Key facts
- Snow Patrol is celebrating the 20th anniversary of their hit song 'Chasing Cars'.
- The band has released a new collaboration with Kylie Minogue titled 'These Alarms'.
- The song 'Chasing Cars' has been streamed over two billion times and was named the UK's most-played radio song of the 21st Century in 2019.
- The band experienced a significant restructuring in 2023 with the departure of their drummer and bassist.
- Their latest album, 'The Forest is the Path', released in 2024, received positive reviews.
Snow Patrol is marking two decades since the release of their monumental hit 'Chasing Cars' with a new collaboration with pop icon Kylie Minogue. The song, titled 'These Alarms', sees the artists singing in unison, a departure from traditional duets, reflecting the theme of connection.
Frontman Gary Lightbody recalled the genesis of 'Chasing Cars', which was written in 2005 during a prolific songwriting session. Initially conceived as a song for others, it evolved into a career-defining track for the band, eventually being released in 2006 and achieving global success, partly due to its feature on 'Grey's Anatomy'. The song has since amassed over two billion streams and was named the most-played UK radio song of the 21st century.
The band is planning to celebrate the anniversary with two shows at the Royal Albert Hall, performing their album 'Eyes Open' in its entirety. This comes after a period of significant change for Snow Patrol, including the departure of drummer Jonny Quinn and bassist Paul Wilson in 2023. The remaining trio struggled to write new material, leading to scrapped album sessions. However, a renewed focus, aided by producer Fraser T Smith, resulted in their critically acclaimed 2024 album, 'The Forest is the Path'.
Lightbody, who has been open about his recovery from alcoholism and personal reflections, expressed his long-held admiration for Minogue, dating back to a 1995 festival appearance. He wrote 'These Alarms' with her in mind, and the collaboration has been described as a highlight, with Lightbody considering it more of a joint band project than a typical duet.