And a Pair o’ Pants Full of an Eyeful

Is it me – it absolutely could be just me – or did Chris Martin pull a bit of a Jon Hamm yesterday, during the kick off in New Jersey of Coldplay’s “A Head Full of Dreams Tour”?

You know what I mean. You know exactly what I mean.

Anyway....

Photo: People.com.

Coldplay & Co. Slay Super Bowl 50

Well that was a genius Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show.

Brought on to help celebrate the 50th edition of the big game, Coldplay may have initially seemed like a wildly odd choice for such a piece of Americana entertainment, but the British band proved once and for all that they are, indeed, so universally well-liked (and ragged on because haters are gon’ hate) because they are quite simply that good. There isn’t an arena, nay, a stadium on the planet that those Chris Martin-fronted Brits cannot rock, and Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on the day it would have the most eyes on it ever, was not going to be the exception. Just like it won’t be in September when Coldplay rolls back into town on its “A Head Full of Dreams Tour.”

What Coldplay & Co. – including the National Football League and the band’s special guests, Bruno Mars (with Mark Ronson) and Beyoncé, not to mention Lady GaGa early on – delivered yesterday was a master lesson in brand rebranding. Marketing at its very bestest.

Coldplay are (now) fun! The world’s harbinger-of-a-very-special-message band (more on that later, but lemme just say, the lads only want to see the world rise).

Bruno Mars is your next King of Pop – unless President of Pop Justin Timberlake decides he still wants the title, in which case I give JT six months to make a new move. I would live happy seeing those two challenge each other for life, btw.

Beyoncé’s the new and improved Madonna, near-flawless art as matter of fact (because when you Yoncé, you don’t need to peacock like Kanye), while the NFL is an American institution dead-set on showing that it cares by allowing its acts du year to move many conversations forward (again, more on that later).

Oh, and Lady GaGa is now Céline Dion.

Headliners Martin, lead guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, and drummer Will Champion acknowledged the bull before ’em and took it by the horns, alright, sticking to their Coldplay guns by staying true to themselves and singing the songs that made them Coldplay in the first place. They reminded everyone, albeit momentarily, of the reasons why their music is so effective, and they did so by simultaneously displaying a lot of generosity toward their peers and their audience.

See, Coldplay is often mocked by the tug-at-your-heartstrings-ness and Gwyneth-ness of “Fix You,” a song believed to have been written for Martin’s now ex-wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, in the wake of her father’s death early into his relationship with the actress-turned-GOOPer, and by the, I dunno, earnestness of their true-introduction-to-world-domination single “Yellow,” a ditty that’s almost 16 years old. On paper, the Coldplays have no right being as big as they are, but, much like Adele, they connect with folks in ways folks sometimes don’t even want to accept, much less own for themselves, and their shows are pretty f---in’ magical. They make fans outta non-fans.

It’s really hard to resist Coldplay, and it’s comical to see people try.

“Viva La Vida,” a massive-hit anthem performed during the Halftime Show, is the encapsulation of Coldplay, a band that has expertly combined Olympics-quality pageantry with beautiful, effective songwriting forever. “Viva La Vida” is an honest offering, and much derided. And yet, it was a spectacular way in which to kick off things yesterday, especially because, as Martin put it, “We’re in this together. Let’s go!”

That included the game’s eventual winners, the Broncos, as well as the Carolina Panthers, the thousands gathered at Levi’s Stadium, those millions of us watching at home...and, indeed, Beyoncé and Bruno Mars.

Both previous halftime headliners came back to the Super Bowl turf as special guests and helped the NFL and Coldplay celebrate the annual tradition’s past, the moment...the present, and especially its future. Mars went first, capping a winning year by serving an electric performance of his and Mark Ronson’s huge, Grammy-nominated “Uptown Funk.” His charismatic, unreal dance moves were the thing dreams are made of, and prove that he has a claim to the throne the late Michael Jackson once occupied.

And then there was Queen B.

As she showed us once before, Beyoncé is the real deal. An artist and a badass bitch through and through. An amazing example of womanhood, blackhood, and feminism, all wrapped up into a vessel-like artiste that has learned from the best (M) and will progressively continue to set the bar higher and move the conversations we need to be having forward through the sheer power of art. Through her own sheer power. She gives what we need while giving what we want, all the while letting her message speak for itself and for herself (because we may crave Beyoncé, but we don’t need or get to have all of Beyoncé, ergo the rare public appearances and via-email-only interviews).

That she performed her then-surprise new single “Formation (Dirty),” a song barely 24 hours old, should come as zero a surprise. Gf didn’t just come to play. She came to slay, OK (pardon the clichéd use of her latest chanson de guerre). Beyoncé is a disciplined student of the School of Queen of Pop Madonna; her savvy is incredible, so, of course, she would trot out “Formation (Dirty).” The world already knew it; it was beyond-familiar with its commentaries on identity and current sociopolitical matters. Also not a surprise? That she would announce a new tour immediately following the Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show.

Do not insult or, worse, discount Beyoncé’s intelligence ever again, world. And remember, she doesn’t want to be Queen of Pop. Bitch she’s Beyoncé!

Which brings me back to Coldplay.

Everything came back full circle for the band after it gracefully relinquished the spotlight to two other acts because those guys knew people would love it. And those guys, they’re not going to withhold from their fans. Their move to share was smart, and it proved that you can be a person who enjoys many things. You can love many things. You can believe in love. Which means you can believe...in peace.

Yes, even peace got a rebrand (thanks, #BelieveInLove!).

Coldplay was brought on, by the NFL, to help celebrate the 50th edition of its big football game. The band shared the spotlight with two true individuals, who each had something important to say (they, too, are the face of America...they like to have unapologetic fun and form and share meaningful opinions on the state of the nation – deal with it because it’s a good thing, and it’s a very good and American thing that it’s happening; and you could say that Coldplay, Brits that they are, making their way stateside, represented the face of immigration).

Everybody won (alright, maybe, not the Panthers). “Up&Up” we go.

Photo: Facebook.com/coldplay.

Update: Since the show celebrated past performers with two big returns and some clips, what gives? Why was Madonna not shown on TV?

I am pretty sure it has nothing to do with anything other than she probably was shown at the stadium, just not on the televised show. Some cutaway more than likely cut away from her and others.

Oh. What. Do you think it has something to do with the beef M supposedly has with...Gwyneth Paltrow? That G.P. put the kibosh on showing M, telling her consciously uncoupled ex and her BFF Beyoncé to diss the Queen?

Doubtful.

That would not be on brand.

An Hymn to Learn and Love

You guys.

Such a Coldplay morning in my computer.

Like, #victim.

After 88 stressful minutes involving two windows, four tabs, a remote assist, and lots of waiting, I successfully secured tickets to the band’s “A Head Full of Dreams Tour” this morning. The tour, btw, kicks off on July 16 in New Jersey (I shall see Coldplay for the fourth time, if memory serves, on Sept. 3 in Santa Clara, Calif.).

And speaking of Coldplay, since they had a fan pre-sale going on today, what better way to get people in the mood than by releasing the video for the Beyoncé-featuring, sure-to-be-part-of-the-Super Bowl fun “Hymn for the Weekend.”

Queen B appears in the India-set clip as an alluring Bollywood queen, and Chris Martin & Co. do their rock-stars thing among lively people, lots of color, and the contagiously chill sound of their song. Check it out:



Now don’t forget: Coldplay will headline Super Bowl 50’s halftime fun on Feb. 7.

A Head Full of Football

Santa Clara, Calif., is gonna have a “Yellow” winter.

Coldplay have been tapped to headline the 2016 Super Bowl’s halftime show. And you know what that means, right?

No, not just that their new album, A Head Full of Dreams, will be huge but that Gwyneth is coming to San Francisco!

Love it. (And, yes, I know they are consciously uncoupled and divorced an all, but.)

Super Bowl 50 is set for Feb. 7, and the game will air live on CBS.

Photo: IBTimes.co.uk.

Yoncé Feelin’ the Coldplay, Too

You know how Coldplay frontman Chris Martin revealed last week that his ex, Gwyneth Paltrow, will be featured on the band’s upcoming new album, A Head Full of Dreams?

Well, so will Beyoncé.

Queen B, it seems, is on a track titled “Hymn for the Weekend,” which Coldplay Instateased this morning. Have a listen:


Barring any leaks, A Head Full of Dreams will be released on Dec. 4.

Click here for a taste of “Everglow,” featuring G.P.

Update: Now click here to listen to the Coldplay team-up with Beyoncé.

Uncoupled Collaborators

The new Coldplay album, A Head Full of Dreams, is already promising to be som’in’ special.

Now, though,frontman Chris Martin has gone and made it even more must-y now that he has revealed that his ex, Gwyneth Paltrow, is going to be on the record!

Indeed, G.P. reportedly will be featured on a song called “Everglow.”

Paltrow does have lots of experience singin’ and singing on other people’s records – she was featured on Sheryl Crow’s “It’s Only Love,” a track from the singer’s C’mon, C’mon record.

Know who else Coldplay are featuring on A Head Full of Dreams? Blue friggin’ Ivy. You know, Beyoncé and Jay Z’s daughter.

’Cause why not, right?

That’s at least two songs that kid’s featured on. Versus our none.

Photo: Idolator.com.

Coldplay and Their Adventurous New Sound

So Coldplay are back with new music.

Surprise!

Yeah, alright – but is “Adventure of a Lifetime,” the first single off the upcoming A Head Full of Dreams, an album that’s being promoted as a farewell album, totally about Jennifer Lawrence?

You know, the younger Academy Award winner that Coldplay frontman Chris Martin (pictured here, performing the song on British telly last week) supposedly romanced post-Gwyneth Paltrow? I mean, “Adventure of a Lifetime” does sound younger and way more hip than the Coldplay sound we heart and are used to, no?

I am surprised more people aren’t writing these like, lengthy pieces on the possible meanings of the song’s lyrics, since they contain lines such as, “you make me feel like I'm alive again.”

A conscious dig at G.P.?

Oh, who cares! What is this farewell album business?

A Head Full of Dreams is due out on Dec. 4, with a proposed stadium tour to follow in the new year. Martin says it feels like the culmination of an era, but the door is not closed on Coldplay. Just FYI.

Photo: Billboard.com.

A Body Full of Hotness

Get it back, Gwyneth!

’Cause my, my. Chris Martin has been working out. And he’s liking the results.

If you watch the video for Coldplay’s “A Sky Full of Stars,” you will agree: Martin’s gotten hella fit (consciously uncoupling from the actress has consciously coupled him with the beast within himself!). And he is all about putting on a gun show these days.

So again I say: Get. It. Back, G.P.!

Photo: Independent.co.uk.

All About the Stars

Loving Coldplay’s “A Sky Full of Stars.”

That’s all.

Listen to it. Watch ’em perform the song on Ellen. And love it, too:



“A Sky Full of Stars” was produced by Avicii and is a part of the band’s Ghost Stories.

Streamin’ the Ghost Stories

Coldplay fans, we are in for a treat when we go on the iTunes.

The band’s new album, Ghost Stories, is now available for streaming in full – for free!

Which is a cool, fun thing because, y’ know...the album official doesn’t officially drop until next week.

So get!

Photo: TheLefortReport.com.

Calling on Chris Martin’s Magic

I never thought I’d see the day Chris Martin would do...TV.

But it’s happening.

The Coldplay frontman has signed on to serve as a key adviser to each and every coach’s team on The Voice.

Score, NBC!

Beginning on March 31, Martin will be part of Battles: Round Two, a new twist on the competition that pits the remaining acts from each team against one another to perform an agreed-upon song. Later on, I reckon, Coldplay will be invited on the show to promote their upcoming “Magic”-al Ghost Stories release, of course.

Loves it.

Photo: HollywoodReporter.com.

Ghost Storytellers

Oh. Thank. Gwyneth.

Hot on the heels of their dropping a new surprise single (“Midnight”) last week, Coldplay dispensed with any and all Beyoncé-style mystery today when they announced that they are, indeed, releasing a new album titled Ghost Stories (how are you liking the artwork pictured here?) in just a couple of months.

Plus, the band dropped another single us, a romance that goes by the name of “Magic.”

Which. I am. Hearting.

Ghost Stories will be available on May 19 wherever and however you get your music these days.

Photo: ConsequenceOfSound.net.

Surprise Midnight

Coldplay, dudes…how very Beyoncé of you.

The British quartet sorta-shocked their industry and their fans today when they dropped “Midnight,” a surprise new single with a surprise new video to match.

The song is Coldplay at their electronicest, most evocative yet – and I, of course, likey.

Here’s to hoping my iTunes lights up with news of a surprise new Coldplay album soon.

Photo: EW.com.

Atlas Is Out (Ish)

“Atlas,” Coldplay’s much-anticipated song for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is finally making its way out to us.

Earlier today, the band shared a nifty lyric video for us to start learning what Chris Martin is singing.

Man, have lyric videos become ubiquitous. Leave it to Coldplay to put one that is simple and elegant and effective (I don’t usually watch lyrics, I just listen to ’em). Check it however you like, kids:



Neat song, huh. It should carry my world for a while until Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is back on the silver screen this November.

Coldplay Catch Fire

Coldplay are popping their making-music-for-a-film’s soundtrack cherry, kids.

And they’re giving it up for not just any ol’ movie – the rockers know to go big or go home.

Oh yeah they do. So the Brits are contributing the song for the upcoming The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. “Atlas” is the track’s name, and you can hear it for the first time on Aug. 26.

“We are thrilled with how well they have connected to the themes and ideas within the film,” said director Francis Lawrence.

Atta Coldplay!

Photo: PopCrush.com.

Those Coldplay Lads Are Coming Soon

Woke up to some great news today: Coldplay are coming to tour North America soon.

Chris Martin & Co. announced this morning that they will perform a string of shows, to support their hit album Mylo Xyloto, in Canada and the United States next year, beginning in April and carrying on through the summer.

Tickets go on general sale on Dec. 17, but if you have an American Express card you can get your tickets on Dec. 12.

And yes – be still my Coldplay-music-loving heart – Coldplay are coming to Miami, on June 29.

Yay!

Photo: Facebook.com/coldplay.

Singing to Royalty

Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto is such a must, you guys.

The band’s new CD has this very understated buzz going on, I think. I mean, it’s obviously super-anticipated, but I’m not really hearing a lot of talk about it, which has me wondering if it’s just going to be embraced by the fans right away, while the rest of the world follows suit after a single truly breaks out.

Could that hit be Coldplay’s collaboration with Rihanna, the sounds-very-unColdplay-like “Princess of China”?

Maybe.

Not that it really matters to frontman Chris Martin.

“[This is] a song that I’d secretly kind of written to see if Rihanna would want to sing it,” he said. “At this point, we have nothing to lose, and so we’ve been trying some new things and trying to break down the perceived boundaries between different types of music.”

Well, I’m liking what I’m hearing so far, so I’d say you’re doing pretty great. Imma gon’ update my Amazon.com Wish List now.

Photo: NME.com.

Teardrops Never Sounded Better

It’s been a big week for the Paltrow-Martins....

First, Gwyneth Paltrow joined Twitter, and now Chris Martin’s band, Coldplay, has dropped the eagerly awaited first single off their upcoming fifth album, a rouser called “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall.” Click here to have a listen and get addicted.

OMG.P., those guys have to go on tour – and come to Miami! – double-pronto.

Photo: Last.fm.