Happy New Year 2012 - Coldplay in Abu Dhabi

Released in June 2011 ... Every Teardrop is a Waterfall was played live at the Steve Jobs memorial/celebration-of-life event at Apple headquarters on October 19, 2011 in Cupertino, California. In November 2011, it was nominated for two Grammy Awards, Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song. The results will be released at the Feb 2012 award ceremony.

With that, Coldplay closed the concert and ushered in 2012 for us Abu Dhabians!

Brought to you live from the Volvo Ocean Race Destination Village, near Marina Mall, here in Abu Dhabi ... Happy New Year!

Fireworks over the Corniche of Abu Dhabi ...

Not as spectacular as the amazing UAE Day fireworks, but impressive none-the-less.

A very good reminder, Please note that the UAE has a zero tolerance policy towards drinking and driving.


The 25,000 - 30,000 strong crowd disperses at 12:15am, the party actually went on till about 1am with a DJ spinning tracks ... It took me 45 minutes to walk from near Central Market on the Corniche to the venue, and it took OK and DL over an hour to give me a ride back to my home, due to the mad traffic!

Coldplay in Abu Dhabi - Volvo Ocean Race by ADTA

Coldplay in Abu Dhabi - Volvo Ocean Race,
New Year concert on 31 Dec 2011 - 1 Jan 2012!


The crowd went mad when Chris Martin and Coldplay broke into ... Viva La Vida ! This was of course their first UK Number One, way back in 2008. Did you know (Thanks to Wikipedia) ...
The lyrics to the song contain historical and Christian references, and the track is built around a repeating string section with a percussion background. Coldplay performed some of the song live in The Simpsons episode "Million Dollar Maybe"!


Simple but very effective laser lighting at the purpose-built venue opposite Marina Mall!

I used to rule the world, Seas would rise when I gave the word.

Now in the morning, I sleep alone. Sweep the streets I used to own ... Brilliant lyrics!

I am glad I brought my well-used and trusty Canon Powershot G9 along, it was small, compact and available (The G10, GF1 and LX3 were all in M'sia with bbG and SS!). From my diving days, to various other concerts such as Celine Dion, Linkin Park and Kanye West, this camera has served my family very well. If you had brought anything larger along, such as a SLR, it would have been deposited at the "Camera Drop" area.

Next numbers were Charlie Brown and Fix You ...

The truly brilliant, with a hint of Edge (U2), Jonny Buckland.

Next came Clocks, which is my favourite Coldplay number (along with The Scientist and Yellow) ... It comes from their 2nd album, A Rush of Blood to the Head, and won Record of the Year in the 2004 Grammys. The piano riff (Martin) and the amazing guitar chords (Buckland) make this song amazing, as does the lyrics ...

The lights go out and I can't be saved,

Tides that I tried to swim against,

Have brought me down upon my knees...

Time for some Mylo Xyloto, Coldplay's 5th album was released on 24th October 2011 ... "Paradise" which is their 2nd single, was brilliant! Nominated for a Grammy (Check results in Feb 2012), this is only the band's 2nd UK Number One hit.

Oh oh oh oh ... The mainly-British crowd chanted around perfectly!

Coldplay rocks Abu Dhabi - Volvo Ocean Race

Where: Volvo Ocean Race Destination Village - Corniche Breakwater, Abu Dhabi
When: 31st December 2011, 10:50pm - 1st Jan 2012, 12:10am
Who: Coldplay
Ticket: Fan Pit, 695 AED (Or RM$ 580 or USD$ 200)

Chris Martin mesmerised the Abu Dhabi crowd, who were on their feet throughout!


The Scientist :-) Pukka!!


Nobody said it was easy
It's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard
Oh take me back to the start...

Then it was ... Violet Hill, and God Put a Smile Upon Your Face ...

Up in Flames ... Us Against the World ...

Chris Martin really gets into it!

And next came, Politik .... I grew to appreciate and love Jonny Buckland at this gig. Guy is good!

A brilliant concert, with the right amount of "theaterics", but more so because of the band and the lyrics and the fantastic music.

Wikipedia says ... Buckland is noted for his sparse arrangements and use of slide. His stylistic chiming and ringing sound have led to some comparisons with the playing of U2's The Edge.

I totally agree, and that's what I told OK after the gig :-) Jonny Boy is goooood!

Did you know ...
Chris Martin often refers to him as "Jonny Boy" during live concerts, particularly if Buckland is about to do a solo or a long riff. Martin has said, "There would be no Coldplay music without Jonny Buckland."