More questions answered by The Oracle... (over 1900 questions now answered - submit yours now!)
April 5, 2011 - submitted by Sara, United Kingdom
Q. Hello, Oracle! I was on a Coldplay playlist on youtube and came across this and was puzzled. Does this have anything at all to do with Coldplay? Is this them performing it? If not, then would you happen to know what this is? Because it is indeed beautiful!
Best wishes, xxx
The Oracle Replies:
The connection is that the creator of the music - Miami Lights - has featured on our website's Exhibition Room. I would assume that's why they have tagged the video with Coldplay.
April 4, 2011 - submitted by John, United States of America
Q. Why did Coldplay name the Safety E.P. as they did?
The Oracle Replies:
There's an interview with the band's lovely friend John Hilton who took the photo for the Safety E.P cover. He explains that the name came about accidentally from a piece of the camera film...
April 5, 2011 - submitted by Rowan, United Kingdom
Q. **I BEG YOU FOR A REPLY** What do you do with a girlfriend(dating for 2 years) who neither wants your last name when you marry or wants children. I may be thinking ahead, because I'm still young in tertiary school, but a man finds and dates a woman he plans on marrying one day, and it bothers me that she wouldn't want to take my last name, which is something I traditionally believe strongly in. Her reasons for not wanting to take a man's last name is that she likes her last name. She doesn't like her parents but she really likes her last name, and THAT'S her only reason. I asked about hyphenating, and she was strongly opposed to that too. The thing about children is these things usually pass with time, but she really doesn't like children. I always planned on adopting as opposed to having my own due to genetic reasons, so she wouldn't have to bear the children, but she really doesn't like children and really never wants any of her own (or pets... I love animals). I feel like if I stay with her, that we're both wasting our time, because our futures and marriage ideals just seem different, but it'd be hard to break up with a 2 year girlfriend. What should I do??? Thanks very much in advance!
The Oracle Replies:
Slow down cowboy! You don't need to be worrying about such things just yet. Two months, two years, two decades - time doesn't necessarily mean it gets easier or harder to break up with someone Rowan but as you're still at school, a lot of changes are going to happen to you both over the next few years. Personally I don't think there's anything wrong in her wanting to keep her last name, it's not that big a deal in my opinion but if it's a value you hold dear and are not prepared to change, you have to respect someone if they value the opposite. You're both still young so honestly, if you did break up, don't be surprised to find out in ten years time that she's married (with her husband's surname) and has kids! As I said, people change but if you know now that you want children then it's important for you to find someone who shares that just don't expect to find them when you're still at school.
April 4, 2011 - submitted by Arely, United States of America
Q. Hi Oracle! I had one quick question: What does Chris or someone else say at the very end of the new Studiofeed video? It sounds like an odd word....
The Oracle Replies:
Really? Sounds like swearing to me...
April 4, 2011 - submitted by Linea, Denmark
Q. Many people have probably asked this, but why was there no Aprils fools joke on the website? Last year there was the perfume, and the year before that; zero gravity recording.
The Oracle Replies:
Did you not see the hypnofeed video clip? It was decided to share a well known prank from 1957 with you all instead. I'm not old enough to remember it first time round...
March 31, 2011 - submitted by Josef, Brazil
Q. Oracle, we can find hidden tracks on the albums: Viva La Vida (Chinese Sleep Chant), Parachutes (Life Is For Living) and X&Y (Til Kingdom Come). Why A Rush Of Blood To The Head doesn't have a hidden track?
The Oracle Replies:
I personally wouldn't say that Viva la Vida has hidden tracks, they're just not named on the track listing. I say 'they' because The Escapist is the album's uncredited closer. Hidden tracks are totally different in my opinion, in that they appear quite a time before the first or last songs. The reason that Viva had a two for one on some was to keep the album at a rounded number of ten in total. It wasn't an unwritten rule to have hidden tracks on every album. Before anyone asks if the next album will have any - I have no idea!
March 31, 2011 - submitted by Will, United States of America
Q. Dear Oracle- I was just listening to some Coldplay when a question struck me--how many instruments does Chris play? I'm aware he plays guitar and piano in addition to his amazing vocals, but are there any more hidden talents? Thanks from the U.S.A.!
The Oracle Replies:
I've seen him play the drums but obviously not on record. Will is the multi-instrmentalist of the band but they all try their hand at different things in the studio and at their live shows.
March 30, 2011 - submitted by Helene, Norway
Q. Dear Oracle, Is there any place where I can buy the acoustic version of Lovers in Japan? I'd never download anything from a band that I adore as much as Coldplay without actually paying for it first. Thanks in advance! Best wishes from Norway.
The Oracle Replies:
The acoustic version was a bonus track on the pre-ordered Viva album via iTunes, in fact there was only ever a digital version. Unfortunately that also means it was only available for a limited period of time. It popped up on my iPod's shuffle the other day and I myself wondered how I'd come by it.
March 30, 2011 - submitted by Ian, United States of America
Q. I know there must be at least 5 dozen other guys asking for relationship advice from the Oracle, but it would be greatly appreciated. My girlfriend intends to go with a bunch of friends on a cross country trip to California at the end of senior year. I love her to tears and would never think of leaving her. But I don't think I can just uproot myself from Pennsylvania to go with her. I don't know if I should go with her, break it off just before she leaves, or break up now so I don't have to see her go. Anyway I look at it my heart gets broken.
The Oracle Replies:
Ian you are a walking contradiction. How can you say "I would never think of leaving her" and two seconds later ask if you should break up with her now or before she leaves? It's time to get harsh... C'mon man, pull yourself together; she's going on a trip, not emigrating! You don't actually mention if she has asked you to go along with her and her friends either so this is what I think... If you don't want to go, don't go but let her go with as much strength as you can muster. I suggest you encourage her and support her. She's going anyway regardless and the last thing she'll want or need is to feel pressure from you. Yes it will be sad saying goodbye for a while and your heart may be heavy, but it won't break. Surely you want her to be happy and feel she deserves it after studying hard? Part of being in a relationship is compromise. You may be part of a couple but you are both individuals so let her be herself. If you are prepared to end the relationship just before you goes, I'd say you need to take a long hard look at yourself. Why would you want to put her through pain just before a trip of a lifetime? If you love her, wait for her otherwise tell your ego to calm down dude or you'll lose her anyway.
March 29, 2011 - submitted by Big Silly aka Mike, United States of America
Q. So what's all the hullabaloo about with the boys pushing back the album release date? Is someone trying to calumniate against Coldplay or was there never a release date to begin with? Splish splash ahoy hoy and thanks
The Oracle Replies:
Once again it's all been based on hearsay Mike. The release date is and always has been tentatively planned for when it is actually is going to be. It hasn't been pushed back at all so it's quite baffling why these rumours start.
March 29, 2011 - submitted by Evelien, Belgium
Q. Dearest Oracle, I heard that Mercury is going to stop releasing physical copies of singles. As a Coldplay collector, I must ask: will there come a day that I'll have to find a new hobby?
The Oracle Replies:
Maybe your hobby will be even more interesting given you may well be having to hunt down singles in the future? It's so sad to see the decision to stop manufacturing physical CD/vinyl singles but I guess Mercury did their homework and decided it wasn't cost effective to produce them. I'm of an age where I still do buy CDs - not always - and still love looking at artwork and reading sleevenotes etc. I own some vinyl from years gone by but alas do not own a record player.
It's a sign of the times but one that I must slightly back-up... supply and demand is the biggest part of a commercial market; if there was a demand for physical singles, they'd survive. Let's start a "Buy singles" campaign!
March 28, 2011 - submitted by Estelle, France
Q. Hi Oracle! I have a question: why do the Coldplay's albums contain just 10-11 songs? Though the group record a lot of pieces during the recording... It's a great pity! Thanks for your answer! I can't wait for the 5th album!!!
The Oracle Replies:
10 tracks per album is the average number for all acts though Estelle. Just because a band records more doesn't mean they should be included. In my honest opinion there are artists who think that ten random songs make an album but I feel that an album is so much more than that. To me it's a body of work that is similar to a novel in that it has a beginning, a middle and an end. It's sad to say that in a few years b-sides may not be necessary but at the moment those surplus songs can be used as the extra tracks released with singles.
March 28, 2011 - submitted by Kate, Poland
Q. Hi, Oracle, maybe you've already answered this, but I wanted to ask about the Viva la Vida video, the one where Chris is dressed like a king, wandering around with the painting under his arm. Was the video inspired by the Enjoy The Silence video by Depeche Mode? If it was, are the guys DM's fans? AND since you are all-knowing, do you have any idea why this new Oracle page isn't working on my screen? When I try to 'roll it down' only one half of the page goes down. I've tried everthing and it's still not working. Thanks in advance. xxx K.
The Oracle Replies:
Indeed, I have already answered this and the answers are yes and yes. Make sure you're scrolling both arrows; the one on the far right for the website page and the Oracle one within the page. If it still doesn't work I suggest trying an alternative Internet browser e.g. Firefox or Safari...
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