The lyrics “Nobody said it was easy, no one ever said it would be so hard” proved to be true for many at WHS who did not realize how difficult it would be to obtain Coldplay tickets as they went on sale on Oct. 12, 2024 at 12:00 p.m.. Classrooms became presale watch parties for Coldplay’s July 2025 concerts, leaving many in either distress or excitement based on whether they made it out of the Ticketmaster waiting room. 

   “Luckily, I was able to get four tickets to the concert for my friends and I,” senior Olivia Scully-Power said. 

   Despite all the excitement, Coldplay did not recently rise to fame. The band first formed in 1997 and ultimately gained popularity in 2000 through the release of their debut album, “Parachutes.”

   While no current students were around for the band’s start, many faculty members at WHS can recall their ascent to fame. 

   “I have been a fan for well over 15 years,” history teacher Caroline Monz said. “I think I first heard their music when ‘Viva La Vida’ was [a] free download on iTunes.”

   While Coldplay has been around for years, it continues to have the ability to attract fans of all ages. . 

   “I was surprised to see how many high school students were interested in going [to the concert], but then I also considered the fact that I have been a fan since I was in elementary school,” math teacher Erin Lordan said. “Clearly their music has stayed relevant to people throughout the decades.”

   Numerous factors have contributed to the band’s continuous significance, including the influence of social media platforms on music popularity through apps such as TikTok. Nevertheless, the band’s significance is likewise attributed to a more traditional means, through personal introduction. 

   “I think growing up with Coldplay is what continues to bring me back to their music,” senior Tristan Chessler said. “I’ve listened for so long and intend to well into the future.”

   Another interesting feature of Coldplay is the frequency of their release of new music: in the past year they released multiple singles and an album. 

    “They continue to release music years after their inception,” Chessler said.

   Coldplay plans to perform in an array of locations during their 2025 tour including China, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Canada, and of course, the United States, further exemplifying their wide appeal.

   “[Their] music is not specific to any group of people, which is why Coldplay has been able to amass such a large fanbase,” Chessler said.

   Since their beginning, the band has gone through many changes. Whether it be through their evolution in genre from alternative rock to big pop or to changing their name from Big Fat Noises to Starfish and then to Los Unidades before becoming Coldplay, each shift has enabled them to gain an ever-larger following.

   “[Coldplay] have been able to evolve with the times and current trends,” Monz said. “I think it is great to have bands bring a variety of people together. Music can be a uniting front.”

   Despite their many transformations, one thing has remained constant about the band: their positive energy. 

   “It is all happy music when these days there are so many artists with very sad songs, but Coldplay is very family-friendly and fun,” junior Addison Trodden said.

   This positivity can most obviously be seen in their concert culture, which many in the WHS community are drawn to. 

   “I think highschoolers are attracted to the experience and less the artist,” senior Amia Hyman said. “What is really cool about their concerts is that it is [more of] an experience whereas other concerts you’re just going to watch the artist.”

   Coldplay’s modern twist to concert culture has influenced present concert culture as well. 

   “When I went in 2016, they were using light up wristbands throughout the stadium, which was a pretty novel thing at the time,” Lordan said. “For example, during the song ‘Yellow,’ the whole stadium was lit up yellow…now that’s a pretty widely used thing.”

   For some fans, contemporary concert culture  has also become competitive, especially in relation to sitting in the “best” seat to get the best experience. However, Coldplay has created a universal experience for all of their fans.

   “They add balloons, bubbles, lights; it doesn’t matter where you sit, you still experience everything,” Hyman said.

   Coldplay’s wide-ranging appeal is based on so many elements, from their rock-pop ballads and inspiring lyrics to their high-energy performances, and it’s the combination of these elements that attracts so many fans.