I don't know who bribed you but we're very grateful'

 

THE unusually titled Mylo Xyloto – the fifth album from music giants Coldplay – was the sound of a band with a new confidence.

 

And it's rightfully Something For The Weekend's number one album of 2011.

 

"We're SFTW album of the year — that's f****** incredible. Come on!" shouts Chris Martin down the phone, en route to a show in Paris. "I don't know who bribed you and I can't believe we beat Adele. But it's definitely not because of our album title because no one can still pronounce it!" he laughs.

 

(For the record, it is pronounced My-low Zy-letoe).

 

Anyone who saw Coldplay on tour this year, whether headlining Glastonbury in June or on The X Factor last week, knows the band are at their peak live. "I think the success of this album comes from a group of friends who are very tight at the moment," explains Chris. "The moment we had to play Glastonbury it was a boot up the backside because that's the closest we get to a home crowd. We worked extra hard knowing we had to headline it.

 

"If you're lucky enough to play arenas, sometimes you relax too much. But with Glastonbury it's playing to people who you haven't played to before so there's new energy which seeps into your own show. We love it there and we always will. It has been a fantastic year for us with Mylo."

 

SFTW joined the band in Cape Town in October to witness the power of Mylo Xyloto's songs live. The chimes of Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall, to the singalong anthem Paradise and new single Charlie Brown saw the 50,000 crowd at Cape Town Stadium go wild. It was Coldplay's most pop album to date, influenced by the music the band — Chris, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion — all listen to. "We took off all our shackles and constraints," Chris, 34, tells us. "It's not great we wind people up. Maybe it's our Englishness that meant it took us a while to be comfortable with that. We had to think, we're not playing for people who don't like us — we're playing for the people who like us. Our main producers, Brian Eno and Markus Dravs, are strong-minded, hardcore individuals and they're on our side. They said it had to be a passionate album and reflect what we listen to. It didn't have to fit the indie or pop box. It just had to be true. So Mylo reflects that we do listen to a lot of Rihanna, Lady GaGa and Jay-Z as much as we listen to Arcade Fire and Nick Drake."

 

With Chris and his film star wife Gwyneth Paltrow being close to Jay-Z and Beyonce, did this influence Coldplay's new sound? "I've always listened to pop," he replies. "And I've been hanging out with Jay-Z for a lot more albums than this one. Mylo gave us a sense of freedom because on our last album we got sued and had so many crazy things thrown at us. It spoilt things for us a bit. Every album is a challenge. We're only making music but we know it irritates a lot of people, who really hate what we do. This was the first time we just accepted it. It galvanised us and gave us a sense of 'Well, f*** it'. Now we don't care what anyone thinks.'"

 

Last week the band did a special Radio 2 gig to just 500 people at Dingwalls, the London venue they performed at in 1998 as an unsigned student band. More than 60,000 fans applied for tickets for the special one-off show, presented by DJ Jo Whiley. Chris says: "I'm glad the crowd enjoyed it as, to be honest, we were f****** awful. We played there 13 years ago and as I stepped on stage my brain regressed to that day. I remembered we were s*** the first time as well. We are a very tall band and that venue is designed for bands of lesser height. But it did bring back memories. Though we don't want to go back to 1998 because it was all bad clothes and dentistry."

 

Playing Sunday's X Factor final at Wembley was a more enjoyable experience, although the band have been unsure about appearing on the show in the past. Chris says: "We were watching The X Factor a lot and thought, 'We'd love to do it', so we finally said yes. We were very nervous because it's such an unknown territory. But it was one of the most fun TV shows we've ever done. Though we could only do it once all of us agreed."

 

Chris is looking forward to spending Christmas with his family, especially children daughter Apple, seven, and son Moses, five. He won't be seeing the rest of the band in their break. He says: "We're best friends who never hang out with each other except for ten hours a day when working."

 

So what do you buy each other at Christmas? Chris replies: "I'm the worst at buying presents. I simply don't know what kind of Lego they want."

 

One highlight the band must be looking forward to is performing Princess Of China with Rihanna at next year's Brits. However Chris jokes: "It's been discussed but no one has said 'yes' or 'no' yet as we need to look at diaries etc. Tell you what, if you think we should do it, then we'll try and do it?"

 

He adds: "I think it's getting older and wanting to soak it all up while it's happening rather than thinking ahead. The only thing I am sure of is I won't be swearing as much next year. My swearing has been terrible recently. I'm sorry to everyone. But we're all very happy. It's been a great year for Coldplay and we just hope it continues. "And being your number one album is a plus. We are very grateful.":dozey:

 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/sftw/4002929/I-dont-know-who-bribed-you-but-were-very-grateful.html

"I remembered we were s*** the first time as well. We are a very tall band and that venue is designed for bands of lesser height. But it did bring back memories. Though we don't want to go back to 1998 because it was all bad clothes and dentistry."

 

"I'm the worst at buying presents. I simply don't know what kind of Lego they want."

 

:lol::lol: Chris is so funny

Aww, can Chris get any cuter? I don't think it's possible, otherwise the world might spontaneously combust! :laugh3:

 

I wish someone would knock a bit of sense into him though: when will he realise that they get these awards and hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of fans and all this love because they are so incredibly talented? I know, being British myself, that we're not particularly great at 'blowing our own trumpets', but Chris seriously takes it to the extreme! He needs to get a bit more self-confidence, and not the sort that he gets for about one interview and then loses it again!!!

 

Love the bits about Lego and swearing though - I know I shouldn't find it a good thing, but it seems OK when Chris does it because I think it's just because he's so passionate! :P

Aww, can Chris get any cuter? I don't think it's possible, otherwise the world might spontaneously combust! :laugh3:

 

Love the bits about Lego and swearing though - I know I shouldn't find it a good thing, but it seems OK when Chris does it because I think it's just because he's so passionate! :P

 

You know whenever we think he can't get any cuter he does ! :heart:

 

And yes I agree, when it's Chris it's OK, it's like when they fucked up UATW at Glastonburry: in a way it makes them more human :lol:

^ In a way I sort of hope he doesn't otherwise I will never be able to be in a relationship because I will expect the person to be as perfect as Chris!

 

(Although, what am I talking about, Chris (and Guy!) have already 'ruined' men for me :laugh3:)

swearing chris <3

OH CHRIS!

YOU RUINED BOYS FOR ME! SJKHFBSLT

I HAVE SUCH HIGH EXPECTATIONS COZ OF YOU YOU ADORABLE, FUNNY MAN! :D

i actually find it hilarious when Chris swears. :D jbghbb

swearing chris <3

 

:awesome: