Does Coldplay actually play their songs live?

[Sleep]

Haha! Of course they do you fool!

 

But I'm kinda curious about some of the songs they play.

 

 

I'm not good with describing music. But watch the following video, Chris is playing chords on his guitar and Jonny is... strumming really fast (not playing the main part)

So who is playing the main part of the song? By main part I mean the part that starts at :07. Does Coldplay just have that part play in the background while they play "to" it?

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G6jGopRMCk]YouTube - Coldplay - Life In Technicolor ii - MTV World Stage @ Saitama, Japan (HQ live) [Coldplayvideo][/ame]

 

 

Also, Viva La Vida.

I mean, the beginning sounds exactly like the album version. If you look, Jonny is playing the keyboard but its so perfect and sounds EXACTLY like the album version. Also, Jonny switches to his guitar during the middle of the song, yet the main part to Viva la Vida is still playing.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WamkRq3veKA&feature=related]YouTube - Coldplay - Viva la Vida in Japan (Amazing live performance) [Coldplayvideo][/ame]

Also, I know sometimes (like during chorus's) the album vocals are played and Chris sings along with them... So I guess its reasonable to think that some of the melodies are played back too?

 

 

 

 

I'm not bashing Coldplay. I love Coldplay. I am probably one of the biggest fans on this forum. What? No. Seriously.. I am (:

And I'm not saying this is a bad thing. So what if they don't play some parts of the songs? Do you really think Jonny is gonna sit there through the whole song and play the same keyboard part non-stop? RIDICOULOUS :D

[Mimixxx]

The Oracle knows all:

 

March 23, 2009 - submitted by Rudolf, Slovakia

 

Q. Hi dear Oracle,

I always believed and I still do, that guys are playing everything live...but from current tour I have seen many performances and I really liked it! :o) BUT, in songs like Viva la vida or Lovers in Japan there are some parts (strings in VLV or the sound I cannot describe in LIJ) - and those parts sound always the same, as if they were pre-prepared and recorded (and of course I can't see who should be playing those parts), do you know what I mean?

I can't wait for your answer...

 

R

 

The Oracle replies:

 

I do know what you mean. The guys are playing their parts live and as you can probably work out, they aren't able to play every single sound we hear on the album as there's rather a lot going on. It's usual to have pre-recorded parts in these circumstances. There have been occasions where live music was played off stage. For example, Matt McGinn used to play Chris' guitar part in Yellow during one tour, as Chris decided he wanted to run around the stage more.

 

http://coldplay.com/oracledetail.php?id=599&page=0

[Sleep]

Ah, well there we go.

[coldplay101]

ahhh thanks

[icequeenn]

Does anyone know if the piano part of Lovers in Japan is played live on stage by Chris? I see him playing the keyboard but sometimes it doesn't sound live.

[coldplay_is_louve.]

^^well, they use a backing track. so you might hear that. but he does actually play when he's got his hands on the keyboard. :D