Article: Another day in paradise (The Sydney Morning Herald)

Blue Nails · 22-06-2012, 03:38 PM

Yay, new interview to read. I like that.

Another day in paradise

WHEN he formed Coldplay, Chris Martin wanted to be known but not necessarily famous. Famous was for better-looking or faster-talking, more tabloid-ready types such as Bono of U2, the Gallaghers in Oasis or those hip-hop stars who seemed built for it. Not for someone who even today, as a 35-year-old man, declares to me that ''we feel so grateful and happy to have our job and when lots of people are there we feel even more grateful and even more happy''.

Yes, he has that self-deprecating thing down but it's hard to see the disingenuousness. Twelve years ago he was already saying of the four men in Coldplay: ''As albatrosses go, I suppose it's a minor one, but it does get a bit tiring reading that we are such nice, humble chaps all the time,'' but he's never really provided a reason to think otherwise.

He wanted to get the girl but never seriously entertained any notion of getting one of the most recognisable girls in the world, as he did in 2003 with his wife, actor Gwyneth Paltrow. After all, he was a virgin at 22 and once explained the limited ambitions at the beginning of his career, only semi-jokingly, as ''basically, we set out with two goals: to either make it big in America or sleep with the sisters from the Corrs''.

He wanted his band to be pretty big but not necessarily massive. They weren't afraid of success or doubting they could do it - ''I sometimes think people don't appreciate just how actually good we think we are. We are good,'' Martin said after their first album, Parachutes - but they saw themselves as quite properly in the shadow of U2, R.E.M. and Jay-Z. As drummer Will Champion said a few years back, his frontman ''requires a lot of reassurance'' and readily admits to taking lessons in fame-craft from the egos who walk, Jay-Z and Kanye West.

Yet for all that, Martin and Coldplay are well past famous and one of the biggest bands in the world. The kind of famous that comes with 55 million albums sold, seven Grammys, three times best British band at the Brit Awards and concerts now being staged in football stadiums to accommodate the widescreen songs of last year's Mylo Xyloto album. Famous enough to be publicly pilloried as a matter of course by some critics and many an online blogger. The kind of abuse that had a slightly bruised but apparently genuine Martin asking a journalist last year, ''Do you think it's normal for big artists to have haters and ups and downs?''

I tell him that I've occasionally found commentary about me online that is pretty confronting and I'm only known by about five people, not 55 million. How does he deal with it?

''I think it's to do with the power of your own conviction,'' Martin says. ''You know deep down if what you've done is to the best of your ability and if it is then you can't worry. But I was most worried about what anyone thought around [the 2005 album] X&Y and that was because deep down I wasn't completely satisfied with it. Since then, if someone says, 'You know, that song Paradise is f---ing awful,' I don't necessarily ask that person out to dinner but I don't really mind that they feel that way because I did my best on it and I like it.''

The downsides of fame and a public profile get plenty of airings these days, even if they get little sympathy. But we don't often hear about what's good about being someone who is able to dream a show and then make that show, who can befriend the kind of powerful people the rest of us would never meet on equal terms.

''You're right, everyone focuses on the negatives. I spend most of the day at the moment feeling incredibly grateful and blessed. I've had things given to me, talent or whatever and opportunities that are so jammy, that are so unlikely to happen to a person and the only way to deal with it is to work as hard as possible. But what's it like? It's f---ing awesome.

''But you can very easily become infected by the minority negative opinion. I was talking to my dad yesterday about Manchester United, the most popular soccer team in the world, and when they show up in West Ham, they get booed. I was thinking, well, it's the same for us. But when everybody is singing Paradise [at shows] at the moment it makes me feel so alive and happy. I can't explain it really, it's hyperreal.''

In the real world, are there limits for them, musically?

''I think for the most part there isn't anything we're not allowed to do. There comes a point where you just accept that whatever you do someone will like or hate it so it's extremely liberating. We are incredibly blessed that we are, 12 years in, allowed to make whatever we want to make. That's extraordinary. Even in the film world you can't do that. Only a few people can do that.''

So there isn't an end to this band just yet?

''No. There might be an end to our popularity but I think there won't be an end to our teamness or gangship, camaraderie. We love each other,'' Martin says unabashedly. ''Also I'm always looking at Kanye West and he's moving so fast and doing such amazing work that I want to keep chasing him for a while. I don't want to give up just yet.''

link

There's a redux version of this article, which is longer and well worth reading too.

Tash · 22-06-2012, 03:40 PM

I'm afraid it isn't a new interview (just like the NME article from yesterday), they just collected a bunch of quotes and came up with his.

edit: nevermind, I only checked the first part of the article when I found it online. I guess the second part is new. Sorry!

Blue Nails · 22-06-2012, 04:08 PM

^Thats OK Tash. I thought so too, at first.

Viva_La_Coldplay · 24-06-2012, 11:46 AM

Spotted this article in The Age Saturday Edition this morning

It's nothing new, but I guess we'll be seeing a lot more articles as November gets closer

Tash · 24-06-2012, 12:14 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Viva_La_Coldplay;5336291
Spotted this article in The Age Saturday Edition this morning
It's nothing new, but I guess we'll be seeing a lot more articles as November gets closer

Threads merged.

busybeeburns · 24-06-2012, 12:22 PM

thanks for the scan!

Viva_La_Coldplay · 24-06-2012, 12:45 PM

^ no problem

coldplaymom · 25-06-2012, 10:44 AM

Same article here for better view

http://www.theage.com.au/entertainme...623-20uii.html

I wonder if Alicia Keys will ever record the song Coldplay wrote for her?

LoryABjerre · 25-06-2012, 12:34 PM

I do not see a better reviewed, and I'm not a fan of pictures.

my sister is a fan of Alicia Keys.

Now she's an actress famous she starred in the Nanny.

lafinion · 25-06-2012, 05:14 PM

Awww... they love each other

Great article.
It's good to know that they are happy right now. Well, we can hear it anyways on MX - quintessential joy.

Tash · 26-06-2012, 12:20 PM

Cold Trafford
We are Man United of pop, says Chris Martin

The Sun needs to start writing its own articles instead of copy pasting other articles.

LoryABjerre · 26-06-2012, 03:53 PM

I think wrote his own article because.

Cold Trafford "We are man United of pop"

Reminds me of a certain fiery Scotsman who’s Wayne Rooney’s boss at Old Trafford.

busybeeburns · 13-04-2013, 03:24 PM

Published on 13 Apr 2013
The Coldplay singer talks about how he deals with negativity.

Chris Martin can't take criticism? - YouTube

Tash · 13-04-2013, 03:30 PM

Recycling an article from June 2012, awesome Vancouver Sun.

busybeeburns · 13-04-2013, 03:49 PM

let's bung it in with the original Sydney Herald then

22-06-2012, 03:38 PM	#1
Blue Nails Imke. Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,283 Location: a little row boat Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 241 Thanked 249 Times in 96 Posts	Article: Another day in paradise (The Sydney Morning Herald) Yay, new interview to read. I like that. Another day in paradise WHEN he formed Coldplay, Chris Martin wanted to be known but not necessarily famous. Famous was for better-looking or faster-talking, more tabloid-ready types such as Bono of U2, the Gallaghers in Oasis or those hip-hop stars who seemed built for it. Not for someone who even today, as a 35-year-old man, declares to me that ''we feel so grateful and happy to have our job and when lots of people are there we feel even more grateful and even more happy''. Yes, he has that self-deprecating thing down but it's hard to see the disingenuousness. Twelve years ago he was already saying of the four men in Coldplay: ''As albatrosses go, I suppose it's a minor one, but it does get a bit tiring reading that we are such nice, humble chaps all the time,'' but he's never really provided a reason to think otherwise. He wanted to get the girl but never seriously entertained any notion of getting one of the most recognisable girls in the world, as he did in 2003 with his wife, actor Gwyneth Paltrow. After all, he was a virgin at 22 and once explained the limited ambitions at the beginning of his career, only semi-jokingly, as ''basically, we set out with two goals: to either make it big in America or sleep with the sisters from the Corrs''. He wanted his band to be pretty big but not necessarily massive. They weren't afraid of success or doubting they could do it - ''I sometimes think people don't appreciate just how actually good we think we are. We are good,'' Martin said after their first album, Parachutes - but they saw themselves as quite properly in the shadow of U2, R.E.M. and Jay-Z. As drummer Will Champion said a few years back, his frontman ''requires a lot of reassurance'' and readily admits to taking lessons in fame-craft from the egos who walk, Jay-Z and Kanye West. Yet for all that, Martin and Coldplay are well past famous and one of the biggest bands in the world. The kind of famous that comes with 55 million albums sold, seven Grammys, three times best British band at the Brit Awards and concerts now being staged in football stadiums to accommodate the widescreen songs of last year's Mylo Xyloto album. Famous enough to be publicly pilloried as a matter of course by some critics and many an online blogger. The kind of abuse that had a slightly bruised but apparently genuine Martin asking a journalist last year, ''Do you think it's normal for big artists to have haters and ups and downs?'' I tell him that I've occasionally found commentary about me online that is pretty confronting and I'm only known by about five people, not 55 million. How does he deal with it? ''I think it's to do with the power of your own conviction,'' Martin says. ''You know deep down if what you've done is to the best of your ability and if it is then you can't worry. But I was most worried about what anyone thought around [the 2005 album] X&Y and that was because deep down I wasn't completely satisfied with it. Since then, if someone says, 'You know, that song Paradise is f---ing awful,' I don't necessarily ask that person out to dinner but I don't really mind that they feel that way because I did my best on it and I like it.'' The downsides of fame and a public profile get plenty of airings these days, even if they get little sympathy. But we don't often hear about what's good about being someone who is able to dream a show and then make that show, who can befriend the kind of powerful people the rest of us would never meet on equal terms. ''You're right, everyone focuses on the negatives. I spend most of the day at the moment feeling incredibly grateful and blessed. I've had things given to me, talent or whatever and opportunities that are so jammy, that are so unlikely to happen to a person and the only way to deal with it is to work as hard as possible. But what's it like? It's f---ing awesome. ''But you can very easily become infected by the minority negative opinion. I was talking to my dad yesterday about Manchester United, the most popular soccer team in the world, and when they show up in West Ham, they get booed. I was thinking, well, it's the same for us. But when everybody is singing Paradise [at shows] at the moment it makes me feel so alive and happy. I can't explain it really, it's hyperreal.'' In the real world, are there limits for them, musically? ''I think for the most part there isn't anything we're not allowed to do. There comes a point where you just accept that whatever you do someone will like or hate it so it's extremely liberating. We are incredibly blessed that we are, 12 years in, allowed to make whatever we want to make. That's extraordinary. Even in the film world you can't do that. Only a few people can do that.'' So there isn't an end to this band just yet? ''No. There might be an end to our popularity but I think there won't be an end to our teamness or gangship, camaraderie. We love each other,'' Martin says unabashedly. ''Also I'm always looking at Kanye West and he's moving so fast and doing such amazing work that I want to keep chasing him for a while. I don't want to give up just yet.'' link There's a redux version of this article, which is longer and well worth reading too.

22-06-2012, 03:40 PM	#2
Tash Ms Coldplaying 2012 Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 35,504 Location: 0118 Gender: Seen CP: 12 times Fav. CP album: VLVODAAHF Fav. CP song: See You Soon Fav. CP member: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 236 Thanked 4,044 Times in 1,887 Posts	I'm afraid it isn't a new interview (just like the NME article from yesterday), they just collected a bunch of quotes and came up with his. edit: nevermind, I only checked the first part of the article when I found it online. I guess the second part is new. Sorry! __________________ Luctor et Emergo/not swallowed in the sea Rotterdam 03-10-08 Nijmegen 09-09-09 Landgraaf 11-06-11 Arras 03-07-11 London 09-12-11 London 10-12-11 Rotterdam 17-12-11 London 01-06-12 London 02-06-12 London 04-06-12 Detroit 01-08-12 The Hague 06-09-12 *it means everything and it means nothing to everybody and nobody - Guy Berryman* *Phil, who is our fifth member, he doesn’t play an instrument but he plays the mobile phone and the laptop computer - Will Champion* *a negative capability is the ability within yourself to accept that things go up and down and you can't always control it and they can't always be up but they won't always be down - Chris Martin* it’s a good noisy crowd that sing through the show at the Ahoy - none more so than when the band are on the B-Stage and the cheer for Will during Us Against The World is so huge that the song grinds to a halt amidst disbelieving giggles on stage - Roadie #42

24-06-2012, 11:46 AM	#4
Viva_La_Coldplay A spark in a sea of grey Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 594 My Mood: Location: Glowing in the dark Gender: Country: Seen CP: 7 times Fav. CP album: VLVODAAHF Fav. CP song: Til Kingdom Come Fav. CP member: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 5 Thanked 71 Times in 13 Posts	Article in Australia's The Age newspaper Spotted this article in The Age Saturday Edition this morning It's nothing new, but I guess we'll be seeing a lot more articles as November gets closer __________________ 05.03.2009 ♥ 31.07.2011 ♥ 13.11.12 ♥ 15.11.12 ♥ 17.11.12 ♥ 18.11.12 ♥ 21.11.12

24-06-2012, 12:14 PM	#5
Tash Ms Coldplaying 2012 Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 35,504 Location: 0118 Gender: Seen CP: 12 times Fav. CP album: VLVODAAHF Fav. CP song: See You Soon Fav. CP member: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 236 Thanked 4,044 Times in 1,887 Posts	Quote: Originally Posted by Viva_La_Coldplay;5336291 Spotted this article in The Age Saturday Edition this morning It's nothing new, but I guess we'll be seeing a lot more articles as November gets closer Threads merged. __________________ Luctor et Emergo/not swallowed in the sea Rotterdam 03-10-08 Nijmegen 09-09-09 Landgraaf 11-06-11 Arras 03-07-11 London 09-12-11 London 10-12-11 Rotterdam 17-12-11 London 01-06-12 London 02-06-12 London 04-06-12 Detroit 01-08-12 The Hague 06-09-12 *it means everything and it means nothing to everybody and nobody - Guy Berryman* *Phil, who is our fifth member, he doesn’t play an instrument but he plays the mobile phone and the laptop computer - Will Champion* *a negative capability is the ability within yourself to accept that things go up and down and you can't always control it and they can't always be up but they won't always be down - Chris Martin* it’s a good noisy crowd that sing through the show at the Ahoy - none more so than when the band are on the B-Stage and the cheer for Will during Us Against The World is so huge that the song grinds to a halt amidst disbelieving giggles on stage - Roadie #42

24-06-2012, 12:22 PM	#6
busybeeburns mr coldplaying himself Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 46,343 My Mood: Location: test Gender: Country: Seen CP: 20 times Fav. CP album: X&Y Fav. CP song: GPASUYF Fav. CP member: Chat posts: 4 Thanks given: 1,553 Thanked 941 Times in 423 Posts	thanks for the scan! __________________ The early bird catches the worm. The second mouse gets the cheese!

22-06-2012, 04:08 PM	#3
Blue Nails Imke. Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,283 Location: a little row boat Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 241 Thanked 249 Times in 96 Posts	^Thats OK Tash. I thought so too, at first.

24-06-2012, 12:45 PM	#7
Viva_La_Coldplay A spark in a sea of grey Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 594 My Mood: Location: Glowing in the dark Gender: Country: Seen CP: 7 times Fav. CP album: VLVODAAHF Fav. CP song: Til Kingdom Come Fav. CP member: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 5 Thanked 71 Times in 13 Posts	^ no problem __________________ 05.03.2009 ♥ 31.07.2011 ♥ 13.11.12 ♥ 15.11.12 ♥ 17.11.12 ♥ 18.11.12 ♥ 21.11.12

25-06-2012, 10:44 AM	#8
coldplaymom Coldplayer Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 4,376 Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 306 Thanked 417 Times in 228 Posts	Same article here for better view http://www.theage.com.au/entertainme...623-20uii.html I wonder if Alicia Keys will ever record the song Coldplay wrote for her?

25-06-2012, 12:34 PM	#9
LoryABjerre Banned Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,937 My Mood: Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 92 Thanked 315 Times in 212 Posts	I do not see a better reviewed, and I'm not a fan of pictures. my sister is a fan of Alicia Keys. Now she's an actress famous she starred in the Nanny.

25-06-2012, 05:14 PM	#10
lafinion Coldplayer Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 139 Location: solid ground Gender: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 3 Thanked 19 Times in 8 Posts	Awww... they love each other Great article. It's good to know that they are happy right now. Well, we can hear it anyways on MX - quintessential joy.

26-06-2012, 12:20 PM	#11
Tash Ms Coldplaying 2012 Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 35,504 Location: 0118 Gender: Seen CP: 12 times Fav. CP album: VLVODAAHF Fav. CP song: See You Soon Fav. CP member: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 236 Thanked 4,044 Times in 1,887 Posts	Cold Trafford We are Man United of pop, says Chris Martin The Sun needs to start writing its own articles instead of copy pasting other articles. __________________ Luctor et Emergo/not swallowed in the sea Rotterdam 03-10-08 Nijmegen 09-09-09 Landgraaf 11-06-11 Arras 03-07-11 London 09-12-11 London 10-12-11 Rotterdam 17-12-11 London 01-06-12 London 02-06-12 London 04-06-12 Detroit 01-08-12 The Hague 06-09-12 *it means everything and it means nothing to everybody and nobody - Guy Berryman* *Phil, who is our fifth member, he doesn’t play an instrument but he plays the mobile phone and the laptop computer - Will Champion* *a negative capability is the ability within yourself to accept that things go up and down and you can't always control it and they can't always be up but they won't always be down - Chris Martin* it’s a good noisy crowd that sing through the show at the Ahoy - none more so than when the band are on the B-Stage and the cheer for Will during Us Against The World is so huge that the song grinds to a halt amidst disbelieving giggles on stage - Roadie #42

26-06-2012, 03:53 PM	#12
LoryABjerre Banned Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,937 My Mood: Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 92 Thanked 315 Times in 212 Posts	I think wrote his own article because. Cold Trafford "We are man United of pop" Reminds me of a certain fiery Scotsman who’s Wayne Rooney’s boss at Old Trafford.

13-04-2013, 03:30 PM	#14
Tash Ms Coldplaying 2012 Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 35,504 Location: 0118 Gender: Seen CP: 12 times Fav. CP album: VLVODAAHF Fav. CP song: See You Soon Fav. CP member: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 236 Thanked 4,044 Times in 1,887 Posts	Recycling an article from June 2012, awesome Vancouver Sun. __________________ Luctor et Emergo/not swallowed in the sea Rotterdam 03-10-08 Nijmegen 09-09-09 Landgraaf 11-06-11 Arras 03-07-11 London 09-12-11 London 10-12-11 Rotterdam 17-12-11 London 01-06-12 London 02-06-12 London 04-06-12 Detroit 01-08-12 The Hague 06-09-12 *it means everything and it means nothing to everybody and nobody - Guy Berryman* *Phil, who is our fifth member, he doesn’t play an instrument but he plays the mobile phone and the laptop computer - Will Champion* *a negative capability is the ability within yourself to accept that things go up and down and you can't always control it and they can't always be up but they won't always be down - Chris Martin* it’s a good noisy crowd that sing through the show at the Ahoy - none more so than when the band are on the B-Stage and the cheer for Will during Us Against The World is so huge that the song grinds to a halt amidst disbelieving giggles on stage - Roadie #42

13-04-2013, 03:49 PM	#15
busybeeburns mr coldplaying himself Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 46,343 My Mood: Location: test Gender: Country: Seen CP: 20 times Fav. CP album: X&Y Fav. CP song: GPASUYF Fav. CP member: Chat posts: 4 Thanks given: 1,553 Thanked 941 Times in 423 Posts	let's bung it in with the original Sydney Herald then __________________ The early bird catches the worm. The second mouse gets the cheese!