gentleparachute

^ I know I feel a very strong emotional (and worldview) connection with this band - not just CM and his lyrics, but the way the whole band express themselves, both individually and as a group... I love the way they operate (and it spills into their music), and how they have developed musically over the years - they are always open to new things, work hard to master / be good at things (ie reach competency), always show a loving tenderness and compassion (particularly to each other), and express themselves very emotionally through music... That interplay of emotion between CM's singing + Jonny's guitar in the earlier years, and now individually between everyone in the band is just beautiful to watch.. I am soo drawn to that!

Exactly my thoughts... You and I seem to have a lot of thoughts and sentiments in common lol (that's why I keep liking your comments - it's like hearing myself say it :P) I still find it difficult to rate all the albums - I can say (prior to AHFOD) MX was my emotional favourite just coz the first half of the album is so immediate with 7 hits in a row one after the other (minus the interludes), but then every album is the best at something in its own special way - Parachutes is so emotionally wrought and heartfelt, AROBTTH is great brit-pop/rock, X&Y has sonic density and well-developed musical motifs within each song, VLV is probably the most musical and creative, etc...

Don't be, you're not the only one. I really disliked Fix You too when we were in the X&Y era... However this song is now nolstalgic for me, particularly when I hear all the crowd singing at concerts - it is so beautiful and moving, rousing even...

Funny, I just wrote about this in this post (with regards to complaints about the lyrics) --> http://coldplaying.com/forum/index.php?threads/birds.104998/page-15#post-5783630

People who say Chris has lost it, forget that he has just signed up to curate Global Citizen for 15 years! If that is not commitment to a cause and caring / concern for the world at large, I don't know what is... I'm sure if he didn't care he could go do other stuff. I'm sure he asked the rest of the band about it as well, and they would have objected if they were not prepared to commit to potentially performing for this cause once a year for the next 15 years. The disillusioned people also seem to have forgotten the purpose of Chris' original trip to India by himself. The 'dumbing down' of lyrics may have a combination of reasonable explanations: - Many fans from developing countries may not have great English - the message may get lost if it's too intricate / subtle. The band look like they are focusing more on less developed countries this time round, in keeping with the Global Goals. Many themes and lyrics on this album seem directed to people from these places as well - "half the sky", referencing Umi, "for the people, who got no one voice", "down upon the canvas, working meal to meal / lying in the gutter, aiming for the moon" (these ones' more universal)... - Some lyrics fit their current genre / interests (eg the notorious XMTS heart lyric and "drunk and high" on HFTW), but if one looks at the rest of the song lyrics, they can still be meaningful - As some have noticed, he is also referencing a lot of previous songs and eras... they're sort of non-sensical, but all convey the sense of where this album is taking the listener and where the band are emotionally, some develop previous ideas. Examples are Birds / Speed of Sound as previously mentioned, light streaming through broken open window (AHFOD vs UFO), Amsterdam's gloomy "my star is fading" --> out of control vs HFTW's exuberant "shoot across the sky" (same star presumably, now together with another), magic as a metaphor (in Magic vs AOAL), Fun referencing the sun and waves (Ladder To the Sun, Crest of Waves), heart as a gun (Army of One vs HLH and AROBTTH)

It is beautiful - hope you're getting recognition for the talent and your work!

That was a good, (almost rare) interview featuring mainly Guy... And more honest and direct for a change :) And yes people, this band do know what we're thinking about... They always have from the start and they probably always will. The kind of music they have been making reflects how sensitive and vulnerable they are / have been as people - the difficulty they had making X&Y, and prior to that the turmoil while making AROBTTH all shows how much they do care. The fact that they are still making music that is emotionally open and vulnerable shows that they still do care. The day they make emotionally unengaging music is the day I will stop listening to their music... The thing is, they can no longer allow their insecurities and vulnerabilities to take over all of their visions and their thoughts - otherwise it would just be too overwhelming and would paralyse them to the point that they couldn't do anything music-wise nor elsewhere in their lives - they all have families now who depend on them, so they have to somehow be strong and find the strength to be father figures to their sons and daughters. It is for this reason (that they do keep an eye on what their fans think and express) that I often try to humanise the band and remind people here that in the end Coldplay are made up of 4 human beings as well, who, like us do need to feel love and affection as well (probably more so than your average rock band given their sensitive personalities)... So, in the end, try to be gentle, people - express your unhappiness and discontent, but please consider that there are 4 people (who have previously somehow touched you profoundly in your life) at the other end potentially reading and receiving it. They lift us up with their music - let us lift them (and others) up with our words and sentiments!

It is close to Christmas... I have previously noticed it does quieten down around a week before Christmas - everyone has more things to do :)

Mainstream with an alternative twist? The lyrics do not correspond to your average mainstream pop album... now those lyrics really take meaninglessness and degrading to a whole different level... Say what you will about chringey (my new favourite word!) lyrics in AHFOD, there is at least nothing degrading in there and everything is respectful

Aww really? I don't mind them producing something they like once in awhile and sharing it with the fans - it may well help them in the process / journey towards their next masterpiece... Call it groundwork / emotional work they need to put in to get to the next stage. And in the meantime, fans get something new to listen to - obviously not as great as some previous work but still enjoyable nonetheless and something for fans to "look forward to"... And I don't consider that degrading their credibility / output - they obviously find it good enough for themselves. I am that hardcore :P Ooh, don't know about that... Liking them (and gushing the way Chris does) is a bit different from actually thinking that they make the best music... If CM ever says they are "great", I don't think he means profound, life-changing music, probably more like enjoyable people, great that they are around in the music scene - he's got to say something positive in those interviews ;)

Your mastery of the English language never fails to delight!!! Another masterpiece of a word! :dazzled:

Did any Australian / New Zealand fans notice Chris' shirt from their recent Paris concert - Salle Wagram? I thought that looks like the Southern Cross on the back of his shirt - more than coincidence?

I wonder whether some of that "normal", "happy" childhood actually turned out to be that normal or happy at all... Iirc, his parents have split up (although I'm not sure when), maybe bullying in school was an issue, and maybe one of the parental relationships was not particularly ideal... Just pure speculation of course, but some possible explanations... It would also explain his beautiful relationships with the rest of the band, particularly Jonny. I will end on this nice note!

As Jedi Leo says, it's like a muscle to train... That observing of the mind and it's state(s) during the mindfulness sessions, start applying that to the rest of your day... When you're stuck in traffic - what is the mind thinking? Is it bored, irritated, appreciative of something beautiful nearby? Or when you're talking to someone and start developing an emotion (particularly a strong one) - what is the thought process leading to that? Or when doing something repetitive eg walking - are you concentrating on walking - in the moment, or is the head wandering off somewhere else...

^ They may do eventually after a break... Right now, they may have too many competing interests. But in time, they will rediscover their voice again (people need time and space to do that), unless life takes them into a totally different direction away from music.

Moving To Mars Ghost Story The AROBTTH b-sides, but especially I Ran Away Oh, and AROBTTH itself / Amsterdam Careful Where You Stand Chinese Sleep Chant / Moses / song that really rocks out...

Good that AHFOD got to the top of its genre chart, but I'm with anthamic, why on earth is it in the Rock charts?

I agree with you that it would be great if they could write music that was heavily connected / influenced by the land or place they were in. Unfortunately for this idea, I get the feeling that not all the band members have particularly strong roots to where they come from or just for places in general.

I actually thought the St John's Hackney Church was much better... the sound quality was better and maybe because they debuted it, Chris' singing was a bit more controlled - the one in Paris has him careening off a bit quite frequently. Also got to see more of the rest of the band with the UK one... I just love watching the other guys play their guitars :) EDIT: Actually I take back the part about Chris' singing being better in the Hackney concert - it is probably more controlled but lacks the strength of his Paris performance... His voice in the UK one sounds a bit weak actually.

That was so fun! The apes / gorillas are growing on me - I can't quite believe it but it just about works given CM's quirky ways... :eek: And did anyone else notice - I think CM is going to attempt dance routines with this one? I just about noticed the start of one with the apes :p

How is sadness, loss, melancholy, cynicism any less generic? Just because you connect to their older themes more personally, doesn't make it any less generic than joy, happiness, gratefulness... If you have a look back through the history of recorded music (with lyrics), it is actually less common to write about the positive themes in a meaningful way... I reckon it is harder and more difficult. Rock has traditionally been about protest, disillusionment, loss of innocence - one could call all of that generic. I'm no longer that connected to the world of music as a whole so may well have missed this, but can anyone name me good recent albums on the themes of joy, happiness and gratefulness? By anyone - the less obscure, the better?

They could have chosen rock inspirations, but they chose not to. And quite consciously too. I respect them enough as people to not judge them too publicly / harshly on this... They have a right to like / take influence from wherever they like. I may occasionally go "OMG, this?", but I will not bash them about it - the same way I will try not to judge any other individuals for their music taste. Btw I think you may be misquoting Chris Martin there... I believe his actual words were more "We felt like rock music has been done", rather than actually saying rock music is dead... He could well have meant "rock music has been done (by us)"

I am with gai with regards to people bashing the band, particularly the band's choices with AHFOD - the arguments are not new and have always been there... some "Oldplay" fans who missed the initial backlash from the early 2000's just do not see the validity from these earlier comparisons (made when Parachutes and AROBTTH were released). For people lamenting their loss of originality with AHFOD (compared to earlier works), read these reviews - they were never brilliantly original. Also same to be said about them "selling out" or becoming too big / commercial with AHFOD: 1) Pitchfork - lamenting Parachutes' blandness, lack of originality (lifts off Hitchiker's Guide..), generic and "nothing special" songs when it was released... Oh, and CM sounds like Jeff Buckley. NME and Rolling Stone - writing favourably, but still noting influences from Buckley, the Verve, Radiohead, Travis, U2, Dave Matthew's. 2) Pitchfork again - lamenting AROBTTH "forgot to tote along their initial strength (from Parachutes) - the songs", and blames producer Ken Nelson to boot, oh and calls the album boring (at the end). The Guardian - reviewing AROBTTH's masterpiece, but essentially calling Parachutes beige and timid. While also noting that the AROBTTH songs are instantly familiar while fresh, but comes at a price - no mystery / charm. BBC review - "mid-album, they let all their hard work go to waste with the insipid, vanilla tracks "The Scientist" and "Clocks". They pass you by and fail to raise even the smallest emotion." 3) NME on X&Y - already criticising CM's "Hollywood star wife, the baby", then ''exhausted after a relentless, punishing tour", "Coldplay doing Radiohead", Kraftwerk, Prince, U2 influences. Pitchfork (and same AROBTTH critic) on X&Y - mostly harmless, ridiculous that Coldplay were called the "next U2" coz U2 "wrote I Will Follow,New Year's Day, the Joshua Tree" while Coldplay "started in the middle of the road and haven't strayed since". Sputnik music - criticising "mainstream" Coldplay, "Full of such terrible lines as "My song is love" and cliches such as "When you get what you want but not what you need" (Does the cons list look familiar anyone?) 4) Rolling Stone still called VLVODAAHF ""about stadium-scale melodies and singalong choruses. And while the experimentation makes this their most musically interesting album to date, its political messages are too vague to be heard amid its outsize hooks". CoS - "Chris Martin and friends are embracing the idea of being a U2 knock off, and even more than before", then "many of the tracks here drag on, mostly because they’re instrumentals that have been accomplished previously (and better) by a slew of bands with less of the palette to work from" 5) I won't bother continuing with MX and GS, most people here remember the criticisms levelled at these... * On a funny side note - the reviews tend to be the most scathing when the album first gets released (ie those written in the year of release), and progressively get more favourable the more years have passed since the album was first released lol... The blessings of hindsight and having to adjust opinions following huge album sales / mainstream approval :D For those lamenting their (read CM's) "new" pop / non-rock influence, take note: - early covers of / references to Kylie Minogue, Crazy Frog, Ms. Dynamite, t.A.T.u., Nelly (Hot in Heere), Aqua (Barbie Girl) - more recent covers of Michael Jackson (Billie Jean anyone?), Hunting High and Low, Take That (Back For Good), The Wiggles (yep, the children's band) - CM referencing A-Ha, Rammstein, Jay-Z / Kanye, and the lyrical genius of Eminem - before his most recent forays into Justin Bieber, et al. For those saying that they no longer emulate great rock bands (where they previously did) - I guess this partly validates Chris Martin's statement that rock has been done / nowhere else to go... Who is the great (new or old) rock band they can emulate off / gain inspiration from (that they previously did from icons eg Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, U2, REM, Echo and the Bunnymen, etc)? Lastly, for those complaining that they are now using pop influences, which are inferior to rock... you need to accept that it is a different genre, with its own set of characteristics - that's why it's pop and not rock... Rock usually = guitar + melody + steady / more straightforward drums + bass + good lyrics; well Pop = catchy hook + good beat (if you're lucky) + direct / more cheesy lyrics + lighter subject matter + more overt emotional expression (ie melodramatic singing). And despite what they have previously produced, Coldplay have always had pop influences close by, so it's not anything "new" - they are just being more open about this now, and embracing of it...

I can't hear a saviour yet... Still sounds like innocent to me :)

The first paragraph was quite scathing (I'm almost used to that in the band's reviews by now - critics probably feel they need to bash them first to have any sense of credibility), but I really enjoyed the bottom half with Will... And to be fair the second paragraph I felt describes the album very well, and I thought was quite positive actually... 'daring the listener to stop thinking and start feeling'...