More questions answered by The Oracle... (circa. 5000! questions now answered - submit yours now. Also via Twitter!)
October 24, 2013 - submitted by Saakshi, India
Q. Hey Oracle! Can you please confirm the date when Mylo Xyloto released? Was it 19th October or 24th October? Also, which is your favourite song from the album? I'll be very glad if you answer my question. Thank You, Saakshi
The Oracle replies:
It depends what territory you live in. For example, the release day for albums in Japan is Wednesday. However, in the UK it's Monday (sometimes Sunday) and in the U.S it's Tuesday. This means that MX was released in Japan on the 19th, the U.K on the 24th and the U.S on the 25th. There were other release dates for other territories.
October 24, 2013 - submitted by filiprasmusson, twitter
Q. @filiprasmusson Is there any reason that only Chris performed Atlas?
The Oracle replies:
For anyone that missed the news, Atlas received this year's Hollywood Song Award. Chris collected the award & performed the song at the ceremony (21 October). In answer, it was purely a logistical decision. Chris has performed at such events on his own before - or with Jonny. Atlas worked perfectly with just Chris singing at a piano. It was a fantastic performance.
October 24, 2013 - submitted by Olivia, United States of America
Q. Dear Oracle, What's the strangest question you've ever been asked on here? P.S. Do you know of anywhere I could watch Coldplay's performance on Hollywood Film Awards?
The Oracle replies:
Too many strange ones to be honest (no offence, chaps!). I have watched it online, albeit a shaky, amateur phone recording. We haven't got an official link so it's a case of searching the web. It's not the band by the way, just Chris & a piano.
October 23, 2013 - submitted by Ethan, United States of America
Q. Hello Oracle, I hope all is well, I am just curious is there such an instrument that made the beginning /main sound in Life in Technicolor? Have a great day, Ethan
The Oracle replies:
Absolutely. The opening of the
October 23, 2013 - submitted by Forrest, United States of America
Q. Ok so I went and listened to Brian Eno's track An Ending (Ascent) that you posted and it sounds exactly like the music that was playing in a World War II museum I went to in New Orleans. Was it? There was this room that was showing footage of the atom bombs the U.S. dropped on Japan and I remember music playing that was so moving for the terrible things on screen. Was it this song??
The Oracle replies:
I've never been so I don't know! Have you called the museum and asked? I was at Disney when I was younger and wanted to track down a piece of music I heard in the Epcot Centre but nobody knew, so they may not be able to answer you. Shame they didn't have app like Shazam, it would have saved me years of searching. Anyway, An Ending (Ascent) was taken from the album Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks, I suggest you listen to that in case it's on there. You never know, it could be what you're looking for. As an aside, the music was also used on the film For All Mankind that I have mentioned previously.
October 23, 2013 - submitted by Ian, United Kingdom
Q. Hi Oracle, I was listening to Mechanical Bull, Kings of Leon's new album. Their track Temple sounds very, very similar to Don Quixote/Spanish Rain... It seems to have a very similar tempo, chord sequence and sound. Not to say that Coldplay will, but could the band legally question the song's similarity to a track they did not officially release? Have the band ever questioned other artists from pinching their music, or is it a touchy subject? Many thanks in advance! Jamie
The Oracle replies:
Really? When I first heard Don Quixote/Spanish Rain I said it sounded like Kings of Leon so I'd say you have that the wrong way around. Not that it matters because songs are bound to have similar chord progressions and tempos to others as there aren't infinite numbers of either. I hadn't heard Temple so I decided I should. This is not and never would be a legal issue at all not just because of the friendship between bands but because as far as my ears can tell, there's no issue full stop. There's a fine line between plagiarism and similarity and if it's anything, it's the latter. It's not always a case of "pinching"; semblance does not necessarily mean theft. As you know, Coldplay have always credited their sources and paid royalties in accordance. Whether a song is released is a grey area - but as it exists and has been heard, one could argue by whom, when & where. Hard to prove but I'd like to think that if somebody knowingly takes a sample or whatever, they'll pay for it. That's how we would always do things around here as we're a moral, decent bunch. I've written jokes, slogans and thoughts that I may never have publicly performed to large audiences but they've appeared in the ether. I'd say that us humans aren't all that unique and it's highly likely someone else had the same idea that I did. Same goes for music. It's not an impossibility.
October 22, 2013 - submitted by Teresa, India
Q. Hello Oracle! I came across Brian Eno's track An Ending (Ascent) yesterday and could have sworn I've heard it in the opening of a Coldplay track but I can't remember which one! Google says a portion of it was used as a run-up to Politik on the AROBTTH tour, but I can't shake the feeling that I've heard it as an actual part of a track, on one of the albums! Please put my doubts to rest, won't you? :) Hope you're having a great week! Love from India.
The Oracle replies:
October 22, 2013 - submitted by Carrie, United States of America
Q. Just a quick question. Do Coldplay actually pen their own music to paper during the writing process and then refine it or, do they have recordings of songs in various stages and put them down on paper after the music is refined? Or is it neither or both?? Many thanks!
The Oracle replies:
Chris writes the lyrics down and maybe notes for chords and whatnot but as he can't read music, he can't write it either.
October 22, 2013 - submitted by Tyler , twitter
Q. How much influence, if any, did Oasis have on Coldplay?
The Oracle replies:
Oasis were a MASSIVE influence on Coldplay. Mind you, I'd wager that was the same for every indie / rock band around that time.
October 21, 2013 - submitted by Isabelle, France
Q. Hello Oracle! Can you tell me why How You See The World have 2 versions? And only 1 on colplaying.com ? I'm very curious about the story of this song :-) Thanks a lot! Isa
The Oracle replies:
I think you mean Coldplay.com? Coldplaying is an unofficial fan site so I can't comment on their content.
The first version of the song appeared on the Japanese release of X&Y as a bonus track. Chris re-recorded vocals with new lyrics for the second version that was re-written for the Help!: A Day in the Life album. The version we have on our site (the b side to The Hardest Part) is listed as it appears on the sleeve as How You See The World but it is actually no. 2.
October 21, 2013 - submitted by Josh, United Kingdom
Q. I saw in an interview that Coldplay used to be called Trombolese. Free from desire by Gala just came on shuffle and I noticed when the singer says "strong beliefs" it sounds weirdly like trombolese. This song also came out around the time the band was formed. Could this hilariously be the inspiration behind the shortlived band name?
The Oracle replies:
Tsk, tsk! Josh if you're going to send the same question FIVE months after I have answered it, prepare to do some detention. Drop and give me fifty! We do have an Oracle search option so if in doubt, check there first.
Latest photos of fans (@Bignells and marina_) meeting Coldplay at the Bakery/Beehive (11th/15th October)
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