Coldplay has stunned fans around the world for decades with their bombastic live spectacles. To see what the fuss is all about, I saw the band on the Music of the Spheres Tour.
I would like to say that I’m not a fan of Coldplay. I would argue that they are constantly trying to be radio friendly and just an average band. So why would someone like me go to a Coldplay concert? Well, my wife and her friend loves them, and they have flown on many occasions to see them. With a sold out show in the Amsterdam Arena, I decided to join them and see if the live experience. Maybe it would convince me to be less negative about this British pop powerhouse.
COLDPLAY
The British band Coldplay has been an established stadium act for a long time. They have captivated audiences worldwide with their uplifting music and heartfelt lyrics and bombastic live shows. With chart-topping hits like Yellow, Fix You, and Viva la Vida, Coldplay has solidified their place as one of the most influential and beloved bands of the 21st century.
Their ability to evoke powerful emotions through their music has garnered them a dedicated fanbase. It also earned them numerous awards and accolades throughout their career. At the same time, they manage to be one of those bands that have just as many haters. However, I doubt they show up too much for the actual show. They do make sure they always stay relevant and radio friendly, and with their latest album Music of the Spheres they team up with K-pop group BTS for the radio hit My Universe. But the album also includes some rock with People of the Pride and pop with Higer Power.
MUSIC OF THE SPHERES TOUR
In a sold out Amsterdam Arena, the band made their way to the stage under a massive, echoing applause. With the tickets we bought, we stood on the barrier and had a great spot to see all the action. Once the band arrived onto the stage, they kicked it off straight away. Higher Power got the energy going and from the get go we were treated to a lot of confetti.
Coldplay brings a great mixture of visuals, hits and dancing which makes it easy to understand why people love them. When checking the set list later on I noticed they split the show in different acts, but I have to say, while watching it I didn’t notice it. A Coldplay show is a true spectacle in which frontman Chris Martin plays the crowd with ease and let them do whatever he wants.
Some highlights from the show were the big amounts of confetti and songs like People of the Pride, A Sky Full Of Stars and Fix You. With a Sky, you saw all the wristbands that were given out when entering the venue all light up, and it was an amazing sight. In a show that is mainly based on the spectacle factor, I do have to say there were two moments I felt they could have skipped the songs.
Something Just Like This saw the band have some alien masks, with Chris Martin doing sign language instead of singing. Although it’s nice to do the sign language, it feels lazy to wear a mask and hear an obvious recording, but people loved it. Another song that could have been skipped for me (a guy that doesn’t generally like Coldplay) was Biutyful. My god, it’s like being at The Muppets show with less good puppets that sing annoyingly high.
That said, the show itself is a massive spectacle, that will be around for a very long time. It is something you should have seen with your own eyes, even if it doesn’t make you a big fan, just for the sake of the whole experience.
MY REVIEW
Did Coldplay manage to sway me into becoming a fan? Well, not exactly. While I can acknowledge that a Coldplay concert boasts a grandiosity akin to legendary acts like KISS, making it an event worth experiencing, my overall perception of the band remains unchanged. Despite the dazzling array of fireworks, confetti, and balloons that adorn their performances, I view it as an entertaining spectacle for a single viewing.
Where perhaps a KISS show is a spectacle from start to finish, with Coldplay it felt they used all the confetti in the first few songs. I think it would have been amazing to save some for the end, but that’s me perhaps being nitpicky. That said, they had a great mixture of old and new songs. Making sure that there was always something to see. That something is mainly Chris Martin dancing around as the band itself isn’t the most interesting to watch. But hey, then can play, and that’s what matters. A flawless show and what I love is that even though it is Chris Martin at the centre stage it is still a band effort.
Nevertheless, there’s no denying the immense joy that Coldplay’s spectacles bring to countless fans around the globe. So although I won’t go quickly back to a Coldplay show, I’m happy I did see them and experience this show with my wife. Who absolutely loves them to bits and was singing along all night.
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