Collab Corner: BTS X Coldplay

Did you know that K-pop megastars BTS and the British rock band Coldplay have collaborated on a song? Back in 2021, the two groups released the song “My Universe” as part of Coldplay’s album Music of the Spheres. The collaboration was unexpected for many, but made sense within the trajectory of both groups and was not the last time the two groups would work together.

 

Even though both groups have a tendency to work with artists outside of their genre, the announcement still came as a surprise to fans on both sides. Prior to this, BTS had worked with Charli XCX, Halsey, and Megan Thee Stallion (among others), and Coldplay had experimented with collaborations with Brian Eno, Stromae, Rhianna, and Beyonce to name just a few. Fans began to speculate there could be some crossover when BTS covered Coldplay’s song “Fix You” earlier in the year, but it ultimately seemed too far out of the question.

 

Eventually, as the release date of Coldplay’s ninth studio album was drawing near, the single “My Universe” was unveiled, alongside the revelation that they would be joined by the K-pop boy band. When the single was released a few weeks later, fans helped propel it to number one on charts all around the world, making it BTS’s fifth and Coldplay’s second Billboard number one hit. It was also the first time a song by two lead groups had ever reached that achievement. Because both groups care about love and unity across borders, they felt this was the perfect message to share in their collaboration. The music video also carries this idea, as it depicts the groups on fictional planets in a galaxy where music is illegal. The characters in the video push back against this oppression, using music to unite and spread love.

 

 

Chris Martin, frontman of Coldplay, told Billboard in an interview that they were worried about making the collaboration work but the song came together remarkably quickly and both groups were happy with the experience of working together. The song clearly meant a lot to BTS’s SUGA too, as not too long after the official release, the groups released a remix of the track done by SUGA himself.

 

Odds are though, you already knew about this song. After all, it’s hard to avoid a song that went number one all around the world. However, even if you knew that, did you know that “My Universe” isn’t the only time the two groups have crossed over? It’s true! Even though it isn’t listed under Coldplay on streaming services, Jin’s solo farewell track to fans, “The Astronaut,” was co-written by Coldplay. The song came to be as the rockers talked with Jin about his upcoming departure for military service and they decided to collaborate again, this time focusing on that feeling of leaving the people and things you love, knowing you’ll see them again soon. The single was also a success and marked the perfect send-off for Jin.

 

 

With BTS on hiatus, there hasn’t been any indication the two groups will work together again, although it’s clear they forged a strong friendship working together the first time. Who knows? Jin just came home from his military service and Coldplay just announced their tenth studio album. Maybe the timeline will sync up in just the right way for both groups to make more music with each other? Until then, we’ll just keep enjoying the uptempo grooves of their first two collabs.