 Coldplay returns to São Paulo in a festive and celebratory atmosphere, delivering an energetic show for their fans. COLDPLAY CONCERT AT ALLIANZ PARQUE, SÃO PAULO (2016) The mood was celebratory, just like their newly released studio album A Head Full of Dreams. On the big screen, the message read: "Please put on your wristband." The fans were ready, waiting for them to light up as the band emerged on stage with beams of light and lots of sparkle, opening the night with the title track of the new album. With "Yellow," the red beams gave way to a vibrant yellow, as the crowd sang passionately from the first verse ("Look at the stars…"), with Chris Martin comfortably playing his guitar before greeting the audience in Portuguese to everyone's delight: "Que alegria estar aqui" ("What a joy to be here"), he said, soon wrapped in the Brazilian flag. The joy was universal. "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" followed, surprising everyone, as it had been the closing song during the Mylo Xyloto tour, marking the grand finale of their performances. Now, it appeared as a surprising element, driven by much enthusiasm and a purple hue, until the lights focused on Chris Martin and his piano for the always profound "The Scientist," a moment of great reflection and harmony. Martin "handed over" the song to the audience during the extended chorus, bringing even more emotion to the night; with a "muito obrigado" ("thank you very much"), Chris thanked the crowd before the lights went out and returned with the 80s electronic beat of "Birds," one of the new songs, whose ending curiously transitioned into the first notes of "Paradise," the song with a chorus that stays in your mind for days, lifting the crowd as they enthusiastically sang "Para-Para-Paradise…" as many times as possible. On the smaller stage, closer to the audience, the band had their most intimate moment with the beautiful "Everglow," another reference to Chris’s relationship with his ex-wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, serving here as a point of connection with the fans. This was reinforced by the more acoustic versions of "Ink" and "Magic," two songs from the Ghost Stories album, which the Brazilian audience hadn't had the chance to sing live (they were not released during the band's last visit to the country in 2011). Back on the main stage, "Clocks" resonated with its unique piano movement and red lights, bringing back the earlier enthusiasm until the arrival of the night's most experimental and exotic song: "Midnight," a pure interlude moment connecting to "Charlie Brown," making even the calmest fans jump. The new single "Hymn for the Weekend" then emerged with Chris Martin surrounded by flowers at his piano, matching the vibe of the new song (featuring Beyoncé's backing vocals); however, Chris seemed uncomfortable hitting the high notes, until he left the piano as the song transformed with the lively chorus: "Ah, oh ah, oh ah," sung by everyone vibrantly. In "Fix You," always celebrated as the most intimate and poetic moment of the shows, Chris innovated by letting the song play without his characteristic piano/synthesizer presence. Instead, he walked gently toward the smaller stage near the audience and sang simply, even kneeling in his renewed musical interaction. There was a strangeness due to the change in the song’s structure, but Chris created a new environment and opened up in a different and original way before returning to the main stage for the song's climax, reclaiming his spot at the piano and in the hearts of the people. "Heroes" was the night's tribute dedicated to David Bowie. Although special, it didn't attract the majority of the audience, who seemed not to recognize the song; however, it served as a bridge to the always anticipated concert moment: "Viva la Vida," with its masterful build-up to the band's most famous chorus: "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh…," the climax of the night, immediately giving way to countless colorful balloons for the arrival of "Adventure of a Lifetime" and its captivating and humorous rhythm. Then the band moved to an even smaller stage and gifted the fans with acoustic and alternative versions of "Trouble," from their first album (Parachutes, 2000), and "Speed of Sound," highly requested by Brazilian fans in the online poll Coldplay conducted in the weeks leading up to the show. A tailored gift, perfect for following "Amazing Day," the most beautiful song from the new album and probably the night, reflecting the band's current phase. During "A Sky Full of Stars," another surprise: Chris interrupted the song and invited two couples from the audience for a marriage proposal. It was a curious and altruistic act by the vocalist and certainly unforgettable for the couples; the night concluded, then, with the vibrant "Up&Up," a song that comes to life even more in concert with its instrumental explosion accompanied by many fireworks and public celebration, perfectly summarizing the band's journey to the present.
In the end, the return to São Paulo was triumphant and rewarding. Coldplay showcased their new essence and enchanted the 45,000 fans present at Allianz Parque, making this, to date, the band's best performance in São Paulo. Coldplay Reviews: Parachutes (2000), A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), X&Y (2005), Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), Mylo Xyloto (2011), Ghost Stories (2014), A Head Full of Dreams (2015), Kaleidoscope EP (2017), Everyday Life (2019), Music of the Spheres (2021), and Moon Music (2024). |
