Image Credit: Sarah Lee
A “17 percent high” Chris Martin paid a visit to The Colbert Report last night for an awkwardly-funny sit-down chat and a performance of “Paradise” off Coldplay’s new album, Mylo Xyloto (out Tuesday), which may or may not be Greek for Miley Cyrus.
As is often known to happen, Stephen Colbert turned the Q&A into an absurdly passive aggressive tête-à-tête, including an award-comparing contest and a critique of his guest’s foreign birth. “You are a seven-time Grammy winner, I am a one-time Grammy winner,” Colbert said. “Between us we average four Grammys.” When Colbert said that he’d won for a Christmas album and asked if Coldplay would ever consider making one and go all mistletoe and holly on us, Martin joked, “Yes, but it won’t be as good as yours. It will be much better.”
Pretty cocky for a guy who told EW’s Kyle Anderson that “we’re as hated as a band can be,” huh? Still, Martin graciously deferred to his generally accepted place in the alt-rock firmament, saying, when comparing Coldplay to other recent Colbert guest Radiohead, “We are not as good musically, but much more attractive.” When Colbert countered with “How do you sell [50 million] albums and win that many Grammys and still be considered alternative?” Martin said, “Because we’re not as good looking as Ricky Martin.” Remember that: Chris Martin, better looking than Thom Yorke, worse looking than his brother from a Puerto Rican mother, Ricky.
Colbert also ”criticized” Gwyneth Paltrow for outsourcing the job of being her husband to the U.K.: “You are not an American. You come to our country and you took our Gwyneth. And you cannot tell me that that is a job that an American did not want to do.”
Meeting of the minds having concluded, Martin got down to some airy, keyboard-heavy alt-pop, playing Mylo Xyloto’s “Paradise.” Wearing a red and black proto-military jacket with the collar turned up, he looked like Billie Joe Armstrong circa American Idiot sans skinny tie and guyliner. The Day-Glo graffiti covering his upright piano and much of the rest of the stage positioned Coldplay where they want to be: on the outside of the music industry looking in. It’s a position that seems all the more untenable with arena-ready, chorus-driven songs like “Paradise,” full of cascading piano chords and Martin’s sky-high falsetto. But whatever conceptual incongruities plague Coldplay’s work these days, the band can still play in top form, as they did last night. And Martin’s voice is full of vida.
Music Mixers, did you catch Coldplay on Colbert last night?
More from EW.com:
Album Review: Mylo Xyloto
Coldplay’s ‘Paradise’ video features unicycling, adorable trunk jokes: Watch it here!
Coldplay’s Chris Martin on ‘Princess of China’ guest Rihanna: ‘She’s a much, much better singer than me’
Coldplay pay tribute to R.E.M. with cover of ‘Everybody Hurts’: Watch it here
“Mylo Xyloto, which may or may not be Greek for Miley Cyrus.”
I really didn’t need to read much further than that. Well done.
Whether it was Colbert’s line or EW’s line, it’s still pretty hilarious. Kudos to Colbert for delivering that line and much praise to EW for quoting it.
Actually, that was Colbert’s translation of Mylo Xyloto, not EW’s.
I thought Colbert was a bit obnoxious-referring to Chris’s wife as something an American would want “to do.” And mispronouncing her name. So I give Chris props for any bite he took out of Colbert. What is with Colbert lately–begging Melinda Gates for some of her money, and now this about Paltrow? Just tacky.
I prefer the time Coldplay was on The Daily Show a few years ago, when Chris called Jon “sir” and Jon was so taken aback! It was pretty funny!
Anyway, yes, I caught the episode and I think “Paradise” is a good song.
I don’t get why people worship Colbert – he’s full of himself and not as funny as he thinks he is.
By the way, I don’t think Coldplay is hated – most people I know like their songs.
You realize the whole Colbert thing is an act right? I used to like Coldplay in the beginning but all their songs sound the same now. And “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall” is hands down this year’s winner for dopiest song title. Did he get the title from a tween?
I agree with you about the title of the song, but I like their music.
Colbert, act or no act, is not funny.
I’m with RobNJ – some people must not get satire.
I get satire, I get his shtick, I find some of it funny – but give me The Daily Show over Colbert anytime!
Aw, come on. I thought that line about Gwyneth was pretty funny.
He can keep Gwynnie – the most annoying, undeserving beneficiary of nepotism in the industry. YUCK!
Usual self deprecating Chris martin. Love coldplay
x 2 They truly rock!
STEPHEN COLBERT IS A PARODY.
Hahahahaha, people can be frustrating, no? It’s sad that this has to be pointed out in all caps.
I’m torn about whether to buy this album or not. I genuinely like Coldplay, but “Paradise” and “Teardrop” are so gawd-awfully bad. It’s like they’ve switched from a mellow alt-rock band into bland dental office music.
Bland dental office music thats catchy as hell.. ‘para, para, paradise’ has been stuck in my head for weeks.
I was a little diappointed that the entire band was not interviewed and longer because they seem to go better when they are together. Chris always seems more relaxed with he is around one of his bandmates (particuarly Jonny). Chris did fine alone but you can tell he was a little twitchy. And as a fan, I like to see them all instead of just the lead singer. It did not trump Radiohead but it was decent.
You know, I know it’s not cool to like Coldplay (though it must be at least secret-cool, because they’re so successful), but I love them. And they seem locked into believing in the absurdity of the whole thing, that they get to make music and come up with nonsense words to name albums, and people pay them for this. Chris Martin and Co. aren’t trying to be revolutionaries. They’re right; critically, Radiohead is a better band. Of course they are. But Coldplay has been successful in making a heck of a lot of people happy, and I think the driving reason for that is because of the attitude displayed in this interview – that this whole thing is supposed to be fun and not all that serious. Love, love, love it.
“We are not as good musically, but much more attractive.” I agree with the first statement.
Ditto
colbert must really hate the brits, cause he was a total douche to both radiohead and chris martin. but im sure if katy perry went on his show he’d be ok with her………………btw i love both coldplay and radiohead. i dont think comparing the two is fair considering that they both make great music
I am a huge Coldplay fan and own a couple Radiohead CDs and I have never understood the comparison. But agree that Coldplay are more attractive!
You, sir, are oblivious. have you never seen the show before?
Stephen Colbert was kidding. When Chris does stuff with Ricky Gervais it’s so much worse and so @#$% funny. As far as Coldplay goes, seems to me it’s the cool thing to say that you listened to them at first, but no longer think they’re good. I have to wonder if people who think they’re not good or always sound the same have listened to any of the albums . Can’t wait for the new album.
I was at the taping. Colbert and Martin embraced at the end and Colbert’s mic was left on by accident and Martin called the show “brilliant”. They didn’t cut the interview at all but there was a lot of stage time between setups. Chris Martin said “we were told you were going to ask us why our music is so depressing and I was going to say it was because we wanted to be bankers” to which, colbert said “i wanted to be an astronaut”. At one point Martin was warming up his voice and Colbert started to mock his warm up calling it “aggressive”. I think martin was in on the “colbert character” and Colbert “snuck” his family into the audience before the coldplay segment so they must have been fans too… of course, this lead to the best line of the night where colbert scolded martin for making him swear in front of his kids.
I watch Colbert all the time and this was a great interview. You could tell they were enjoying each other and it was hilarious. Martin has the sense of humor and whit to match Colbert. Brits overuse the phrase…but it was brilliant.
We need to move your comment up to the top to set the record straight and clue in the clueless. Thanks for chiming in.
This reviewer is lacking a sense of humor. Just watched this interview and I loved it. Chris Martin was charming and witty (The Jonas Brothers the band of the future?? BLAHAHAHA), Colbert was funny and impossible as always, and the song was amazing.
Twasn’t awkward, twas funny!! I love the Chris-Colbert duo.
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