The Europe Music Awards are set to take place on 6th November 2008 in Liverpool, UK and nominee voting is now open at www.mtvema.com.

Voting is open to the public – fans can vote for their favourite artist to become one of the Top 5 nominees! Don’t delay – help Coldplay get nominated for an award! Here are their nominations:

Rock Out | Best Act Ever | Headliner | Album Of The Year (Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends)

The 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards will take place at the Echo Arena, Liverpool. Europe's biggest music awards show is set to explode with phenomenal live performances, astronomical presenters, and winners that are chosen by the people who really matter...YOU.

Sources: EMI close to deal with MySpace Music

The EMI Group is close to joining the three other large recording companies in backing the upcoming MySpace Music service, according to two sources close to the negotiations.

The obvious upside of an agreement with EMI is that it gives MySpace Music access to EMI artists, such as Coldplay, Ben Harper, and Joss Stone. More importantly the site's image would get a boost if their library doesn't appear incomplete.

EMI and MySpace representatives were "trying to jump some final hurdles," according to one of the sources adding that the companies could finalize a deal in time for the launch of MySpace's new iTunes competitor.

An EMI spokeswoman said only that the "companies were in talks." A MySpace spokeswoman said the company doesn't comment on rumors.

The start-up, expected to launch later this week, was formed by MySpace parent company News Corp. and the largest music labels: Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony BMG. At launch, the MySpace Music store is expected to offer free streaming music and sell MP3s without copy-protection software, as well as ringtones and merchandise, such as concert tickets.

MySpace Music will now be able to offer everything it's competitors can.

Only The Oracle (like Smarties) has the answer…

September 16, 2008 - submitted by Rae, United States of America

Q. Was Chris inspired by a hymn when he wrote "A Message?" I heard a hymn with the same lyrics (my song is love unknown... love to the loveless shown).

The Oracle replies:

Indeed he was Rae. The hymn is in fact called My Song Is Love Unknown.

September 16, 2008 - submitted by Guido, Argentina

Q. Have you watched "Amelie"? I love the soundtrack. Don't you think "La valse d'Amelie" is incredibly beautiful?

The Oracle replies:

Ah Amelie is in the Oracle's Top 5 list of best films ever and I frequently pop Yann Tiersen's soundtrack on the stereo - sublime. I also went to a preview screening of the film with Phil Harvey, Chris and Jonny. Chris fell asleep. How he could with Audrey Tatou onscreen is still a mystery to me.

September 16, 2008 - submitted by Luisa, United States of America

Q. Why does my cell phone insist on beeping very loudly after I miss a call?

The Oracle replies:

It's not a Samsung D600 by any chance is it? I swear mine does it too and Orange hasn't a clue how to stop it. The Oracle is stumped.

Coldplay’s Guy Berryman has teamed up with A-ha and Mew for TV’s ‘Amazon’. new band Apparatjik also features Mew's Jonas Bjerre, XFM write today, further to Coldplay.com's announcement yesterday.

Admitting a love for A-ha on Xfm is one thing. Joining forces with the Norse pop titans from the 80s is another thing entirely. Coldplay bassist Guy Berryman, however, has hooked up with A-ha’s Magne F and Jonas Bjerre from pop odd-bods Mew to soundtrack Bruce Parry’s new TV programme, Amazon.

The trio formed the band Apparatjik especially for the project. The wonderfully titled ‘Ferreting’ is the result and closes the show which sees Parry venturing down the Amazon from its source to the sea. ‘Ferreting’ is the opening track on the fundraising album which accompanies the series, ‘Amazon Tribe – Songs For Survival’. The album is out on October 6 or available to download from iTunes now.

The first of two concerts at Stockholm's Globe Theatre. Unfortunately no live debut for 'Glass Of Water' tonight, but the concert was apparently streamed live via aftonbladet.se although not many people outside Sweden knew about it. More on this here onwards [thanks Larry & mimixxx]

Setlist:

Life In Technicolor

Violet Hill

Clocks

In My Place

Speed Of Sound

Cemeteries Of London

Chinese Sleep Chant

42

Fix You

Strawberry Swing

God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (techno version)

Talk (partial - techno version)

The Hardest Part (piano - Chris)

Postcards From Far Away (piano instrumental)

Viva La Vida

Lost!

The Scientist (acoustic)

Death Will Never Conquer (acoustic - Will singing)

Viva La Vida (remix interlude)

------

Politik

Lovers In Japan

Death And All His Friends

-------

Yellow

The Escapist

[discussion] [photos] [videos] [wiki reviews/setlist] (updated over the next 24 hours)

I just got back from the Coldplay concert in The Globe Arena. My legs hurt after standing in one spot for nearly three hours but I’m satisfied still. We bought the tickets to the concert months ago and shortly after I told my sister I was going to see them and her spontaneous thought was “boooring”. At that point I didn’t really disagree with here. I’m not a huge fan but one of my friends convinced me to go along (it didn’t take much to do that) so I did. And I don’t regret it.

They never played Trouble from Parachutes and that disappointed me a bit but not much since I wasn’t really expecting them to and I would have wanted it to last a bit longer, I always do after a live concert but just over 90 minutes is a tad short. Besides that it was a great show. Their music came alive unlike when you listen to their CDs that, at points, can almost make you sleepy. Combine this with a great show where lights and video played a big part and you have one helluva party.

I did record two short bits and I’ll see if I can get them up here when I’m not in bed, otherwise i just might blog some youtube clips just so that I can sneak in on the blog and watch them every now and then.

From Coldplay.com:

Good evening. In just over an hour, BBC2 here in the UK will run the first part of its major new TV series, Amazon. The show will follow presenter Bruce Parry as he travels the length of the Amazon, from its source to the sea. For more info, click here.

The music which will soundtrack the end credits is a song called Ferreting, which was recorded by a new band formed especially for the project, Apparatjik. That group features Magne F from A-ha, Jonas Bjerre from Mew and Coldplay's very own Guy Berryman.

Ferreting is also the opening track on the fundraising album which accompanies the series, Amazon Tribe - Songs For Survival. You can hear a clip from it at the album's MySpace page, here.

The album is out on October 6th, but you can already pre-order it from HMV, Play and, of course, Amazon Or, if you're in the UK, you can download any of the tracks (including Ferreting) from iTunes now.

Anchorman

Coldplay’s first three albums, Parachutes, A Rush of Blood To The Head and X&Y have now been re-released on vinyl from September 2008. All three albums are available for pre-order at amazon.

On Sept. 2, Capitol Records launched "From the Capitol Vaults," a project to release 13 classic, out-of-print vinyl records. The remastered titles are limited edition and are 180-gram audiophile quality with original artwork and packaging. The series debut included A Perfect Circle's Mer de Noms; The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds; Coldplay's Parachutes, A Rush Of Blood To The Head and X&Y; Radiohead's Pablo Honey, The Bends, OK Computer, Kid A, Amnesiac and Hail To The Thief; R.E.M.'s Document; and Steve Miller Band's Greatest Hits 1974-78.

On Sept. 30, the project continues with the release of two iconic albums; Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys and John Lennon's Imagine.

Order Parachutes: UK | US

Order A Rush of Blood To The Head: UK | US

Order X&Y: UK | US

Trouble [sendspace clip] has returned to the Coldplay setlist in Berlin.

Setlist:

01 Life In Technicolor

02 Violet Hill

03 Clocks

04 In My Place

05 Speed Of Sound

06 Cemeteries Of London

07 Chinese Sleep Chant

08 42

09 Fix You

10 Strawberry Swing

11 God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (techno version)

12 Talk (partial, techno version)

13 Trouble / The Hardest Part / Postcards From Far Away (Medley)

14 Viva La Vida

15 Lost!

------

16 The Scientist (acoustic)

17 Death Will Never Conquer (Will, acoustic)

18 Viva La Vida (Remix Interlude)

------------------------

19 Politik

20 Yes (Snippet)

21 Lovers In Japan

22 Death And All His Friends

23 Yellow

24 The Escapist (Outro)

[discussion] [photos] [videos] [wiki reviews/setlist] (updated over the next 24 hours)

More on this show here onwards [thanks Larry, crazyduckette, mimixxx & The Noteburg]

Only The Oracle (like Smarties) has the answer…

September 15, 2008 - submitted by Ravi, United Kingdom

Q. I have a Biography called, Nobody says it was Easy by Martin Roach, and in there it says Tim Rice-Oak whatever from Keane gave the name Coldplay, but you said it was Tim Crompton, so he made a mistake, in a biography, that's kind of silly don't you think?

The Oracle replies:

Yes I agree. Nobody said It Was Easy is an unofficial biography of Coldplay by Martin Roach. He's written many books but in this case there are a few errors such as Chris' birthdate and as you mentioned Tim Rice-Oxley (from Keane) giving them the name. Wikipedia has only recently been updated, as that particular one was a common mistake made.

September 15, 2008 - submitted by nadia, Peru

Q. hi dear oracle!!

long time ago--it`s really long-- i was watching a chapter of "storytellers" at VH1 and Coldplay was there, telling stories of course!, and the said something about a concert where they were playing Clocks -i think- and suddenly a really enormous laser appeared behind them!...could you ask the guys where and when it was?i think it was at Glastonburry but i'm not sure...and could you please tell me if they have any video of that?and if they do,can they post it at the timeline,please??--as a big favor!!--cause i've looking for it since then.

PS:sorry if i commit any grammatical mistake...it's because i'm latin :9

The Oracle replies:

It was indeed Glastonbury 2002 when they headlined the Pyramid Stage on the Friday. The album (A Rush of Blood to the Head) hadn't been released at this point. The band had just completed a mini tour of the UK but they were all small venues with limited lights etc so the green laser had to make its debut at Glasto. The BBC televised it and therefore they own the copyright to that footage. There are various videos on the web (at You Tube etc) where you can see it.

September 15, 2008 - submitted by louise, United Kingdom

Q. what is ear wax and is it bad for your ears

thanks

The Oracle replies:

It's a natural secretion of the ear and is very important for lubricating, cleaning and protecting the ear. It is said never to put anything smaller than your elbow inside your ear. It's not advisable to poke around or use cotton buds to clean it. Only if you're producing too much wax that may cause hearing impediment is it advisable to get the ear cleaned, but professionally. Also, a common misconception is that when the ears are syringed a needle is used. That's not the case at all so don't be put off if you feel you need this procedure.

September 15, 2008 - submitted by Tiggy, Greece

Q. Is it possible for someone to kiss you all night long admittedly after drinking a few glasses and then saying that he was not himself? Especially if it someone you have known for 10 years? Is it more likely he doesn't like me this way or that he only found the courage with the alcohol?

The Oracle replies:

Remember alcohol can cause people to behave in a totally different manner. It can make some people throw caution to the wind, others may drop their inhibitions and some may act completely out of character and immediately regret their actions. When long-standing friends cross the line and become involved it could ruin the relationship. If when you kissed him back you were sober, you have to work through your feelings for him. Being friends may not be enough for you but it seems that for now, he doesn't want to get involved with you. Be careful not to let this become a drunken pattern of behaviour. He may be embarrassed or guilty so it's best to respect yourself. Try to get things back to how it was before the kissing so that when he's feeling comfortable around you there may be a time in the not so distant future where you can talk to him about it.

Reports from Berlin's 02 World in Germany are filtering through from those in the queue waiting to access the venue for the Coldplay concert tonight. Times are German (local time):

8.47pm: Well, albert just finished ^^ he was a tad better than yesterday, not only because he played one more song from his first record, the sound was better, too. It seems to me, that the crowd isn't as excited as they should be, but well, that might change when the guys takes the stage. By the way: we're right in front of the piano and will's techno-drumset.... We can't wait!!!! 'nuff said..coldplay, move your assses onto the stage, please

6.37pm: So we're inside now this time we were more calm and chose the right sidestage to be our place to be, so we have the barrier to support our worn-out bodies ;D Lars is in the crowd, though - dunno where he is, i think he made it to the 6th row or so. Well...so let's have a cup o' tea and wait for the boys to arrive - it'll be amazing,i bet!

5.32pm: Hiya. We're at the o2-world in berlin now ^^ it's an impressive piece of architecture, i think it's been opened since only 4 days now. It's freezing cold and all three of us feel a bit groggy, but i'm sure we'll all feel better as soon as the concert begins

Waaaaahhhhh!!!! Only half an hour to go till the doors open =D

3.17pm: Greetings from mcdonalds! About to go to to the venue!

More on the updates from 02 World and tonight's show in the Berlin live thread here [thanks winnie]

Setlist:

Life In Technicolor

Violet Hill

Clocks

In My Place

Speed Of Sound

Cemeteries Of London

Chinese Sleep Chant

42

Fix You

Strawberry Swing

God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (techno version)

Talk (partial - techno version)

The Hardest Part (piano - Chris)

Postcards From Far Away (piano instrumental)

Viva La Vida

Lost!

The Scientist (acoustic)

Death Will Never Conquer (acoustic - Will singing)

Viva La Vida (remix interlude)

------- First Encore

Politik

Lovers In Japan

Death And All His Friends

------- Second Encore

Yellow

The Escapist

[discussion] [photos] [videos] [wiki reviews/setlist] (updated over the next 24 hours)

"It was amazing. No surprises with the songs" I guess it was the same setlist as Koln then? He said, he , Sarah and Felix are waiting to meet the band but have been told they've gone back to London (?!?!?!?! Surely not...if they're playing Berlin tomorrow?) but they met the support band.

Perhaps the boys will still be there maybe. hmmmmm [thanks Larry & crazyduckette]

More on this show here onwards [thanks melanieau & qnibert00]

Reports from Hamburg's Colorline Arena in Germany are filtering through from those in the queue waiting to access the venue for the Coldplay concert tonight. Times are German (local time):

8.24pm: Albert hammond jr. was bloody brilliant! But he should've played more from his first record though

But fuck that, coldplay's next! OMFG!!!

See you on the other side guys!

6.37pm: So, we're in the arena now =D the people in front of the doors went nuts and we got pretty much squashed lol

Lars got in first with sarah, i got lost during the process but caught up with them in front of the stage quickly

We're 3rd row, center now, amazing!!!!!

And no, of course i won't report during the concert lol i'm not crazy ;D

Greetings! We're soo exciiiiiiteeeeedd

2.32pm:Lars is here now, too ;D it's a bit cold and we tried to find the band backstage, but the bs-area is lik an effing fort! No chance to see them... But we'll keep on trying! 2 1/2 hours till the doors open - we're 40 people now! Stay tuned for more news

Sarah, lars and felix~

1.44pm:

Sarah and I are now at the venue and waiting for the gates to open exciiiiiiiting!!

There are about 20 people here - and all of them are waiting for lars to arrive

More on the updates from the Colorline Arena and tonight's show in the Hamburg live thread here [thanks winnie]

As Coldplaying reported recently, official confirmation has arrived - 'Guitar Hero World Tour' has revealed the 'set list' for the highly anticipated forthcoming version of the video game, NME and Pitchfork are reporting.

Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Oasis, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Beastie Boys, Muse, Interpol, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins, The Doors, No Doubt, REM and Van Halen are among the bands whose songs will appear on the latest version of the highly popular game.

It will feature master recordings of 86 tracks, and is due to hit US stores on October 26.

Discuss this Guitar Hero World Tour package here and click more for the full tracklisting [thanks sa_spurs_tx & exist2inspire]

The complete list of songs is:

311 - 'Beautiful Disaster'

30 Seconds To Mars - 'The Kill'

Airbourne - 'Too Much Too Young'

The Allman Brothers Band - 'Ramblin' Man'

Anouk - 'Good God'

The Answer - 'Never Too Late'

At The Drive-In - 'One Armed Scissor'

Beastie Boys - 'No Sleep Till Brooklyn'

Beatsteaks - 'Hail to the Freaks'

Billy Idol - 'Rebel Yell'

Black Label Society - 'Stillborn'

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - 'Weapon of Choice'

blink-182 - 'Dammit'

Blondie - 'One Way or Another'

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - 'Hollywood Nights'

Bon Jovi - 'Livin’ On A Prayer'

Bullet For My Valentine - 'Scream Aim Fire'

Coldplay - 'Shiver'

Creedence Clearwater Revival - 'Up Around The Bend'

The Cult - 'Love Removal Machine'

Dinosaur Jr. - 'Feel The Pain'

The Doors - 'Love Me Two Times'

Dream Theater - 'Pull Me Under'

The Eagles - 'Hotel California'

The Enemy - 'Aggro'

Filter - 'Hey Man, Nice Shot'

Fleetwood Mac - 'Go Your Own Way'

Foo Fighters - 'Everlong'

The Guess Who - 'American Woman'

Hush Puppies - 'You're Gonna Say Yeah!'

Interpol - 'Obstacle 1'

Jane's Addiction - 'Mountain Song'

Jimi Hendrix - 'Purple Haze (Live)'

Jimi Hendrix - 'The Wind Cries Mary'

Jimmy Eat World - 'The Middle'

Joe Satriani - 'Satch Boogie'

Kent - 'Vinternoll2'

Korn - 'Freak On A Leash'

Lacuna Coil - 'Our Truth'

Lenny Kravitz - 'Are You Gonna Go My Way'

Linkin Park - 'What I've Done'

The Living End - 'Prisoner of Society'

Los Lobos - 'La Bamba'

Lost Prophets - 'Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)'

Lynyrd Skynyrd - 'Sweet Home Alabama (Live)'

Mars Volta - 'L'Via L'Viaquez'

MC5’s Wayne Kramer - 'Kick Out The Jams'

Metallica - 'Trapped Under Ice'

Michael Jackson - 'Beat It'

Modest Mouse - 'Float On'

Motörhead - 'Overkill'

Muse - 'Assassin'

Negramaro - 'Nuvole e Lenzuola'

Nirvana - 'About a Girl (Unplugged)'

No Doubt - 'Spiderwebs'

NOFX - 'Soul Doubt'

Oasis - 'Some Might Say'

Ozzy Osbourne - 'Crazy Train'

Ozzy Osbourne - 'Mr. Crowley'

Paramore - 'Misery Business'

Pat Benatar - 'Heartbreaker'

R.E.M. - 'The One I Love'

Radio Futura - 'Escuela De Calor'

Rise Against - 'Re-Education Through Labor'

Sex Pistols - 'Pretty Vacant'

Silversun Pickups - 'Lazy Eye'

Smashing Pumpkins - 'Today'

Steely Dan - 'Do It Again'

Steve Miller Band - 'The Joker'

Sting - 'Demolition Man (Live)'

The Stone Roses - 'Love Spreads'

Stuck In The Sound - 'Toy Boy'

Sublime - 'Santeria'

Survivor - 'Eye of the Tiger'

System of a Down - 'B.Y.O.B.'

Ted Nugent - 'Stranglehold'

Ted Nugent’s Original Guitar Duel Recording

Tokio Hotel - 'Monsoon'

Tool - 'Parabola'

Tool - 'Schism'

Tool - 'Vicarious'

Trust - 'Antisocial'

Van Halen - 'Hot For Teacher'

Willie Nelson - 'On The Road Again'

Wings - 'Band on the Run'

Zakk Wylde’s Original Guitar Duel Recording

Coldplay’s Guy Berryman [pictured] and Razorlight’s Johnny Borrell have contributed tracks to a new fundraising album collated by Bruce Parry called Bruce Parry Presents Amazon Tribe - Songs for Survival.

Parry, star of BBC’s ‘Tribe’ and the forthcoming ‘Amazon’, has teamed up with some of music’s legends for a fundraising album for Survival International, human rights organisation for tribal peoples.

All tracks were created exclusively for the album:

Disc: 1

1. Apparatjik (Guy Berryman /Jonas of MEW / Magne of A-ha) - Ferreting

2. Dawn Kinnard - Love is my new Drug

3. Will i Am (Black Eyed Peas) feat The Babongo Tribe - One People

4. KT Tunstall - The Hidden Part

5. Jason Mraz & Brett Dennen - Long Road to Forgiveness

6. Jeremy Warmsley & Mystery Jets - Grains of Sand

7. Johnny Borrell - Carrikfergus

8. Tom Baxter - Make a Stand

9. Skin & Robot Club feat Adi Tribe - Simmer Down

10. Yusuf Islam - Edge of Existence

Disc: 2

1. Hot Chip feat The Babongo tribe - Babongo tribe remix

2. Adam Freeland feat the Suri tribe - KIN

3. Hybrid feat The Suri tribe - Komuru

4. The Egg feat the Anuta & babongo tribes - Trails and Tribulations

5. The Go! Team feat The Babongo tribe - Templates from home

6. The Ruby Suns feat. the Penan tribe - Don't touch the dusty fruit

7. Blue States feat Adi tribe - Hello Kombai

8. Way Out West feat The Suri tribe - Evalina

9. Roger Sanchez feat The Adi tribe - Noneya

10. Mike Oldfield feat the Anuta tribe - Song for Survival

More on this collaboration and listen to the track involving Guy Berryman here

Setlist:

Life In Technicolor

Violet Hill

Clocks

In My Place

Speed Of Sound

Cemeteries Of London

Chinese Sleep Chant

42

Reign Of Love

Fix You

Strawberry Swing

-------- STAGE B (a podium in the crowd, ground was flashing)

God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (dance remix) / Talk (piano)

The Hardest Part (piano)

Postcards From Far Away (instrumental)

--------- STAGE A

Viva La Vida

Lost

--------- STAGE C (side entrance in the west I think)

The Scientist (Acoustic)

Death Will Never Conquer

Viva la Vida remix (while they were running back)

--------- STAGE A

Politik

Lovers In Japan

Death And All His Friends

-------- ENCORE

Yellow

The Escapist

[post-show discussion] [videos] [photos] [wiki reviews/setlist]

...the arena darkened! We listened to a Waltz (I think?) and I was like:"Oooh yeah, now it begins!" and THEN I saw Roadie #42 walking over the stage! He played a little bit on Chris' keyboard and laughed, then he went over AT OUR PLACE to the corner of the stage and placed there a little camera or something like that! I think, well I HOPE, that he will post a little video of the beginning of the show, maybe Julia and me will be on the vid then, yay

Roadies dissappeard, the giant curtain moved down, magicballs over our heads, roadies in the light machines hanging above our heads (it looked just crazy) and then LIT went out of the big sound boxes. The arena went bonkers, and we too of course! Chris, Jonny, Guy and Will started the show really awesome, Chris was jumping around (as always ^^) and well, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE! Because it was our first Coldplay concert, we can't really concentrate on everythig now! I will just write down the most important things which I kept in my mind, okay?

Those songs here are NOT in order, because my brain is pudding right now

So they played LIT, Violet Hill, Clocks, SOS, Strawberry swing, VLV, GPASUYF (techno version), Hardest Part (piano), Talk (again this remix on the funky light stage), Postcards from far away, cemetries of london, 42, reign of love, then up in the arena, they played The scientist, Death will never conquer me, Lost! LIJ, Death and all his friends, and they played an Encore, YELLOW! [thanks Twisted mind]

More on this show here onwards [thanks Larry & FlorianLey]

More questions answered by The Oracle...

September 11, 2008 - submitted by Hasief, Indonesia

Q. Who is the "Green" whom gets a co-writer's credit on "A Spell A Rebel Yell"?

The Oracle replies:

That's Dan Green the band's sound engineer.

September 11, 2008 - submitted by Nishav Shakya, Nepal

Q. Is the ORACLE all right, not answering for a couple of days or have us mere mortals questions been too trivial in nature?

The Oracle replies:

Actually I was in Paris for the Bercy shows. They were amazing. Check out Roadie #42's blog as there was a magical mobile phone moment. There was also a little celebrity spotting with the crowds going wild at the appearance of Patrick Bruel on the first night and Lenny Kravitz on the second... and there was I thinking they'd spotted me!

Coldplay has been nominated as the best international rock artist at the 2008 MTV latin american music awards which will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico on October 16th. The other nominees in this category are 30 seconds To Mars,

Panic At The Disco, Paramore and Fall Out Boy.

To vote for Coldplay in this category click here

More on this nomination here [thanks Lore]

Coldplay's "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" (Parlophone/EMI) is back at the top of European Top 100 Albums, part of a resuming EMI double that sees Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" (Virgin) lead Eurochart Hot 100 Singles for a fifth week.

The Coldplay album had ten consecutive weeks atop the pan-European sales list until Slipknot's "All Hope Is Gone" (Roadrunner) debuted at the summit last week. "Viva" rebounds with the help of climbs of 3-2 in Italy, 5-3 in Greece and 6-5 in Ireland.

The Slipknot album loses its two No. 1 berths in Finland and Switzerland but debuts at No. 1 in Sweden and No. 3 in Italy. The Verve's "Forth" (Parlophone/EMI) moves up 4-3 overall, trading places with Duffy's "Rockferry" (A&M/Universal). The Verve's reunion album is No. 1 for a second week in the United Kingdom, where total sales to last weekend were 108,000, and adds a No. 4 debut in Italy. Duffy makes a 7-4 U.K. climb, also leaping 49-21 with the album's latest single, "Stepping Stone."

Polydor/Universal's "Mamma Mia!" soundtrack holds at No. 5 on Top 100 Albums, retaining its lead on the separate U.K. compilation chart and holding at No. 1 in Norway, Greece and Hungary. It's also up 29-2 in Portugal, but falls 1-2 in Austria and Denmark.

Michael Jackson's new "King of Pop" retrospective (Epic/Sony BMG) takes a second-week climb of 15-6, fuelled by debuts of No. 1 in Austria and No. 4 in Holland. It's also up 5-3 in the United Kingdom (where sales of 22,000 give it a running total of 48,000), 11-4 in the Belgian region of Flanders and 19-6 in Germany.

Amy Macdonald's "This Is the Life" (Mercury/Universal) is No. 7 again on the pan-European chart, climbing 5-3 in Switzerland, while Amy Winehouse dips 6-8 on the aggregate survey with "Back to Black" (Universal Island) and holds at No. 5 in France.

The pan-European album top 10 is rounded out by two new entries. Veteran British rock act Motorhead returns at No. 9 with "Motorizer" (SPV) thanks largely to a No. 5 start in Germany. The band also enjoys its best U.K. album chart ranking for 22 years, debuting at No. 32 on sales of 5,000 units. Long-time German chart favorite Peter Maffay arrives at No. 1 there with "Ewig" (Ariola/Sony BMG) to enable a No. 10 entry on Top 100 Albums.

Perry's single locks a fifth week at No. 1 in the United Kingdom as well as on the Eurochart as a whole. It also stays at the top in Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland and makes up for losing top place in Germany (1-2) by climbing 2-1 in Sweden and Flanders.

The Eurochart's highest new entry, at No. 4, is the Pussycat Dolls' "When I Grow Up" (Interscope/Universal), which arrives at No. 3 in the United Kingdom on sales of 29,000, and No. 9 in Germany.

Source: http://www.billboard.biz/

Coldplay.com catches up with Will Champion...

Discuss this interview here onwards.

Hello Will. Where are you?

I'm in Paris, in the environs of the Bercy dressing room complex.

How's the European tour been going so far?

Very well thank you.

Does it feel different to the North American tour?

Yeah, it does. We've changed the set slightly. We felt like for the American tour we had to come out guns blazing and we didn't really feel confident about a couple of the new songs yet. But I think with the record having been out a little longer, people are getting used to its songs. We also had people like Phil saying that Cemeteries Of London, for example, has been going down really well in Europe and online and all that. So we thought, let's try and branch out a little. We're doing a couple of newer additions, Cemeteries being the main one.

It must be nice to keep changing things.

Definitely. It keeps it fresh. Our problem in the past was that we'd settle upon a set and love it so much that we didn't really tend to change it.

Does a European crowd seem noticeably different to an American one?

It's different fom crowd to crowd, really. But they seem to have really gone for Viva in France. We didn't really feel that we'd done as well as we could've done in France. I think the addition of the French flag on the album cover probably didn't do too much damage! But Viva really took off when we were in Lyon. Actually, I think that might've been the best gig we've done, to date. It was really, really good.

In what sense?

Just the general reaction to songs. We're used to people singing along to the big songs and then politely clapping to the other ones. But in Lyon it was literally like every song was a Number One smash hit. Which is a very good feeling.

Of course the big change for you personally on this tour is that you're singing.

I am! It's quite difficult, because that section of the show is logistically tough. It's hard to get guitars and mics sounding good up there at the back of the crowd. Plus, Chris sings in the first song, then I sing in the second one and he's got a much stronger voice than I have. So it's quite difficult to get all the balances and everything right. But it's coming along.

It must feel quite strange having drummed with the band for ten years to suddenly be singing.

I've always sung backing vocals, but, yeah, it is quite odd. I never felt that I had a voice for lead vocals. It's quite an anonymous voice, I think, that blends well into backing vocals. But I'm trying to expand my repertoire. I haven't branched out yet, but I'd like to.

What else might we expect from you?

I was thinking perhaps a bit of Bon Jovi.

Could this be the beginning of the Will Champion solo career?

No, indeed not. Probably the end.

So, according to the papers, you chaps made it to the Andorra v England football game before the show in Barcelona on Saturday.

Yes, we saw the first half. We had to go after that. We got back to the venue just before 9pm and we were on stage about half an hour later.

The papers claimed you'd pushed back the gig to see the whole game.

No, not at all. Was that really in the paper? If we'd put it back, we'd have stayed for the whole game and not left at half time!

How was the first half?

Fairly uneventful. It was odd, actually, being at an away game and there being something like ten thousand English people and probably about 500 Andorrans. Great stadium, though. It was the Olympic stadium, up on the hill.

Do you have any advice for England's manager, Mr Capello?

Um, I think it was obvious where the faults were from the first half and I think he did well to correct them. He brought on Joe Cole on the left side which I thought was a very good move, because Downing wasn't having a particularly good game. I mean the half we saw, which ended goalless, didn't instill us with great confidence. But then as Jonny and I discussed at length, it's almost impossible to play against a team that has ten men behind the ball at all times, who haven't come to score, let alone win. But England did alright. I don't think it was as bad as everyone suggested. They still got the win in the end.

Moving back to Coldplay, we spoke to Albert Hammond Jr last week, who was telling us that you pick your own support acts.

Absolutely. Providing they're available and providing they want to do it. We don't force people to come on the road with us!

Have you enjoyed the three you've had so far? [Albert, Santogold and Shearwater.]

Yeah, they've all been brilliant, to be honest. We've been very lucky.

And what have you been listening to lately?

Actually, I've mainly been listening to Learn Spanish with Michel Thomas.

How's it going?

Muy bien gracias.

Good work!

I really enjoy trying to speak Spanish. It's always been a goal for me to speak another language properly, so I'm going to see it through.

Presumably there's only so far you can go with CD lessons?

Actually, they're really good. It gives you great confidence right from the very first bit. It's fantastic.

Have you been listening to any music too?

Eugene Francis Jnr and the Juniors are a great band that I discovered. It's strange folk-based, slightly electronic stuff, with lots of singing. There's about nine of them in the band and they're just fantastic. I highly recommend visiting their website, soonly.

Now, about your drumkit. Are there any changes to it for this tour?

Only in colouration. All of our instruments have been painted by our lovely assistant Vicki. She's done a fantastic job - far, far above and beyond the call of duty. Every single item that's painted in our collection of instruments was done by Vicki.

Wow.

I know. She's a very talented artist.

Do you get through a lot of drum skins?

Normally they're changed every other gig, I would say. For some reason I don't break as many sticks as I used to, though. I used to get through lots of them. I think I must've found the right stick.

What sort of sticks do you use?

They are Pro-Mark 5Bs, I believe.

What makes them stand out from another drum stick?

They just seem a lot more sturdy, for some reason. Or maybe I'm just getting soft in my old age.

Well, it sounds like you're all enjoying the tour.

So far, so good, yeah. We're just so grateful that the album's done well and people seem to get it. This would be a very different conversation if it wasn't as good as it could've been. And we're so pleased that Viva is doing well as a single. For a long time, it wasn't even going to be on the album.

Which would've been insane.

Well it was funny, because it took a long time to get it right. It wasn't until the very end that it actually came good.

And it's turned out to be your biggest hit.

Yes, ever. Without a shadow of a doubt.

It's also a classic football chant in the making.

Oh, yeah, definitely. We were saying we want to get the sheet music to whoever it is that plays the trumpet at the England games. I'd love it to be sung on the terraces.

Click to cast your daily vote for Coldplay.com in the BT Digital Music Awards

From: http://coldplay.com/newsdetail.php?id=122

The Europe Music Awards are set to take place on 6th November 2008 in Liverpool, UK and nominee voting is now open at www.mtvema.com.

Voting is open to the public – fans can vote for their favourite artist to become one of the Top 5 nominees! Don’t delay – help Coldplay get nominated for an award! Here are their nominations:

Rock Out | Best Act Ever | Headliner | Album Of The Year (Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends)

The 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards will take place at the Echo Arena, Liverpool. Europe's biggest music awards show is set to explode with phenomenal live performances, astronomical presenters, and winners that are chosen by the people who really matter...YOU.

No Reign Of Love tonight, but balloons for Jonny Buckland, who celebrates his 31st birthday on the 11th September (probably on another bullet train across Europe).

Setlist:

Life In Technicolor

Violet Hill

Clocks

In My Place

Speed Of Sound

Cemeteries Of London

Chinese Sleep Chant

42

Fix You

Strawberry Swing

--------

GPASUYF + Talk (Techno)

Hardest Part

Postcards from far away

---------

Viva La Vida

Lost

---------

The Scientist

Death will never conquer

Viva la Vida remix (with us good french people once again waving phones!!!)

---------

Politik

Lovers in Japan

DAAHF

-------- ENCORE

Yellow

(Dubliners / Prospekt's March) : written on the tracklisting, but didn't made it live...

The Escapist

More reviews, pictures and videos from this show here onwards [thanks charley]

[discussion] [reviews/setlist] [photos] [wiki] (updates throughout the next 24 hours onwards)

As reported earlier, NRJ France aired the first three songs from the second Bercy show tonight (10th September 2008) plus In My Place (unannounced) which you can hear in FM quality via links here. In case you missed it, Coldplay also performed live on French TV today, and you can watch a performance of Viva La Vida here [thanks ZamaGelu]

Guy and a giant album cover

Hi

I went to the Louvre today to see the original Delacroix painting…

It’s a lot bigger than I expected and truly ‘magnifique’!

Love Guy

Coldplay play their second night at the Bercy in Paris this evening - and the first 3 songs of this concert will be broadcast by the French radio NRJ at about 9.40pm (French time). These tracks are likely to be Life In Technicolor, Violet Hill and Clocks.

The NRJ France webstream has been added to the Coldplaying toolbar radio which you can upgrade here prior to the show tonight.

More on this NRJ airing here and follow the latest updates from this show as they happen on the 10th September Bercy thread here [thanks coldjo]

A reminder from Coldplay.com that you can vote for Coldplay at this year's MTV EMAs.

Good morning. Although Violet Hill was not deemed quite special enough to win the Best Special Effects category at last weekend's MTV VMAs (go Kanye!), the band have the chance to make amends at the MTV Europe Music Awards, which will take place in Liverpool on 6th November.

Voting is now open and Coldplay are up for the Rock Out, Best Act Ever, Headliner and Album of the Year awards. Click here if you'd like to vote (you don't have to register).

Anchorman

Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis has revealed that Radiohead, Coldplay and Led Zeppelin are all on her wishlist to play next year's festival.

Talking exclusively to Mirror.co.uk, Emily also revealed that as the photo registration system had worked so well this time round, all 135,000 tickets for next year's event were going on sale next month rather than in April as usual. There's also speculation that Stevie Wonder is being lined up for the 'Sunday afternoon legend' spot at the three-day bash next June.

Emily told us: "Coldplay are a great Glastonbury band, as are Radiohead, but it's really hard to say at the moment for definite who's going to play next year. It would be really good to have an appearance by Led Zeppelin too, that's one band who haven't played here. "That would be quite a one-off. But I don't know whether or not it's going to happen...We're weighing up all the options at the moment and we should have more of an idea by Christmas."

Emily also said there were no hard feelings towards Noel Gallagher, after he slammed the decision to have rapper Jay-Z headline the festival this year. "Oasis are always welcome at Glastonbury," she laughed.

Emily also added that they were already looking for big names to play Glasto's 40th anniversary event in 2010. Tickets for Glastonbury 2009 are going on sale at October 5 and can be bought with a £50 deposit, with the balance of the estimated £170 ticket price to be paid before the beginning of April.

Tickets for this year's event were slow to sell and only sold out when the event was underway, which Emily said had prompted them to make them available early this year. As the registration system had worked so well, people can also now buy unlimited numbers of tickets as opposed to four per person - but again, a separate name and photo must be provided for each ticket to combat touting.

Emily added that paying a deposit now would give people more time to save up for their tickets too so they could get music lovers who really wanted to go to the festival rather than just those who had the money. "Hopefully now, it's a much fairer system," she added.

For more details about next year's Glastonbury and how to reserve your tickets, click here.