Zero Theory

Maybe you have a point that he's overplayed his use of birds references here, but I don't even really think about the lyrics when it comes to that song. The piano melody emits such an emotion that perfectly captures what Chris is feeling. You know exactly what he's talking about even if the "flock of birds" is a bit ambiguous and cliche. I'm never usually a big fan of Chris' lyrics. It's hard to point to any song that they've written that has a line or 2 that sticks in your mind, since it's all very broad and cliched. But the emotion from Coldplay songs is more powerful than any band I've listened to. That's why Coldplay is so universally loved. Many Coldplay fans don't even speak English. It's almost like you know exactly what Chris is feeling/talking about without even listening to the lyrics, if that makes any sense.

I'm sorry but O? O???? Blasphemy. The single most beautiful and sad song they've written. So simple and beautiful it doesn't need anything but Chris and his piano.

GPASUYF

Another's Arms

Well he still has played Fly On several times, which I would think is his most personal song. He even teared up listening to it in the Zane Lowe interview. But yeah, I'll never understand why Fun wasn't played on tour, with Tove Lo right there. Maybe they ended up not liking the song. Oh the questions I'd love to ask Chris. "Why don't you guys like X&Y?" "Why didn't you guys play Fun?" "Would you ever do an anniversary tour?"

^I agree with you about Birds and Up&Up, excellent live songs. Although they didn't play Birds in Foxborough when I was there, unfortunately. But the Glastonbury video looks awesome. If AHFOD were more stripped down, or rather less produced, it would've been much better. -HFTW/AOAL have really wore down on me -Fun, Army of One, XMTS are among Coldplay's worst ever IMO -Everglow is a solid piano ballad, kind of got sick of it after a while -Amazing Day is meh -The title track, Birds, Up&Up are good songs

2 thoughts 1- Is there any info out about Coldplay as it relates to the Grammy's on Jan. 28? They have some significant nominations, is the whole band attending? My guess would be no, as I don't expect them to win any. 2-Did anyone get the sense that 1 or more members of the band really weren't digging AHFOD... like at all? Guy seemed to be completely going through the motions during the tour. I mean, yes, he's no flamboyant personality to begin with, but he didn't seem to be into it during the tour. He looked much more engaged during Viva/Mylo eras. I was not a fan of this album (first album of the seven that I really have no interest in listening to again, outside of a couple songs), and I get that sense that Will, Jonny and Guy are not exactly into this album. It seems like Chris has been engulfed and enamored by pop culture (probably as a result of becoming friends with pop stars/marrying Goop lady/paparazzi/living in LA) while the rest of the band are more into classic alternative rock music (Will has said his favorite album is VLV and Guy has said AROBTTH). I hate to speculate, but I wonder if Jonny/Will/Guy have a different feeling about the direction of the band than Chris does. It would be easy for the three guys to just cruise on their millions of dollars and play on top of whatever Chris brings to them and have Stargate take a dump on it. But it would be better and more stable if they created stuff that is more organic, and that they were all into again. I would think the four guys would have the feeling that they still have something to prove. Coldplay will always be my favorite band, and most of their music amazes me at how good it is, but it still feels like they haven't reached their creative potential. On the other hand, maybe they had to make a commercial album to fulfill what Parlophone wants. Chris saying "from here on out, we will only be full of surprises" gives me some hope that they can make music on their own terms. Did I read that their contract is out with Parlophone after AHFOD?

Wow, great observation. It's funny you said this, because a couple weeks ago, I was listening to GS in my car, and thought "I wonder if this is a 42 second gap between Fly On and O". But then I thought, this feels much longer than 42 seconds. Also, I always thought that the first part of the track was O, and the last part was Fly On, until now. As an aside, Fly On is the single most beautiful piece of music they've created. Not the best song, not my favorite song, but the most beautiful song Chris has written.

This is a great way to put it, I feel the same way. AROBTTH will always be my favorite, followed by Viva. But if I could pick any tour to see, it would be X&Y.

I feel like they will never ever play dense X&Y songs ever again. White Shadows, Square One, Low, obviously Talk, and the studio version of Speed of Sound. It's really unfortunate, but that phase of the band was so unique and exposed Chris' personality. It just feels like the band, especially Chris, are way past those songs, and don't seem to relate to them anymore. The Chris Martin I see now is completely different from the 2006 Chris Martin. And clearly that era does not sit well with the band. When I was younger, and I heard someone mention Coldplay, the sound and ethereality of X&Y was what I pictured. It was their core sound, IMO.

I would assume they would do no more than 15 songs. Maybe could swap one of these out for ASFOS. Also, will we finally get a live version of The Scientist? Maybe they won't release a studio version of Life Is Beautiful, and just do a live release. That could be why Chris changed around the lyrics a bit each time they performed it. AHFOD Yellow Birds Paradise Magic Everglow Clocks HFTW Fix You Viva la Vida Adventure of a Lifetime UATW Life is Beautiful Something Just Like This Up&Up

Just relax, they just worked non-stop, essentially, since what, 2013? -They finished MX tour like New Year's Eve 2012 -Must've spent most of 2013/14 working on Ghost Stories -2014 promoting Ghost Stories -2014/15 writing/recording AHFOD -2016-17 massive world tour -And now it's the first month of 2018 after many of us said they need a break and we are freaking out, thinking that the band has disappeared off the face of the earth :joy: In the wise words of some singer named Chris, "don't panic".

Certainly a top B-side. I Ran Away has slowly built its way into being my favorite ever B side. Should've replaced Green Eyes on the studio album.

Probably would be the least intimidating riot imaginable. Would also probably involve rainbows, unicorns, and love buttons.

Must mean the band is over. Coldplay are a one chapter book. Oh well. Let's riot.

I've been listening to Pearl Jam's album from a little while back, Backspacer, a bit, especially the songs Just Breathe and The End (more acoustic PJ songs). I would highly recommend those songs for Coldplay fans. I like the occasional harder rocking PJ songs, but Eddie Vedder's stripped back acoustic songs are absolutely sublime. Especially his soundtrack album for the film Into the Wild. Also, lately, have been really into Sweet Disposition-The Temper Trap, When You Sleep-My Bloody Valentine, House of Cards-Radiohead.

Anyone who likes Chinese Sleep Chant should check out My Bloody Valentine if you haven't already. Especially the song "When You Sleep". I just discovered this band after reading their influence on Coldplay, and they are spectacular.

I am adamantly against AHFOD and very much an Oldplay fan, but Birds has emerged as not only the best song on the album by a mile, but one of my favorite Coldplay songs ever. If it was produced a bit differently (not by Stargate), with more distortion on Jonny's part towards the end like when they play live, it would even by 10X better. The live version is spectacular.

Ayyyeee I'm 20, male, chill and love Coldplay as well. Also, there are listening parties that occur every once in a while on here.

You never know, those paparazzi will do anything to get information.

I stumbled across one of those dumb Perez Hilton or TMZ articles about how Chris and that chick from 50 Shades of Grey were at a restaurant in Rome recently, and Chris was humming a song to run by her in seek of her approval. Could be nothing, could just be TMZ making something up. But if it truly is a song Chris wrote and he's humming it for his date, he must be excited about it. I guess we're really reaching for news here in this dead period :joy:

They'll definitely include Birds. It's one of the core AHFOD songs. Probably not GPASUYF, but possible. Birds is an underrated live song and Coldplay song in general. Not a fan of LP7 but Birds is among their best work ever. The studio version is ok, but the live version feels otherwordly. I think the key difference is Jonny's live guitar riff towards the end of the song is so much better than the Stargate diluted crap.

So today I was watching in interview from 2016 when Coldplay was in Ohio. It was a pretty good interview in terms of being about music and not Beyonce and Gwyneth. Interviewer asked if there's something more they'd like to achieve. Chris responded saying that he feels they still have not written an amazing song (I would beg to differ on many accounts, but that's not the point). I feel like I've heard him say something similar before, as well. It could just be his usual English humility, but between this and his statement at the end of the last AHFOD show that Coldplay from here on out "will only be full of surprises", I am optimistic that the band still has hunger and something to prove. They want to make something even better. Not that the last 2 LPs were terrible, but it's been a drop-off and downwards trajectory since Mylo, despite a couple of gem songs. Here's the interview, for those interested. (around 4:40 he says they haven't written an amazing song) It's nothing special, but I don't know why I hadn't seen it yet.

Definitely Eno influence (would love experimental/riskier Coldplay again), and featuring an artist of my choice. I would love to have a Coldplay song ft. John Mayer. I always thought his playing style suits the emotion of Coldplay very well (also the fact he's one of the greatest guitarists of all time). Also, how about a Coldplay song feat. Radiohead to make everyone lose their minds. Although it would probably be more like Radiohead ft. Chris Martin or something. It obviously would never happen, and I don't even know anything about Thom's relationship with Chris. But it's fun to dream. I know John Mayer is a fan though (has done covers, and worked with Michael Brauer).

Spies? SPIES? Easily in my bottom 5 LP songs.