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» » Coldplay: Christmas Lights (2010)

Short summary

The video begins with the starting up of a record player, and the camera panning across a multicolored player piano, then the four members of the band. Martin begins to sing the first verse as the camera pans and zooms out to show the piano - which is now next to him - then back. Martin has changed his position, and the rest of the band are nowhere to be seen. Martin rises up from the stage where he is lying, then begins to play the piano, which is now on a stage in front of the Thames. Curtains open to reveal the rest of the band, who join in playing the song, accompanied by fireworks and three violin-playing Elvises (who are friends of the band: the British actor Simon Pegg, the 'fifth member' of Coldplay Phil Harvey and Tim Crompton, friend of the band and frontman of The High Wire). One hundred fans of the band appear in the music video; they release colored balloons from a boat on the Thames whilst singing along to part of the song.

"Credo Elvem Etiam Vivere" is written across the top of the stage. In Latin this means "I Believe Elvis Yet Lives". This is likely connected to the three Elvises appearing in the video, which is, in turn, connected to the lyrics of the song.

Described by the band as "a mid-tempo number" in the key of G major, the song was released to very positive reviews.

The cover art is by Yu Matsuoka Pol.

Coldplay released three 'making-of' videos through their iTunes Ping page, showing the creation of the music video. Another video was also released on their website, giving a preview of the music video and the song itself, plus more 'making-of' footage.

For the week ending 18 December 2010, "Christmas Lights" both debuted and peaked at position number 25 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and position number 12 on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs chart.

A live recording of the song was also featured as the closer track on the band's Live from Spotify London live EP, released exclusively on Spotify on December 2016.

The original plan was to film a simple video at Oxford Street, as the place is mentioned in the song's lyrics.

The video was directed by Mat Whitecross, a long-time friend of the band and director of several of Coldplay's other music videos, such as "Bigger Stronger", "Lovers in Japan", "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" and more recently, "Paradise".

The video appears to be one continuous shot, and while it might have been filmed with a single camera, the amount of takes in the video is unknown.

Just hours after the release of the video it was removed from YouTube after the IFPI claimed a breach of copyright, despite the video being on one of Coldplay's official channels. However, it was eventually uploaded once again.


Credited cast:
Guy Berryman Guy Berryman - Himself
Jon Buckland Jon Buckland - Himself
Will Champion Will Champion - Himself
Coldplay Coldplay - Themselves
Tim Crompton Tim Crompton - Elvis N3
Phil Harvey Phil Harvey - Elvis N2
Chris Martin Chris Martin - Himself
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