Christa42

This is awesome!

21 October 2014 / submitted by Zach, United States of America Q. Hi, Oracle. :) Wondering if you know anything about the sound at the beginning of Charlie Brown. Almost sounds like a baby saying things amongst other things. I remember Chris mentioning Apple and Moses's voices were used to make a sound in this last record. Do you know if this is the case on Charlie Brown? THE ORACLE REPLIES > No, it's not. The sound is this. 1 October 2014 / submitted by Carlos, Venezuela Q. Hi, dear Oracle. Watching again and again the Ghost Stories TV Special I noticed that the custom built theatre looks very similar to one that that appears in the Michael Jackson video Hold My Hand, Is it the same?THE ORACLE REPLIES > I'm confused. Looking at the official video for Hold My Hand, I can't work out where you see the similarity. Michael's video was filmed in airship hangars (plus concert footage etc.) and Coldplay's was a purpose built amphitheatre in a soundstage. They're not the same albeit large vacuous spaces. 22 October 2014 / submitted by Jacklord, Philippines Q. Hello Oracle. I just learned that Coldplay hates Parachutes which i think is great. Why do they hate it? THE ORACLE REPLIES > They don't! I'm not sure where you read / heard that but that's not true. They're not crazy about X&Y (some, not all if it) but I've never heard them say anything negative about their wonderful debut album. ctober 2014 / submitted by Alana, Ireland Q. Hello Oracle, nerdy question alert. Did Chris learn singing technique to avoid getting polyps on his vocal chords? He has a great range but I can't imagine the strain all that falsetto, particularly live, puts on his voice. I used to sing, and my teacher had this problem. Told you it was nerdy. Thanks AlanaTHE ORACLE REPLIES > That's not a nerdy question; it's a fair one. Chris has various techniques for looking after his voice and in fact, Will, Jonny & Guy also have a specific warm-up regime before every show. Chris also uses steam before and, where possible, after a show. 22 October 2014 / submitted by Janet, United Kingdom Q. Do you think Coldplay will ever release some songs that do not have Chris as the main vocals? In some of their current songs you can faintly hear the other band members sing melody, and I was just wondering if they will possibly get a solo. Thanks! THE ORACLE REPLIES > Never say never. As mentioned recently, Will has taken the lead & who knows, may again. I honestly doubt Jonny & Guy would - though as you probably know, both can and do sing. Obviously, Will, Jonny & Guy are not the lead vocalists of Coldplay and while it's unlikely it could happen but not as a regular change. Not counting The Beatles or Oasis who shared vocalists, there have been times when another member of a band has sung - Roger Taylor from Queen for example. 23 October 2014 / submitted by Adam, United Kingdom Q. Dear Oracle, has Chris ever forgot lyrics to songs while performing live? THE ORACLE REPLIES > Oh yes, that's happened so many times! Chris generally stops the song and starts again. There are certain songs that Chris has repeatedly forgotten parts of which given he wrote them, is quite a funny - and perhaps surprising - thing to happen. October 2014 / submitted by Anonymous, Thailand Q. Dear Oracle, I was on the plane the other day and, browsing through the in-flight music on my mini-screen, saw there was an album of Coldplay songs... but they were referred to as "spa versions". They sounded very strange, with Chris's singing replaced with synthesized flutes and stuff. Is this an official CD?! Best wishes from Thailand :)THE ORACLE REPLIES > No, it's not official. The only official Coldplay CDs are those that Coldplay themselves perform - see our Recordings section. Any instrumental pan pipe* renditions are simply covers that are used for relaxation purposes. There are other CDs that feature Coldplay songs in a different style, such as lullaby versions for babies. 23 October 2014 / submitted by Maximilian, United States of America Q. What time on average does the band wake up to start the day? Who are the night owls and early birds of the group? THE ORACLE REPLIES > When the band are touring, there are sometimes later nights than usual. At home though, they are less night owls though Chris famously doesn't sleep well. Anyone who has a young family will tell you, you're automatically an early riser to get breakfast and do the school run, even if you do go to bed late.

17 October 2014 / submitted by Ivana, Italy Q. TEAM ORACLE QUESTION #189 In the last months my life seems to be a bit flat. I often feel sad, weak, empty. It's like something's missing, maybe happiness. I really need to change the situation because I don't think I would stand it any longer. What can I do? THE ORACLE REPLIES > I don't want to diagnose you because I haven't got enough information to go off and I'm not qualified to. It sounds like you're going through a slump but perhaps you should speak to your doctor in case there are underlying health causes (a blood test could eliminate certain things for example) or maybe you're suffering with depression. As I'm sure I have said before, sometimes when there are few things going wrong in life, it is quite easy to then add other things to that list so it appears everything is in a negative state. Try to look at individual parts of your life and find the positives. If you have a job you hate - change it. If you have friends who bring you down - change them. If you're in a relationship you're not happy in - get out of it. What I'm trying to say is you can change some things. You may not know how to change things but if you know what needs changing, that's a start. If you think you do know deep down what the problem is but don't know how to fix it, try talking to someone. I always find speaking out loud - even to myself - helps work out any issues. If you can book an appointment with a counsellor. Surround yourself with people you like and do things you enjoy to keep your mind occupied. Read, write, listen to music and get in touch with your inner thoughts & emotions. Keep hydrated, eat well and take regular exercise to keep your body healthy and active. Exercise will also help produce endorphins that are known to promote positive feelings. You could also try something new, start a challenge, get involved in a project, support a cause close to your heart. They could all be great ways to inspire and motivate you. I hope that helps. Over to you. I used to feel the same way in the summer of 2012 after the Olympics ended. I felt that there is nothing to enjoy at all so I started picking up an instrument and play. Point I'm trying to make is that if you feel quite free or vacant you may pick up something to learn, for instance an instrument or learn languages or a sport and try to kill the barriers if you're shy. Try to get out in the open to a place you frequently go to and make friendships. It helped me so much. Best of luck. Erin. Ivana, you should listen to Charlie Brown an be a cartoon heart! Heidi. It's hard to find something to say because I don't know what's your specific problem. It depends on your age. If you're a teenager I probably know how you feel, I'm 20 and I finished school two years ago but while I was a student I always felt like that, especially my last two years in school, that's when you feel the pressure of everyone around you trying to you to make the right decision and you don't know what to do with your life. My advice to every teenager out there feeling like this, is to take a year after school to have some extra time to just being with yourself, to find a small job (to know how is it to have real responsibilities and to learn how to save money). After that year I promise, you will know what you really want to do because you won't feel the pressure everyone on school was putting on you. If you're an adult, I encourage you to talk to someone close about it, and maybe make some little changes on your life, changing your everyday-routine, going for a walk, adopt a pet, meet new people, read books of your interest, maybe find a new job, maybe you work too hard that it is taking your free time away (and your happiness). You will see how things get better. Daniela, Chile I can relate to that in a very strong manner. About two months ago and every now and then I feel this way. Sometimes it's just stress. If so I just try to distance myself as much as possible from all potential stress and soon it vanishes. But sometimes it really isn't that simple. I then find myself on a quest for happiness, looking at the glass half full even when there isn't one, trying to imagine all the positive things about life in the worst situations and trying to understand confusing realities. Sometimes it helps to let all my feelings go, either by drawing or singing along with my favourite Coldplay songs, whatever makes me happy. Look at life in a beautiful manner, try to shred whatever makes you sad and let the ribbons drift for all to see. Think about everything as a reason to smile and let those negative feelings go, they won't help you at all. I hope you are able to see life the way everyone should see it, in beautiful colour. Solaf. It's hard to answer this without knowing more about you, Ivana, but you just have to follow your passion! Chase whatever it is that ignites that little spark in you. And if you're like me and don't know exactly what that is yet, go out and find it! Try new things, go to new places, meet new people, eventually we'll stumble upon something great! Sam. Sometimes, all we need is just to release what's on our mind. Just do your best, and never expect for the best result. When there's no hope, there's no disappointment. So then you're on your way to become a free soul. Sarah. It seems to me that you may feel as though your life is missing meaning. Don't worry, dearest, everyone goes through that feeling at least once in their life. Sometimes it feels as though you're trapped on the forest floor even though you want to be soaring high above the trees. Sometimes in life we forget to see the beauty and wonder that lies on the forest floor. Even in the quiet, still moments, life can still hold meaning, we just may have to search harder to find it. If it's happiness you're after, seek happiness in the little things as well as the big ones. Life gives us little gifts to get us through the day, but we have to choose to receive them. If you find that you no longer have any happiness around you, look harder. Maybe it's in your favorite outfit, a little mug of tea, a favorite place to go, or a special movie that you love. Rather than saying, "There is nothing around me that makes me happy," find those things that do make you happy and focus all of your energy on them. Sometimes we also get stuck in a rut of feeling like we aren't doing anything meaningful with our lives. If you feel that way, reevaluate your life. Are you doing what you love? Is it fulfilling to you? If the answer is no, then seek something that does feel meaningful. That could change your entire life. Live well, Ivana. Brooke. Do you have a roof over your head? Food? Water? Good. This should make you happy instantly. For being sad, weak and empty and missing something I can only tell, now that we know and you know, you can't unknow it! Be present to life, what it offers you. It is the little things. Often we have too much, think too much, do too much. Let go. Do what you like. Smile. Laugh. Love. Sing. Dance. Life is endless. Live it now! Take care. Be well! Tanja. You say that you need to change a situation. It's good that you ask for advice and that is one important step. But first of all, you have to WANT to change a situation. That desire and decision you need to put into yourself. When you decide to work for it, things will going to change. Maybe you should start with some steps: - write on a paper WHAT is really missing? (health, job, friendship, love relationship, courage, marks at school/university, self-confidence, communication with parents ect.) When you define things, here comes the next step: WHEN did it start? WHY it is happening to you; try to find some reason for missing a thing or having a problem. Then try to write POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS for your problem: who can you talk to (family, friends, professional help) and what you can do by yourself. Without defining a problem it is difficult to change it. Always believe it is possible to change and have a beautiful life filled with joy and happiness. "Don't panic, everything's not lost." Wishing you all the best, Kamili from Croatia. I can relate to your feelings, cause I am going through hard time last months too. I often think I couldn't stand it any longer. What helps me is listening a lot to Coldplay . Searching happiness in simple things of life like sitting / walking in the sun, swimming, meeting & talking friends, laughing whenever I can. I tell myself sun will shine again some day. You only can get stronger going through this hard time. It's often beyond your power to change a difficult situation, you only can try to do the best of the situation. Step by step. Good luck !! Love from Germany, Maren. First of all you should try and find out what changed. Why does your life feel flat now and why do you feel sad now? You say you've been experiencing these feelings for a few months, which means you haven't always had them. What did you do before that made you feel happy about your life, that you've now lost? A lot of people feel the way you do because they're 'stuck'. They've been doing the same things/routines for years and are not really living the life they'd hoped for. If that's the case, the best thing to do is break the routine. Find something you like and are passionate about. Have you always wanted to learn how to play the guitar? Get guitar lessons. Join a sports club, try to meet some new people. There's got to be something you'd really love to do, no matter how silly or impossible it may seem, don't ignore your feelings. Doing something you actually like will bring you happiness and before you know it those sad and empty feelings will go bye bye. Good luck! Amanda The first thing you need to do is get reflective on recent events in your life and define how you feel about them. Have recent events been pleasant or did something happen that set you back? Also determine your overall level of satisfaction in your personal life and your work life. Do you spend time with friends? If so, do you feel included, valued and genuinely cared for? Also, if you are in a relationship, are you happy with them? Do you find more positives than negatives? Also, regarding you work life do you feel like someone at your job cares about you? Do you feel that you receive adequate recognition for doing your job? After you have done this, you will have identified some aspects of your life that that may be bringing you down. Then it is time to take action. If your friends are bringing you down either tell them or forget about them. If your relationship is more like a life sentence than sharing a life. Move on. If your work and work place don't make you happy or feel important. Make a move or take action. Feedback to others is key. Openness and candor are important. If thoughts, feelings and opinions are not shared...then nobody knows what you need, feel or want. Quite honestly, if you don't put anything out there you will not get anything back. That in itself can make you feel blah. If you think that you may be depressed... talk to your doctor. The strongest people are the ones who actually ask for help... you posted to us now "post" to yourself and those with whom you care to inform. Take care. Marcia. Thanks to all those who replied to this week's question. Remember, Team Oracle is open to anyone so if you fancy replying, click to read this week's, and send us your answer. 20 October 2014 / submitted by Tricia, United Kingdom Q. Mabuhay from Philippines, O! I hope you're grand. :) Anyway, I have a question. I've been playing the QuizUp app and took the Coldplay quiz. There's this one question that says "which among these is Coldplay's music album?" I didn't get it right because I am not sure if Coldplay has released a Christmas album, all I know is that they released Christmas Lights and it was only available through digital download. Is there anything I'm missing? Tricia. THE ORACLE REPLIES > There has never been a Christmas album; only a single - Christmas Lights. I don't follow any Coldplay quizzes so without seeing the exact question / possible answers myself, I can't be more specific. If you check the Recordings section, you can see all the official releases. 20 October 2014 / submitted by Natalia, Mexico Q. Hello Oracle! First of all, thank you for existing. My question is, How can I get over my computer obsession? I spent like 5 or 6 hours just sitting in front of my laptop and I do have things to do but I get easily distracted and is ruining my school life. Thank you :) THE ORACLE REPLIES > It's increasingly difficult to put technology down these days. Many of us have smartphones, tablets, laptops that we're practically permanently attached to. Whether we're messaging, surfing, playing games, emailing or watching / listening to media it's a very technology driven world. The only suggestion I have is to practice the discipline of switching off & concentrating on the task at hand. Timetable your day and incorporate laptop free time. I also find it hard to not check my phone when I get a new notification or I want to check something that crops up in conversation etc. but it's habit. I have started to get into a new habit of putting my phone into airplane mode, or mobile calls only or switching to silent, especially when I'm with friends. It can be really anti-social when someone is fiddling on their device while you're trying to have a real life moment. I find it incredibly rude. If you need your laptop for schoolwork, try to wean off the distractions. Like any addiction, you will probably find it too hard to stop immediately. Maybe you can set an alarm so that every hour or two, you can have 10 minutes of surfing the web within your work session. Use it as a reward system. Once your schoolwork is done, your treat is surfing time. If there are things you have to do that are away from home, try to sometimes leave your laptop / technology at home. If not, turn the power off and put it out of sight. The more you do something, the easier it becomes. 20 October 2014 / submitted by Juan, Argentina Q. Hi there Oracle! First of all I'd like to thank you for taking the time to write back to us every day, I really enjoy reading this section. So here is my question: who plays the instruments that the guys don't play on the live performances? Or do they have a pre-recorded track for those instruments? Thank you! I hope you come to Argentina soon! THE ORACLE REPLIES > They're pre-recorded with the exception of Matt McGinn playing guitar from off stage on occasion. Notably during Yellow on a tour that Chris put his guitar down in favour of hands-free.

15 October 2014 / submitted by Oscar, Mexico Q. Hello dear Oracle My question is: is considered Rainy Day a part of Viva La Vida due to the similarity of sound? THE ORACLE REPLIES > Rainy Day was recorded during the Viva la Vida sessions but didn't make it on to the album. Along with other tracks that didn't - but almost did - it featured on the Prospekt's March EP. The EP is like an extension of Viva and the Deluxe Edition actually included Prospekt's March. 15 October 2014 / submitted by Shady, Egypt Q. Hello Oracle! I know it may be a bit old, but would the band ever consider recording Sweet Marianne? THE ORACLE REPLIES > I wouldn't think that songs from the past will ever be recorded if they haven't been already. As Sweet Marianne wasn't ever released, it probably won't see the light of day (again). 15 October 2014 / submitted by Michael , United States of America Q. Hey O. I was curious about what songs the guys have and haven't played live. My question is, what songs haven't the guys played live, ever? THE ORACLE REPLIES > In a way, it's a lot easier to just tell you what they have played. Here's a comprehensive list and anything not on it, they didn't play ;-) 16 October 2014 / submitted by Patricia, United States of America Q. Hey Oracle! My burning question is one that involves a boy. I have been dating a boy for about 3 months now, and everything was going along perfectly smoothly. That is until I found out he is still texting with his ex-girlfriend. I am trying to understand, I mean they did date for about 5 years. I don't want to break up with him, but I don't like that he texts her. I asked him to stop and he said that it is part of who he is, he can't just abandon people from his past. What should I do? Thanks for any help! Much love from Texas! THE ORACLE REPLIES > He's with you, not her, they are ex for a reason. I'm sorry to put this bluntly, you can't expect him to stop doing something because of your insecurities and he's right to refuse. It's your problem, not his. However, if you've explained how you feel, at least he's aware and may be respectful of that because of course, it IS important how you feel. At least he's not sneaking around behind your back. He's being open about someone he considers a friend. If you can't handle it, you may have to let him go. I'm afraid if you don't find a way to be ok with it, you will drive him away. Two other things.... I have friends I don't see now because of their partner not allowing it and that's not because of any relationship history. It's very sad but I respect their decision even though I disagree. One of my friends always remained close with her ex after they split up. They realized they made better friends than partners so much so, she invited him to her wedding! It can work, just try and find out how it can for you. 16 October 2014 / submitted by Marion, France Q. Hi Oracle! I would like to ask you a question I hope you can answer. I wanted to know if the guys get their friends and families to listen to their new records before their official release, or if they make them wait like everybody else, maybe to keep some surprise ;) Thanks a lot! THE ORACLE REPLIES > It's not about keeping it as a surprise; it's about sharing and asking for feedback. Family & friends - not a great number of people - are asked for their opinion but the band still don't often invite people to the studio while they are recording. Most songs are fully formed and finished when played to anyone. 16 October 2014 / submitted by Marion, France Q. Hi Oracle! I would like to ask you a question I hope you can answer. I wanted to know if the guys get their friends and families to listen to their new records before their official release, or if they make them wait like everybody else, maybe to keep some surprise ;) Thanks a lot! THE ORACLE REPLIES > It's not about keeping it as a surprise; it's about sharing and asking for feedback. Family & friends - not a great number of people - are asked for their opinion but the band still don't often invite people to the studio while they are recording. Most songs are fully formed and finished when played to October 2014 / submitted by Paddy, Ireland Q. Coldplay how are you? Hope all's well. Quick question, I play a lot of trad folk music. When I listen to you guys especially when you strip the songs down in an acoustic style I get a sense of an Irish folk sound at times. Are you guys influenced by trad? Multiple guitar tunings are used in trad to get that droning sound. Also who is the Christy Moore fan and what is Coldplay's favourite Christy Moore song? Ps loving the new songs! THE ORACLE REPLIES > I'd say the band are influenced by all genres of music not traditional folk specifically but it's Will who is the biggest Christy Moore fan - always has been. I'm afraid I don't know which is his / their favourite track but they chose to perform Ride On (written by Jimmy McCarthy) with Christy at Oxegen festival back in 2011. 17 October 2014 / submitted by The Oracle, United Kingdom Q. WHO'D LIKE TO JOIN TEAM ORACLE? As you may know, we have a weekly feature, Team Oracle, whereby each Friday we open questions of a personal nature to all of you to answer too. Then, the following Friday, I post a selection of the best answers, alongside my own reply. ANYONE can join in so, if you'd like to, please email your response to the following question, in no more than 250 words, to [email protected] before midnight Thursday 23 October. Well, from all this year I have feel so alone, like literally alone because maybe don't like me or because I am different but I really don't know a main reason of why people around me treat me so in this bad way, including my family. I feel like the the stupid girl everyone knows and ignores and they make joke on me and insult me and if I do something like for defending myself they over attack and shout at me and make me feel so sad. I have to hold all these feeling until I arrive home and lock on my bathroom and cry, because if I cry in my room my grandma and sister will see me and will make fun of it. Sometimes I talk about that with my grandma who I have live with her since I moved to Ecuador (I born in Brooklyn NY but all my family are from Ecuatorians) and tell her that please don't act that way that she is like a mom but the only thing she reply me is "I am not your mom, your mom is dead, if you don't like it here, the door are all the time open for you to leave." And it is horrible because she was my mom's mom and that is really horrible. I don't have a close friend to talk about this because every person I have met on school had treat me bad and ignores me and I am always trying to be kind at them. I feel hated and I don't know why. Thanks God this is my last year of High School and I am going to try to walk away from people who are like that to me but I can't go away from my house and go to another country because I am scared to death that while the time I am in another country my grandma die and I won't be able to be with her. This can be strange because of the way she is to me but anyway I love her and I would consider myself a monster if I am not with her until her last days. So, I know this is really confusing but I really feel lost. Moving with my dad to NY would be worse. I feel that no one understands me. The only person I kinda trust is my sister but like I said before, she later makes fun of me and that makes me feel so miserable with life. Karolyn, Ecuador. Look forward to reading your replies. The Oracle. THE ORACLE REPLIES > Please email your replies with TEAM ORACLE in the subject line to [email protected] Including your twitter address may result in a follow back.

13 October 2014 / submitted by Taylor, United States of America Q. Hey Oracle! Two questions (the latter formed whilst thinking of the first). One, would you happen to have one of the 500* (I think) copies of the Safety EP? I only ask because of your more than likely closer ties to the band than most people or fans. Two, would you consider Safety EP the hardest Coldplay paraphernalia to get? *I'd suppose, because it's from their early days when they weren't well known, that some might have not thought it up to par and trashed it (this is a scary thought). THE ORACLE REPLIES > One - yes, I do. It's named as a separate item on my home insurance as possibly the single highest value item I own. Two - Yes, absolutely, due to its limited number. There was only one pressing - unlike the Fierce Panda Brothers & Sisters EP that a had a re-run. As Coldplay were unknown it may have been "lost" in the great number of demos that DJs, press, label personnel receive but I doubt any would have been thrown away once heard - even by those who didn't love it, including the A&R man who eventually signed them. Family & friends also got copies but I suspect quite a few went stray one way or another so doubt there are even 500 copies out there. 14 October 2014 / submitted by Millie, United Kingdom Q. Hey Oracle, I heard that the song The Goldrush all members sing a verse each. Is this true? If so, who sings which verse? Thank you! :) THE ORACLE REPLIES > I don't think that's correct. Will sings the first verse, Chris sings the second and Guy & Jonny are singing backing vocals throughout. I've spoken about The Goldrush before, if you check using the search field on the right. 14 October 2014 / submitted by Andrea, Peru Q. So I was searching on wikipedia and I take a look of all songs written by Chris... and no! There are a few of Coldplay songs, did Chris writes all the songs or what? Thanks! THE ORACLE REPLIES > I think I understand your question. Chris wrote all Coldplay songs bar one - Sweet Marianne*, written by Will - though the band all have song writing credits.

Here is an interesting article from Consequence of Sound http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/10/the-big-c3-sale-live-nation-purchase/ [h=1]The Big C3 Sale: What does Live Nation’s purchase mean for the future of festivals?[/h] [h=2]Festival Outlook[/h] by Michael Roffman,Dan Bogosian,Philip Cosores,Derek Staples and Nina Corcoran on October 22, 2014, 1:00pm 1 comment Photography by Heather Kaplan Welcome to Festival Outlook, a new supplemental column that will provide more in-depth analysis for the rumors found on Consequence of Sound’s Festival Outlook. In this installment, CoS staffers Michael Roffman, Dan Bogosian, Philip Cosores, Derek Staples, and Nina Corcoran discuss and contemplate how the rumored takeover of independent concert promoter C3 Presents by Live Nation Entertainment could forever change the American festival circuit. Michael Roffman (MR): Earlier this month, word leaked that Live Nation Entertainment “is in advanced talks to buy a majority stake” in C3 Presents, the promoter behind Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and several other music festivals. Naturally, this sale would have an incredible impact on the festival circuit, namely two of the Big Four festivals. By taking a closer look, what do you think its impact will be? Many of our readers joked about seeing Pitbull, Lady Antebellum, or Bruno Mars as headliners, but really, is that a stretch? Will the changes, if any, affect the general population? Dan Bogosian (DB): I don’t think it’ll be quite as strange as Lady Antebellum headlining Lollapalooza, but it’s certainly going to make an impact. Over the past few years, the well of viable headliners seems to have run dry (Outkast headlines everywhere in 2014, Red Hot Chili Peppers command the first name on a poster almost every other year, etc); by taking out one more creative mind and enabling the super-conglomerate that is Live Nation to have more pull, what good is really happening? I’m more worried about how this hurts small tours and lower-level bands (“No, you can’t play Chicago. Lollapalooza or bust. Love, Live Nation.”), but this will definitely affect music fans and not in a good way. Philip Cosores (PC): Maybe I’m naive, but I really don’t think it will change much for the music fan. Lolla has already had Lady Gaga as a headliner, so we are lying to ourselves if we think Pitbull is a big jump from that. Do we really think Live Nation is unaware of a hip band or doesn’t have music industry experts in office? I actually know the people who work there in LA, and they are pretty cool. So yeah, I’m gonna say it will be the same festival, with pricier t-shirts and water. MR: Well, that was a fun debate. [Laughs.] While I also don’t think we’ll be seeing Pitbull or Lady Antebellum, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a stronger focus on more established fare. But really, that’s already happened in years past, what with the injection of EDM at ACL and Lollapalooza, so you’re probably right, Philip, in that there won’t be too much of a change that we haven’t already seen happening. But what concerns me is that this purchase also further pushes Live Nation into the festival market, which, at least to me, has always been a counterpoint to attending overpriced concerts and dealing with nightmare ticketing charges and yada, yada, yada. While tickets have been sky high for both of C3’s major festivals, and also ridiculously hard to grab, I only see that situation worsening with this sale. Nina Corcoran (NC): Live Nation sticking its nose into these festivals is really just giving us a bully to blame. Lollapalooza gets more “mainstream” every year with headliners who dominate the iPods (RIP) of casual music listeners (for now, we can define this as someone who goes to three shows a year and only checks music blogs when someone sends them a link). From The Black Keys (2012) to The Killers (2013) to Calvin Harris (2014), it’s a festival that boasts entertaining but easy-to-see-elsewhere headliners. With Live Nation hopping along for the ride, and possibly getting too aggressive with the steering wheel, I can’t help but imagine the backseat view will look pretty much the same, except for the price tags — and far too many people won’t see those price tags as abominable. Casual music fans are used to ordering single-show tickets through Live Nation, paying $20+ fees, and watching the show via a pixelated screen since their seats are miles away from the stage. If people aren’t comparing ticket stubs, will Live Nation’s ridiculous fee increases keep attendance numbers down when attendees are used to paying that music for individual concerts anyway? Derek Staples (DS): I imagine that any price increase would be spun as a way to “improve the overall experience.” Thus playing up the new #FOMO phenomenon that keeps revelers showing up to see the same headliners festival after festival. And the more activations that Live Nation can squeeze into Grant Park, across Zilker Park, and the numerous other international C3 events, the more real estate for brand partners and sponsors to pitch new goods. While this will be a massive benefit for the bottom line of Live Nation and its family of brands, who must answer to shareholders, it certainly restricts these festivals from taking risks while curating lineups. As discussed earlier, this might not affect the bills of the major festivals, but it could lead to significant changes in the overall culture of a niche festival like Wanderlust. As these events clear out the checking accounts of all the fans, I really do fear for the niche festivals that are trying to compete in a market place now dominated by Live Nation, AEG, and SFX. Lacking competitive marketing budgets and the ability to snag top-tier talent, this purchase could be the death knell for those promoters who truly put the time and effort into incubating new, inspiring artists. DB: It’s more than just the marketing budgets and the potential death of smaller promoters to me. Live Nation handles most of their tours as packages, so you don’t get a one-off date in Philadelphia; you get Live Nation in Boston, Hartford, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and so forth. I fear this makes Lollapalooza the Chicago summer one-off, sort of how you aren’t going to find a lot of bands playing Austin in February or April because of South by Southwest. It seems like a bad thing for anyone who is interested in bands that play $20-40 shows and not $75 shows, and that’s me. PC: But isn’t that already true? Isn’t it Lolla or P4K, or “they played last year?” NC: Exactly. A lot of these fears are pretty much present facts. Live Nation stepping in just makes it easier for us to focus our blame. One of the few worries mentioned that hasn’t happened yet is Derek’s point about niche festivals. That’s where the most change will occur. Watching Wanderlust’s curators struggle to put out a finely crafted lineup that brings in the money thanks to Live Nation’s rules would be sad. Focused entertainment has an audience, and they’re willing to pay. It’s just a matter of the dates and distance lining up with their lifestyle. Maybe Wanderlust and Counterpoint will have to follow in Moogfest’s footsteps and go bi-annual. Is that bad, though? Are we being spoiled with the abundance of annual festivals? Live Nation’s chomping jaws could be a little more charming if that’s the case. MR: That’s a bigger question altogether and one that doesn’t necessarily fall on Live Nation. Over the year, we’ve discussed at great lengths in this column the value of EDM, the risks of certain headliners, and the saturated festival market. With regards to the niche festivals, they’re always going to be skating under the chopping block, simply because that’s their nature — they exist on the fringe. Festivals need to gather tens of thousands of people to prove not only successful but sustainable. So, in that avenue, I don’t think Live Nation is at all to blame. I guess what terrifies me about Live Nation’s takeover is something that doesn’t actually affect anyone else: behind-the-scenes work. As an editor, I’ve worked long and hard in keeping certain contacts within each festival, and there are certain agreements each year that have been in rotation for a long time. My concern, then, is that with Live Nation stepping in, I wonder if those are at risk. In other words, will our own coverage be affected? Will we still be able to retain the level of access we get to artists? The number of passes for writers and photographers? It’s likely that will all stay the same, but who knows. Again, it’s not something that affects the general festivalgoing population, but from an editorial standpoint … absolutely. I guess my last question would be: What constitutes as a monopoly anymore? DS: Certainly a point I hadn’t considered, Mike. Now I am fearful that Live Nation will institute obligatory coverage of their talent roster just so outlets can be considered for credentials for their top-tier events. Such parameters could certainly lead to a vertical monopoly, with Live Nation dabbling in artist management, event production, ticketing, and, subsequently, how that content is disseminated across mass media and the blogosphere. With so many publications clamoring to cover these fests and bring in the digital traffic they promise, this could very well impact coverage plans for the negative. And as discussed earlier, by controlling two of the four major American music festivals and dictating proximity clauses, they definitely have the power to raise prices across their events — the very definition of a horizontal monopoly. Then again, it seems most of the major festivals have been colluding on tickets prices for years. To play devil’s advocate for a moment, with the media industry already dominated by a handful of major enterprises, maybe integrating into a monopolistic structure is the only way for the remaining players to survive. Not even implying all positive, but is it possible the likes of Clear Channel have kept a few stations open and DJs employed? NC: That’s an excellent point and brings more attention to the extremity and scope of behind-the-scenes work at festivals. With PR firms in general already having such a massive roll in deciding which acts get buzz prior to events even occurring, the possible parameters Live Nation could put in place for festival coverage can increase that conformity even more. It’s almost like places like Clear Channel are a necessary evil. Some of the sweet spots get taken down, but ultimately the indie stations, and in this case the small charms of festivals, get to live on thanks to a bigger parental company swooping in to support them. Sub Pop leans on Warner Music; Interscope leans on Universal; 4AD leans on Beggars. If Live Nation does buy a majority stake in C3 Presents, I imagine Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and their other festivals will get a thorough cleaning. Yeah, ticket prices will likely go up, acts will get a bit more commercial, and coverage may be altered, but I can’t help but picture it making the festival run smoother overall — and that’s something fans, press, and acts can agree adds for a little less stress in the inevitable chaos of festivals.

This is frickin Freddie fabulous <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4vWChPYkuwA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

so happy you got it! world record timing on shipping from NY to you!

I did it yesterday, God I hate group messages!!! ughhhhhh. I normally delete them as soon as they are done grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

<iframe style="width: 1px; height: 0px; border: medium none; position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" allowtransparency="true" scrolling="no" id="twitter-widget-0" frameborder="0"></iframe> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Pre-order Ghost Stories Live 2014 from iTunes & get Ink (Live) plus a new live video of Always In My Head today. A <a href="https://t.co/fXMZkZxAz3">https://t.co/fXMZkZxAz3</a></p>— Coldplay (@coldplay) <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplay/status/524626475056906240">October 21, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> At a time when so many things seem crazy, here is a really incredible positive development in the world http://t.co/Y1TH9r4wge. Love c m — Coldplay (@coldplay) October 21, 2014 <script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><iframe style="display: none;" allowtransparency="true" scrolling="no" id="rufous-sandbox" frameborder="0"></iframe>

Well said

Very excited for my fav song off the album, Ghost Story to have a vid. I picture images in my mind for the song, but will love to know how the band will interpret it into a visual

chocolate

She found out about it gave him a lashing, ppl complained about it and then he took it down. but only then, said something about he did not know why he posted them, blah blah, blah. He is so lame.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GhostStoriesLive2014?src=hash">#GhostStoriesLive2014</a> live album contains songs recorded in London, Sydney, Paris, NYC, Cologne and LA. <a href="http://t.co/wh652Pfnj9">http://t.co/wh652Pfnj9</a> A</p>— Coldplay (@coldplay) <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplay/status/524107783936159744">October 20, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Confirmation des présences de <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplay">@coldplay</a> et <a href="https://twitter.com/davidguetta">@davidguetta</a> aux NRJ Music Awards <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NMA?src=hash">#NMA</a></p>— NRJ Music Awards (@NRJMusicAward) <a href="https://twitter.com/NRJMusicAward/status/524108493956333568">October 20, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Here's the artwork for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GhostStoriesLive2014?src=hash">#GhostStoriesLive2014</a> concert film & live album (out 24 Nov on CD/DVD/Blu-ray/digital). A <a href="http://t.co/nOOlfDPicW">pic.twitter.com/nOOlfDPicW</a></p>— Coldplay (@coldplay) <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplay/status/524114021466001408">October 20, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>For those asking, only big difference between CD+DVD & DVD+CD of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GhostStoriesLive2014?src=hash">#GhostStoriesLive2014</a> is the size/shape of the box <a href="http://t.co/KjEXZrntX4">http://t.co/KjEXZrntX4</a> A</p>— Coldplay (@coldplay) <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplay/status/524144834266009600">October 20, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Preview Ink (Live at Le Casino de Paris) from the new <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GhostStoriesLive2014?src=hash">#GhostStoriesLive2014</a> concert film & live album… <a href="https://t.co/OiZeq17Uza">https://t.co/OiZeq17Uza</a> A</p>— Coldplay (@coldplay) <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplay/status/524171231764156417">October 20, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>If you pre-order the audio album of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GhostStoriesLive2014?src=hash">#GhostStoriesLive2014</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/iTunesMusic">@iTunesMusic</a>, you'll get Ink (Live) today. <a href="http://t.co/wh652Pfnj9">http://t.co/wh652Pfnj9</a> A</p>— Coldplay (@coldplay) <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplay/status/524174089142173696">October 20, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>You can pre-order the CD/DVD, DVD/CD and Blu-ray/CD versions of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GhostStoriesLive2014?src=hash">#GhostStoriesLive2014</a> from <a href="http://t.co/KjEXZrntX4">http://t.co/KjEXZrntX4</a>. A <a href="http://t.co/w7rUgBqwxb">pic.twitter.com/w7rUgBqwxb</a></p>— Coldplay (@coldplay) <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplay/status/524174775800057856">October 20, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Watch Ink from the new <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GhostStoriesLive2014?src=hash">#GhostStoriesLive2014</a> concert film: <a href="http://t.co/AAMJTM91hf">http://t.co/AAMJTM91hf</a>. (Pre-order CD/DVD/Blu-ray: <a href="http://t.co/KjEXZrntX4">http://t.co/KjEXZrntX4</a>). A</p>— Coldplay (@coldplay) <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplay/status/524273494939664384">October 20, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Pleased to announce the 24 Nov release of a new concert film / live album, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GhostStoriesLive2014?src=hash">#GhostStoriesLive2014</a>. Watch the trailer <a href="http://t.co/Ffg0mIfm8e">http://t.co/Ffg0mIfm8e</a> A</p>— Coldplay (@coldplay) <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplay/status/524105966598778880">October 20, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

here's the story http://jam.canoe.ca/Celebrities/2014/10/20/22018881-wenn-story.html?cid=rssentertainment

Perez Hilton just got in Trouuubbbbllleeee! Jlaw just threw some massive shade on him for postin the pics.

A man tweeted that the only difference was a bigger size box. I do no think they are offering two sizes in the states. I pre-ordered the physical dvd/cd and there was only one option I saw <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>For those asking, only big difference between CD+DVD & DVD+CD of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GhostStoriesLive2014?src=hash">#GhostStoriesLive2014</a> is the size/shape of the box <a href="http://t.co/KjEXZrntX4">http://t.co/KjEXZrntX4</a> A</p>— Coldplay (@coldplay) <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplay/status/524144834266009600">October 20, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I just love Monday Morning Wake Up tweets like this!

This year, the acclaimed Austin City Limits Television Show turns 40! The first show starred Willie Nelson and I know a few Coldplayers were quite up close and Personal when Coldplay played for this amazing show. Here is a great article from the Dallas Morning News with a cool interactive vid which includes Coldplay: http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/music/headlines/20141010-40-year-old-tv-show-austin-city-limits-helps-make-austin-hip.ece?1 By THOR CHRISTENSEN THOR CHRISTENSEN The Dallas Morning News Special Contributor [email protected]. Published: 10 October 2014 04:17 PM Updated: 10 October 2014 04:17 PM EditTouchShare There’s no denying the mammoth cultural impact wielded by the little ol’ show from Texas called Austin City Limits. As it marks its 40th anniversary this month with a star-studded PBS special and a new book, Austin City Limits has become the longest-running music series in American TV history and the only series to ever win a National Medal of Arts. It also helped transform Austin into arguably the hippest American city west of the Mississippi River, for better, and for worse: Without ACL, it’s hard to imagine the runaway success of the South By Southwest festivals and the ensuing population explosion, traffic jams and sky-high rents that now threaten to suck the very soul out of the self-anointed “Live Music Capital of the World.” “I feel guilty at times that we’ve encouraged too many people to move here,” says Terry Lickona, the show’s longtime producer. “I’ve talked to people who literally moved here after watching ACL because the show made Austin seem like the coolest place to live.” Yet as impressive as its legacy is, Austin City Limits faces an uncertain future and is in danger of being eclipsed by the annual music festival that piggybacked to fame on its name. Long-term success was the last thing on anyone’s mind when Willie Nelson taped the pilot episode of ACL on Oct. 17, 1974. The show was almost an afterthought — something to fill up the new PBS TV studio that had been built on the sixth floor of UT-Austin’s Communications Building B. But within a few years, it was a national hit on public TV, in part because it offered an authentic Tex-centric version of country music that most of America didn’t know existed. Before ACL, “country music more commonly evoked negative images, epitomized either as dangerous as the homicidal rapist hillbillies from 1972’s Deliverance, or as simple as the cornball hayseeds hiding in the fields on TV’s Hee Haw,” writes music professor and historian Tracey E.W. Laird in her new book Austin City Limits: A History (Oxford University Press). By the ’80s, the show expanded its scope to include the occasional non-country act like Bonnie Raitt, Los Lobos and Neil Young. And in the early 2000s, it opened the floodgates to acts ranging from Phish and the Pixies to Dallas’ own Polyphonic Spree. That move toward rock coincided with the 2002 launch of the Austin City Limits Music Festival — a separate entity run by concert promotion giant C3 Presents, which licenses the ACL name. The festival’s wildfire success made the TV show financially secure after years in which producers worried they didn’t have enough money to stay afloat for another season. “It’s been a two-way street,” Lickona says. “When the festival started, they desperately wanted to use our name, and ACL gave them instant credibility. And the success of the festival has increased the awareness of the show for younger people who used to think it was just something their parents watched.” In 2011, the TV show moved its stage — complete with the famous mock Austin skyline — into the new, 2,700-capacity ACL Live at the Moody Theater, a switch that generated even more cash flow thanks to the 100-or-so concerts that take place each year at the downtown venue. Yet while the cross-promotion has meant financial stability, it’s also triggered a midlife crisis of sorts. For a lot of people, the TV show is now an afterthought to Austin City Limits Music Festival, which has grown into a six-day, two-weekend behemoth that draws hundreds of thousands of people to Zilker Park. (This year’s festival ends Sunday.) Google “Austin City Limits” and the first thing that pops up is the festival, not the PBS show. And while the TV show’s increasingly rock-centric bookings have beefed up the ratings, they’ve also diluted the uniqueness of what was once a Texas-oriented program that championed country, folk and roots music. Acts from those genres are now the minority in a lineup that leans heavily on rock and pop acts like fun., Phoenix and Coldplay. But Lickona takes umbrage with critics who say Austin City Limits has become a generic showcase for what’s currently hip. “So-called indie music may be the mainstay of our format. But those are the people making the most original music today, whether it’s the Colombian singer Juanes or Wilco or Beck or Ryan Adams or the Black Keys,” he says. “These bands are unique in what they do. They are what ACLis today.” Of course, that’ll probably change tomorrow in the ever-evolving world of rock. But one aspect that isn’t likely to change is the very thing that makes ACL worth watching 40 years later: Its live concert format. In an ADD world full of three-minute videos, Austin City Limits is that rare outpost where you can watch an artist perform for 53 minutes straight. There are no props, no pyro, no giant stadiums packed with fans waving cellphones in the air. There are just musicians playing music, totally live and unfiltered. Whether you watch it on TV or online at acltv.com, the show looks pretty much the same as it did in 1974 when the Red Headed Stranger first walked onstage. “We’ve held steadfast to the original concept: Give our stage to an artist and capture them up close as they sing their heart out, play their ass off on guitar and do what they do best,” Lickona says. “It’s a simple idea, and nobody thought it would last more than a couple of years,” he says. “Little did they know.” Thor Christensen is a Dallas writer and critic. http://acltv.com/2014/08/12/acl-announces-season-40-broadcast-tv-schedule/ ACL Announces Season 40 Broadcast TV Schedule Today Austin City Limits is proud to unveil our milestone 40th season, celebrating a four-decade run with more legendary artists, innovators and highly anticipated debuts. Providing viewers with a front-row seat to the best in music performance for 40 years, we’ll return on Saturday, October 4th with an unforgettable hour-long set from an American original, musician/songwriter Beck. Prior to the season premiere, a primetime special honoring the program’s anniversary, Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years, airs Friday, October 3rd, 9-11pm ET on PBS Arts Fall Festival. Beck kicks off the celebratory season with an epic, career-spanning full-hour performance. One of the most creative artists of his generation, Beck shines in an exceptionally entertaining hour, showcasing a mix of vintage fan favorites and more recent gems. On the next installment, British sensation Ed Sheeran makes his ACL debut in a must-see episode that features the breakout star performing his entire set solo acoustic. Sheeran exudes the raw talent that propelled him to the top of the charts, with charged versions of hits from his landmark debut and new songs from the chart-topping follow-up release. Acclaimed Memphis singer-songwriter Valerie June shares the bill, making a captivating ACL debut with her starry-eyed roots music. Legendary industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails make a rare television appearance in an arena-worthy hour-long presentation that previewed in the spring to become one of ACL’s most talked about episodes. A season highlight is the return of ACL veteran Jeff Tweedy for a special hour. The Wilco leader showcases his first-ever solo project Tweedy, performing a mix of new songs and Wilco classics joined by his son and special guests. Noir-rock outfit Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds make their ACL debut in a full-hour episode offering a memorable career-wide set powered by dark songs about love, death, God and fate. Music legends Los Lobos return to the ACL stage for their fifth appearance, with the influential and enduring East L.A. band celebrating their recent 40th anniversary alongside ACL’s. The new season boasts a number of highly anticipated debuts from music innovators: Breakout country star Eric Church, folk-rock wonders Thao & The Get Down Stay Down and acclaimed southern rock band J. Roddy Walston & The Business. ACL executive producer Terry Lickona says, “Anniversaries can seem trite and predictable, but this season is very special for me in so many ways. It represents 40 years of musical adventure and discovery. ACL fans have come to expect the unexpected, and we love it all. We celebrate our past, but we’re more excited about the future!” For the fourth consecutive year, the producers of Austin City Limits, in conjunction with High 5 Productions, and the Americana Music Association, are proud to present a special ACL Presents—featuring the best music performances from this year’s Americana Music Association Honors and Awards Ceremony held September 17th at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. Season 40 Fall Broadcast Schedule (additional episodes to be announced): October 4 Beck October 11 Ed Sheeran | Valerie June October 18 Nine Inch Nails October 25 Tweedy November 1 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds November 8 Los Lobos | Thao & The Get Down Stay Down November 15 Eric Church | J. Roddy Walston & The Business November 22 ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2014 The complete line-up for the full 13-week season, including new episodes to air beginning January 2015, will be announced at a later date. Check our news section for additional episode updates

I was posting it for more of the "Love Button" which I am a huge fan of :laugh3:

Love this tweet! <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>“<a href="https://twitter.com/gratizfaction">@gratizfaction</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/alberthammondjr">@alberthammondjr</a> who is your man crush” Two friends who I wish I saw more <a href="https://twitter.com/matthelders">@matthelders</a> and Guy from <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplay">@coldplay</a></p>— Albert Hammond, Jr. (@alberthammondjr) <a href="https://twitter.com/alberthammondjr/status/522830040489541633">October 16, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Guess who is sportin the Love Button? http://www.kpopstarz.com/articles/124758/20141016/jennifer-lawrence-and-chris-martin.htm the website is not letting me copy/paste the article here is another one http://www.celebuzz.com/2014-10-15/jennifer-lawrence-spotted-wearing-boyfriend-chris-martin-s-love-button/ Jennifer Lawrence took a piece of boyfriend Chris Martin on her trip to promote Serena. The 24-year-old actress was just landed in Los Angeles after her trip to the 2014 BFI London Film Festival. Cameras spotted Lawrence wearing a "LOVE" button on her bag, a button very similar to one Martin frequently wears. Maybe Martin gave it to Lawrence before she left on her trip? Cute! If you've ever seen a picture of Martin, chances are he's wearing this "LOVE" button in the photo. The 37-year-old Coldplay singer wears it constantly, he even has it in multiple colors! It looks like he gave his new girlfriend one of his buttons, because she was just spotted with it! After landing in Los Angeles, cameras spotted Lawrence with the button on her bag. Lawrence just returned home from a trip to promote her new movie, Serena. It was a big trip for her, because it was her first red carpet appearance since the nude photo hacking scandal. Maybe Martin gave it to her for good luck?

13 October 2014 / submitted by Christien , United States of America Q. During the small Ghost Stories tour, Coldplay had their old keyboard standing in the middle of their sets. Is there a reason they do that? Thanks again. THE ORACLE REPLIES > There's nothing on stage that they don't use - except when the set list is changed last minute. For example, when the band played the Enmore Theatre in Australia, the Reactable etc. were set up but they didn't have time to perform Midnight - in lieu of the Kylie duets - so the equipment wasn't used. 13 October 2014 / submitted by Pablo, United States of America Q. Hi dear Oracle! Does Ode to Deodorant count as an official Coldplay recording? Because in the recording section of the webpage I couldn't find it. Thank You!! Pablo. THE ORACLE REPLIES > No. The Recordings section of the site only includes official full releases of singles, E.Ps and albums. Demo recordings don't count - apart from Safety as this was still seen as a professional release despite it being a self-financed / self-released without a label.

10 October 2014 / submitted by The Oracle, United Kingdom Q. WHO'D LIKE TO JOIN TEAM ORACLE? As you may know, we have a weekly feature, Team Oracle, whereby each Friday we open questions of a personal nature to all of you to answer too. Then, the following Friday, I post a selection of the best answers, alongside my own reply. ANYONE can join in so, if you'd like to, please email your response to the following question, in no more than 250 words, to [email protected] before midnight Thursday 16 October. In the last months my life seems to be a bit flat. I often feel sad, weak, empty. It's like something's missing, maybe happiness. I really need to change the situation because I don't think I would stand it any longer. What can I do? Ivana, Italy. Look forward to reading your replies. The Oracle. THE ORACLE REPLIES > Please email your replies with TEAM ORACLE in the subject line to [email protected] Including your twitter address may result in a follow back. 10 October 2014 / submitted by Teresa, India Q. TEAM ORACLE QUESTION #188 Do you have a favourite line of lyrics from any of the Ghost Stories songs? And from any of the other era songs? Is there any particular line that always gets to you? Thanks in advance if you answer this! Love from India. THE ORACLE REPLIES > This was such a popular question, Teresa. It's so hard to look back over 16 years and choose one (as you will see below) so I'll go with the most recent. The first lyric that popped into my head anyway was "Tell me you love me, if you don't then lie, oh lie to me". The first time I heard that, it punched me in an animated Batman KAPOW painful way (True Love from Ghost Stories). I've mentioned before that I have always loved, "I'd rather be a comma than a full stop" from Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall (MX). It stood out immediately and I can relate to that. Even though I've had a week to think about it, I'm sure I'll kick myself later when another one comes to mind! Over to you. p.s. Teresa herself replied - see further down. My favourite Lyrics from the GS-Era is from the track Ghost Story, and my favourite line in that song: 'What's the point of feeling love for you when you don't believe I'm here?' Impossible love, a well-known problem. I think the way Coldplay connects a Ghost to people who are invisible to the person they love, is very cool. It is my favourite lyrics of all eras, though I also love Viva la Vida's lyrics. It's a lyric about the French Revolution (I think), which is one of my favourite aspects in history. In the French Revolution, the King was dethroned and killed, as well as all the nobility. Most of the stories tell that was good, but Coldplay lyrics shows the 'other side' of the story, in a beautiful way (with some awesome music). Isabelle, the Netherlands. Oh dear! Once I laid eyes on this question I couldn't help but think of -not one- but three of the most beautiful Coldplay lines that always get me shivering. One is "I wouldn't change a single thing" in Til Kingdom Come. It reminds me of how I strongly feel about Coldplay. The second line holds a very special place in my heart, since it saved my life from being taken away by myself. This is "I'll start before I can stop, or before I see things the right way up." in Speed of Sound. It made me realise that I hadn't even started living life and already wanted to end it, therefore changing my whole outlook on life. The third and final one, is the short and sweet lyrics to O part 2. "Oh, don't ever let go" I think of it whatever I am stressed or angry and it hits me so hard and makes me feel much stronger. I have so many more tales I can tell, due to Coldplay speaking in such metaphors that explain everything I go through in the journey of life. Due to bounds being put, I can only tell those. Stay lovely! Solaf. On Ghost Stories, I have so many favourite lines I couldn't possibly list them all. But a few include, Ink, "Just want a way of keeping you inside;" True Love, "Remember once upon a time/ When I was yours and you were blind/ A fire would sparkle in your eyes/ And mine;" A Sky Full of Stars, "I don't care, go on and tear me apart;" and the entire song of Always in my Head. Sorry I couldn't be more accurate, but it's just that I love Coldplay and every song line that comes with them. Victoria. Last year was my first year away from home at college, and I was feeling really torn up and homesick about it when I heard Midnight for the first time. 'Millions of miles from home' really summed up how I felt then, but it made me feel so comforted and secure to hear 'Leave a light on' because I know I'll always have a loving home to go back to. Emily. My favorite line is the one out of Magic. "Call it magic, call it true, when I'm next to you." This is the way I feel when our son Jazz was born. It felt like magic! Love from the Netherlands, Samantha. Yes I actually do have a favorite line from Ghost Stories Album. It's "I still believe in Magic, Yes I do, of course I do." Because I do believe that anything is possible and everything can happen if you have Determination and Positivity and all that. But the lyric that always gets to me is from "EVERY TEARDROP IS A WATERFALL" still from Coldplay, and it goes like this. "I feel my heart stop beating to my favorite song". I think you already know the answer why this is my lyric feels. Since I'm a huge fan of Coldplay and a music enthusiast every time I hear them (Coldplay or to "my other" favorite Bands e.g. Coldplay) on radio or see them on MTV or other music channels. I always feel like my heart skips a beat or (exaggerated may it seem) will pop out over my chest. So yep, I hope this answers your question. Wish you the best! :) Love, Shaine from Philippines! x 'Tell me you love me; if you don't, then lie.' This reminds me of my first relationship and my current one. I can't begin to describe what emotions are evoked when I listen to True Love: joy, pain, paranoia combined. Orlagh. The first time I heard Always in my Head, the last lyric stood out to me and made me tear up a little: "This, I guess, is to tell you you're chosen out from the rest." I really love it because I want someone to love me and always think of me like the song says. It just hit close to my heart when I hear it and think that I don't have someone to love me like that yet. But my all-time favorite lyric is from Lovers in Japan because it has been my saving grace on moments where I've felt like there was no hope or happiness: "Dreaming of the Osaka sun... dreaming of when the morning comes." It always reminds me that I have to keep on trying because it will get better. Love, Jo from the U.S. Death And All His Friends is the song that pulled me to love Coldplay, and I love the line "no I don't want to battle from beginning to end no I don't want to cycle or recycle revenge no I don't want to follow death and all of his friends" From Ghost Stories my favorite lyric is "tell me you love me. If you don't then lie. Lie to me" because it has so much emotion. Brooklynn. My favorite line of lyric of all time has to be "Questions of science, science and progress, do not speak as loud as my heart" from The Scientist. It hits home every time I hear it and is the reason that is my absolute favorite song. Sha. My favorite lyric from Ghost Stories is probably the chorus (I think) from Fly On (O). 'Fly on, ride through, maybe one day, I can fly with you...' Overall though, I'd have to say Parachutes is my favorite lyric-wise. 'In the haze, in the stormy haze, I'll be 'round, I'll be loving you always, always...' Taylor. From Ghost Stories my favourite lines are "My body moves, goes where I will / But though i try, my heart stays still" and "Fly on, ride through / Maybe one day I'll fly next to you". There's just something so simple about the lyrics from Ghost Stories that really gets me. Other than that, I think X&Y is the best album lyrically - I especially love the lyrics from Square One ("Under the surface trying to break through / Deciphering the codes in you"), White Shadows ("You're part of the human race / All of the stars in the outer space"), Fix You ("When you lose something you can't replace"), and Swallowed In The Sea ("And I could write a song / A hundred miles long"). Rhys. Where do I begin??? One lyric that spoke to me many years ago and was a catalyst for a huge life change, was a line from Fix You, "If you never try, you'll never know just what you're worth". Those lyrics spoke to me and caused me to embark on a path that led to me finding my wonderful husband. I could go on for an hour about how lyrics have touched me. Every era had lyrics I have loved but more recently ASFOS really came at an opportune time. I had been going through a depression and it honestly felt like a warm blanket around my troubled soul, even now as I face more challenges the line "cause you get lighter the more it gets dark" and "I think I see you" speak to me in dark moments. It is wonderful to feel connected to such lovely music. I hope it never ends. Laurie. Speaking about Coldplay lyrics, I want to name Green Eyes song. It is written purely about my feelings to one wonderful girl. In my time of difficulty she became a light I fell in love in, with her beautiful green eyes. No more words, just that I love her. "The green eyes, you're the one I always wanted to find". Andy, Odessa. I have so many favourite lyrics lines from every Coldplay Album, it's very hard to choose. Entire lyrics of Fix You. "I know that everything's not lost" - Everything's Not Lost. "Nobody said it was easy" - The Scientist. "Do you feel like a puzzle? You can't find your missing piece" - Talk. "Just because I'm losing Doesn't mean I'm lost" - Lost! "When she was just a girl, She expected the world, But it flew away from her reach, So she ran away in her sleep." - Paradise. "I'd rather be a comma than a full stop " - ETIAW. "A simple plot but I know one day Good things are coming our way " - Up with the birds. "And I call it magic And I call it true" - Magic. "Every time I try to walk through walls More walls appear What's the point of feeling love for you When you don't believe I'm here? What's the point of trying to raise your voice If no one ever hears? Every time I try to pull you close You disappear" - Ghost Story. "You want to stop before you begin You want to sink when you know you could swim You want to stop just before you begin Never give in; never give in" - Crests of Waves. "So fly on, ride through, maybe one day I'll fly next to you" - O. But one line means soo much to me from Ghost Stories hidden track... DON'T EVER LET GO. When I listened to Chris during Zane Lowe interview, it was very clear to me. I got a tattoo of these lyrics. Maren, Germany. I really like the way the line, "Tell me you love me, if you don't then lie" was delivered in True Love, both for what it says and the melody with which it is sung. It really does sting you when you hear that, doesn't it? My favourite line from all the albums so far though, would definitely have to be: "Bullets fly, split the sky. But that's alright, sometimes sunlight comes streaming through the holes." I've easily listened to this song at least 70 times and it still gives me goosebumps whenever I listen to that part. What an incredible line! Having said that, I think X & Y and Viva la Vida were the two albums where I saw Coldplay's lyrical best. Suhit. "Every one of is scared, everyone of us is hurt. Everyone of us has hope, for you." For You, Parachutes era. "Here I am and I'll wait in line, always..." Parachutes, Parachutes era. "So I crawl back into your open arms." Warning Sign, A Rush of Blood to the Head era. "Give me strength; reserve control..." Politik, A Rush of Blood to the Head era. "I tried to sing but I couldn't think of anything." The Hardest Part, X&Y era. Haya. "Tell me you love me, come back and hunt me" always gets me because it's so deep and beautiful, and I love it Bye, Rui. I threw this question up because one of the big reasons I've always loved Coldplay is their lyrics. Chris consistently manages to come up with the most beautiful metaphors and imagery that somehow describe exactly what someone is going through. You can't help but be moved when the words are so powerful and heartfelt. Parachutes holds a special place in my heart for the simple and strong message it carries. I also turn to Coldplay's music whenever I want to feel uplifted, or to be filled with hope, and the lyrics do just that: "...I came here with a load, and it feels so much lighter now I met you..." from Green Eyes, and this line from Amsterdam: "...stood on the edge, tied to the noose, you came along and you cut me loose..." That one is like a gut-punch every time I hear it. My all-time favourite lyrics, however, are from Moving to Mars. It's just one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. "Somewhere up above the stars The wreckage of a universe floats past Somewhere up above my heart A tiny little seed is sown, a government is overthrown, Who knows when we'll be coming home at last..." Thanks to everyone who shared their favourite lyrics! Love from India, Teresa. My most favourite line of lyrics from a Coldplay song are the last lines from Amsterdam: "Stood on the edge, tied to the noose. You came along, and you cut me loose." Two years ago I felt really depressed, I lost my mom due to cancer, and I just didn't know what to do with myself. Until I met the love of my life, my girlfriend. She managed to pull me through it, and I think this song really describe that feeling that I felt. And she's from Amsterdam so that's really cool! I want to thank Saja, my girlfriend, for being there for me, and Coldplay, for making such beautiful music! Greetings from the Netherlands! Bram. That's a great question you asked, it's interesting to see what words move several people living in separate places. But it's hard to choose though. I can't have a favourite Coldplay song or line because they all have a special meaning to me, but here are three that always make me stop and (re)think: "Lovers keep on the road you're on, runners until the race is run" - Lovers in Japan. "All you ever wanted was love but you never looked hard enough"- Low. "Still I always look up to the sky, pray before the dawn" - O. Although they come from different eras they can kinda be connected through the same idea (at least for me): If you want to achieve something, never lose trust or faith, and keep in mind that everything worth having requires time and work, nothing is free and God-given. Sometimes you can be sad and lost, and you may think that everyone is against you, but it's you who's creating your life and your path. And if you choose a path, if you have a dream, then stick to it and do anything to make it possible ("until the race is run") because there is no greater feeling than accomplishing something you've worked on hard and creating something that didn't exist before. The line from O is to wrap it all up with freedom-live and let live, let go, have hope and remember: "Suffering teaches sweet understanding". Sajra, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Oh absolutely there are so many Coldplay lyrics that hold special meaning to me. Here are just a few... Ink's "Just wanted a way of keeping you inside." Speed of Sound's "How long do I have to climb up on the side of this mountain of mine." White Shadow's "Maybe you get what you wanted. Maybe you'll stumble upon it. Everything you've ever wanted in a permanent state. Maybe you'll know it when you see it. Maybe if you say it you'll mean it and when you find it, you'll keep it in a permanent state." Gravity's "And then I looked up at the sun and I could see, oh the way that gravity pulls on you and me. And then I looked up at the sky and saw the sun, and the way that gravity pushes on everyone... on everyone." Shiver's "I know you don't listen to me cause you say you see straight through me, don't you?" Hurts Like Heaven's "You use your heart as a weapon, and it hurts like heaven." Clock's "Confusion that never stops. The closing walls and the ticking clocks are gonna come back and take you home and I couldn't stop that and you now know.." Much love, Miranda. My all time favourite lyrics are "Is there anybody out there who is lost and hurt and lonely too, are they bleeding all your colours into one?" When I'm feeling wrecked and useless and unwanted they remind me that I'm not alone in how I feel and that there are always people out there who understand, I just need to reach out to the right people. Sam. Always In My Head's first few lines somehow seemed to work with how I was feeling when I first heard it... "I think of you, I haven't slept, I think I do but, I don't forget". Thanks, Marcus. My favourite still is and always will be: "If you never try, you'll never know just what you're worth" from Fix You(X&Y). It reminds me that sometimes you have to dare to take risks in order to grow or move forward in your life. It's a bit similar to "start as you mean to go on" from A Rush of Blood to the Head, which reminds me that if I want to achieve a certain goal, I'll succeed if I put all my effort in it and try my very best from the beginning. I know that doesn't always make sense, cause some goals you do achieve and others you don't, but I like to think positive everytime I start something new. There are a lot of great quotes in Coldplay songs, my favourite from Ghost Stories is probably: "In the darkness before the dawn, leave a light on" from Midnight. Amanda. One song that has always struck a chord with me is "In My Place," as it perfectly describes a time in my life where things were not going okay. Basically, I was in a job situation where I was treated unfairly and somewhat persecuted for reasons that I still am not sure about. Then, in my desperation I found that I was indeed "scared, tired and under prepared," and indeed, "lost." I was trying to hold onto something that was slipping out of my hands. Eventually, despite harassment complaint and having a lot of colleagues speak on my behalf I was released. I exited with grace but I was lost for a long time. I went for a walk one day when I first discovered Coldplay and "In My Place," came on and it really resonated with me. That was me and how I felt. The words fit the situation perfectly for me and the way the music intertwined with my emotions was amazing. I used to listen to the song and walk on shores of Lake Superior and it was then I felt like I was able to identify my feelings, my situation and the song provided me with reassurance. This is why I still to this day love and listen to Coldplay. There are many other songs by Coldplay that hit me the same way. But there will always be a "place" for me in that song, even though I have moved on. By Marcia in Duluth, MN. I'll choose two lines of lyrics one from Ghost Stories and the other from Mylo Xyloto. The first one is taken from O. 'Don't ever let go' is the kind of message everyone should take into account in their lives. It reminds me I have to work hard to make my wishes come true because it doesn't matter how difficult it seems as long as I fight for it I'll get what I want. The second one is from Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall. The first two songs I listen to by Coldplay being aware of who they are, were Paradise and ETIAW. There were other songs I listened to but I wasn't that real music fan who paid attention to radio songs and their singers as I'm now. So when I listened to ETIAW it made me think about what I wanted to achieve in my life. Specially, the line 'I rather be a comma than a full stop' had a big impact in the way I was setting my goals. It seems we're leaving in a world where power, money and intolerance are the most important things to succeed. That's something I don't want around me; I believe love and happiness will be near as long as you give it without asking for it. I'm not sure about the meaning of the lyrics as I'm not an English speaker but every time I listen to it I know I want to be more than a girl who wants to succeed. I want to be someone who shows that happiness can be found in the simplest things and that brings hope and peace for everything we do. Be a comma and don't ever let go, Isabel. "I'd rather be a comma than a full stop" - Every Teardrop is a Waterfall / Mylo Xyloto. Ozlem. Always In My Head feels so personal, like Chris sings it right to me and no one else. "This, I guess, is to tell you you're chosen out from the rest..." Lyrics from O makes me think of my father. He died in a drowning accident in 1996. I miss him very much but I am sure that we will meet again when it is time for me to say good bye to this world. "So fly on Ride through Maybe one day I'll fly next to you Fly on, ride through Maybe one day I can fly with you" Paradise reminds me of my childhood when I used to fly away in my thoughts and dreams. "When she was just a girl She expected the world But it flew away from her reach So she ran away in her sleep Dreamed of para- para- paradise Every time she closed her eyes" Talk has followed me a long time. Especially when I was younger and felt insecure. "Are you lost or incomplete? Do you feel like a puzzle, you can't find your missing piece? Tell me how do you feel? Well, I feel like they're talking in a language I don't speak And they're talking it to me" And finally, the brilliant lyrics from Fix You's 1st verse & chorus. Love, Ann-Sofie, Sweden. All of Viva La Vida. #inspired Branwen. I have a special feeling for Amsterdam because the melody is so beautiful and mean a lot to me. The line "Come on, oh my star is fading and I swerve out of control" reminds me when I was about 11 years old and those years I had so many family problems including my parents yelling to each other every single day and then getting separated (they got together again later) and as a child I always felt so lonely and helpless. I don't remember how many times I lock myself in the bathroom to cry and the only thing that made me feel better was listening to this song. The piano and Chris voice was so relaxing that somehow it's like the song was telling me "calm down, it's going to be okay". I love it so much, it really means everything to me and I hope one day I could see them live playing it. This is why I love this band so much! Please tell them to never stop doing such beautiful songs as Amsterdam. Daniela, Chile. Thanks to all those who replied to this week's question. Remember, Team Oracle is open to anyone so if you fancy replying, click to read this week's, and send us your answer.