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Coldplay
Marvel Stadium
A sea of mobile phones raise in the air, arms extended to capture the moment Chris Martin walks on stage.
The show begins with a Welcome to Country where we are invited to share stories and experiences by local elder Aunty Di of Wurundjeri country.
An apologetic Chris Martin informs everyone that bass guitarist Guy Berryman has fallen ill unexpectedly and for the first time in 25 years will not play the show. He humbly asks the crowd to forgive any mistakes they might make during the course of the show.
Announcing their arrival with the Flying Theme from ET Chris Martin bursts out onto the stage opening with ‘ Higher Power’. The coloured wristbands flash in unison behind him.
Not stopping to take a breath they quickly work their way through the hits, playing favourites ‘ Paradise’ and ‘ The Scientist’.
Moving on quickly Chris Martin stops occasionally to make speeches here and there, but through the show he is an unstoppable force of nature, running up and down the catwalk, stopping to give band members a hug and checking in on the crowd. The show is truly inclusive and inspiring.
Moving into the second act, ‘ Viva La Vida’ has arms raised and the crowd are truly immersed in the experience. Pulling two members of the crowd on stage who got engaged to ‘ Everglow’ he gives them a personalised moment, and it’s an impromptu tribute for them both. As the first bars of ‘ Yellow’ ring out, the wristbands flash and the stadium is bathed in a warm glow.
Just before ‘ We Pray’, Martin asks the crowd to reach for the sky and send a prayer out into the world. He offers it to be a prayer for Palestine, a prayer for peace, a prayer for family- a prayer for the world. It’s a beautiful moment that unites the crowd.
The final act sees them move to a smaller podium for a touching tribute to Shane Warne with the song ‘ Sparks’, as images of Warney flash onto the screen its a bittersweet moment.
For the final song we are invited to put on the Moon Glasses that we were handed upon entry and as ‘feelslikeimfallinginlove’ plays, 3D love hearts drift around the arena. It’s a magical moment and just when you think Coldplay can’t get any better they up the ante with this experience.
Being at a Coldplay show is a unique adventure and they really are ground breaking in the way they deliver entertainment to fans. When a whole stadium of wrist bands are flashing, it doesn’t matter what background you come from, the crowd is united as one. They have put on a fantastic show and taken entertainment to a whole new dimension.
