Cape Town turned yellow last night as English superstars Coldplay rocked the city’s stadium, delighting tens of thousands of fans.
The city’s crowds may have a reputation for being laid back, but Coldplay warmed them up last night with an almost two-hour set of hit songs, fireworks and balloons.
“We’re so happy to be here finally, after 12 years. It took us that long to get a visa, we apologise,” said lead singer Chris Martin as an introduction and an obvious clue he’d read yesterday’s local headlines.
They started their set with a song from Xylo Myloto, their soon-to-be released album, but Martin then launched into Yellow, from debut album Parachutes, which brought them to the world’s attention.
“When the cold wind starts to blow in Cape Town,” was how he started The Scientist. The crowd started to sing along and he had them eating out of his hand.
South African band Parlotones had opened the stadium two hours earlier as the 50 000-strong crowd streamed in steadily and while the crowd response was polite it was non-committal because they were there to see the world’s biggest touring rock act.
People may not take lighters along to concerts any more, but they do take their cellphones and Martin got the 28 000 fans on the stands to start a Mexican light wave.
Fireworks, lasers and balloons abounded, but it was the music the crowd wanted.
The fans at the back of Cape Town Stadium had the best sound, while those in the coveted Golden Circle got close enough to almost touch Martin and guitarist Jonny Buckland.
They couldn’t leave without an encore, which included Martin’s take on Amy Winehouse’s Rehab and, of course, the beautiful ballad Fix You. A new hit, Every Tear is a Waterfall, ended the set.
Earlier, the popular Fan Walk from the CBD to the stadium was filled with excited fans – many wearing yellow in honour of the hit song.
Restaurants and bars along the Fan Walk were filled with the sound of people singing Coldplay hits.
Andrea Collins, 28, of Goodwood, was with five friends, all wearing T-shirts that read “Diehard Coldplay Fans”. She said seeing the band live was on her “bucket list” of things to do before she died.
UCT students Susan Tissiman, 22, and Catherine Edward, 21, were wearing T-shirts they had painted themselves.
Isaline Goemaere said she had been given concert tickets as a 21st birthday present from her friend, Taliah Abrams. “As a birthday present it was perfect. They stir emotion and are nostalgic. “We listened to them when they just came out… like every band a 13-year-old needs in a teenage crisis, they spoke to us.”
It wasn’t all plain sailing, though – some frustrated fans complained about traffic volumes and that the sound quality wasn’t up to scratch. But when Martin bent down and kissed the stage after Every Tear is a Waterfall, signalling an end to the concert, gripes were forgotten and elated fans streamed out of the stadium, talking about one of the biggest musical nights of the year. - Cape Argus