The newly released collaboration between EDM duo the Chainsmokers and popular UK band Coldplay, "Something Just Like This," has broken the YouTube record for most views of a lyric video in a single day. The record was previously held by Justin Bieber for his 2015 hit, "What Do You Mean."
The Chainsmokers Coldplay Collab 'Something Just Like This' Smashes YouTube Record
What do you get when you combine the efforts of the hottest EDM act in the world with one of the most popular and enduring bands? You get a brand-new record for most views of a lyric video on YouTube in one day. The Chainsmokers, fresh off a Grammy win and another successful single, "Paris," and the Chris Martin fronted Coldplay garnered over 9 million YouTube views for the lyric video of their new collaboration, "Something Just Like This."
The song was debuted simultaneous to a live performance on the recent BRIT Awards, and soon took the web by storm as viewers flocked to see what all the buzz was about. The record breaking view count surpassed the previous record holder for a lyric video which was held by Justin Bieber for his 2015 solo comeback hit "What Do You Mean" which went on to hit number one on the Billboard charts. That track garnered over 8.2 million YouTube views during its first day.
The Chainsmokers Rule With Lyric Videos
The Chainsmokers are no stranger to lyric video records, as the clip for their smash hit 2016 song "Closer" holds the record for most total views ever for a lyric video, at over 1.2 billion. In addition, it is the only lyric video ever to pass 1 billion views.
Official lyric videos are, as their name implies, lyric listing clips for songs that have not received a full-on music video treatment, and can range from a very basic to a more artistic treatment, such as the one in the animated "Something Just Like This" clip. Official lyric videos have become more and more prevalent as YouTube has grown as a source of music streaming. Artists find it essential to have some form of "video" posted on YouTube in tandem with a song's initial release, even if the song's official clip has not yet been filmed, and especially if no official music video is planned at all.
Despite heavy web criticism aimed at The Chainsmokers and Coldplay for what has been called a simplistic rehash of previous Chainsmokers' productions, it looks as if "Something Just Like This" is shaping up to be a big hit, unless a substantial number of its YouTube views are based on initial curiosity as opposed to repeat listening. We'll find out for sure if the song has legs as time progresses. Meanwhile, the collaborators are set to perform the track for the first time in the U.S. on the upcoming iHeartRadio Awards on Sunday, March 5. Meanwhile, you can view the record breaking lyric video for "Something Just Like This," below.
