UPDATED! Despite the official release being brought forward to the early hours of Sunday (most likely as a result of the leak), it wasn't difficult to find a low-fi version of the video via a Google news search, the source being a Chinese website who leaked the video during Saturday 2nd June. The following websites have all reviewed the video based on the dodgy copy, before it was officially released. We'll see if we can find some reviews subsequent to the video's official release, but if you have seen it let us know at the PoC sub-forum now what you thought of it and don't forget to vote in the usual way on our latest 0-10 sliding scale poll!
Soul Culture writes: And the wait is over! Since hearing the song back in October we’ve had promo pics and tour editions of the video, and after waiting what seems like a lifetime, Coldplay have finally delivered the full video for their collaboration with Rihanna, “Princess of China.” Taking the China theme and running with it, we see full Geisha attire as well as martial arts battles between Rihanna and Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin.
The epic video sees Martin storming up to a building, seemingly on a mission to find Rihanna, battling people on the way. Rihanna’s there waiting upon his arrival, giving her Geisha attire an S&M twist with PVC thigh high boots. The video shows the pair flying through the air with swords and fighting in the desert, as well as getting up close and personal...
MTV writes: Coldplay and Rihanna have been teasing their "Princess of China" video for a while now. On Saturday (June 2), the clip leaked ahead of its scheduled Monday release date. The trippy video is full of surreal images that play on the song's references to Asia, with Chris Martin and Rihanna donning all sorts of ninja and ninja-goddess couture. A desert, the sky and some ancient-looking Chinese palaces all serve as backgrounds. Martin and Rih Rih also do some sword-wielding and ninja kicks, for good measure.
In more emotional parts of the clip, Rihanna and Martin, playing star-crossed lovers, kneel in the desert, forehead to forehead, as they mourn the loss of their love. But the moving image soon turns violent as they float through the air and partake in a ninja battle. Much like the characters in the song, the onscreen characters are torn up about their dying love. And while the love story is at the center of the clip, Rihanna's look is also a standout as she appears in several forms: multi-armed goddess, heartbroken geisha and fierce warrior princess.
The official June 4 release date had been pushed back from May before leaking to the Net on Saturday, the same day Rihanna dropped some behind-the-scenes photos on Facebook. In the images, her hair is done up in a geisha bun and she wears long, fringe earrings. They're similar to shots she released back in March from the video shoot. "Her bit on our record is my favorite bit," the Coldplay frontman told MTV News last fall about Rihanna's feature on Mylo Xyloto. "When the song came out, it sort of asked for her to be on it. And I think at this point, we have nothing to lose, and so we've been trying some new things and trying to break down the perceived boundaries between different types of music."
Popcrush writes: Though the video wasn’t scheduled for release until this Monday (June 4), the video for Coldplay and Rihanna‘s collaboration, ‘Princess of China,’ hit the Web today (June 2). The clip is designed to look like a classic Asian martial arts film and features all the elements of one: a trip through the desert, a forbidden romance, sword fighting and gravity-defying combat. We get to see the full spectrum of Rihanna’s bizarrely beautiful costumes that were first got a glimpse of in the video’s stills, behind-the-scenes footage and tour promo clip for the song. From her heavily sculpted hairstyles to her talon-like nails (and multiple moving arms), it’s a truly stunning visual, whether RiRi is lounging on a silk chaise in PVC pants or sailing through the sky in flowing white robes and sandals.
Though the plot is a bit tricky to follow, the gist of it is this: Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and Rihanna love one another … and also try to kill one another (this seems to be a common theme for the Bajan beauty, though this is far more artistic and romantic than anything she’s done with ex Chris Brown). There’s ninjas, a moonlit sword battle, deserts and dancers in between. Grab some chopsticks and tune in!
Direct Lyrics writes: At last! Was the long wait worth it? Click 'play' and find out now! Coldplay have finally world premiered the music video for their new single, the Rihanna-assisted "Princess of China", a track lifted from the band's "Mylo Xyloto" album - Filmed back in April in Los Angeles, the Adria Petty & Alan Bibby co-directed visual pays tribute to old kung-fu movies. You'll see RiRi as a samurai ninja, who meets Chris Martin at her sanctuary to fight in sword-wielding flying scenes and have an intimate moment in the desert. Enjoy!
Stupid Dope writes:Rihanna and Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin, heat up the screen in the new video for their hit single, “Princess of China”. The video has a China cultured theme of course, and features Rihanna playing a hot, geisha chick! If you haven’t seen it yet, what are you waiting for? Check it out! And if you have seen it already, do you really need an excuse to watch it again? The sexy and edgy singer, Rihanna, has been on a steady rise since her music debut in 2005. She’s been turning heads and blowing minds with both her musical talents and her mesmerizing beauty for the past few years. And with all the hype that’s surrounding her and the success that she’s so well earned, it was only right, and natural, for British band, Cold Play to feature her on their album.
The official Princess Of China photos ahead of Monday's release (via Coldplay.com):
Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:
FEBRUARY 2012
8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]
9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]
10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]
12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]
16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]
17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]
21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]
MARCH 2012
2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]
4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]
APRIL 2012
17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]
18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]
20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]
21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]
24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]
25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]
27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]
28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]
MAY 2012
1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]
2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]
3 Los Angeles, CA @ American Idol show [discussion] [NEW!]
4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]
5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]
18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]
20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]
22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]
24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]
26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]
29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]
JUNE 2012
1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]
2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]
4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]
7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]
9 London, UK @ Wembley Stadium (Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012) [discussion] [NEW!]
9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]
10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]
22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]
23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]
25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]
26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]
28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]
29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]
JULY 2012
2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]
3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]
5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]
6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]
8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]
9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]
23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]
24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]
26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]
27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]
29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]
30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]
AUGUST 2012
1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]
3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]
4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]
7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]
8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]
11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]
28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]
30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]
SEPTEMBER 2012
2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]
4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]
6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]
9 London, UK @ Paralympics Closing Ceremony [discussion]
12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]
14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]
16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]
19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]
22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]
NOVEMBER 2012
10 Auckland, New Zealand @ Mt Smart Stadium [discussion]
13 Melbourne, Australia @ Etihad Stadium [discussion]
17 Sydney, Australia @ Allianz Stadium [discussion]
18 Sydney, Australia @ Allianz Stadium [discussion] [NEW!]
21 Brisbane, Australia @ Suncorp Stadium [discussion]
Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)
Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)
Read also: 2012: Live Appearances - Easy Thread Finder (last updated - 12th January 2012)
Read also: 2012 tour date rumours (please post dates for ALL countries in here)
Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]
The new range of Coldplaying merchanise (unofficial of course to the official shop) has hit our stores, with our biggest range of goods so far. Prices are as low as they can be for a Cafepress shop so more people will be able to afford them. We don't take any profits for the sale of the merchandise as a result. Take a browse in one of the online stores nearest to you: UK | US | Canada | Australia | European (shipping is worldwide, but you can choose what currency to pay in) - simply alter the country dropdown menu at the top of the shop page. [thanks to TracieMorgan and zzz]
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