"Arabesque" is a song by British rock band
Coldplay from their eighth studio album Everyday Life. It was released on 24 October 2019, along with the single "
Orphans", and appears on the first side of the album Sunrise.[2] It features vocals by Belgian singer
Stromae, horn sections by Nigerian musician
Femi Kuti,[3] and
oud contributions from Palestinian group
Le Trio Joubran.[4]
The song was written by all Coldplay members,
Karnivool guitarist Drew Goddard, Kuti and Stromae,[5] while production was handled by the Dream Team.[6] It is the second release by the band to feature
profanity ("same fucking blood" appears in the final verses of the song), with the first being the remix of "
Lost!" featuring
Jay-Z, although this marks the first instance of Chris Martin swearing.
Background and promotion
On 24 October 2019, the band announced the release (on the same day) of the songs "Arabesque" and "Orphans" as a dual release and as the first singles off Everyday Life.[7] In anticipation of the new era, the band set up a countdown leading up to the release a few hours in advance.[8] Arabesque was performed live on
BBC Radio 1 as part of the Annie Mac Show on 27 November 2019.
Critical reception
"Arabesque" received critical acclaim. Dan Stubbs of NME noted that the song "finds Coldplay in less familiar territory than
'Orphans', in that it has French vocals and a sax freakout that shifts the song into a modern jazz piece that couldn’t be more in tune with the nu-jazz zeitgeist if it tried."[9] Writing for
Under the Radar, Christopher Roberts named "Arabesque" the best song of the week, stating that it is "one of the most interesting songs the band has released in years".[10] Christian Eede of The Quietus wrote that "Coldplay are digging up their roots and toying with the base-level fabric of their sound with an attacking, seductive piece that storms trumpet-first", naming the song among the best of October 2019.[11]3voor12,[12]Herald Sun,[13] and Muzikalia added it to their year-end lists as well.[14]
Personnel
Credits adapted from the "Orphans / Arabesque" liner notes.[15]