News Round-Up: October 15, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• Big congrats to my buddies, The Chippendales, for their big win this weekend as The Best of Las Vegas' "Best Male Revue" and "Best Bachelorette Party." If you've visited me in Vegas, you've probably gone to Chippendales with me at least once :) #GoodTimes

• Kanye West and wife Kim Kardashian met and exchanged gifts with the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni. You may recall Museveni signed into law the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act which provides for life in prison in Uganda for being gay.

• If you watched the Donald Trump 60 Minutes interview last night, you saw this painting actually hangs in the White House. By artist Andy Thomas, the image portrays a gathering of Republican presidents in one place. #goodgod

• The New York Police Department announced Monday that it has enough evidence to charge nine members of the right-wing group Proud Boys and three protesters with various counts of rioting, assault and attempted assault that took place last Friday.

• Donald Trump has now nominated openly gay Patrick Bumatay to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. This would bring Trump's gay judicial nominees to a total of two.

• Regular readers of The Randy Report know I'm a huuuuge fan of Coldplay. And now there's a new documentary film headed our way titled, A Head Full of Dreams.

The film, shot over 20 years of Coldplay history will stream on Amazon Prime Video starting November 16. For more info, click here.

#WorldAutismAwarenessDay 2018

Incredibly touching viral video from Luis Vazquez, who took his young son who is on the autism spectrum to see his favorite band, Coldplay.

As the iconic British band played one of the boy’s most-loved songs, "Fix You," he immediately starts to well-up.

The boy becomes so overcome with emotion that he stops dancing and puts his head in his hands.

I get every single second of this short video. And the father's kiss on his son's cheek at the 1:12 second mark blows me over the edge.

First - autism is part of my family. I have a grasp of how it affects not only an individual, but the surrounding family. When authentic joy arrives, it's overwhelming for everyone involved.

Second - Coldplay is my favorite band. Why or how I respond to their music, I don't know, I just do. Some things really are just visceral.

I can watch this over and over again.

The power of music.

Coldplay Remembers Gene Wilder

In a world of pure imagination... R42

A video posted by Coldplay (@coldplay) on Aug 29, 2016 at 9:20pm PDT

Prince Harry Speaks On HIV Awareness At Sentebale Concert

Prince Harry and Coldplay at Sentebale Concert for raising awareness for HIV/AIDS

Prince Harry spoke last night at the Sentebale concert at Kensington Palace imploring young people to "please take a little bit of time to learn about the fight against HIV."

Handsome Harry also joined super rock band Coldplay for "Up & Up" during the concert.

"Please take a little bit of time to learn about the fight against HIV" – Prince Harry#SentebaleConcerthttps://t.co/WoX6NoMlEV

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) June 30, 2016

Haters Call Super Bowl Half-Time Show "Homo Pride Celebration" Due To Too Many "Rainbows"

As a hard-core Coldplay fan, I was thrilled seeing my favorite band head up the half-time show at the Super Bowl.

I know the gays love how fierce Beyoncé may be, and how funky Bruno Mars can kill it, but for me it was all about Coldplay.

I thought the groovy LED stage, which gave the over-head cameras much to shoot, was way cool, and the utilization of the crowd in the stands for the final "Believe In Love" message was fab and fun.

Apparently, though, some anti-gay idiots took all the colors to represent a pro-gay message (and what's wrong with that?) saying there were a disarming amount of rainbows in the show.

For the record, the color scheme was clearly dictated by the cover of Coldplay's new album, "A Head Full Of Dreams." Check the cover art:

You see where this all came from, right?

Here's just a sample of the kinds of vitriol sprayed all over Twitter about the abundance of rainbows. Keep in mind, however, that those complaining here are the same folks who enjoy men in tight costumes jumping on top of each other and then slapping each other on the butt. THAT is ok; but, a rainbow? "Damn homos!"

Forgot the halftime show was changed to a gay rights movement

— Keegs (@Bryan_Keegs) February 8, 2016

All the Halftime performance did was try to promote homosexuality.

— #JetIsBad (@Jetisbad) February 8, 2016

Since when is the super bowl halftime show a gay pride festival

— #HillaryForPrison (@Kovacina_Matt65) February 8, 2016

I believe the message of that halftime show was "quickly, become a homosexual"

— Real Trent Flubbs (@RealTrentFlubbs) February 8, 2016

You're a homo if you liked that halftime show.

— seaquisha (@seansorrellsjr) February 8, 2016

Homo halftime show, literally.. #MakeAmericaGreatAgain

— David Best (@RaySunYo) February 8, 2016

Basically a homo pride celebration during halftime..... And that's one reason our country has gone down

— CamVP(15-1)(2-0) (@Alpha_Dog_LM24) February 8, 2016

Viral Video: Coldplay & Beyoncé "Hymn For The Weekend"

The second single from Coldplay's acclaimed new album, A Head Full Of Dreams.

From Stereogum:

The clip, from director Ben Mor, features Coldplay performing at what appears to be an Indian street fair and wandering into the city while fireworks explode above.

Beyoncé never appears onscreen with the boys; instead, she plays some sort of Bollywood screen queen, which is some pretty decent casting if you ignore the whole cultural-appropriation angle.

Beautifully shot.

Longtime readers of The Randy Report know I'm a huge Coldplay fan.

Over 5 million views in a day. As it should be :)

Coldplay Set For 2016 Super Bowl Halftime Show

My favorite band, Coldplay, is set to headline the 2016 Super Bowl halftime show on CBS.

Previous halftime performers of the football extravaganza include Bruno Mars, Katy Perry and Beyonce.

It’s the biggest stage for not only musicians but for TV, period. Last year’s Super Bowl match-up between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks on NBC set a U.S. television record with 114.4 million viewers.

CBS will follow the NFL championship with late-show specials from Stephen Colbert and James Corden.

The 2016 Super Bowl, hosted by Levi Stadium in San Francisco, is set for Feb. 7.

Regular readers know I have a 'thing' for band member/drummer Will Champion :)

The band's new CD - A Head Full Of Dreams - drops tomorrow.

Find a brief history of Coldplay and comprehensive tour info at this link.

New Music: Coldplay "Adventure of a Lifetime"

My favorite rock band, Coldplay, shares this first track - "Adventures of a Lifetime" - from the upcoming album A Head Full of Dreams (due out 12/4/15).

I like.

I hadn't expected Coldplay to play around with disco grooves, but it works for me. Chris Martin's vocals mix right into the feel-good buoyancy of the EDM kick-ball-change.

“I feel my heart beating/ I feel my heart underneath my skin/ I feel my heart beating/ Oh, you make me feel/ Like I’m alive again,” Chris Martin sings on the song.

Postmodern Jukebox & Puddles Pity Party Cover Coldplay's "Viva La Vida"

Seven foot tall clown, Puddles Pity Party, joins Postmodern Jukebox for a second tune after rocking the internet with their first collaboration - a cover of Lorde's "Royals" - which to date has over 14 million views.

Puddles is back with a "Sad Clown" cover of "Viva La Vida" from (my fave rock band) Coldplay.

Clip description:

Two years ago on Halloween, a very tall, golden-voiced sad clown named Puddles made his video debut with PMJ; since then, he's become a pop culture phenomenon, touring the world and contemplating the human experience. Here he is, returning to where it all began to reflect on this journey with a cover of Coldplay's "Viva La Vida."

Get tix to see PMJ live: http://www.pmjlive.com

IHeartRadio Festival Takes Over Las Vegas

Chris Martin of Coldplay hits the stage in Las Vegas 

Las Vegas is all about the 2014 IHeartRadio Festival taking place last night and tonight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

As most know, this is one of the biggest music events of the year - in great part because the line up of artists is as diverse as you can get.

Last night saw Taylor Swift open the show with five songs, including her current radio hit "Shake It Off."  Swift was followed by MY favorite band, Coldplay, who rocked the house with five of their best, closing with the current "Sky Full of Stars."

Then came Nicki Minaj, Motley Crue, Usher and Ariana Grande.

Tonight's line up will see One Direction, Calvin Harris, 50 Cent and Lorde take the stage.

One of the best things about the Festival, in addition to the diverse line up, is that each act only does a few numbers. So, if you're ADD like me, just wait a few minutes for the next act if the current music isn't your thing.

I didn't attend in person because I wasn't feeling up to being in a crowd of 20K last night.

BUT - we all can watch LIVE from the comfort of our homes on Yahoo Screen Live, which is where I was last night bouncing to the beat with Coldplay with Bruno the wonder dog.

If you missed last night, take a second to hit the link for Yahoo and enjoy the music.

Check a few pictures from Coldplay's set last night.

Happy Saturday, kids!

Woofy Will Champion

Guy Berryman

Chris Martin of Coldplay

Drummer Will Champion

Mid-concert selfie with the crowd

Coldplay takes a bow at the 2014 IHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas

Music video: Coldplay "True Love"

"True Love" is the third single from Coldplay's latest album GHOST STORIES. Sweet video.

From Rolling Stone:

Frontman Chris Martin and actress Jessica Lucas (Evil Dead, Cloverfield) star as sumo-suited "big" ballerinas in the video for Coldplay's third Ghost Stories single, "True Love." The message for the clip, as displayed at the end, is "anything is possible," and in the case of the clip – directed by Jonas Åkerlund (Madonna, the Rolling Stones, Coldplay's "Magic") – the thing that is seemingly impossible is the couple being taken seriously as dancers and people, as they each face various humiliations including getting turned away by a bus driver, getting ignored as a street performer and being mocked at a casting call. But as is always the case, at least in Coldplay videos, things work out for the star-crossed lovers.

Music: Coldplay "A Sky Full of Stars"

Loving the new Coldplay CD "Ghost Stories."

Check out the newly released official music video for the second single from the CD, "A Sky Full of Stars."

Available now on iTunes and all digital music sellers.

New Music: Coldplay "A Sky Full of Stars"

The second single from Coldplay's upcoming album Ghost Stories, out 19 May 2014. 

Pre-order the album now from iTunes at http://smarturl.it/ghoststories.

New music: "Midnight" by Coldplay remixed by Giorgio Moroder

New track from the legendary electronic artist Giorgio Moroder, a remixed version of Coldplay's song 'Midnight' from their upcoming new album entitled 'Ghost Stories.'

I'm a big fan of both the band and Moroder. Check out the track on iTunes.

New Music: Coldplay "Midnight'

New track from Coldplay dropped tonight in anticipation of their upcoming sixth studio album.

I've been a big fan for years. Always moving forward, creating new sounds and surprising their audience.

The video and track are a bit "trippy" but I like. Very cool.

Coldplay: "Mylo Xyloto" pre-order now!

I'm a big fan of  Coldplay's new CD "Mylo Xyloto" to be released on October 24th.  Coldplay consistently comes up with the kind of pop/rock music I like today.  Not too young for an adult, not mellow to feel "old."

From their past hits "Viva la Vida" to "Speed of Sound" to "Clocks," I always love what they come up with. The first single from the new CD - "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall" has already run up the charts. The second single - "Paradise" - was just released and already at the top of the iTunes charts.

2008's "Viva la Vida" CD hit #1 in 36 countries. I expect the same from this new release.