January 4, 2013 - submitted by Kidder, United States of America

 

Q. What kind of sticks does Will use, and how has he been taping them on the MX tour?

 

Thanks!

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

Will uses Pro Mark 5b American Hickory wood tips and gets through 4 or 5 per show but I have no idea how they're taped - sorry!

January 4, 2013 - submitted by Teresa, Germany

 

Q. Dear Oracle!

Can you say me who drew the lovely Christmas greetings?

Thank You!

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

Chris drew it.

January 4, 2013 - submitted by Will, United Kingdom

 

Q. Would any members of Coldplay ever consider of going any shows such as Big Brother or going round the Top Gear Track?

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

I could definitely see one of the guys putting their foot down taking on the Top Gear lap challenge - I think they'd all fair well. As for Big Brother et al. that would NEVER happen. They may watch the odd reality show but they wouldn't want to be in one. Yes, they're known but they don't consider themselves celebrities. Though some of the celebrities who take part aren't celebrities either... Ouch!

January 4, 2013 - submitted by The Oracle, United Kingdom

 

Q. WHO'D LIKE TO JOIN TEAM ORACLE?

Welcome to the first Team Oracle question of 2013.

As you (hopefully) know, we have a weekly feature, Team Oracle, whereby each Friday (with the question asker's permission) we open up a question to all of you to answer too. Then, the following Friday, I'll post a selection of the best answers, alongside my own reply.

ANYONE can join in so, if you'd like to, please email your response to the following question, in no more than 250 words, to [email protected] before midnight Thursday 10th January.

 

I have recently split up with my boyfriend. I thought he loved me and I think/thought I loved him too. We had made so many plans together for our lives and we said that we would always be there for each other, no matter what would happen to us. That meant a lot to me and I will never forget it. It made a mark in to my heart. I am still in that place every time I think about him. But I am now like nothing to him. I do not know what happened, or really why or when and where. All I know is that one day, all of a sudden, he decided that he didn't love me anymore. I was shocked.

 

He has also stopped all contact with me so I didn't even get the chance to talk to him about what happened. I am air to him.

This, was all so all of a sudden for me, and I am still in that place when he love me. And I him.

How will I get my heart unbroken and my spirit and soul back together again?

I am an 21 year old artist/model and he is a 24 year old musician. Love, Helena, Sweden.

 

Look forward to seeing your replies.

The Oracle

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

Please email your replies to [email protected]

January 4, 2013 - submitted by Will, United Kingdom[/color][/b]

 

Q. Would any members of Coldplay ever consider of going any shows such as Big Brother or going round the Top Gear Track?

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

I could definitely see one of the guys putting their foot down taking on the Top Gear lap challenge - I think they'd all fair well. As for Big Brother et al. that would NEVER happen. They may watch the odd reality show but they wouldn't want to be in one. Yes, they're known but they don't consider themselves celebrities. Though some of the celebrities who take part aren't celebrities either... Ouch!

 

 

 

She thinks she could see one of the guy's "putting their foot down" for Top Gear...:lol: Has she seen Chris drive a golf cart:D I could see Will being very good at this, and Guy coming in second:lol: I would LOVE to see this one day!!!

I would LOVE to see this one day!!!

 

+1!

I could definitely see one of the guys putting their foot down taking on the Top Gear lap challenge - I think they'd all fair well.

On first read, I thought she said, "I think they'd all fail."

Ha.

January 7, 2013 - submitted by Saakshi, India

 

Q. Dear Oracle,

Who is the guy in this picture between Lady Gaga and Guy? Also, are any of the Coldplay band members likely to join twitter?

 

Thanks,

Saakshi

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

The guy is another Guy - Guy Garvey from the band Elbow.

I doubt very much the band members will ever tweet via a personal account.

January 7, 2013 - submitted by Sophie, Australia

 

Q. Hello Oracle,

Sorry but in the Every Teardrop is a Waterfall I keep on hearing 'I'd rather be a comma than a fullstop' am I going crazy or does it actually say that?

If i'm not going crazy why? WHY SO RANDOM?

Thanks in Advance,

Sophie

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

It's one of my favourite lyrics on the whole album and the second I heard it, it jumped out at me and I agreed and decided I too would rather be a comma than a full stop.

It's a metaphor and to me is anything but random - fits perfectly. Who'd want to stop when you can pause?

January 7, 2013 - submitted by Nat, Brazil

 

Q. Hello Oracle!

 

Can you tell me what are they doing with all those wristbrands? Are they volunteers?

 

Nat - Brazil

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

The Xylobands arrive in boxes with little plastic tabs that they need pulling out of position before the audience arrives so that's what they're doing - removing the tab that activates them.

They're not Oxfam volunteers but the photo was taken by someone who works for Oxfam who was on the MX tour.

January 7, 2013 - submitted by Saakshi, India[/color][/b]

 

Q. Dear Oracle,

Who is the guy in this picture between Lady Gaga and Guy? Also, are any of the Coldplay band members likely to join twitter?

 

Thanks,

Saakshi

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

The guy is another Guy - Guy Garvey from the band Elbow.

I doubt very much the band members will ever tweet via a personal account.

For once, Will isn't the one in a pic with the death stare.

January 8, 2013 - submitted by Tahra, United States of America

 

Q. Oracle,

 

I was reading past answers and I saw that Chris has a mix of ginger, lemon, and hot water that he has during concerts. I'm also a singer and I know that lemon irritates the throat since it's acidic. Does Chris know about this? Or does he have the lemon for a specific reason?

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

Acidic doesn't have to mean irritant or that it's not good; he wouldn't drink it if it didn't work for him. It also works for me. I also find lemon juice is great for clearing my throat. The combination of honey, water & ginger are perfect to soothe and cleanse. If it doesn't work for you though, obviously steer clear. Whatever works.

January 8, 2013 - submitted by Sam, United States of America

 

Q. Hi, Oracle!

I was wondering... who does the hand on the cover of The Blue Room belong to?

This is silly, but I've been wondering it every time I listen to one of the songs on that EP.

Thank you!

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

It's not silly but we don't know - it's sourced from National Geographic and we had nothing to do with taking it.

 

I answered this question back on November 12, 2010 (wow, where does time go?) so you can read more about the sleeve here.

January 8, 2013 - submitted by Elizabeth, United States of America

 

Q. Hey Oracle!

Hope you're having a great new year, my question for you is, what city was the music video for Christmas Lights shot in? Please let me know!

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

The

was shot entirely on location in London.

I answered this question back on November 12, 2010 (wow, where does time go?) so you can read more about the sleeve here.

 

And we're still waiting for Art history #4.

I was reading past answers and I saw that Chris has a mix of ginger

 

 

when i first read that, i thought this was going to be a question about Chris's hair :P

^hahaha :lol:

And we're still waiting for Art history #4.

Long ago, I resigned to the likelihood that this project was (unfortunately) abandoned. Oh well.

January 9, 2013 - submitted by Nick, United Kingdom

 

Q. I'm not a big comic book fan, but I LOVE Coldplay. Would I like their comics?

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

It depends on whether you like the concept behind the Mylo Xyloto album and are interested in discovering more about characters and themes. The band don't feature though so bear that in mind.

You can probably tell from the artwork and HLH video what the visual for the comic is like so maybe gauge your reaction to that as to whether the comic will be something of interest.

January 9, 2013 - submitted by Louise, Australia

 

Q. Hi Oracle!

How do you become a volunteer for Coldplay? For eg. The people that hand out wristbands and what not.

Just wanted to know out of curiosity :)

thanks!

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

As far as I am aware, "we" don't have volunteers per se. There are obviously people who volunteer at the venues to activate and hand out Xylobands (as mentioned previously), but we don't source the volunteers. If you wanted to volunteer at the venue (whether for Xyloband duties or Oxfam*), you only get to see part of the show as there's a job to do so if you're thinking of doing it to see a free show or meet the band, it's probably best you know now that it's not part of the deal.

*You can find out more about becoming an Oxfam volunteer from the charity directly but there's nothing currently planned with us.

December 20, 2012 - submitted by Juicy, France[/color][/b]

 

Q. Do I smell good?

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

With a name like Juicy, hell yes!

 

:laugh3: I need to read the Oracle more often

January 10, 2013 - submitted by Charlie, United Kingdom

 

Q. Do you think that there's the possibility in the future that Coldplay might release a CD compilation of their unreleased studio tracks and demos? Or are these got rid of at the end of each recording session?

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

An unreleased studio track would be discarded because it either doesn't "fit" with the album as it takes shape or it's not good enough. If it's the former, there's no reason it wouldn't resurface at a later date. This is one reason it's sad to see the demise of the b-side as many of the great songs appeared that way.

If it's the latter, they wouldn't be released on any format for any reason.

 

If an artist wants you to hear something, you will hear it - whether live (as is the case with Spanish Rain for example), at an event (Wedding Bells at the Apple convention) or on a further release (the Prospekt E.P).

 

The thing with demos is, they're exactly that - a demonstration. They are a way to lay down ideas without committing to a full production. If it's decided the idea is worth developing, they can work on that to produce a better version.

They're not got rid of as there may be a hook or a riff that they could come back to a later date.

Generally it's likely an artist doesn't want a demo to be heard. There are exceptions of course. If it's a song in its entirety that was eventually released, and of a great standard, it could easily appear.

The Safety E.P is a good example.

That hadn't been the original idea. The band's recording session for their first E.P didn't quite go to plan. Due to time constraints they needed to release something. Their then A&R man decided they should go with 2 of the 3 tracks that featured on their self-financed Safety E.P. as well as new tracks.

The exact recordings from that Safety session were released on the Blue Room E.P.

 

While we're talking about demos that are officially released, one of my favourites ever is Amy Winehouse's

.

January 10, 2013 - submitted by Sanya, India

 

Q. Hello Oracle!

I was watching some videos of Coldplay and came across

funny one.

Does Chris write all his songs like this?

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

Not exclusively, no. That was more in response to how to write a song but I guess it always starts with an idea. Sometimes lyrics just appear and seem to flow out. Sometimes the essence of the idea grows from inspiration and trying different things out.

You may notice that sometimes Chris comes up with an idea for a lyric in one song, only for it to end up in a completely different song. The line "poison in my blood" for example appears in both Wedding Bells & Christmas Lights which weren't written all that far apart.

That's why lyrics can contain repeated themes - as is quite common with Chris' songwriting: world turning upside down, keeping feet on the ground, the sun, webs...

The Safety E.P is a good example.

That hadn't been the original idea. The band's recording session for their first E.P didn't quite go to plan. Due to time constraints they needed to release something. Their then A&R man decided they should go with 2 of the 3 tracks that featured on their self-financed Safety E.P. as well as new tracks.

The exact recordings from that Safety session were released on the Blue Room E.P.

waaaaaaaaaaat :wideeyed: Ohmygod I didn't know that :awesome:

Ohmygod I had the Blue Room for Xmas so that means I kinda have a piece of the Safety EP with me :awesome:

Ohmygod :awesome:

 

 

Interesting answers btw!

January 11, 2013 - submitted by The Oracle, United Kingdom

 

Q. WHO'D LIKE TO JOIN TEAM ORACLE?

When I answer questions of a personal nature, Coldplay.com readers often get in touch with their own thoughts. So, we have a weekly feature, Team Oracle, whereby each Friday (with the question asker's permission) we open up a question to all of you to answer too. Then, the following Friday, I'll post a selection of the best answers, alongside my own reply.

ANYONE can join in so, if you'd like to, please email your response to the following question, in no more than 250 words, to [email protected] before midnight Thursday 17th January.

 

I'm finding the dating scene difficult. I joined an online dating site and have been on a few dates and I don't know what the etiquette is. If I don't like a guy, I don't know how to leave it when saying goodbye. That said, when I DO like a guy I don't know what to say either in case they don't feel the same! I met someone and we had a brilliant time but I haven't heard from him at all since. I sent one text and he didn't reply. I think that's rude but then... maybe he is also not knowing how to politely say he doesn't want to see me again. Help?!

Dani, London.

 

Look forward to seeing your replies.

The Oracle

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

Please email your replies to [email protected]