It was released on 3 March 2014 as the record's lead single, being written and produced by band members Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, Chris Martin, while production assistance was provided by Paul Epworth.

Much like other artworks of the Ghost Stories album cycle, the image depicts a scenario contained within the perimeter of the subject of focus, this time the white dove.

The song's "anticlimactic" portion then decreases intensity until it has eventually resumed to simply a snare and bass riff.

[5] Jamieson Cox of Time magazine wrote that "Magic" isn't as far from the style of Coldplay's previous albums as "Midnight", the first track from Ghost Stories that was revealed.

[6] Rolling Stone magazine's Kory Grow commented in similar tone, calling the song "a return to form," proven "to be Coldplay through and through".

[7] Digital Spy's Lewis Corner concurred, writing: "[The song] isn't a quick card trick to draw you in like some of the band's previous hits, but rather a long-form spectacle that slowly allures you with its intricacies and delicate craftsmanship.

"[12] Writing for Los Angeles Times, Mikael Wood commented: "With Martin's delicate falsetto floating over a muted drum-machine beat ... this one offers up a sumptuous vocal melody – and a surprisingly soulful one at that".

Cecile is married to Claude (also played by Chris Martin), a famous magician who, in addition to being an alcoholic, is violently aggressive to his wife.

[33] Singer Rita Ora gave a mashup rendition of "Magic" and Beyoncé's "Drunk in Love" at the Radio 1's Big Weekend event in May 2014.

[35][36] The song was also covered by singer-songwriter Lauren Aquilina for her own BBC Radio 1 Maida Vale Studios session.