Coldplay in random French magazines (updated July 18th)

[Chavi]

(I stole Lore's title for this thread)

 

from this week's Les Inrockuptibles

(very nice cover with Chris on it and an okay interview)

 

 

 

 

 

from June 19th newspaper Le Parisien

(dont like the article but nice review)

 

 

 

 

too lazy to translate but i can do it later if someone's interested..

[Marcoldplayer]

Thanks fos this! :D

 

And english translation of the interview?

[coldjo]

Merci beaucoup Chavi !!!

[Chavi]

I thought this thread would die and be burried in page 42 or something..

 

yeah.. i could try and translate it but that could take a while. so dont expect to have it by tomorrow ! :rolleyes:

 

here's another article, but this time about Chris and Gwyneth (probably should've posted it in the Gwyneth Thread.. but it's a french mag thread so..)

 

the same magazine gave three stars out of three for Viva la vida or Death and all his friends, saying Lost! is awesome but 42 sounds like a song we've already heard before..

[Mimixxx]

Thank you! :D

[CRYSTAL]

i think for uploading the scans imageshack or photobucket only can help in a better way.

 

The scans i am not even able to download them to ask for translation.

 

anyway:(

[snowshine]

Thanks for posting these. :)

[Chavi]

i think for uploading the scans imageshack or photobucket only can help in a better way.

 

The scans i am not even able to download them to ask for translation.

 

anyway:(

 

try that : http://s339.photobucket.com/albums/n467/frenchmag/

[CRYSTAL]

thankyou Chavi!

 

i've not downloaded that gwyneth one given because i hate some things which are overratedly highlighted in this world.

 

so i always want to ignore those.

 

But other than it i liked the rest of the article with coldplay, chris interview.

 

i want to read the translation of the whole coldplay article interview.

 

But not the gwyneth given one.

 

thanks.

[Ms Magpie]

Cool, thanks for the scans! I might borrow it in this French library some day. :D

[Chavi]

I tried my best...

Les Inrockuptibles interview.

« Nobody can help me »

Meeting with Chris Martin, anxious Coldplay leader. Criticized or even hated, the British band releases its fourth album, produced by Brian Eno. « We seriously needed him ».

 

To interview Chris Martin, Coldplay’s singer, we don’t have to introduce ourselves but we need to have clean socks (there’s a pun in French quite impossible to translate into English..) : we only come into the band’s home, a studio complex, couches and desks in Camden’s area, if we take our shoes off. In a rock’n’roll and destroy circus proper to the band, the refrigerator doesn’t welcome any alcohol but only a lot of smoothies. We then suspect the band to rehearse in their socks ( in their slippers ?). No santiags nor Doc Martens wait for their owner in the hall. We are at Coldplay’s.

However, a few details have changed in this interior once so cosy, so smooth – we there talk about music. The voice becomes more harsh, worried, leaves the cosy flannel of its melan-cosy duvet. Probably the consequence of the nomination of Brian Eno as the producer, the melodies now abandon the soft and cheesy stories for more intense experiences, to the image the instrumental introduction Life in technicolor – a grand enchanting piece of music which, in a few seconds, sums up perfectly a decade of Martin’s songwriting : superior melodies highly influenced by Echo & The Bunnymen, and a large writing which, rare thing in the Anglo-Saxon landscape, talks the stadium language without really sinking into pathetic.

Because you really have to be silly, narrow-minded or snob to only see in Martin that tall blond upper-class, soy and convenient ditty lover that detractors like to describe every week in British newspapers, even recently as the soft rock representative figure of Tony Blair’s years.

And this fourth album, more sinuous than it seems, confirm the knots, curls, and spirits that have been living for ever in Martin’s encephalon : whether he unveils himself as a magnificient loser (Lost !), or tells his ghosts (42, ballad which reminds us of the unforgettable Everything’s not lost), or opens his ears, on the advice of Brian Eno, or keeps on granting to radios huge hits ( the irresistible Viva la vida, ready to rock), Chris Martin deserves, if not crazy love, at least respect.

Interview with a humble and doubtful songwriter, who composes songs bigger than himself and stocks his cursed poet torments into a Bavarian tennisman body.

 

It’s been now ten years that your life is about Coldplay. Did it happen as in your dreams as a child ?

Chris Martin – Ten years ago, the only goal was to release an album one day. It seemed huge to get a record deal, and then to finish an album… We weren’t the most talented, the more hard worker : we had just been the luckiest. Okay, we worked, we rehearsed a lot. But it’s overall because we always felt like fakers, that someone would figure out that we’re just average musicians.

 

Being in a band was for you something against nature ?

I’ve always been unconfident about myself ; ending up in a band, surrounded by a gang, brought me some security. I would’ve never been able to be a solo artist, it’d be a tragedy for the world of music (laughs)… I never had the required ego for that.

 

What was the motivation, if it wasn’t ego ?

Fear of boredom, idleness. I grew up in the countryside, in Devon, I went to high school at Yeovil, PJ Harvey’s town… Everything was beautiful, small, far from everything… So narrow that it gave me a crazy energy to discover the world. I spent my evenings daydreaming, fantasize about big cities. I knew nothing about them : the first time I went to London, I was 19. As a kid, I spent my life in woods, starting fires, building cabins… the rest of the time, I made up songs. If I had been happy and fulfilled, i would have had never felt the need to make music. Writing was my way of understanding what was happening to me, what had happened during my day. I loved telling stories, drawing…

 

Music was present at home ?

Inevitably : my mother’s a music therapist and my father’s a frustrated singer. He belongs to that generation which was taken away by force from art and music, pushed towards less hazardous careers – he became an accountant, but dreamt about being a musician or actor. I think he would have been very disappointed if i had become an accountant… I always liked very much singing, since school, at church. Since my youngest age, I copied others’ songs. I began with A-Ha and Micheal Jackson, then it was Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder or Cat Stevens, then U2 and Echo & The Bunnymen, or more recently Arcade Fire. There’s always been a piano at my parents, and as I wasn’t capable of, technically, imitate my idols, I was forced to write my own songs. For my twelfth birthday, my mother brought me back from Venice a small mandolin, I wrote lots of songs on this toy… It was then logic that I join a band. It was my only way to meet girls and maybe, one day, getting out of Devon. I had to go. I went to London to study history, but it was only a pretext : I knew that over there, I would have more chances to meet musicians.

Do you blame yourself for neglecting your studies ?

There’s a feeling of unfinished but the system wants that : at the age of 21 or 22, we’re supposed to have finish our studies, not having to learn anymore. As for me, I want to learn every day, I constantly read, I listen to a lot of people. I can’t blame the band for pushing me to stop my studies. It takes a lot of boldness to complain : I owe everything I have to Coldplay. Without this band, I’d be a touristic guide who shows round London’s historical monuments with a cap… I’d be depressive, it’s certain.

 

We see you a bit as the perfect son-in-law. Is there a darker side in Chris Martin ?

I’m afraid it exists, and I really don’t want you to see it, it’s rather frightening. I have a very violent side but as I’m rather puny, it doesn’t express itself by force. Only by a succession of chords on my guitar. And lots of frustration.

 

You were talking about gang spirit – we don’t picture Coldplay in war against the rest of the world…

We’re very aware of the fact that we’re hated by a lot of people. And that, that unites us. We’re very honest to one another, we know each other better than anyone else. All of our experiences are common… Which allows us to discuss everything, calmly, from a single’s cover to a drum sound… we depend too much on each other to let one us drift, get away : we protect each other. If one falls, for a reason or another, it’s the entire band who collapses.

 

It doesn’t keep you away from arguing, often bordering on separation…

Every week… we fight, in a very polite and regular way (laughs)… Everything’s debated, as when we were students – from abortion to Thierry Henry ! Hundreds of times, we were minutes away from separation. It’d be the easiest solution. Because for a long time Coldplay’s been something very heavy to manoeuvre… but there, we’re starting from the beginning, we don’t know where we’re going with this new album. We aren’t, doubtless, a huge band anymore, it makes the road flexible and easy. The album industry has changed so much that I really don’t know what our status is.

Coldplay has known success from their first album in 2000 ; in your case, pressure didn’t come from the record company but from the incredible freedom given by this triumph. That freedom suppressed you ?

I never thought about it, but it’s very true. This freedom freaked us out. Because we have so much respect for the public : we can’t take abuse of this freedom and deceive buyers on quality. It costs a lot, a CD, we can’t sell a whim (silence)… Every album recording has been a nightmare since the first one. The uncertainty of going back from the start, it terrifies me. It would be so simple, and so awful, to do what people expect from us, to dwell on the same ideas…

 

Artists always says they make songs for themselves. Few admit being like that prisoner of its public.

The problem is that I’m often wrong. If I did songs only for myself, they’d be often bad. As I don’t know before what’s good or not for Coldplay, we push each idea, each proposition all the way, even though we go wrong. That’s the luxury we get from having our studio : there’s no time limit. Some songs go through heavy metal, hip hop or electro versions before finding the final form. We once burped for an hour, just to see.

 

Has Coldplay changed its way of working for this new album, which seems more loose ?

We were finishing a trilogy, we needed to break the mold, it had become stuffy. That’s the reason why we asked Brian Eno for production – to make us change our habits. He structured us, gave us homework to do at home – listen to certain CDs, as My Bloody Valentine (that we copied on Chinese sleep chant) or Tinariwen, read that book or that article, go and see certain exhibitions… he was like a teacher, and a psychologist. He taught me to have fewer complexes about my social or ethnic origins. Thanks to him, I went to see further than the only white rock with guitars. It was a liberation, he knows no limit. With him, everything seems easy, natural, although, none of us could have considered any of his ideas.

 

What was his first reaction to your demos ?

That we seriously needed him (laughs)… and he was right : he made us better, by trusting more and giving more responsibilities to the other three members of the band. He made us sing and play together much more.

 

Your singing has, by the way, much evolved.

It was something I wanted, but I needed help to do it. Thanks to him, my voice disappear a bit in the whole, in other singing – including his, he almost sang on every track, he loves that. For the lyrics too, I changed, I feel like I’m less abstract, more and more specific. I worked really hard for these words, it’s not natural for me… I’m very jealous when hearing lyrics from Leonard Cohen, from Dylan, from Nick Cave, from Jay-Z. Me, when I show lyrics to the other members, I’m very nervous. It’s like getting naked in front of them, accept their judgments – I keep being that anxious after ten years… it’s not a good sign about my confidence, isn’t it ?

 

The album’s called Viva la Vida – it’s an excess of optimism for Coldplay.

It’s from a Frida Kahlo’s painting, very colorful and very dark at the same time… the entire philosophy for the album is about a line from Lost!, the song which gave the philosophy to the album : “just because I’m losing, doesn’t mean I’m lost”. It’s my motto – never give up. Although, every day, at 5pm, I’m plagued by anxieties… usually, I feel better at 8pm. But I wish to no one those moments of doubt. I ask a lot to myself, I’m not a very easy person… during those moments, nobody can help me, not even the other members of the band.

 

Do you think Coldplay’s an over rated band ?

Yes, and it worries me much, all the time. We aren’t that good individually, but our chance is that chemistry that makes us beautiful. When I see Muse, I’m ashamed for us : there’s a band of which each member’s really talented.

Your way of singing generated many followers, whiny and pompous, in England. How do you feel as James Blunt and Keane’s godfather ?

(laughs)… not proud. It’s not glorious to be reduced at such mockery… but this being said, I stole everything as well, from Thom York or Jeff Buckley.

 

 

Newspaper’s review :

Viva la vida : Epic ! * * * = excellent !

How to satisfy the largest number of people without taking abuse of its knowledge ? that’s the problem of this new Coldplay, after a trilogy album going crescendo : a first album revelation, a second one confirmation, and a third one consecration. The band managed to come back, notably thanks to its producer Brian Eno. The former Roxy music sound architect and U2 fetish collaborator guided Chris Martin and his band on safer roads. If for its last album Coldplay used too much their old tricks to gain jackpot, the band loosen up on this “Viva la Vida”, epic album, melodic, but not so much academic than it seems. Proofs aren’t missing : the martial rhythm of Lost!, the dissonant strings of Yes, in a Velvet Underground way, fake tracks between tortured rock and nice ballads of 42, or even Violet hill, a not so easy first single. With “Viva la vida”, Coldplay doesn’t make its revolution, but continues its evolution. As new rock colossus, it’s really not that bad!

[Mimixxx]

Thanks soooooooooooooo much for doing that! :nice:

 

Not sure what to make of the interview though. I don't like it when he says they've come close to splitting, I hope he's just exaggerating. His dark, violent side seems to rear its ugly head much more these days too.

 

Thanks again :D

[Chavi]

what a nice but difficult way to practice my English :P hope I didnt make loads of mistakes..

 

I think he's exaggerating about the splitting episod.. but then, it's Chris so it's quite hard to know. I wish the guys could answer that kind of questions too, so we could have each point of view !

and he's waaaaay too modest and unconfident. it's annoying ! :rolleyes:

[Mimixxx]

It was an excellent translation. And you always write on here in perfect English too. You don't need to practice :nice:

[Chavi]

:blush: you're being too kind ! :kiss:

[blackchickintheback]

Thanks soooooooooooooo much for doing that! :nice:

 

Not sure what to make of the interview though. I don't like it when he says they've come close to splitting, I hope he's just exaggerating. His dark, violent side seems to rear its ugly head much more these days too.

 

Thanks again :D

 

 

I don't think it's anything to worry about. He has said countless times that they argue a lot over the music, which I think is a good thing. I think a lot of bands who are really passionate come close to the brink at least one. And Chris seems to have a very strong personality, and Im sure the other do as well. Comes with the territory. Does that make sense?

And after reading this bit I'm not worried. :nice:

 

You were talking about gang spirit – we don’t picture Coldplay in war against the rest of the world…

We’re very aware of the fact that we’re hated by a lot of people. And that, that unites us. We’re very honest to one another, we know each other better than anyone else. All of our experiences are common… Which allows us to discuss everything, calmly, from a single’s cover to a drum sound… we depend too much on each other to let one us drift, get away : we protect each other. If one falls, for a reason or another, it’s the entire band who collapses.

 

AWWWW. :nice:

[Mimixxx]

:blush: you're being too kind ! :kiss:

 

I'm not. You have a better grasp on grammar than most English people :D

 

"You're" being the perfect example. The number of people I know who spell 'you are' as 'your' :bomb: It's a huge annoyance of mine :lol: :P

 

Anyway, I digress...:D

[CRYSTAL]

thanks chavi for the translation.

[blackchickintheback]

Thank you, Chavi. :kiss:

[Chavi]

COLDPLAY "lâche les chiens" !!!

 

"Coldplay lets the dogs out !" from the newspaper Le journal du Dimanche.

 

 

you can find the interview here

But I wont be able to translate it until next week, so you might want to try google for a very rough translation.

 

[thanks Alvin13]

[Mimixxx]

Thank yooooooooou! Google translation isn't actually that bad :D

 

Coldplay "cowardly dogs"

By Eric MANDEL

Le Journal du Dimanche

>> Already, the cover of the album announces the colour. "Liberty Leading the People" Eugène Delacroix, barbouillée brush white: "Viva la Vida!" It was the watchword of the pasionaria Mexican brushes, Frida Kahlo, who gives his title at the fourth opus of pop-rock group the most lucrative (Radiohead) of this decade. Coldplay is a small revolution in music when the facility lurked Chris Martin and his cronies after the triumph of his first three albums sold more than 30 million copies around the world.

 

Viva la Vida immediately captivated by his musical eclecticism and power of its melodies. While it remains true to the brand's success-a pop gracile as "smooth" by its detractors-the quartet in London is a wind blowing on his epic compositions, more dark, winding and enriched sounds (Indian tablas, violins East ...). And it works. Since its release, June 16, the album squatte the first place of English and American charts and has already passed more than one million two hundred thousand copies in the world, including 200 000 in France. Even success with the legal downloading. iTunes has exploded and the record pre albums. Good news for EMI, which focused on this album big cushion for the plummeting sales of CDs. At the other end of the line, Chris Martin lends itself readily to the exercise of promotion with a sense of self and a modesty almost suspect for a popstar its size.

 

All things considered, you think you have delivered your Sergeant Pepper's to you?

Not me I would not engage in any such comparison. No album can never match the masterpiece of the Beatles. But we wanted to switch from black and white to color. In this sense, Viva la Vida is clearly inspired by Sergeant Pepper's or Achtung Baby U2. Both have marked a new direction in career groups.

 

You have often stated that "perfectionism <" Coldplay was your weakness. Here, you seem to have preferred a certain spontaneity ...

We are also always perfectionists, but we care. To take a picture, we decided to grow our garden without bothering about herbs crazy. Somewhere, on a "dropped dogs."

 

"Many people hate us"

 

There was an urgent need for you to take this new path?

It was necessary to break the mould. When you are a group to success, there is a risk to repeat a formula and ultimately wearying everyone. Or take advantage of this success to surround himself with talented people and seek to innovate, experiment, borrow tracks you would never have dared to borrow five years earlier.

 

Hence the choice of Brian Eno and Markus Dravs as producers. What have they given to the group and this album?

They managed to us out of our comfort and our habits. Brian and Markus we have both disorganized and recadrés. Above all, they had the good sense to say "stop <" at the right time. Take the song Lost. We had a first version on which we worked for nine months. And, finally, Brian Eno said: "We'll take the first version." What we recorded in twenty-five minutes ... And he was right. Without them we would probably still being fine-tune recording the album in the studio ... And Viva la Vida would probably be released around the year 2071.

The immediate success has had to reassure your own record company, EMI, weakened by the crisis in the music industry ...

I do not know.

 

Last year, you described the shareholders of EMI as "the great evil of this modern world" and suggested that you could leave EMI. Finally, it is not ...

You have never said that. It was our manager ...

 

It's the same thing ...

Yes, but it was a mistake, I admit. We all do. Every ten minutes. The last? My new haircut, I never had to opt for the ball to zero. To return to EMI, be one of the artists of the record of The Beatles is a privilege and an opportunity.

 

If the album works well, he also garnered criticism murdered. You've read the article by The Independent that describes your music as smooth and bland and accusing you of sealing the English pop?

No, but I know the journalist, we murders in each of our albums. Fortunately, nobody is obliged to listen to our music. Many people hate us, we consider overestimated. And this is not totally untrue. We are very strong to lay pipes unstoppable, but individually we are not such good musicians. Yet, an inexplicable alchemy transcends us.

 

Your song has also changed ...

I took singing lessons two years ago. And my teacher told me: "Chris, I am tired with your way of singing, I'm bored, you must evolve." I do not bored, but she was right, I knew that. So I worked ... When you are a popstar, it is always embarrassing to admit that you still have lessons to learn.

 

Your technical anti-big head?

I listen to the albums the Beatles, Radiohead or rapper Jay-Z. And if it does not désenfle, I could always read The Independent. "

[Ahlem]

hahah Mimixx, you did it

 

some words are in French, :lol:

[Mimixxx]

I didn't translate it, I wish my French was that good. :P

 

I know obviously google didn't know what they were. :dozey: Is better than most online translations though, you get the gist of it :D

[Ahlem]

yeah i know you didn't translate it by yourself

hum google is better than the others, fortunately i have it, because sometimes there are words that i don't understand and i need to tragnslate them in french...:D

[Mimixxx]

:D

 

I love your avi by the way :wideeyed: