Let Somebody Go

"Let Somebody Go"
Single by Coldplay and Selena Gomez
from the album Music of the Spheres
Released7 February 2022 (2022-02-07)
Recorded2019–2021
Genre
Length4:01
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Coldplay singles chronology
"My Universe"
(2021) 		"Let Somebody Go"
(2022) 		"Feels Like I'm Falling in Love"
(2024)
Selena Gomez singles chronology
"999"
(2021) 		"Let Somebody Go"
(2022) 		"Calm Down (Remix)"
(2022)
Music video
"Let Somebody Go" on YouTube

"Let Somebody Go" is a song by British rock band Coldplay and American singer Selena Gomez, recorded for the band's ninth studio album, Music of the Spheres. It was produced by Max Martin, Oscar Holter, Rik Simpson, Daniel Green and Bill Rahko, with additional production by Metro Boomin. Parlophone released the track as the third single from Music of the Spheres on 7 February 2022 on digital download and streaming platforms.

Writing and production

Creative director Phil Harvey stated both him and Martin have been fans of Gomez, commenting she has a "unique, evocative and mysterious" tone.[1] He initially tried to persuade the band to include the song in their eighth album Everyday Life (2019).[2] Meanwhile, Martin noted "she's an angel" and her voice is in what he "would call 'the Rihanna bag' which are voices that are gifts to humanity".[3] Bassist Guy Berryman explained the collaboration:[4]

"This is just a really lovely ballad. And quite early on we realized it needed a female counterpart to the vocal." He added, "And we were very grateful that when we asked Selena to sing on it, she loved the song and was happy to do so. Collaborations in general are something that we've done more of recently. We never really used to do it before. When we were younger, we kind of locked ourselves in a room and felt we had to prove everything ourselves. But I think as time has gone on, it's become more interesting for us to work with other people from different parts of the world, different genres. It just adds color and character to the music".

They finished the track together in April 2021. The song features lyrics written by Apple Martin, daughter of frontman Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow; the father stated thet Apple "gave me this amazing chord that I'd never thought of. So she's on there".[5]

Music video

A space-themed lyric video featuring animated handwritten lyrics was released on 15 October 2021. The video was directed by Pilar Zeta and Victor Scorrano and depicts Calypso, one of the celestial bodies in the fictional solar system The Spheres.[6] A music video directed by Dave Meyers was announced on 3 February 2022, and was released on 7 February 2022.[7] The music video was filmed in October 2021.

Live performances

"Let Somebody Go" was first performed live on The Late Late Show with James Corden by Coldplay and Selena Gomez on the show's 18 October 2021 episode.[8] On 2 February 2022, Chris Martin performed a solo version of the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[9] On November 1, 2022, Coldplay performed the song together with Argentine singer Tini, at Estadio River Plate during their Music of the Spheres World Tour.[10] On October 4, 2023, Coldplay & Selena Gomez performed the song at the Rose Bowl.

Critical reception

"Let Somebody Go" received positive reviews by most critics, who considered it a highlight for the album. Jon Dolan from Rolling Stone called it a "soft-focus study in post-breakup solemnity that's got more warmth and grace than most artists' crushed-out valentines".[11] The track was also named one of the best songs of the year by Aftonbladet (#24), as they cited it as a "delicious music with only one signal: Chris Martin's habit of writing howling and presumptuous arena signs".[12] Similarly, Cosmopolitan included it on their "55 Best Songs of 2021" list at number 21 and mentioned the collaboration was "unexpectedly awesome".[13] The New York Post, on the other hand, ranked "Let Somebody Go" as the fifth worst song of 2021, considering it the anti-"Yellow".[14]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for "Let Somebody Go"
Organization Year Category Result Ref.
Art Directors Guild Awards 2023 Short Format: Webseries or Music Video Nominated [15]
NRJ Music Award 2022 International Video of the Year Nominated [16]
People's Choice Awards The Music Video Nominated [17]
RTHK International Pop Poll Awards Top 10 International Gold Songs Nominated [18]

Personnel

Coldplay
Additional musicians
Technical personnel

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Let Somebody Go"
Chart (2021–2023) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[19] 66
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[20] 69
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[21] 45
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[22] 78
France (SNEP)[23] 115
Germany (GfK)[24] 74
Global 200 (Billboard)[25] 32
Hungary (Single Top 40)[26] 34
Ireland (IRMA)[27] 25
Italy Airplay (EarOne)[28] 29
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard)[29] 19
Lithuania (AGATA)[30] 40
Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[31] 42
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[32] 8
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[33] 21
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[34] 53
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[35] 4
Norway (VG-lista)[36] 19
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[37] 19
Portugal (AFP)[38] 44
San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50)[39] 21
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[40] 74
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[41] 53
South Africa (RISA)[42] 70
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[43] 98
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[44] 28
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[45] 27
UK Singles (OCC)[46] 24
US Billboard Hot 100[47] 91
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[48] 24
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[49] 9

Certifications

Certifications for "Let Somebody Go"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[50] Platinum 40,000‡
France (SNEP)[51] Gold 100,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[52] Gold 50,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[53] Gold 5,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[54] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[55] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country Date Format Label Ref.
Various 7 February 2022
Parlophone [56]
Italy 11 February 2022 Contemporary hit radio Warner [57]
United States 14 February 2022 Adult contemporary radio Atlantic [58]

References

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  2. ^ "Phil Harvey - Alien Radio On Stationhead". Coldplaying. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Chris Martin Shares Why Coldplay Wanted to Work With Selena Gomez & More". On Air With Ryan Seacrest. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  4. ^ Bailey, Alyssa (15 October 2021). "Selena Gomez and Coldplay's 'Let Somebody Go' Has Brutal Lyrics About Heartbreak". Elle. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
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