15 September 2008: O2 World, Berlin, Germany
From WikiColdplay
Contents |
Setlist
- Life In Technicolor
- Violet Hill
- Clocks
- In My Place
- Speed Of Sound
- Cemeteries Of London
- Chinese Sleep Chant
- 42
- Fix You
- Strawberry Swing
- God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (techno version)
- Talk (partial - techno version)
- Trouble (partial
- The Hardest Part (piano - Chris)
- Postcards From Far Away (piano instrumental)
- Viva La Vida
- Lost!
- The Scientist (acoustic)
- Death Will Never Conquer (acoustic - Will singing)
- Viva La Vida (remix interlude)
First Encore - Politik
- Yes (snippet)
- Lovers In Japan
- Death And All His Friends
Second Encore - Yellow
- The Escapist
Photos
Photos from this show can be found at Coldplaying.com in the Gallery thread for Berlin. http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/1528
Videos
Videos from this show can be found in the first post of the Coldplaying forum live thread for this show at http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45580
Discussion
All post-show discussion for this show at the forum thread: http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45580
Fan Reviews
All fan reviews have been submitted to us by the members of Coldplaying.com[1], unless stated otherwise.
I found the performance pretty good, but the sound was so bad. What is the use of having it so loud, if the voice is burried under? What a waste. Only the accoustic songs or when Martin was playing on the piano were a real joy for the ears.
What a pleasure to listen to TROUBLE on the piano. I felt particularly lucky to get Cemeteries, Strawberry S, TROUBLE, DEATH AAHF in the same gig.
But the great kick for me was their little accoustic set for Death will never conquer with Champion singing . I was about 7 meters away, on the same level where they were standing. I had a clear view straight to them and it was so nice to see them all 4 standing so close in this small space, obviously enjoying being together. Wow, I could really get a good look at them. That was an amazing experience that I did not expect.
There was a guy with a white-blue kind of sailor shirt about 1 meter right below them who was filming them with his mobile. He must have gotten a very close video.
[sunrayvibe]
hey guys, felix (winnie) and i are finally back from berlin as well and i have many things to tell you. problem is, i don't know where to start ^^
let's try it this way... as we went to the gig in hamburg the day before yesterday as well, these two days were really tough. my timing was horrible, as i got sick three days ago. but i somehow pulled through.
it's funny that we were focusing on the hamburg gig so much during the last weeks, that we almost forgot about berlin, to be honest. felix lives in hamburg, we went there really early, it was the first gig, etc. but now i have several reasons why i have to agree with lars (and felix) that berlin was far better than hamburg:
~ i finally didn't feel sick anymore, so the gig wasn't as exhausting as the previous one
~ the whole band but esp. chris seemed much more into it than the night before. no idea, why. both chris and albert hammond jr. said in hamburg, that it was "freezing cold" on stage. maybe that was the reason, but i'm just guessing.
~ probably most importantly: the sound in berlin was so so SO much better than in hamburg! but since i read that someone in this thread said the sound was bad, i guess it might depend on where you're standing... but seriously, in hamburg it was too loud and you could barely hear chris' voice. that was a million times better in berlin.
and i think that last reason is why those two gigs felt completely different for me. hamburg was fun. it was a great day with great people, we were laughing so much and joking around. it was a brilliant day AND (as i already said in the other thread) a great gig.
berlin, on the other hand, was personally for me much more emotional. i think it was mainly because of the better sound but also because from our point of view (directly in front of the right sidestage, where i could see the whole stage, the lights and everything) that there were so many moments which brought tears to my eyes. and i'm so thankful for that!!! because, you know... hamburg was great fun - but this gig brought so many feelings back that i had in 2005 when i saw them for the first time.
so yeah... i dunno what else to say. last night was simply PERFECT. it was so, so amazing. and it was funny because i knew they'd come to our side of the stage, but i somehow never expected them to be THAT close! it was so awesome! and when chris started playing trouble, i seriously almost died. i so hoped i would hear that song live one day <333
i got some nice pics from both gigs which i'm gonna upload tomorrow, if you like. right now i'm way too tired and exhausted and all i need is sleep.
i'll never forget these two days, everything was far beyond brilliant and i'm so sad that it's over. it went by too fast!
[*Sarah*]
My journey started at 10am and after changing the high speed ICE trains in Bremen and Hannover I arrived at Berlin Hauptbahnhof at 2pm. I used the S-Bahn to my hotel and checked in before I left my room at 3.15pm and used the S5 to Ostbahnhof. At Tiergarten station a musician came in with his guitar and played Ralph Mc Tell’s “Streets Of London”. He was amazing and I hoped he’d play a Coldplay song either, but unfortunately he left 2 stations later. First I was very tired from Hamburg, but when the musician came in I felt very excited again. I texted Sarah and Felix and we met in front of this amazing new O2 world next to the Eastside Gallery. Just 2 days ago Metallica inaugurated the arena with an amazing concert I read in a newspaper.
The entrance was a lot better as they had many gates around the arena so there was enough time to go back to the train station to buy cheeseburgers. There weren’t many supporters in front of the arena until 5.30pm. So typical for Berlin!!! The security was very friendly and we were allowed to enter the arena at 6.15pm I believe. I managed to get a good position in the 4th or 5th row, Sarah and Felix decided to stand in front of the right side stage though. Then I was waiting and waiting. Sadly there was no one to talk with as everyone around me was either Dutch or Polish lol.
At 8.15pm Albert Hammond Jr. entered the stage and this time I was more pleased with his performance. I recognized the other members who I met in Hamburg afterwards. When they finished 3 drunken Polish “fans” suddenly appeared and they were so rude and aggressive, touching other girls, screaming the whole time etc. I didn’t know what to do. Should I stay here in the face of danger that they will ruin my concert, should I go back to Sarah and Felix or should I try to get a different position?! Mercifully they seemed to have some technical problems above all of us so there was enough time to change the position. I was standing next to the left side stage when the concert began.
First I listened to Jay-Z again and everyone around me went nuts. It was crazy. I felt that this time the crowd was a lot better than in Hamburg yesterday. The Viennese Waltz followed and for a moment I thought I would be somewhere in Austria lol. Then lights went out and Coldplay entered the stage with “Life In Technicolor” followed by “Violet Hill”, “Clocks”, “In My Place”, “Speed Of Sound”, “Cemeteries Of London”, “Chinese Sleep Chant” and “42”. Until here it was the same set list in Hamburg, but I enjoyed every single second. Chris tried to speak German after “Clocks” which was amazing. He said he failed all German exams at school and therefore he apologizes for his German. The next songs were “42” and “Fix You” which was probably the first highlight tonight. Everyone seemed to know the lyrics. I was so glad the audience was so much better than yesterday. Then it was time for “Strawberry Swing” before the band went to the right side stage to play the techno versions of “God Put A Smile Upon Your Face” and “Talk”. I had no clue which song should have followed and suddenly Chris played “Trouble”!!! I couldn’t believe it. I wished they’d play more songs of Parachutes or any old b-sides and now Chris was playing Trouble on his piano. So I called Kara, but wasn’t sure if she was able to hear it with her mobile phone. I could have killed Chris when he suddenly stopped to play. He said “Fuck this” and continued with “The Hardest Part”. WHYYYYY???
“Postcards From Far Away” followed when Chris said the atmosphere will change rapidly in a few seconds. “Viva La Vida” began! Wow, what a song! It’s my favorite song of “VLVODAAHF” and I couldn’t believe that Will recently mentioned in an interview this song shouldn’t be on the album first. During “Lost!” Chris suddenly appeared next to Guy and started hitting the timpani drum. It was sooo funny! The band left the stage to come back somewhere in the last corner of the arena to play an acoustic version of “The Scientist”. After that it was time for Will and his song “Death Will Never Conquer”. Then the first break and we all listened to this “Viva La Vida Remix”. I’m so in love with it. Anyone knows exactly this version? After a short while Coldplay came back on stage with “Politik” before Chris played a snippet of “Yes”. Argh they didn’t play it in Hamburg either.
Then I prepared myself for “Lovers In Japan”, because I know this would be the climax again. Damn, the Japenese clips in the background, the butterflies, everything’s just perfect!!! At this time an Italian girl next to me began to cry. Awww that was too sweet. After “Lovers In Japan” it was time for “Death And All Of his Friends” before they did a last break and ended with “Yellow”. When I listened to “The Escapist” I knew it was definitely over. This time it was very emotional for me, because I know it hass been my last concert.
I went to the merchandise in the main hall, but I think prices there were an unbounded cheek. Let’s changed the $-sign with the €-sign and nobody will notice it. Not with me!!! Simple shirts for 30€ - horrible – the tour guide I really wanted to buy for 20€. Common that’s not fair!
So I left the arena without any souvenirs where I met Sarah and Felix. Outside the O2 world I spotted the Irish singer Rea Garvey of the German band Reamonn. We decided not trying to stalk again for Coldplay, because it was extremely cold and we were all very exhausted. That’s why we decided to go back to the Ostbahnhof and later on Sarah and Felix left the S-Bahn at Alexanderplatz. I became thirsty so I left the train at Zoologischer Garten and went to my favorite Irish Pub in Berlin for a beer. I was back in my room at 1am and spent an additional day in Berlin before taking the train back home at 5.45pm next day.
Altogether I have to say that the concert in Berlin was better than the one in Hamburg, although my position was worse. The logistics at the entrance was great, the crowd more emotional and I think the band had a better day as well. But I can’t decide whether Berlin or Oberhausen in 2005 was my favorite Coldplay concert ever. It needs some time I believe.
I think it’s also legal to pass some criticism on Coldplay. First I think the tickets were too expensive. Don’t know if it’s because they are more mainstream than before or perhaps due to the stage setting. For me it’s also a pity that they concerts are usually not longer than 90 minutes. They have so many incredible songs (Parachutes? AROBTTH?), but instead they only play very short songs like “Death Will Never Conquer” or only snippets of “Yes” and “Trouble”. Not to mention the merchandise at last. As already written above everything’s extremely expensive. But I also noticed some positive aspects. First it’s great that the band tries to get closer to their fans with side stages and an acoustic performance somewhere in the back of the arenas. Chris is also more communicative than 3 years before. I like how he tries to speak French, German, Spanish, whatever.
Thanks to everyone for these two great days!
[Larry]
I hauled ass over to Berlin early Sunday morning. The train ride on the ICE train only took 2 hours, but the ride seemed slow. We were in a little private compartment away from the noise, which was nice. I just put my ipod on and had 40 winks.
I was staying at a hostel [my first and last time. Never again...], which was bang smack near that train station, so I was able to dump my suitcase and get over to the O2 World arena, where I was met by the lovely Mel. We had a ball just messing about near the Beriln Wall [now called The East Side Gallery], which was a stones throw away from the Arena. There’s lovely artwork on it, plus slogans from that evil time that I imagine most people would rather forget. You can actually buy pieces of the wall to take home….
There were a few people dotted about, but nothing was set up as yet, so we were chillin’. The Polish posse arrived [I'm sorry, I'm terrible with names. I can only remember Sebastian, Magda, Dariusz, Liza, Linda and Anna]. I didn’t know they were going to Berlin too, so it was cool to hang out and have a chat. Coldplay need to get their butts to Poland. They do have fans there too! I was informed that there isn’t a decent sized arena in Poland [yet], plus it’s expensive to book a band of Coldplay’s magnitude. I guess it’ll happen, one day…
They started to put the barriers up round about 2pm. There are 4 entrances into the arena and they had to lay out about 16 sets of narrow lanes, which didn’t get manned until about 5.30. Berliners run on a different time schedule, I guess.
Doors were meant to open at 6pm, but things were running late, which made us all anxious. It was pot luck as to whether you’d get to the barrier this time around. I felt like a horse in a the stalls, ready to start the race. The guy in our lane had switched off, because other people were getting through before us. I yelled at him to wake up. His bleeding scanner didn’t work properly either [tick tock...]. Geez! I always get the dopey ones…
Everyone was running. Didn’t matter what the security said, we ran past them anyway. As we were let in at the back of the arena, the stage was further away than Hamburg’s gig, but all those who were at the front of their lanes got their desired spots. I was again in the centre ‘The Chrissy Zone’.
So, same thing as Hamburg - long wait for Albert Hammond Jr to come on. His set was good, yadda, yadda, yadda. I said to him ‘Are you feeling warmer tonight?’. He opened his eyes to look down at me and said ‘Yeah’, then went on to explain to the crowd that he was feeling cold in Hamburg yesterday and now he wasn’t feeling cold today. He has a very dry/deadpan sense of humour.
Then Coldplay! Ah tonight was much more electrifying than the night before [if that was even possible]. I vowed not to film the gig and just enjoy it. I did take heaps of picutures though. Chris was in great form. He was feeling very mercurial and kept singing random riffs during songs, off the cuff like and mucking about.
I had a wee banner which said ‘YES please!‘ and he saw it straight away and gave me a nod. I haven’t heard this song live yet and was gagging to hear it [coz it's dead shexy...] He also muttered something, but I couldn’t hear him properly.
The set was the same as Hamburg, but instead Chris played ‘Trouble’ for a bit on the piano after the techno/dance set or GPASYUF/Talk, which went down a storm. What was also different was there were two mobile camerapersons - a guy on stage, who was all over the place filming everything and also a lady down at the front. I don’t know whether that was to enhance the video coverage for the gig, or whether it was being captured for some future use, who knows…
At the end of Strawberry Swing, Chris and Jonny continue playing, extending the end of the song. That was sweet. Chris sang the words the wrong way around like he did at Brixton.
During Lost! Chris goes over to Guy and starts hitting the timpany drum. That was cool.
People were screaming out for ‘Yellow’ before the band even started to play it.
But the best thing that happened was just before the band played ‘Lovers in Japan’ Chris starts playing away on the piano. I’m like ‘Ooh, this sounds a bit different - record, record!’ and sure nuff, Mr Martin starts playing the chorus to YES!!! OMG I was soooo happy, I started screaming. He didn’t play it all though, just a teaser for us. I can’t wait for the whole song! I turned my banner around, which had DANKE written on the back of it, which again, Chris saw. I bowed my head to him with appreciation. You don’t know how much this man FUCKING RULES!!!
The merchandise in the main hall had everything! There’s a cool black track suit top that has ‘Viva La Vida’ on the back for 50 Euros. I so want one of those! There was a t-shirt with the tour cities on it [with no dates], but it doesn’t have Dublin on it, so that has to go back to the printers LOL! I tell you being a Coldplay fan is rather expensive. I think I’ve spend the best part of £400 on this trip and it was worth every single penny!
[WF]
Media Reviews
17000 Fans feiern Coldplay in der O2 World
Mit einem epochalen Hochglanzauftritt setzten die britischen Pop-Rocker Coldplay den mit musikalischen Schwergewichten (Metallica, Grönemeyer) gespickten Eröffnungstagen in der O2 World gestern (15.9.) die Krone auf.
Die Engländer begeisterten 17000 Fans mit grandios orchestrierten Arrangements und einer beeindruckenden Lichtshow.
Hinter einem riesigen Schleier sind die vier Musiker zu Konzertbeginn nur als Umrisse erkennbar. Langsam, aber wuchtig schleichen sich die ersten schwebenden Akkorde an, durch das Transparent dringt das klassisch-elegische Instrumental „Life in Technicolor“ vom neuen Album „Viva La Vida“.
In leicht verlodderter Zirkuskleidung entfesseln die vier Engländer anschließend ihre Show. Alte Klassiker wie „Clocks“ oder „Yellow“ genauso wie neue Songs. Mit dem von Brian Eno produzierten vierten Studioalbum strafen Coldplay all ihre Kritiker Lügen. Coldplay 2008 – das ist keine plumpe Chartdudelei mehr, das ist bombastisch komponierte Popmusik.
Mitreißend und nachdenklich, klug und etwas verspielt.
http://www.bz-berlin.de/BZ/kultur/20...konzert.html#5
Google Translate:
17000 Coldplay fans celebrate in the World O2
With an epochal glossy appearance advised the British pop-rockers Coldplay with musical heavy weights (Metallica, Grönemeyer) gespickten opening days in the O2 World yesterday (15.9.) Crown.
The Englishman 17000 enthusiastic fans with orchestrierten grandiose arrangements and an impressive light show.
Behind a huge veil, the four musicians to concert only as outlines visible. Slowly but wuchtig sneak the first floating chords, through the transparent urges the elegiac instrumental classic "Life in Technicolor" from the new album "Viva La Vida".
In light verlodderter circus clothes unleash the four Englishman then their show. Old classics such as "Clocks" or "Yellow" as well as new songs. By Brian Eno fourth studio album produced Coldplay punish all their critics lies. Coldplay 2008 - that is not Chartdudelei crude, it is composed bombastic pop music.
Mitreißend and thoughtful, wise and somewhat playful.
http://www.bz-berlin.de/BZ/kultur/20...konzert.html#5
KONZERT: Walzer und Konfettiregen
Coldplay mit perfekter Inszenierung live in Berlin
BERLIN - Sträflich unbeachtet bei großen Konzerten ist die Auswahl der Pausenmusik. 17 000 Menschen müssen während einer Dreiviertelstunde Umbaupause (zwischen dem New Yorker Garagenrocker Albert Hammond Jr. und den britischen Emotionsbomben von Coldplay) von allzu großer Unruhe abgehalten werden. Eine gute halbe Stunde servierte die Regie der geduldigen Masse in der neuen Berliner Arena am Ostbahnhof sphärisches Unterwasser-Gepling. Als die Zwangsentspannung zu nerven begann, folgte ein Track HipHop zum Aufwachen, um dann in den Donauwalzer überzugehen. Und siehe: Tief unten begannen zwei Männer in der Masse miteinander zu walzern, und das gar nicht einmal schlecht. Nahtlos ging es dann von Johann Strauß über zu Eugène Delacroix und Chris Martin. Delacroix’ Gemälde mit der entblößten Brust der Freiheit, das einst auf dem Hundert-Franc-Schein prangte, ziert nun das Cover des aktuellen Coldplay-Albums „Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends“. In der Arena stürmt die Freiheit von der Leinwand der Hinterbühne an Chris Martin vorbei ins Publikum. Die 17 000 werden sofort und verlässlich mit Hits bedient: Martin und seine Kollegen servieren hintereinander „Life In Technicolor“, „Violet Hill“, „Clocks“ und „God Put A Smile Upon My Face“. Gemischte Mitsing-Hits, die ihre Wirkung nicht verfehlen. Auf einer Treppe im Unterrang stehen Vater und Sohn, beide klatschen heftig im Takt und suchen den anderen dabei zu übertreffen. Chris Martin rast über die Bühne und die Rampen, als wolle er Mick Jagger den Hyperaktivitäts-Weltmeistertitel wegnehmen. Er kann aber auch mal für einen halben Song runterschalten und mit Piano am Bühnenrand in der Riesenhalle Club-Atmosphäre schaffen. Für zwei Songs, darunter „The Scientist“ ziehen sich die vier Musiker dann gar auf die andere Hallenseite zurück und spielen mit Mundharmonika und Schellen akustisch. Die Halle tobt, dann rast die Band zurück und lässt es mit „Politik“ wieder krachen. Alles eingeübt, alles routiniert – alles perfekt. Am Ende, bei „Lovers In Japan“ regnet farbiges Konfetti wie Kirschblüten von der Decke. Volle Romantikdosis. Seufz. (jps)
[translation by Word 2003]
CONCERT: Tome and Konfettiregen
Coldplay with perfect production live in Berlin
BERLIN - culpable unconsidered with large concerts is the selection of the tracing music. 17,000 humans must during one three-quarter hour of change break (between the New Yorker Garagenrocker Albert Hammond Jr. and the British emotion bombs from Coldplay) from all too large unrest to be held. A good half hour served the direction of the patient mass into the new citizens of Berlin arena underwater Gepling spherical at the east station. When the obligation relaxation began to nerves, a TRACK HipHop followed for waking up, in order to then change over into the Danube tome. And see: Right at the bottom two men in the mass began that with one another to tomes, and once not at all badly. Smoothly it went then from Johann bunch over to Eugène Delacroix and Chris Martin. Delacroix' painting with the exposed chest of the liberty, which prangte once on the hundred-franc light, ziert now the Cover of the current Coldplay album „Viva La Vida Or Death and universe His Friends “. In the arena the liberty of the canvas of the Hinterbühne at Chris Martin storms past in the public. The 17,000 is served immediately and reliably with hits: Martin and its colleagues serve one behind the other „would run in Technicolor “, „Violet Hill “, „Clocks “and „God PUT A Smile Upon My Face “. Mixed Mitsing hits, which do not miss their effect. On stairs in the Unterrang father and son, both stand applaud violently in the clock and seek the other one at it to exceed. Chris Martin races over the stage and the ramps, as if he wants to take the hyperactivity world champion title from Mick Jagger away. It can in addition, times for a half Song down-switched and with Piano at the edge of stage in giant-resounds club atmosphere to create. For two Songs, among them „The Scientist “withdraw themselves the four musicians then to the other resounding side and play with harmonica and clips acoustically. Those resounds raves, then those races to volume back and lets it with „politics “again crack. Everything learned, everything experienced - everything perfectly. At the end, with „Lovers in Japan “colored Konfetti rains such as Kirschblüten of the cover. Full romance dose. Sigh. (jps)
