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Post by LdySpace on Feb 5, 2014 22:58:36 GMT
February 5, 2014 - submitted by George, United Kingdom
Q. Hi Oracle! Did the band always have 'musicians' as their first career choice, or was it a hobby that ultimately became their job? Thanks!
The Oracle replies:
The interest in music was there for them all and they played in bands from an early age. Obviously they were at University studying and chose subjects for an alternative career but Chris once said that he went to UCL to meet Jonny, Guy & Will. Meaning that he had the idea he wanted to form a band at Uni but nobody could know that his destiny would indeed be fulfilled - nay, surpassed - there.
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Post by LdySpace on Feb 5, 2014 22:59:09 GMT
February 5, 2014 - submitted by Mitchell, Canada
Q. As I'm sure you know, the cover of the X&Y album artwork, when translated, actually reads X9Y. Is there any explanation for this that I missed somewhere, was it done on purpose or was it an accident?... Thank you!
The Oracle replies:
There is no way that would be deliberate because X9Y means nothing. Nonsensical in fact. It doesn't say X9Y though, I'm pretty sure it does translate as X&Y.
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Post by LdySpace on Feb 5, 2014 22:59:42 GMT
February 5, 2014 - submitted by Con, Australia
Q. Hey Oracle, bit of a meta-question here... how did Oracle come to be? It doesn't seem like it's common practice for an artist to run a general question and answer page.
That being said, love your work! Keep the wisdom flowing.
The Oracle replies:
The Q&A idea came well before my conception. The Oracle wing started July 2008 but the band have had a section for questions and answers since 2002. Back then it was totally band related questions I believe but obviously we've got a broader spectrum these days.
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Post by LdySpace on Feb 5, 2014 23:00:46 GMT
February 4, 2014 - submitted by Plopie, Belgium
Q. Do you know what's wrong with the Coldplaying forum? Can't ask anyone else because it says the forum is closed!
The Oracle replies:
I've no idea! Coldplaying is a very separate website and as it's an unofficial fansite of the band, I don't have any inside information.
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Post by LdySpace on Feb 5, 2014 23:02:24 GMT
February 4, 2014 - submitted by Laura, Argentina
Q. Hi dear Oracle! What was the last gig you've attended?
The Oracle replies:
*STOP PRESS* Edit: A few hours after answering this and the last gig I attended is now Prince at Camden's Electric Ballroom in the early hours.
Would you believe it was the Under 1 Roof charity gig before Christmas. This year I've been to the cinema 6 times and the theatre twice but haven't managed to see any live music yet. Got a couple coming up. The first I can't tell you about as it's a surprise (for somebody else, not me) and John Grant has a show coming up that I'm going to.
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Post by LdySpace on Feb 5, 2014 23:02:53 GMT
February 4, 2014 - submitted by Anna, Denmark
Q. Hey there! I saw the ETIAW question and wondered, if the building from the music video is the same as the one from Fluorescent Adolescent by Arctic Monkeys?
And if so, was the location chosen to make some kind of connection between the two?
Anna
The Oracle replies:
Yes it's the same location but no there is absolutely no connection other than it's Millennium Mills and frequently used as a location for film, TV and music videos. One of which was my favourite Snow Patrol song's video, Take Back the City.
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Post by comicforce on Feb 5, 2014 23:03:38 GMT
Thank you for the updates!!
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Post by LdySpace on Feb 6, 2014 22:35:34 GMT
February 6, 2014 - submitted by Sara, United States of America
Q. At the Philadelphia concert on 7/6/12, Chris said Will's drum kit was broken, and that they would skip a song. Which song did they skip? They played Trouble instead, which was an amazing treat! Thanks!
The Oracle replies:
Back on *6 July 2012 the band skipped Up In Flames so played Trouble instead.
FYI UK folk: In the UK we refer to 7/6/12 as 6/7/12.
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Post by LdySpace on Feb 6, 2014 22:36:16 GMT
February 6, 2014 - submitted by Steven, United States of America
Q. Hello Oracle,
I have a personal question that I hope you can answer.
I came across a video of the bands live performance at the Big Day Out Festival in 2001 and before playing the song Sparks, Chris says this is for the couples and then says he has a girlfriend and points and says "you see Margaret there in the hat right? She's wicked and this song is for her." So what I want to know is if the song Sparks was written for her.
Thanks!
The Oracle replies:
No. Sparks was written well before then.
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Post by LdySpace on Feb 10, 2014 22:41:42 GMT
February 10, 2014 - submitted by Feike, Netherlands
Q. I have a question about the lamp in the Fix You video. What kind of lamp/light hangs above the stage when Chris grabs the rope and starts swinging it? The lamp is also seen in the live version of Fix You on the Glastonbury festival in 2005.
I`m asking this because I`m thinking about getting a tattoo of the lamp with some lyrics underneath it.
The Oracle replies:
When Chris had the idea for a swinging light bulb, it wasn't actually going to be used for Fix You but a different song. I'm sorry I can't remember which now, even though I was at the rehearsals when it was introduced. It literally did start off as a light bulb. It's not a special lamp or one where I can direct you to a similar one. I'm afraid it's going to be a case of looking at the video and freeze framing any shots of it.
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Post by LdySpace on Feb 10, 2014 22:42:24 GMT
February 10, 2014 - submitted by Deba, Germany
Q. Dear Oracle,
I read somewhere that Chris doesn't know how to read or write music. Isn't that a little risky when he is performing live and he suddenly forgets how to play a part of the song?
The Oracle replies:
Not at all risky. If he forgets, he forgets - bands don't play from sheet music anyway so it wouldn't really make any difference. It's rare to have those moments as the tours are planned and rehearsed in advance. There may be the odd fluffed lyric but if any last minute changes are made to the set list, the band use time at sound checks to practice.
That said, I have seen them start to play something random and off-piste that Chris will admit he has forgotten how to play. They'd either ditch it or get it ready for the next performance.
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Post by LdySpace on Feb 10, 2014 22:43:07 GMT
February 10, 2014 - submitted by George, United States of America
Q. Hi Oracle, I found a funny bit of info, and I'd like to know what you think of it. I saw a video of a show back in 2011, where Kanye West, Jay Z, and Chris Martin were singing Homecoming. Near the end, Chris forgets some lyrics... was it because he hadn't done the song since 2007, or because he simply says, "I'm a little drunk".
The Oracle replies:
That show was from 31 December, 2010 - New Year's Eve. Chris had therefore had a drink but he wasn't drunk.
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Post by LdySpace on Feb 11, 2014 22:13:57 GMT
February 11, 2014 - submitted by Begum, Turkey
Q. Hello, how is your day? I hope everything is goin well. Here is my' question: Who are Jonny Buckland's guitar idols?
Thank you so much! Greetings from Turkey!
The Oracle replies:
I'll go one step' more and give you a list of his musical heroes / influences from his formative years if you like:
Kevin Shields, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Gram Parsons, Keith Richards, Ian Brown, Aretha Franklin, Shaun Ryder, Nick Cave & bjork.
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Post by LdySpace on Feb 11, 2014 22:15:11 GMT
February 11, 2014 - submitted by Savi, United Kingdom
Q. Hi Oracle,
I was wondering, see in the Live 2012 CD, when Charlie Brown comes on and Chris says "w-how changed it" or something along those lines, what does he mean by that? Like what did they change? I watched the DVD but couldn't spot it either.
Thanks.
The Oracle replies:
As Charlie Brown song starts, Chris says "Ok Will, switch 'em on, let's go" and many people therefore think Will triggers the Xylobands, but it's Jason - the Xyloband inventor - who does. Chris is actually saying "oh ho, Jason" in reaction to how amazing the lights look.
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Post by LdySpace on Feb 12, 2014 12:31:15 GMT
February 12, 2014 - submitted by Buffi, United States of America
Q. Dearest Oracle,
I have a follow up question to the one submitted recently about Chris not knowing how to read sheet music. If he can't read it, I'm assuming he also doesn't know how to write it out. If that's the case, how does the sheet music for their songs get written down to be sold in piano books and guitar tabs?
Does someone else in the band write out the sheet music after the song is developed, or perhaps one of the techs? I'm very curious about this, so please, please write back.
Thanks, and lots of love!
The Oracle replies:
That's not generally a task for the writer these days or any band / crew member.
In days gone by it may have been but labels and publishers have long since had people who do that.
Also in this modern age of amazing, wondrous technology there's software that can translate music into transcripts of scores etc.
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