinary. Following the release of the full album, it debuted at No. 189 on the Billboard 200 and later peaked at No. 51 on the chart. However, in the United Kingdom, that was a different story, as the album debuted at No. 1 on the UK albums chart. Furthermore, their iconic single “Yellow” peaked at No. 4 on the UK singles chart. More importantly, the album aged like fine wine thanks to the abundance of sentimental melodies, poignant lyrics, and an unexplainable sense of timelessness embedded in the entirety of it.

Coldplay was not a smash commercial success in the US right off the bat, but a fresh and inexperienced band rarely ever is. Nevertheless, they went on to become arguably the most successful band of the 21st century. Some of the band’s other staples include “My Universe”, “Viva La Vida”, and “A Sky Full Of Stars”. In 21st-century music, there is truly no other band like Coldplay. They are the epitome of the 2000s and just maybe the most noteworthy band of the century.

Photo by Stevie Rae Gibbs / Atlantic Records