the_escapist

Can't wait to read this!

FYI: I just read Adele's new album leaked today (Wednesday), when it is set for release for this Friday. Expect something very similar with AHFOD.

Bebe is the interviewer? Who is he?

I also cried when I heard the O snippet in the Zane Lowe interview and I love the song. The same for Hurts Like Heaven. I sang the song at my wedding reception. But I am trying to be honest. Those are great songs and they are many of those in every single record. I was referring to a song that will stand the test of time and will always be remembered. I think that during the first albums we had more of those (Yellow, The Scientist, Fix You and Viva la Vida).

I understand your concern. Although I am merely speculating, I would assume that the contribution of these actresses is simply filling up the song with an almost unnoticeable backing vocal or part of a chorus by a large group of people.

From my point of view, it is not so much about the style but the quality of the songs. They haven't really swept off our feet since that song called Viva La Vida.

Another interesting thing is that until know, Chris has been doing 95% of the talking in relation to the new album. Jonny was with him during some radio interviews, but barely talked. I know Chris is the frontman and it is probable that J, G and W don't like to talk that much but I will really like to hear their point of view on everything. We got some of it during the GS era with the interviews with Jo Whiley and Fearnie Cotton.

Other highlights of the (really great) interview from my point of view: - The record is ebullient (cheerful and full of energy) - It has lyrical references to soaring birds (Birds), beating hearts (Adventure of a Lifetime) and gaining altitude (Up&Up?). - Hymn for the Weekend is "perhaps the closest Coldplay will get to a throbbing dance track". - Everglow is a "ballad about a relationship's enduring spark", feat. a vocal from GP. - At the beginning of the making of the record, Chris was "worried that the most musically conservative members (Will and Guy?) of our band would balk at going with Rihanna's producers. But the band said they'd love to". - Chris used free-form writing and fasting as creativity techniques while making the record. - Chris: "The difference between the last two albums (GS & AHFOD) and the five that preceded them is a clear vision that we've seen through to the end without questioning it". - Chris: [My bandmates] "are pretty ruthless, and the producers we work with don't say they like something unless they do. So for a song of ours to get released, it's already been through 8 levels of sincere opinion". - Chris: "Everything's a good lyric if you have the right beat". - Chris: "If you ever liked Coldplay, then we're going to really deliver on our promise over the next year or so".

My thoughts exactly. But who knows! I did not like ASFOS at the beginning but with time I understood the significance of the song in the whole story and now I really enjoy it. Also, it is indeed a great song to play (and dance to) live.

From what I have read/listened, Noel only features in Up&Up.

Any rumor on the possible dates for the US?

Another (worrying) quote from Mr. Martin: "Everything's a good lyric if you have the right beat". Funny enough, he said this after telling the story of how either J, G o W vetoed a demo song with the lyrics "drinks on me".

I am starting to get a bit worried about Chris: "You know what's also good for creativity? Fasting. Once a week I don't eat for 24 or 30 hours. You brain becomes very lucid about ideas." That cannot be healthy.

This song features Gwyneth Paltrow in backing vocals. Source: WSJ interview.

From what we were able to saw from Zane Lowe's interview to Chris last year, nowadays they do not even distribute CDs but simply allow selected people to log in into a webpage were the album is uploaded just for the purposes of listening. The recipient never has access to the actual file containing the music.

Ghost Stories leaked on May 12th, 2014 and the release was set for May 16th, 2014. So, expect something the last days of November or the first days of December.

Guess they were made available before 7:45 pm, right?

It has to be. Ryan Seacrest's notes also pointed out Birds was about freedom, and you can actually hear Chris singing the word freedom.

The Birds snippet was beautiful. What I don't understand is that Ryan Seacrest's list of the album called Birds an uptempo song!

This special gig resurrected the magic of Coldplay's slow songs!

Sparks was such a treat! People attending are so lucky! They got a double concert!

Paris and France in my mind.

Wow! That's very early! Have a great time!

I am really psyched for this. And envious of LA Coldplayers. For the last two albums they have gotten access to really good treats! It's kind of unfair.

No idea. Hopefully someone will record and then it will be able to download here.