Charlie Brown
From WikiColdplay
Charlie Brown is a track included on Mylo Xyloto, release on 24th October 2011. It was rumoured exactly a month later on 24th November 2011 via sources from some of Europe's music websites that Charlie Brown will be the 3rd single from Mylo Xyloto, and follows Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall and Paradise. Both Swiss music website Hitparade[1] and respected Dutch radio station website 3FM[2] were the first websites to publish cover art before any official announcement was made.
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Development of Charlie Brown
According to the band, Charlie Brown was the first song recorded during sessions for the band's then-upcoming fifth studio album, with the intention of being included on what later became Mylo Xyloto (which, under an unofficial, working title, was simply known as LP5 at the time). The song takes its name from the fact that it originally included lyrics inspired by the comic strip Peanuts, whose protagonist was a young boy named Charlie Brown. During the writing and recording sessions of Mylo Xyloto, the song took on other names, such as "Cartoon Heart" and "Cartoon Head", before eventually being titled Charlie Brown.
Furthermore, during an online interview with the Sunday Herald Sun (Australia)[3], Coldplay described the centrepiece of Charlie Brown in the plan for Coldplay's fifth record. The article wrote: "Such was the band's ambition that the initial plan was to make two albums - one a more subdued, mostly acoustic affair, possibly as a soundtrack to an animated film, and the other a more upbeat, dance-influenced effort. The problem was that one kept intruding on the other and the band realised that creating some kind of false distinction between the projects was in fact holding them back. "We have a song called Charlie Brown, which was the centrepiece of this other record we started first," says Martin. "We were playing the riff on an accordion and Guy came in one morning and said 'I'm afraid I have to put my foot down. I don't want to speak out of turn, but I will not allow this song to be played on an accordion - that has to go in with the Mylo bunch'. So then we thought - let's just make one album."
Reviews
In the article by Q Magazine published on 10th October 2011 entitled "First Impressions of... Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto"[4] they wrote: "The standout from their headline summer slots sounds even monumental on record; Charlie Brown is one of the best things Coldplay have done. Jonny Buckland's hypnotic guitar lines lead the way, the band channeling Joshua Tree-era, the heady holler-alongs of Arcade Fire and a teeny bit of Sigur Ros stargazing as the song launches into its adrenaline-veined climax. Whilst the music is wonderfully overblown, Chris Martin keeps the vocals cool and calculated, singing of "taking the car downtown to where the lost boys meet", which might be about nipping to Spar on Hampstead High St But probably isn't."
The Celebrity Cafe wrote on 27th January 2011: "Remember the Peanuts’ Charlie Brown? You could count on him to put a smile on your face. Coldplay named their latest single after that youthful but strong character, and painted a similar picture. In the context of their fifth album Mylo Xyloto, “Charlie Brown” fits perfect as a song that tackles “all the boys, all the girls, all the madness that occurs” in the world. As a radio song, it is a lively, upbeat anthem with lyrics anyone can relate to and sonically is one of their best songs yet. The album discusses the highs and lows of life and relationship, and this is definitely a high, even if it comes out of defeat. “When they smashed my heart into smithereens/ be a bright red rose come bursting the concrete,” croons Chris Martin. The grandiosity of the music supports its uplifting lyrics, but Chris Martin does not forget to control the music with his voice, never being outdone. That formula has been a successful one throughout the years for Coldplay, and is followed to near perfection here. The way this song is will be received by the mainstream is yet to be determined, but what is a fact is that Coldplay will help anyone who listens start their year off with a bang. 'Light a fire, a fire, a spark, light a fire, a flame in my heart. We’ll run wild; we’ll be glowing in the dark.'" [5]
Music videos
On 7th December 2011, Coldplay posted a live version of the Charlie Brown video, as a prelude to the official video that would later be released in January 2011. The footage came from the headline festival appearances around the world, earlier in 2011. The live prequel also came with the message: "Happy memories of playing this song at festivals over the summer. Directed by the brilliant Mat Whitecross and Mark Rowbotham. 'Proper' Charlie Brown vid coming later... Love Will" [6]
Media reports on the shooting for the studio video
It seemed like the media are getting very excited about the video, the internet is full of reports that Coldplay hired 'topless ladies' to feature in their new video for single 'Charlie Brown'. However, the maker of the Xylobands, Jason Regler, who has been involved in the video shoot from a glowband perspective, tweeted [7] this week that it wasn't as rauchy as the media would have liked (see below). He also said that the video would be released in the new year, and this matches the rumour that it is set to be released on 10 January 2012.
The Sun continued on 19th December 2011 with their series of articles drip-feeding information from the event. Their latest one reads like this: "Coldplay are hard taskmasters. Girls who applied to feature in the video for the band's forthcoming single, Charlie Brown, had to dance for EIGHT HOURS caked in luminous make-up. Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland and Will Champion made up for the gruelling day's work though. They footed the bill for lunch at the pub next door to the church in Brentford, West London, where filming took place – then sorted a free bar. Doubt the boozer had much Red Bull left." [8]
First performance
Coldplay first performed Charlie Brown at a friends and family gig at The Forum, Kentish Town, London on 31st May 2011. They then continued to play it at the summer festival dates of 2011, beginning at Rock im Park Festival, Nürnberg, Germany (3rd June 2011), and again at Rock am Ring the following day, which was the first live broadcast officially authorised by the band and management.[9]
The Oracle on Charlie Brown
November 3, 2011 - submitted by Julia, United States of America
Q. Dear Oracle, why is the song Charlie Brown named Charlie Brown? Thanks!
The Oracle replies:
An earlier version of the song actually had the lyric Charlie Brown in it. It was left out of the final recording but the name stuck as the band couldn't think of an alternative.
September 9, 2011 - submitted by Ian, United Kingdom
Q. Other than the random noises, this[10] video sounds like a true studio version of Charlie Brown, did it leak?
The Oracle replies:
As I explained the other day, Charlie Brown is being used (officially) for soundbeds. It's not a leaked version as that would be a huge breach of copyright to use it. Maybe I should have explained. A soundbed is the music that runs underneath something else such as the background music when a radio DJ is talking etc. They're not random noises, they are clips from TV shows. It's NOT an advert by the way - a few question askers are still confusing trailers for commercials. The version of Charlie Brown used is an edited version of the studio recording.
September 1, 2011 - submitted by john, United States of America
Q. Hey Oracle, did Charlie Brown leak? I heard an instrumental in this football thing and a fuller version with vocals in this trailer for some tv show. Was it leased legally?
The Oracle replies:
It wasn't "leaked". Charlie Brown is being used as a sound bed on tv at the moment but that can't be done without having the full approved version and license to use it.
Lyrics (official)
Wooh, ooh ooh ooh Stole a key Took a car downtown where the lost boys meet Took a car downtown and took what they offered me To set me free I saw the lights go down at the end of the scene Saw the lights go down and standing in front of me Ooh ooh ooh In my scarecrow dreams When they smash my heart into smithereens Be a bright red rose come bursting through concrete And a cartoon heart Light a fire a fire a spark Light a fire a flame in my heart We’ll run wild We’ll be glowing in the dark Oooh ooh ooh We’ll be glowing in the dark A-woo-a-wooooo All the boys, all the girls, all that matters in the world All the boys, all the girls, all the madness that occurs All the highs all the lows, as the room a-spinning goes We’ll run riot, we’ll be glowing in the dark Ooooh, ooooh, ooooh So we’ll soar Luminous and wired We’ll be glowing in the dark
