In your opinion, how far was Coldplay's golden era? At what exact moment did the band change? If it hadn't changed, would it not be as relevant as it is today? And what do you expect from the band?

On 7/1/2025 at 12:42 AM, PizzaBoy said:

In your opinion, how far was Coldplay's golden era? At what exact moment did the band change? If it hadn't changed, would it not be as relevant as it is today? And what do you expect from the band?

Great topic, let´s do this. 

I would point at two different moments:

1. After the Viva la Vida tour, with the band having delivered an album with great songs, huge quality, a single for the masses, but the right amount of experimental touch, and Chris transformed in a different kind of stage leader (closer to Bono or Gahan than to the shy singer of the first two tours) they find themselves in the position in which the next step/album will determine if they rightly become one the top bands in the world. And Mylo Xyloto is not a gap in the way, has some amazing songs (a lot), still has great melodies and inspired moments (a lot), and it´s without question one of my 3 most loved albums of the band, but they make some decisions that take them to a path not available for any indie band:

- Paradise is the first step for things like Higher Power or My Universe, in the sense of getting rid of the guitars and embracing pure and massive/commercial pop. And I love the song, but it´s not what Coldplay was till then.

- They do Princess of China with Rihanna. 

- The first single, ETIAW, becomes a shock for the first albums fans, and the video and first images present them as a now colorful and bright band, miles away of the sobriety of the first era.

- The album´s world presentation took place in Madrid (and I was there), and there they introduce something that, without any doubt, has helped them become one of the best ticket sellers around the world: the wristbands. I can´t say for sure that nobody had used it in a concert before Coldplay, but it was really brand new and it became a beautiful way of putting the audience at the center of the show, and connecting with everyone else, including the band. And, of course, that has remained for 15 years since then. In the ticktock era, it doesn´t matter if they play In my place or not, if they are playing a lot of the new album tracks or they only play most of the hits, what matters is that people (young people) can share short videos of how the stadium looks lightning with 50.000 colours and souls blinking at the same time. That´s why Coldplay concerts are recently the place to be.

 

2. In a long career (and every career over four albums should be considered long) it´s normal and understandable to have a "normal" album. Nobody´s always inspired, always making the best decisions in terms of producers and such, etc. So I understand they have the right to have an album as "A head full of dreams", with Hymn for the weekend, Adventure of a lifetime and, maybe, Up&Up, huge singles, but the rest is pretty mediocre in my opinion. 

What I don´t understand is how they decide to publish something like MOTS, aiming without any reluctance to a world without guitars, and without composing beautiful and/or inspired melodies to balance that lack of guitars. We all love Coloratura, and it´s maybe one of their 20 best songs ever, but the rest is so clearly aimed at filling stadiums and selling tickets for the masses (yes, those that don´t really love music, but sharing videos and lights and joy and sense of unity). And that´s ok, but I feel Coldplay left the music aside.

On 7/2/2025 at 1:34 PM, edupoint said:

Great topic, let´s do this. 

I would point at two different moments:

1. After the Viva la Vida tour, with the band having delivered an album with great songs, huge quality, a single for the masses, but the right amount of experimental touch, and Chris transformed in a different kind of stage leader (closer to Bono or Gahan than to the shy singer of the first two tours) they find themselves in the position in which the next step/album will determine if they rightly become one the top bands in the world. And Mylo Xyloto is not a gap in the way, has some amazing songs (a lot), still has great melodies and inspired moments (a lot), and it´s without question one of my 3 most loved albums of the band, but they make some decisions that take them to a path not available for any indie band:

- Paradise is the first step for things like Higher Power or My Universe, in the sense of getting rid of the guitars and embracing pure and massive/commercial pop. And I love the song, but it´s not what Coldplay was till then.

- They do Princess of China with Rihanna. 

- The first single, ETIAW, becomes a shock for the first albums fans, and the video and first images present them as a now colorful and bright band, miles away of the sobriety of the first era.

- The album´s world presentation took place in Madrid (and I was there), and there they introduce something that, without any doubt, has helped them become one of the best ticket sellers around the world: the wristbands. I can´t say for sure that nobody had used it in a concert before Coldplay, but it was really brand new and it became a beautiful way of putting the audience at the center of the show, and connecting with everyone else, including the band. And, of course, that has remained for 15 years since then. In the ticktock era, it doesn´t matter if they play In my place or not, if they are playing a lot of the new album tracks or they only play most of the hits, what matters is that people (young people) can share short videos of how the stadium looks lightning with 50.000 colours and souls blinking at the same time. That´s why Coldplay concerts are recently the place to be.

 

2. In a long career (and every career over four albums should be considered long) it´s normal and understandable to have a "normal" album. Nobody´s always inspired, always making the best decisions in terms of producers and such, etc. So I understand they have the right to have an album as "A head full of dreams", with Hymn for the weekend, Adventure of a lifetime and, maybe, Up&Up, huge singles, but the rest is pretty mediocre in my opinion. 

What I don´t understand is how they decide to publish something like MOTS, aiming without any reluctance to a world without guitars, and without composing beautiful and/or inspired melodies to balance that lack of guitars. We all love Coloratura, and it´s maybe one of their 20 best songs ever, but the rest is so clearly aimed at filling stadiums and selling tickets for the masses (yes, those that don´t really love music, but sharing videos and lights and joy and sense of unity). And that´s ok, but I feel Coldplay left the music aside.

I totally agree with you, especially on the end part.

MX is one on my favourites album with Viva la Vida and X&Y, but it's simple: I love all songs from Parachute to MX, I really mean ALL songs. Then... it's different.
Ghost Stories is pretty boring to me, I liked AHFOD because of its remind me the "colorful & joyful" aspect of MX, but then... nothing exciting.

And I'm very sad because as a (not that much) old fan, I really need to see Coldplay live but the desire is not here anymore.
My last concert was at Paris in 2022, I was (of course !) on the first row, and it is a great memory thanks to Politik, Fix you, and let somebody go (yes I admit it!) but then nothing else...
I'm upset with this setlist. I miss Lover in japan, Violet Hill, Lost, ETIAW, Strawberry swing, Hurts like heaven, and a lot of others...
Even the "secondaries" songs like "don't let it break your heart" from the 2012 live version (Paris, I was there !), I love listening to it, it was wonderful. Not like my universe, Human heart or Midnight.

I don't go often on this forum, but it seems pretty dead, as my deep love to the "current Coldplay". Don't know if it's linked. Maybe a lot of fans like me are upset with the Music of the Sphere area ? 

Edited September 10, 2025Sep 10 by zone51

I agree with much that has been said in the last two posts, but I think it is an unavoidable part of life that it is very unusual (almost impossible) for you always to like all the eras and all the songs. My approach has been to enjoy what I like and learn to live with the things I don't like (Human Heart, for instance).

We should be grateful that even in the least liked albums for old and hardcore fans, there are some gems to enjoy.

Personally, I think it's difficult to say because there are maybe different definitions for "Golden Era".

I think plenty of people will prefer their older musical styles, and not their latter years move into a more overtly pop sound, in which case the Parachutes/AROBTTH/X&Y era would be considered the golden era.

Many would simply look at success/prominence/relevance in pop culture, in which case I'd say the X&Y-Viva la Vida era would easily be the golden era, as that is when the band were at their biggest and most influential. They were now in the "biggest band in the world" conversation, both albums were the biggest selling in the world during their release years, the band started to sell out stadiums, and I think you can trace the origins of much of what has followed (both musically and in the blueprint for their live performance) back to the VlV album.

But having said that, some could argue that the current era is the golden one. The band are still very popular, with albums topping the charts. Their current tour is breaking records all over the world, is the most attended of all time, has led to reviews and reports hailing them as the best live act in the world and plenty of viral success for the band, drawing in new audiences.

For me, all of the above leaves me inconclusive, and I think just goes to highlight an impressive career in which they have sustained success, and in many ways continued on an upward trajectory - something that only a handful of acts can lay claim to.

13 hours ago, Martin1994 said:

Personally, I think it's difficult to say because there are maybe different definitions for "Golden Era".

I think plenty of people will prefer their older musical styles, and not their latter years move into a more overtly pop sound, in which case the Parachutes/AROBTTH/X&Y era would be considered the golden era.

Many would simply look at success/prominence/relevance in pop culture, in which case I'd say the X&Y-Viva la Vida era would easily be the golden era, as that is when the band were at their biggest and most influential. They were now in the "biggest band in the world" conversation, both albums were the biggest selling in the world during their release years, the band started to sell out stadiums, and I think you can trace the origins of much of what has followed (both musically and in the blueprint for their live performance) back to the VlV album.

But having said that, some could argue that the current era is the golden one. The band are still very popular, with albums topping the charts. Their current tour is breaking records all over the world, is the most attended of all time, has led to reviews and reports hailing them as the best live act in the world and plenty of viral success for the band, drawing in new audiences.

For me, all of the above leaves me inconclusive, and I think just goes to highlight an impressive career in which they have sustained success, and in many ways continued on an upward trajectory - something that only a handful of acts can lay claim to.

Big agree on this. 
As Chris wrote down in the Notebook edition of Moon Music, they aren’t a big flash in the pan band like Oasis or Nirvana and then disappear. They’re on more of a slow burn, and right now I believe they are hitting their ‘boiling point’ of commercial and artistic success, yet to be capped off with an incredibly ambitious musical project and their final self titled album which I assume will be a sum up of all the parts and their testimonial. No other band have been able to do what Coldplay has for so long, only ones like U2 get close. Wannabe bands like One Republic try to stay relevant but fail as they dissolve into trashy pop fodder with David Guetta. I’m glad Coldplay haven’t managed to do this to themselves. So while we all argue about which eras sound better or worse, the truth is that every era has played a part in defining their career to it’s exponential heights. 

I like most Coldplay eras and will listen to songs from different ones depending on my mood. Ghost Stories has a great vibe, as does pre-Parachutes Coldplay. AHFOD and MOTS were low points I think. AHFOD didn't have the vibe of MX, even though I love some of the songs from it, and MOTS just didn't really feel like anything. Coloratura was great, and Humankind could have been really good - but to be honest, MOTS for me is just a very long build-up to Coloratura.

Moon Music is a weird one. It's certainly a much better album than MOTS, but the band hasn't shaken off the nothing burger vibe I got from MOTS. Other than We Pray I like the whole album. But there's still something about it that doesn't feel right. It's a pity, because the leaks have shown that Coldplay are still great and music when they want to be. So when they're sitting on so many great unreleased songs do they choose to release ones that are effectively just filler?

"Golden" Era may be yet to come if we define it as when they guys are still recording music and very old. 😅

I agree most folks would say their early career at consistent quality, classy sounds, and timeless vibes and easily could be considered when the band was at their best. 

For me personally though, the "Golden Era" or "Peak" era of the band was defintely the Eno albums, VLV & MX. VLV is one of their best sounding albums and really pushed their limits on creativity. In terms of sheer "rock and roll," we have incredible guitar solos across both records and explosive moments that instantly impressed in live settings. MX's overall quality and songwriting might be more mixed, but I think it's an interesting companion piece to Viva since it upped the pop appeal signficantly. In many ways, it's the bridge era from their older alt rock sound to their modern pop sound. Without Viva, we likely wouldn't have seen the band continue using amazing string sections. Without MX, we wouldn't see the interesting collaborations and increased use of drum machines and synthesizers.

Lyrically they are also the only albums (save Everyday Life later on) that mostly tried telling stories and use heavy metaphors. Their first three albums are mostly love songs or about personal anxieties. Ghost Stories and AHFOD are also mostly love albums. MOTS and now Moon Music are even more vague, somehow, but are basically "love for humanity" albums. 

Of course, I'm biased because these two records really painted my musical taste when I was a teenager and discovering new music. But when I go back and listen to their discography, I do think these albums are objectivelly more cinematic, exciting and consistent than their most recent work and the staying power of MX in the live shows and VLV in the fan's hearts I think demonstrates this. 

On 9/10/2025 at 1:24 PM, Martin1994 said:

Personally, I think it's difficult to say because there are maybe different definitions for "Golden Era".

I think plenty of people will prefer their older musical styles, and not their latter years move into a more overtly pop sound, in which case the Parachutes/AROBTTH/X&Y era would be considered the golden era.

Many would simply look at success/prominence/relevance in pop culture, in which case I'd say the X&Y-Viva la Vida era would easily be the golden era, as that is when the band were at their biggest and most influential. They were now in the "biggest band in the world" conversation, both albums were the biggest selling in the world during their release years, the band started to sell out stadiums, and I think you can trace the origins of much of what has followed (both musically and in the blueprint for their live performance) back to the VlV album.

But having said that, some could argue that the current era is the golden one. The band are still very popular, with albums topping the charts. Their current tour is breaking records all over the world, is the most attended of all time, has led to reviews and reports hailing them as the best live act in the world and plenty of viral success for the band, drawing in new audiences.

For me, all of the above leaves me inconclusive, and I think just goes to highlight an impressive career in which they have sustained success, and in many ways continued on an upward trajectory - something that only a handful of acts can lay claim to.

Thanks everyone for joining the conversation! When we compare different eras it´s always easy to come to conclusions without context. About this actual tour, two questions:

- How many people buy tickets to listen to We Pray or FLIFIL? How many buy tickets because it´s a great show that everyone talks about and they´ve seen the colorful joy that gets spread?

- Can we compare nowadays attendance, when a concert is much more than musical, but something social? Since COVID (maybe even some years before) that search for connection has grown, and people fill all tours like it´s the end of the world. 

Coldplay have been around us for 25 years, so if you want to compare them to U2, we should look at the Vertigo Tour, where the attendance and tickets selling was huge, with lots of new fans yearning to hear their last two albums big singles, Beautiful Day and Vertigo. Is that comparable to how today´s public wait to listen to My Universe or We Pray? I don´t think so, although I know I´m not objective at all...