Coldplay at the BBC

-JO WHILEY:

-Welcome to the BBC TV Centre in London,

where far below, amid the passing tube trains and tower blocks,

an audience of 700 or so fans are gathered to watch their favourite band

perform a handful of songs new and old.

World champions of self-flagellation,

with their new album Viva La Vida they are quite simply world class.

And here to perform, and do what they do best and love the most,

it's Coldplay at the BBC!

# Oh oh oh Oh oh oh, oh oh. #

Hello, everybody. APPLAUSE AND CHEERS

# It was a long and dark December

# From the rooftops I remember

# There was snow, white snow

# Clearly I remember

# From the windows they were watching

# While we froze down below

# When the future's architectured

# By a carnival of idiots on show

# You'd better lie low

# If you love me Won't you let me know?

# Was a long and dark December

# When the banks became cathedrals

# And a fox became God

# Priests clutched onto bibles

# Hollowed out to fit their rifles

# And a cross was held aloft

# Bury me in armour

# When I'm dead and hit the ground

# My nerves are poles that unfroze

# And if you love me Won't you let me know?

# I don't want to be a soldier

# Who the captain of some sinking ship

# Would stow, far below

# So if you love me Why d'you let me go?

# I took my love down to Violet Hill

# There we sat in snow

# All that time she was silent still

# Said if you love me Won't you let me know?

# If you love me Won't you let me know? #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERS Thanks, everybody.

Hello, Coldplay. Welcome to the bosom of the BBC TV Centre.

-Thanks, Jo.

-How does that feel?

-Thanks for having us.

-It's very nice to...be had by you.

-We're happy to be in any bosom.

-So I've heard.

-Well...

So, you said you wanted this to be the album where it would be OK to like Coldplay.

-We did.

-Does it feel like that now?

-Not really.

-I think we...

-Do you think it will ever be OK to like Coldplay?

-Guy knows that answer.

-Guy.

-Er, I'm not sure.

I... I think we...

I just think we always feel that we're not very good.

-And that's what makes us...

-But where does that come from?

Mainly...

Mainly Guy, actually.

-Guy just keeps a downer on it all the time.

-Gives it somewhere to go.

When your bass player is that handsome,

your music can be terrible.

You know, one of the first tours of America we ever did,

these two gay guys came up to us at the end

and said, "The show was OK.

"But you gotta have more light on you."

And...they spoke just like that.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERS

OK. Thanks for giving us your Tuesday.

CHRIS TRILLS

CROWD CLAPS RHYTHMICALLY

# Lights go out and I can't be saved

# Tides that I tried to swim against

# You've put me down upon my knees

# Oh I beg, I beg and plead, singing

# Come out of things unsaid

# Shoot an apple off my head

# With a trouble that can't be named

# A tiger's waiting to be tamed, singing

# You are

# You are

# Confusion never stops

# Closing walls and ticking clocks

# Gonna come back and take you home

# I could not stop That you now know

# So I come out upon my seas

# I curse missed opportunities

# Am I a part of the cure

# Or am I part of the disease?

# Singing, you are

# You are

# You are

# You are

# And nothing else compares

# No, nothing else compares

# And nothing else compares

# You are

# Home, home, where I wanted to go

# Home, home, where I wanted to go

# Home, home, where I wanted to go

# Home, home where I wanted to go. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERS

Thank you.

Everybody OK?

SCREAMS AND SHOUTS

Our guitar player, Jonny Buckland.

# In my place, in my place

# Were lines that I couldn't change

# I was lost, oh yeah

# I was lost, I was lost

# Crossed lines I shouldn't have crossed

# I was lost, oh yeah... # Ready?

# Yeah, how long must you wait for him?

# Yeah, how long must you pay for him?

# Yeah, how long must you wait for him?

# I was scared, I was scared

# Tired and underprepared

# But I wait for you

# If you go, if you go

# If you leave us down here on our own

# Well, I wait for you... #

OK, guys.

# Yeah, how long must you wait for him?

# Yeah, how long must you pay for him?

# Yeah, how long must you wait for him? #

There's a lot of people here we owe a lot to.

Thanks for staying outside the gates.

We look best from a long distance anyway, so I wouldn't worry.

OK on the balconies?

# Please, please, please

# Come back and sing to me

# To me, me

# Come on and sing it out, out, now

# Come on and sing it out To me, to me

# Come back and sing it

# In my place, in my place

# Were lines that I couldn't change

# I was lost, oh yeah

# Oh yeah. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERS

You people are on incredible form.

Will, you said it gives you something to aspire to,

if you think small and think, "We are still that little indie band."

It's quite a fine line to tread

because you don't want to seem arrogant

but also you don't want to seem overly humble and self-deprecating.

It's always a fine line with us.

I think in our, behind closed doors we feel quite confident,

but then we're always suprised when people agree.

If you start out like a new band every time,

you can only hope to get bigger.

We don't feel like we could start from where we left off.

There's a lot of ground to catch up on.

Have you ever been TOO self-deprecating, Chris?

I think we're the most humble band in the world.

-With the potential to be the most brilliant band in the world.

-Yeah.

I think...

We're always more self-deprecating before concerts.

If you interviewed us afterwards - in case it goes terribly wrong -

which it might do and then this interview will become legendary...

Well, maybe not legendary. Er...

-Forgotten.

-Yes, forgotten.

Basically, lower people's expectations then blow them away. Hopefully.

If you go on a date and say, "I'm probably not going to kiss you, even"...

-Even?!

-LAUGHTER

Even if you beg for it.

Anyhting more than that is a bonus. That's our philosophy.

CROWD CHANTS

How many of you are only here cos you couldn't get tickets for The Weakest Link?

CHEERING Three. Well, that's good. At least you got something.

This is Will, our drummer, probably the best drummer in the world.

CHEERING

Of course we're a little biased in this. There's plenty of rock drummers

who say that they're better but I would disagree.

You'll see why with this church bell odyssey

that somehow has made it to number one in America - goodness knows how.

CHEERING

MUSIC: "Viva La Vida"

# I used to rule the world

# Seas would rise when I gave the word

# Now in the morning, I sleep alone

# Sweep the streets I used to own

# I used to roll the dice

# Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes

# Listened as the crowd would sing

# Now the old king is dead Long live the king

# One minute, I held the key

# Next the walls were closed on me

# And I discovered that my castles stand

# Upon pillars of salt and of sand

# I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing

# Roman cavalry choirs are singing

# Be my mirror, my sword and shield

# Missionaries in a foreign field

# For some reason, I can't explain

# Once you'd gone, there was never

# Never an honest word

# And that was when I ruled the world

# It was a wicked and wild wind

# Blew down the doors to let me in

# Shattered windows and the sound of drums

# People couldn't believe what I'd become

# Revolutionaries wait

# For my head on a silver plate

# Just a puppet on a lonely string

# Oh, who would ever want to be king?

# I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing

# Roman cavalry choirs are singing

# Be my mirror, my sword and shield

# My missionaries in a foreign field

# For some reason, I can't explain

# I know St Peter won't call my name

# Never an honest word

# But that was when I ruled the world... #

If you'd like to sing with us we'd really appreciate it very much. OK.

# Oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh oh

# Oh oh oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh oh oh

# Oh oh oh oh oh oh

# I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing

# Roman cavalry choirs are singing

# Be my mirror, my sword and shield

# My missionaries in a foreign field

# For some reason, I can't explain

# I know St Peter won't call my name

# Never an honest word

# But that was when I ruled the world

# Oooh oooh oooh... #

Us British people have great singing voices.

# ..Oooh oooh oooh

# Oooh oooh. #

Thank you very much indeed.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Those who are dead are not dead

# They're just living in my head... #

Sorry about that mistake. # Oh-oh!

# And since I fell for that spell

# I am living there as well

# Oh-oh-oh-oh

# Time is so short and I'm sure

# There must be something more

# Those who are dead are not dead

# They're just living in my head

# Oh-oh-oh-oh

# And since I fell for that spell

# I am living there as well

# Oh-oh-oh-oh

# Time is so short and I'm sure

# There must be something more

# Ooh-ooh-ooh... #

CHEERS

# You thought you might be a ghost

# You thought you might be a ghost

# You didn't get to heaven but you made it close

# You didn't get to heaven but you made it close

# You thought you might be a ghost

# You thought you might be a ghost

# You didn't get to heaven but you made it close

# You didn't get to heaven but you oh-oh oh-oh

# Those who are dead are not dead

# They're just living in my head

# Oooooh-oh! #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERS Wow, we played it on TV and didn't mess it up.

Jonny, what do you enjoy the most about being in Coldplay?

What is the one thing that you wake up and you're just, like, "Yeah."?

I think playing live is the best thing.

-Makes the travelling, the waiting, everything worthwhile.

-Will?

It sounds cheesy, but just being able to play music with your friends every day.

-It doesn't get better than that.

-As long as you're still friends.

-I mean, not these guys.

-No.

-My side project.

-His other band.

-Guy, what's the best thing for you?

-I think just being able to...

It's a real privilege to not have to wake up and put on a suit and tie.

-Chris? What do you enjoy most about being in Coldplay?

-Waiting for Madame Tussaud's to call.

-But still no call.

-Still no call. That's what we're aiming for.

Until that happens...

-Maybe that day will never come.

-We'll keep trying.

Gives you something to strive for. What's the hardest thing?

-The same thing.

-Personally. No, personally.

Personally, the hardest thing is being a loudmouth.

You talk more than everybody else, as you can see.

Making yourself look a bit stupid and not reflecting the intelligence

of the people who stay more quiet. That's what's hardest.

As you can see, we're more of a band with faces for radio, but...

For some reason we've been given this great opportunity

to play where we used to watch on TV every night as kids.

Even as adults, we still watch Blue Peter, we still watch Newsround.

We still watch Edd the Duck or whatever he's called these days.

And this is a song we wrote just when we first came to the BBC,

and never did we think we'd play it in such a helicopter-viewed television extravaganza.

CHEERS That's the way it is for Coldplay these days.

Helicopters and crazy stuff like that.

# Oh no, I see

# Helicopters filled with my friends and me

# I turn and say

# Don't film the bald spot on the top of my head... #

OK!

# Oh no, what's this

# A spider web and it's me in the middle

# I turned to run

# Thought of all the stupid things I've done

# I never meant to cause you trouble

# And I never meant to do you wrong

# And I Well, if I ever caused you trouble

# Oh no, I never meant to do you harm

# Oh no, I see

# A spider web and it's me in the middle

# So I twist and turn

# Here am I in my little bubble

# Singing, I never meant to cause you trouble

# I never meant to do you wrong

# I'll be singing and I Well, if I ever caused you trouble

# No, no I never meant to do you harm

# Oh no

# They spun... # Let's risk it.

-CROWD:

-# A web for me

# They spun a web for me

# They spun a web for me. #

It's like Bohemian Rhapsody, just a little bit better.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

-CHANTING:

-Coldplay! Coldplay!

This is for our favourite uncle from America.

Yep.

# Just because I'm losing

# Doesn't mean I'm lost

# Doesn't mean I'll stop

# Doesn't mean I'm across

# Just because I'm hurting

# Doesn't mean I'm hurt

# Doesn't mean I didn't get what I deserved

# No better and no worse

# I just got lost!

# Every river that I tried to cross

# Every door I ever tried was locked

# Oh and I'm just waiting till the shine wears off... #

I can't dance, but I'm enthusiastic.

That's the best thing.

# You might be a big fish

# In a little pond

# Doesn't mean you've won

# Cos along will come

# A bigger one

# And you'll be lost!

# Every river that you tried to cross

# Every gun you ever held went off

# Oh and I'm just waiting till the shine wears off

# Oh and I'm just waiting till the shine wears off

# One time professionals

# Oh and I'm just waiting till the shine wears off

# Oh, I'm just waiting till the shine wears off

# O-o-o-o-h

# Ooh-ooh

# Ooh ooh ooh

# Oh ooh-ooh

# Oh ooh

# Just because I'm losing

# Doesn't mean I'm lost. #

CHEERING

Thank you.

-Shall we talk about the clothing, how this came about?!

-OK!

You started unbuttoning your shirt. I was wondering what was gonna happen.

-Do it up again.

-I'm trying to go for the Johnny Borrell...

-Right.

Take the vest off then.

He's just better sculpted than me.

True.

If you've got it, flaunt it.

-But I haven't got it!

-Do it up again!

If you haven't...

Did the idea for this look come from you lot

or someone came to you and said, "You can look like this."

-It came from Guy.

-OK.

We built our own studio. We tried to do everything in there -

the artwork and the recordings and stuff.

We felt we should make our own clothes too.

Did you customise?

-I've read that you customise.

-Yeah.

That's why some of it's falling off.

We're not good seamstresses!

-Have you got lots of copies of these?

-Yeah.

-He's never worn this before.

-It's Will's. That's my design.

It comes from watching Blue Peter.

-Or other do-it-yourself shows.

-Everyone needs a dressing-up box.

I feel like...

A lot of the time, music is about... it's entertainment.

-We...

-These clothes are entertaining.

-They are.

They certainly are. They make me laugh!

Oh, Jo!

-Go on.

-Trying to embrace a bit of... theatre in it.

We were very monochrome before.

-You know...something to look at.

-Yeah.

-Why not.

-Thank you.

-You get to put that lovely eye makeup on.

-We don't.

-You could do.

Nothing to stop you.

There's about eight managers trying to stop us!

But we like getting dressed for business.

And this means business.

-Thanks for talking to us.

-You're lucky.

-We are lucky.

We know it.

If you've tuned in for the Antiques Roadshow, this is not quite it.

But nearly. OK, let's go.

# Look at the stars

# Look how they shine for you

# All the things you do

# Yeah, they were all yellow

# I came along

# I wrote a song for you

# And everything you do

# And it was called Yellow

# So then I took my turn

# Oh, what a thing to have done

# And it was all yellow

# Your skin, oh yeah

# Your skin and bones

# Turn into something beautiful

# You know, you know I love you so

# You know I love you, Jo

INAUDIBLE

# I swam across

# I jumped across for you

# Oh, what a thing to do

# Cos you were all yellow

# I drew a line

# I drew a line for you

# Oh, what a thing to do

# Oh, and it was all yellow-oh-oh-oh

# Oh oh oh

# Your skin, oh yeah

# Your skin and bones

# Turn into something beautiful

# And you know, you know I'd bleed myself dry

# Oh oh oh...

# I'd bleed... # I sound like the Futureheads.

# It's true

# Look how they shine for you... #

Check out the builders over there.

# How they shine for you

# Look how they shine for... #

Hit it!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Yeah.

This a great big singalong on BBC2.

Coming up next: the snooker.

I don't know what's coming up next. No-one told me.

What's coming up next?

Tony Hart.

# When you try your best but you don't succeed

# When you get what you want but not what you need

# When you feel so tired but you can't sleep

# Stuck in reverse

# When the tears come streaming down your face

# When you lose something you can't replace

# Or you love someone but it goes to waste

# Could it be worse? #

Ricky Gervais sang this better.

CROWD: # Lights will guide you home

# And ignite your bones

# I will try to fix you

# High up above and down below

# You're too in love to let it show

# But if you never try You'll never know

# Just what you're worth

# Lights will guide you home

# And ignite your bones

# I will try to fix you... #

Go, Will!

# Tears stream down your face

# When you lose something you cannot replace

# Tears stream down your face

# And I...

# Tears stream down your face

# I promise you I will learn from my mistakes

# Tears stream down your face

# And I...

CROWD: # Lights will guide you home

# And ignite your bones

# And I will try to fix you. #

Thanks a lot! Incredible singing! APPLAUSE

We'll do one more song then leave you in peace.

Let's see which way the wind blows.

# Lovers keep on the road you're on

# Runners until the race is run

# Soldiers, you've got to soldier on

# Sometimes even the right is wrong... #

OK!

# They are turning my head out

# To see what I'm all about

# Keeping my head down

# To see what it feels like now

# And I have no doubt

# One day we're going to get out

# Tonight maybe we're gonna run

# Dreaming of the Osaka sun

# Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh

# Just dreaming of when the morning comes

# They are turning my head out

# To see what I'm all about

# Keeping my head down

# To see what it feels like now

# And I have no doubt

# One day, the sun will come out

# Ooooh

# Ooooh

# Aaahhh

# Ooooh

# Ooooh. #

Thanks for coming. Love to our kids.

Thanks for looking after us and giving us the best job in the world. Goodbye.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Thank you very, very much for waiting around. See you again. Goodbye.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]

CROWD CHANTS: We want more! We want more!