Coldplay songs began dominating the airwaves in 2000, when the band released their first hit single, 'Yellow,' quickly followed by the release of their debut album. Lead singer Chris Martin's sensitive vocal style and the group's expertly crafted, whimsically orchestrated sound have made them a pop culture mainstay over the years. Read on for our carefully chosen list of the ten best Coldplay songs.

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    10

    'Strawberry Swing'

    In the dreamy and drum-heavy 'Strawberry Swing' from the album 'Viva La Vida,' Martin sings about finding time to be with someone in a world preoccupied with other things -- it's not a waste of time if you're with the one you love.

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    9

    'Viva la Vida'

    The titular song from 'Viva la Vida' features a fantastically memorable orchestral sound interlaced with Martin's lyrics about a fallen king, a beautiful metaphor for the feeling you get in a relationship -- as if you could rule the world.

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    8

    'Lovers in Japan'

    Another hit from 'Viva la Vida.' This Coldplay song captures some of the Japanese influences on the record (obvious from the title), and evokes optimistic feelings about life and love amid a sublimely rhythmic arrangement, in which Martin's piano style is positively twinkling.

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    7

    'Paradise'

    Off their latest album, 'Mylo Xyloto,' 'Paradise' captures the epic feeling of that album with a sweeping sound and lyrics about a woman who, as a little girl, dreamt of bigger and better things. When times got tough, she would dream of escaping to "para-para-paradise."

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    6

    'God Put a Smile Upon Your Face'

    'God Put a Smile Upon Your Face' from their album 'A Rush of Blood to the Head' is a simple love song, and like most of that album, features a haunting arrangement that elevates the song from your typical love letter to something much more resonant.

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    5

    'Clocks'

    The infectious opening piano hook of the Top 10 Coldplay Song 'Clocks' sets a gorgeous tone for the rest of the hypnotizing track. Coldplay truly match sound to title in a way that feels inextricable for this a tale of regret, love lost, and the passage of time.

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    4

    'Don't Panic'

    The melancholy 'Don't Panic,' memorably featured on the soundtrack for 'Garden State,' feels less ambitious than their other hits -- which is kind of a good thing. It's an aggressively more acoustic, laid-back sound for a Coldplay song about disregarding the inevitable to embrace the beauty of now.

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    'Fix You'

    Chris Martin sings about trying to fix someone who is broken (interpret it as you will) in the heartbreaking 'Fix You,' from the album 'X&Y.' His voice will twist you up on the inside as he sings, "Lights will guide you home / And ignite your bones / And I will try to fix you." Like 'Don't Panic,' 'Fix You' feels a little more stripped-down and raw.

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    2

    'Yellow'

    In their very first hit single -- and the song that made them a household name -- Chris Martin sings a whimsical love song dedicated to a very special lady, for whom the stars shine. 'Yellow' not only put Coldplay on the map, but it really defined their sound for years to come, and can still be felt in every hit.

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    'The Scientist'

    Arguably the best Coldplay song, 'The Scientist' continues the theme from the album 'A Rush of Blood to the Head.' It's another track about feeling regretful and lovelorn in a relationship filled with strife, but Martin's trembling vocals against the utterly haunting piano arrangement create a song just as close to perfect as can be.

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