August 25, 2009 - submitted by Robert, Germany

 

 

Q. Dearest Oracle,

Jeff asked you, what 'OK' meant and you explained the meaning, which was interesting. But maybe he wanted to know what the two letters O and K meant und what relation they had to the actual meaning...

THX!

Rob

 

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

 

Ah ok (ha ha)... well basically it's just a shortened form of the full word which is okay given that phonetically it is O and K.

August 25, 2009 - submitted by Pauline, France

 

 

Q. Dear Oracle, (sorry for my bad English)

What is the difference between the song Don't Panic and Beautiful World?

Somewhere the song is called Don't Panic but somewhere else it's called Beautiful World!!!

But when you listen at them, they are the same song!!

Very strange ...

Thank you Oracle :)

 

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

 

It's not strange Pauline; it's a mistake. Don't Panic is the name of the track but as it features the lyric "We live in a beautiful world" that's where the confusion has arisen.

FYI: Don't Panic was originally called Panic when first demoed.

August 25, 2009 - submitted by Michelle, United States of America

 

 

Q. Dear Oracle, I turned 40 (August 23) and I feel kind of weird, so what Coldplay song do you suggest I listen to. Also, growing up in the 80's Kate Bush was and still is one of my favourites. Do any of the guys like to listen to her music?

 

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

 

Age is but a number and it's kinda strange how we meet certain milestone birthdays with intrepidation but there's really only one way to look at it; it's the stage you're at in life not the age.

I guess because Speed of Sound was reportedly inspired by Kate Bush (the band listened to her prior to recording X&Y), that's my suggestion. Otherwise listen to your favourite song or the one that would make you smile.

Chris and I share a love of Kate and as you like her, maybe you should check out the Mercury Music Prize nominee

Bat for Lashes.

FYI: Don't Panic was originally called Panic when first demoed.

 

Interesting:)

oh, Oracle. :rolleyes:

Interesting:)

 

yup, you can see it on their set list at :42 for their very first gig:cool:

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBkB_mfl22Y]YouTube - Coldplay - First Gig (16th January 1998)[/ame]

^cool!Thanks!

i asked the runner question

Congrats! Feels good to get one on there, doesn't it? :D

Continuing with the running theme...

 

August 26, 2009 - submitted by John, United States of America

 

 

Q. Why do the guys do runners after concerts?

 

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

 

If the guys have an onward journey to make to catch a flight or whatever, the runner enables them to leave the venue without getting stuck in concert traffic. Given that there are thousands of people all leaving at the same time, the roads can prove to be very busy so they get a head start to avoid congestion.

A new approach to getting your question answered - tell the Oracle you're about to give up!

 

August 26, 2009 - submitted by Michelle, United States of America

 

 

Q. I think this is my last attempt at asking you a question... but all the books about Coldplay that other people have written, can anything they say be trusted?

 

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

 

It's not they can't be trusted it's just that quite a bit of information is taken from research online that isn't always accurate. Biography books of this nature are sometimes referred to as "copy & paste". There isn't an official book out there though so bear in mind you may not be reading 100% truths. For instance one book states the wrong birthday for Chris.

Rest easy Jay-Z fans (both of you :laugh3:)

 

August 26, 2009 - submitted by Helen, United Kingdom

 

 

Q. Ok so I'm attending the Manchester gig on Sept 12th and Jay-Z is meant to be supporting but he has a gig in New York on 11th and the VMA's on 13th!!!

 

So is Jay planning to ditch us Mancunians?

 

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

 

Jay's not ditching the Northerners; all the Coldplay show dates appear on his MySpace, in fact, they're the only ones on there.

Guessing everyone's more interested in the photo blog, but here are todays questions...

 

August 27, 2009 - submitted by Christian, Germany

 

 

Q. What does the band think about the concert in Hannover? There's no comment about it. I was there in the AWD-Arena and enjoyed the evening SO MUCH! So please give us a feedback of the band. Thanks for that wonderful, unforgettable evening to COLDPLAY! :-)

 

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

 

The only feedback you'll get to see of the band's reaction to certain shows are via Roadie #42's blogs. In the most recent 99th blog, he begins with talk of Stockholm but if you scroll to the end Hannover gets a decent mention

August 27, 2009 - submitted by Bill, United Kingdom

 

 

Q. I saw Coldplay at Hannover on Tuesday...really enjoyed the show. I have one question though: how come so little is said to the audience about the origins of their songs/influences/what inspire them to write them etc?

Is it because of the the technical effects and timing of the show? Or because we should know it already?!

 

Thanks Oracle.

(P.S. check out my band: http://www.myspace.com/riversofengland (I often think my friend's voice is a bit like Chris Martin's.

 

Look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks

 

Bill

 

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

 

Neither of those reasons really Bill. The band have rarely commented on what a song is about at a live show. Occasionally in the good old days Chris may have mentioned something but not so much these days on the bigger stage.

August 27, 2009 - submitted by Matilda, Sweden

 

 

Q. Dear Oracle,

Do you think Chris actually saw our Amsterdam-signs in Stockholm? And if so, will you tell him thanks for the wonderful strawberry swing version of the last verse! And also, what would the band think about a fan sending them covers/tributes of their songs to them?

 

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

 

Again, to point you to Roadie #42's blog the impromptu burst of Amsterdam gets a mention.

I hope you understand that we haven't got the facility for fans to send covers of Coldplay songs and there's be no way they could listen to what I would guess to be a vast number of submissions! There's a few on YouTube though...

I would really love to hear 'Amsterdam' live again, but I don't get why everyone is so worked up at the moment about it not being played on the tour...

 

August 28, 2009 - submitted by Mike, United States of America

 

 

Q. Dear Oracle,

In the episode of 60 minutes, Chris says that even if he doesn't feel like playing Yellow, he'll do it anyways because the crowd paid to hear the songs they love. If he feels this way, why does he avoid playing Amsterdam? Is there a reason he is trying to keep it unheard on the tour? Seems like the band are taking the Springsteen approach to the setlist for this song. I hope you can shed some light on this for me.

Sincerely,

Mike

 

The Oracle replies:

 

 

You have to remember that Yellow was the single that launched the band's career around the world and that is why they will always play it. They have tried to perform it differently from tour to tour to keep it interesting for the band and fans alike. Guy once said that some people may only come to a show to hear that song (I'm sure he realizes that's not true in the majority of cases)so they feel they owe it to fans to play it.

Although Amsterdam is a big favourite amongst fans - in fact it's the most requested song via this very page - it was not a single so hasn't got the same meaning. It's not avoidance per se but there are a lot of songs to choose from to form the setlist and it just so happens that for the moment Amsterdam isn't on there

Fab question - is Tamara one of us?

 

August 28, 2009 - submitted by Tamara, United Kingdom

 

 

Q. Dear Oracle,

Who wrote the "Hello Coldplaying!" sign in the live photoblog? :D

 

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

 

Anchorman wrote it in response to an email he received asking folk what they wanted photos of.

August 28, 2009 - submitted by Rahul, India

 

 

Q. Have Coldplay ever forgotten the lyrics to their own song ??

It'd be really embarrassing,right??

 

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

 

Yes! Chris has fluffed lyrics on more than one occasion. He usually swears or makes some comment rather than ignore it but Trouble always seems to give him some trouble

The Oracle is in a chatty mood today...

 

August 28, 2009 - submitted by Emily, United States of America

 

 

Q. Hi Oracle!

On the live feed of a Coldplay concert on coldplay.com it mentions that for dinner the band ate beef bourgignon, Isn't Chris a vegetarian?

Thank you! Love, Emily =)

 

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

 

I KNEW someone would ask this! Anchorman did say he wasn't sure what they were having for dinner behind closed doors so I suspect someone was having Beef Bourgignon (a.k.a Bourguignon) as he'd heard it being mentioned but that doesn't mean Chris was tucking in. I'm trying to remember the last time I saw Chris eat a meaty meal myself... yes I have witnessed it.

And finally today's lesson in love...

 

August 28, 2009 - submitted by Victoria, United States of America

 

 

Q. Me and my boyfriend just broke up. I stopped having feelings for him after school ended and he wants me back. I don't like him at all. Only as a friend. He still loves me and thinks I was cheating on him when I wasn't. Should I set him straight or take him back? Please help. Sorry for the long entry. Confused w/love

 

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

 

If you truly mean you don't have feelings for him other than as a friend, there's no point prolonging his sadness. You have already broken up with him so don't go back unless you truly have the same feelings. Unless you broke up with him because you felt betrayed that he thought you had cheated and are just hurting yourself... in that case, give yourself time to see if the old feelings come back or not, but for now... set him straight.

 

Five answers in one day... is that a record?

^I think it equals a record. I wish the oracle would stop including the love questions every time she anwers.

Wait! There's more...

 

August 28, 2009 - submitted by Carolyn, United States of America

 

 

Q. Dear Oracle, When should a person give up hope that their question submitted to you is going to be answered? I would really appreciate it if you would answer this question because then I'll know whether or not my countless number of previous questions still have a chance. Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

 

Never give up hope. Last week I answered a question that was submitted months ago.

I like to keep everyone on their toes and hopefully one day when you think that's it's an impossibility, there your question will be.

This particular question was the latest one sent in but as I don't keep an eye on who is sending so you may strike it lucky twice...

I think that is a record

^I think it equals a record. I wish the oracle would stop including the love questions every time she anwers.

 

I was happy to see all the coldplay-related questions being answered then I saw the love question and said to myself 'of course...:rolleyes:'

Well a little bit of love amongst the Coldplay stuff is ok... although today's relationship dilemma seemed like a no-brainer to me :shrug: