Safy

a bit of a confession that might be best suited here..ever since the release of AHFOD I started to listen to the band less & less till I reached the state where I almost never listen to them at all. Sad! because I still follow their news but I literally watch all the live snippets either on mute or very low sound :shocked: I only listened to AHFOD once & had a following unpleasant experience so I actually do not remember what some songs as Army of One or Fun sound like at all!! Each passing day I feel more detached from them & the whole fandom & I keep asking myself why I can't enjoy this era as many fans do :( I have not listened to Hypnotised till now.. I barely even listen to my old favourite songs; somehow they feel..old & make me feel I am just clinging to the past that will never return. Yesterday I accidentally listened to Politik (Live 2003 version)..It somehow struck a chord & I found myself crying for about 1/2 an hour while I kept it on repeat. Somehow that song/ performance was so good that it's not possible to imagine that it came from the same band I see nowadays. I don't know if I was crying because of how good of a performance it was ,or because the powerful lyrics that seem to be so relevant of the state of the world now, or because I was asking why all good things must come to an end. Was I crying for the things/ ppl I have lost along the years? It is strange that 1 song can trigger that strong reaction.. I don't know what anyone could understand from that incoherent post, maybe I just think that the verse " but give me love over..love over this" sang in such emotion is 1000 times more meaningful & honest than all the love buttons/ flags thrown at us the last 2 eras if you know what I mean.

don't ask me why I am reviving this thread :escaping: [MEDIA=instagram]BSyZIcAD8gL[/MEDIA] Mobile Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BSyZIcAD8gL/ [MEDIA=instagram]BSyfUL-DRyT[/MEDIA] Mobile Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BSyfUL-DRyT/

X what could they be recording? Haven't they recorded the ep already? :thinking: I don't follow much of the news these days but the 1st thing that came into my mind when I heard that there maybe a collaboration on Miracles 2 that it might be with a dead artist (Prince/ George Michael?). I mean by taking a sample of one of their songs & incorporating it in a new song. I think this might be because I really liked the George Michael tribute where Chris & George seemed to be singing together.

[MEDIA=twitter]849999146295709699[/MEDIA] Mobile Link: https://twitter.com/ColdplayNews_TR/status/849999146295709699

I think these belong here [MEDIA=twitter]841658075232759808[/MEDIA] Mobile Link: https://twitter.com/fairytale_bliss/status/841658075232759808 [MEDIA=twitter]841809072680759296[/MEDIA] Mobile Link: https://twitter.com/fairytale_bliss/status/841809072680759296 [MEDIA=twitter]842053176312373248[/MEDIA] Mobile Link: https://twitter.com/fairytale_bliss/status/842053176312373248

thanks for the links. I've recently come across a few articles & views about that shared video "Freedom For Palestine" years ago that were so horrific, full of racism & hatred towards the band!! There were things that made me shiver. I wished they had never ever entered this territory! Unfortunately, this was years ago & all the recent evidences show a clear change of views & stances. Why & how? Can't really tell I know dear that it might be tiring for you or anyone else to read on continuing skepticism & fear, but I can assure you that living under occupation & apartheid is much more tiring. Sorry though if my posts tired you. I debate with myself each time I write one, because I hate being that negative person all the way, & I hate politics & think as @Batman said that artists should not be involved in such a political mess, because they will anger a lot of people. To me, the objectives of those trips is quite clear; performing a concert in Israel, whether we deny it or not, performing there is a political statement of support according to many, & these concerts are supported by the government I didn't allege that Chris & Jonny didn't visit Palestine if that what was understood from my words. I meant that they let themselves be guided by Israeli promoters to certain designated places & were made to see what these promoters wanted them to see. So they think they have been to Palestine & they have been only to Rawabi (I don't even want to get into what that city symbloizes & serves because that is not the topic here) but certainly Rawabi as a one-off luxurious city does not represent at all what Palestine is or how the Palestinians are enduring the occupation. How would Chris & Jonny know that when they apparently haven't met any!!! I imagine the promoters showing them Rawabi, & telling them this is Palestine, See how Palestinians enjoy a life of prosperity here? invited them to a so-called peace ceremony in the desert to show them how are they fond of peace & love!! I can't fathom how they fell for it!! How blind & naive could they be?? & apart from Chris note, where are the other several times they mentioned that visit? I am curious to know. Last I heard Jonny speak was in last year in Australia when they were on tour!! I know you all want to wait & watch. I know it might be pointless to speak up. I know I want to believe your defense. I don't want to lose my trust in my fav. band. I don't want to see them turn into some hypocrites who seek some easy money & advocate one thing and act against it. I don't want them to claim they are against war & take pictures with armed soldiers belonging to an army guilty of war crimes. I don't want them to say they support refugees & go support the regime that forcibly displaces them & denies them the right to return to their homeland. I don't want them to say they are against racism & serve the agenda of an apartheid regime. I might sound too dramatic, but I feel as if I am watching the band driving a fast car & heading fast into a deadly cliff they seem not to notice. All the signs show they are heading towards it & all I can do is wave my hands frantically & shout in the distance warning them to no avail! I could see them disappearing before my eyes & be gone forever :((( This is why I can not wait & chill. I fear that the end is imminent, & my mind is pleading me to let go of these pointless effort, but I can't stop waving & shouting. Pathetic, isn't it?

I forgot to mention that not only people care if they are directly affected, but also even if they are the ones affected they won't show the proper reaction; for example, consider the officials want to increase the taxes by 10% but know this will cause uproar, so they firstly announce or leak rumours they are increasing them by 30%. People will make a fuss about it & it will become a hot topic where everyone speaks about its pros & cons. The officials then deny said rumours, which makes the people sigh of relief & get on with their lives. Sometime later the initial planned 10% increase is made official & will mostly get no objection because it is better in theory than the previous rumour. These techniques never get old..

every other source than the band have confirmed the concert(s) rumour, but some are still waiting for the band itself to announce it. I expect the announcement to be after the European tour leg. Anyway, since this topic has resurfaced, let me share here an opinion article that I came across while searching (in vain) for photos of the band with any Palestinian in their alleged visit to "Palestine". the article is not actually new, but it demonstrates a few things: - clearly by numerous collaborations & investments, the band is totally against the idea of BDS - posting a link to a song was considered a form of support, & the same goes for any involvement/ endorsement or visits to either sides of the conflict. You can not escape political engagements in this region & say you are here just for the music & fans because it will be considered as support for one side, & it will anger the other. by the way, I've been reading the comments of Palestinians on this concert rumour & all I read was against or mocking the idea. To this day, not a single photo with any Palestinian has appeared (perhaps because they probably haven't met any). So please Coldplay, when you announce your planned concert, don't try to decorate it with saying things in behalf of Palestinians, because you haven't listened to them or cared about what they think.

It is called desensitization, a well known technique originally medical, but used by politicians (& others) all the time: so if something stops being mentioned in the news, it doesn't mean it has actually stopped, it probably means it is not "new", that people got used to or got fed up with. As long they are not the ones directly affected, people will mostly forget about it & become interested in the next hot topic..Such a beautiful world we live in, isn't it?

I am sorry but this sounds like a job application that one should not apply for unless they fit all the criteria..We all come from different backgrounds & rely on different sources to form an opinion. Here we share our opinions, hopefully in a civil way. Please share your opinion if you want to, but do not expect others to have the same amount of knowledge you seem to have about the matter.. Anyway, there are so many things going in my mind about this whole issue but now I am too exhausted to write them down. Just 2 quick comments: - the link @gai posted is very troubling. One should ask why are promoters so keen on bringing Coldplay to the region & what message will it convey? How does the band not know that the visits/ concerts are being used for propaganda? & why are letting it happen? also if I understood correctly, what kind of doctor that influences his patients to serve a certain agenda?? - so far we haven't heard from any Palestinian source on the matter. The only one talking are the BDS movement & they are against the idea. I get why some people advocate peace concerts/ or concerts for both sides, but if the Palestinians themselves are asking for the cultural boycotting of occupation. Why would Coldplay (or any other artist) think they know better? [MEDIA=twitter]836634593688182784[/MEDIA] Mobile Link: https://twitter.com/BDSmovement/status/836634593688182784

this expression you used is brilliant!:joy: Anyway, so I did not necessarily like or hate the song..perhaps did not give much attention. The lyrics are okay but I did not like the chorus & the dodododdoddooos. I then forgot about it. Yesterday I was riding a train & the girl next to me had her earphones on. As soon as the train started moving, she blasted the song into her ears so loudly that I could clearly hear it..Oh dear!! What a noisy song it is!!! all that EDM noise (BAM BAM BAM BAM) sounded so terrible!!! I almost told her to turn the volume down so as not to ruin her ears or my nervous system but I got shy Afterwards she kept listening to all the new pop & dance hits (for the record, SJLT was the most noisy of them all) can you tell how enjoyable that train ride was ?:weary_face:

the same girl who posted the infamous photo with tags peace & love has said she talked to Chris' closest friend in Israel & he has confirmed that a concert is a go. see also her replies here..( representative of apartheid & discrimination).

^^ perhaps not posing with anyone who holds weapons aimed at killing people would be more consistent with the band who always advocates peace & love..+ please watch your language..we are trying to have a civil conversation here..

here is an invitation they obviously did not accept because they were busy visiting military bases, & taking photos with with IDF soldiers. [MEDIA=twitter]835381596429639680[/MEDIA] Mobile Link: https://twitter.com/BDSmovement/status/835381596429639680 Well, it is one thing thinking of playing a concert for the fans, & a totally different thing to visit soldiers in military bases.. Gai dear, tell me again what you were saying about the band not being morally bankrupt...

Pilar always posts artwork influenced by Ancient Egypt, so I don't think this is related to Coldplay at all. Are we even sure she is the artist doing the ep artwork? I hope the new artwork will be more original & won't undergo plagiarism allegations or cultural appropriation claims this time :uhoh:

we don't know if they are going to donate the money because it is just a suggestion I came up in attempt to please all parties & I don't think they actually read the forums to read it o_O your comparison doesn't seem correct. There is a huge difference between performing in the U.S. for Americans & performing for American soldiers occupying Iraq. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is not a conflict between 2 states fighting over borders, it is an occupation. Occupiers occupy the land, massacre its people & force them out of their homes, destroy them, then build settlements & reside there. Palestinians are being oppressed & discriminated in every way you can imagine. you can compare them performing in Israel as if they were performing in apartheid South Africa in the 1970s or 80s for the white minority. There was a movement for boycotting the regime there at the time including musicians, even supported by the UN Cultural boycott is a thing that wasn't invented just now, it actually had an effect to end this discriminating regime in South Africa. When politics fail & UN resolutions are either vetoed or remain as ink on paper because the powerful are forcing facts on the ground, it is then the responsibility of civilians to do what they can to make a change. A peaceful means to do so is boycotting, whether economical or cultural There are already musicians joining this movement & calling for the cultural boycott of Israel, & Coldplay can't be totally oblivious of it. www.vice.com/read/musicians-should-boycott-israel-until-palestinians-are-free-1117 I wish I were optimistic just like you, but living in this side of the world made me learn that worst case scenario always occurs, sometimes reality is even worse..I would nothing more than to be proven wrong, but all the signs are not encouraging :( so maybe I got it wrong, but the gossip I mentioned was actually the promoters words at the time. Who says they were scouting places? both Phil & Chris went to one concert venue (Masada) with promoters. It is a venue where other concerts have been performed. The rest was Chris hanging out with friends/ fans, visiting historical sites & buying rings from jewelry shop. Unless you saw something else, he was just mixing work with fun/ tourism. He has friends there & the band have already collaborated with Israeli artists/ directors recently, so they don't believe in the cultural boycotting. I can't tell what they are thinking, & I hate to be the one presuming bad things. If I did not care about them that much, I would not even bother to write or argue. You say they are growing, & I hate to see them grow into hypocrites who advocate one thing & work against it, specially when it directly affects me. Actually I had seen signs of them leaning towards Israelis for a few years now, but I ignored them till I saw Chris & Phil there & read the concert rumours :broken_heart: you think it is for a special event, then I hope it won't be an event to support Israelis against terrorism or sthg :lol: I wrote my opinion about the boycotting movement before, but let me tell that boycotting Israelis does not necessarily mean you hate them or it is contradictory to love everyone. If you have a friend & he tells you that he is gonna take a gun & kill some people, you won't applaud him & say you will support, you will do whatever you can in order to stop them from doing wrong. Sorry for the rant. I actually dislike the fact that I had to talk politics in a music forum, but it's all Coldplay's fault.

here is the link http://www.elmundo.es/papel/cultura/2015/12/03/565d82ffe2704e722b8b45c7.html it is in Spanish, but what I understood is that Birds is about a Palestinian/ Israeli falling in love & that he is sure happens all the time At the time I wondered what happens all the time & where did Chris came up with this myth! It is almost as stupid as claiming that victims fall in love with their rapists all the time. I like your logical explanation but I disagree with some points: - About the safety issue, there have been major artists (the likes of Madonna & James Blunt if I remember correctly) performing there with no safety concerns. This is why I don't understand why fans' main concern is safety. - "even with the questionable, more commercialized things coldplay have done lately, they still don't seem to be morally bankrupt enough to try to milk a conflict zone to their commercial benefit." ahem! the way the news initially reported was that the band was offered a 5 million dollar deal to perform at a site called Masada, Chris & Phil went with promoters to the site & agreed. What they have denied is that is a peace concert & that it will include Palestinians. I somehow feel that this talk about the peace concert was a testing balloon to see the fans' reaction about the subject. seeing how most of them cared about the safety, announcing the original plan will be easier. -"they are shouting from the rooftops about love for everybody after all. if that fails or is not the case, we'll see.." Not everybody it seems. Palestinians are excluded, but many fans trying to defend the band because they love them & they can't see them do any wrong. they can be very good & kind people, but still make a stupid decision just for money. Watch this space when the band announce the aforementioned concert. It would be ironic watching how fans will blindly follow & support them. I personally think that this concert idea is shameful, & I think that it is extremely hypocritical of the band to claim they support refugees & urge fans to Stand as one with them but act as if there aren't millions of refugees denied the right to return because of the occupation regime they will be supporting! The only way that would make this concert a good idea & not to deny kind peaceful occupiers & settlers from seeing their favorite artists playing is that the concert ticket revenues will go to fund UNRWA or any organization supporting Palestinian refugees. Coldplay have already their 5 million, concert promoters have already shown the world their safe state & boosted its image. At least by this, the concert goers will not be pro-genocide & apartheid ( I hope). Can Coldplay achieve this? there is a 99% chance they won't, but let us wait & see..

glad you are back. I have been away myself these past months. your comment made me smile. I can assure you this won't happen. there will be fireworks just like any other concert. maybe the IDF F16 will fly in the sky & target some Palestinian houses to commemorate this moment, but that will not matter to anyone as usual :innocent:

@iranaway hi there, I sent you a private message a few weeks ago, but don't know if you have read it yet. I am not at ease with the new changes in the forums & feel a bit lost back to the topic, I was highly sceptical of the whole *peace concert* from the beginning. I haven't seen any photos of Chris or Phil with any Palestinians during their November visit. I just think that this is gonna be a normal concert/ part of the tour, & not open for Palestinians. Since most fans are concerned about the band safety, this announcement will hopefully ease their worries. & no matter who objects this idea or disagrees with the band meddling in a political conflict & clearly favouring one side, it will happen anyway. That is how things are in real life. I am sorry. I didn't go to learn history but went to read the meaning of apartheid in the dictionary & it goes like this: "the former political system in South Africa in which only white people had full political rights and other people, especially black people were forced to live away from white people, go to separate schools, etc." I guess this is a mild representation of what happens now. also why would Palestinians want to leave their homeland? In fact, there are millions of Palestinian refugees in refugee camps in Syria & Iraq & want to go home but are denied the right to return by the regime. hi Thalia, it's been a while since I last read one of your posts. I think you are over-estimating the danger of these medieval rockets, they are mostly useless & act as a sound bomb. The link you sent me actually says most of them did not cause any harm. Don't worry, Israelis know well how to protect themselves & the people they want to be protected. Bombings & shelling occur on the Palestinian territories which the band will mostly not bother to visit.

I honestly don't get why fans are worried about the band's safety for this particular concert! The apartheid state is a very safe place, more than any other state in the region & even more than Europe & The US. but honestly, safety is never the main issue there..

so here is Jonny playing some piano :heart:

I found this by chance. I don't know from which night it is! but it seems to have been uploaded recently. Sorry if it has been posted somewhere else I haven't watched it though. Just the few starting minutes & I am filled with sadness because I may never witness this :sob: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2YCN0acCd0

too cute not to be shared: "Jonny thank you for this song. Here we are in this band because of your beautiful green eyes" :heart: [MEDIA=twitter]808719230233255936[/MEDIA] Mobile Link: https://twitter.com/crests_of_waves/status/808719230233255936 [MEDIA=twitter]808830124342714368[/MEDIA] Mobile Link: https://twitter.com/kawaiified/status/808830124342714368

I wonder if he will also visit The West Bank or Gaza strip or go near the Apartheid Wall, visit Palestinian refugee camps ..Probably not..

lovely drawing :thumbsup: this is so cute :dazzled: Happy Birthday to this kind, down to earth, sweet , adorable & all around gorgeous man.. When I think of Jonny this phrase in ancient Egyptian comes to mind.. [ATTACH=full]5934[/ATTACH] it simply means "everything that is beautiful (good) & pure". This is how Jonny is represented in my mind since I heard that phrase..May all your days be filled with happiness & beauty..Thank you for being the awesome person you are & for having that glowing smile that makes me involuntarily smile even in my darkest moments :heart: