Let's face it, the world needs a much-needed dose of positivity right now. It just all depends on whether or not you want it on such an industrial scale that it may elicit a sugar coma.
Coldplay's betting the world can withstand their relentless approach to please with Moon Music. And it is spectacular as it is mawkish – there is a song called Good Feelings and one whose title is just a rainbow emoji.
But one thing is for sure, these tracks will go down an absolute treat amid the technicolour extravaganza that is their Music of the Spheres World Tour, which touches down in Abu Dhabi in January with a record run of four shows at Zayed Sports City Stadium.
Until then, what we have is the coming soundtrack to that communal ecstasy. Here is a breakdown of each track of Moon Music, the band's 10th studio album that comes out Friday.
1. Moon Music
Since their 2000 debut Parachutes, Coldplay have always been fond of beginning most albums with atmospheric passages and instrumental numbers to set the tone of the project. The opening title track here is no different with 90 seconds of spacey synths provided by frequent Coldplay collaborator John Hopkins, the British musician and producer who provided his electronic flourishes to albums such as Viva la Vida, Death and All His Friends and Mylo Xyloto.
Once the electronic fog lifts, a plaintive piano line segues through with singer Chris Martin cooing the album’s central theme of finding redemption within the beauty of the cosmos: “I am trying to trust a world full of love, fire and water, and constantly dream of the balance of things.”
2. Feels Like I'm Falling in Love
A feature of Moon Music and its predecessor Music of the Spheres is main producer Max Martin. Credited as the band's "fifth member" for the recordings, the pop titan – responsible for three decades of hits ranging from the Backstreet Boys to Taylor Swift – has been influential in Coldplay’s surge to pop superstardom.
Martin’s wizardry comes from finding that sweet spot of stadium-hugging hooks and maintaining an artist's core sound. This is apparent in Moon Music’s lead single, whose woozy electronic beats complement a shimmering acoustic guitar, recalling Yellow, one of Coldplay's biggest hits.
The ecstatic chorus where Martin declares: “It feels like I’m falling in love, maybe for the first time,” is the kind of lyrical scheme Coldplay do best in taking tripe-sounding couplets and making them sound so irrepressibly earnest that you can’t help but feel beguiled.
Ushered into the Music of the Spheres tour over the last month, expect it to feature even more prominently now that Moon Music is out.
3. We Pray
It is no surprise Coldplay began actively collaborating with featured artists after 2011's Mylo Xyloto, the album that had the band dialling down the rock approach for a more electronic and pop-friendly approach.
More often than not, from Princess of China with Rihanna to Hymn for the Weekend with Beyonce, it worked. We Pray just about holds together to make it relatively successful. Laced with a quavering bass line, it has an international guest star line-up including Palestine-Chilean singer Elyanna, English rapper Little Simz, Nigerian singer Burna Boy and Argentinian singer Tini, who all trade verses on the universal power of music complete with a flurry of “la-la-lahs". While it sounds euphoric in stadiums, that relentless positivity begins to grate in Moon Music.
4. Jupiter
One of the more organic-sounding tracks on Moon Music, standout track Jupiter is another life-affirming anthem floating on the kind of acoustic guitar arrangement we haven’t heard from Coldplay in years. It all builds up into a lovely chorale finale featuring guest vocalists including Grammy-winning RnB singer Her and Congolese artist Lous and the Yakuza.
5. Good Feelings
Since 2008’s Viva La Vida, Coldplay have been trying to perfect the feelgood anthem and this could be their best yet. Good Feelings could have been a summer anthem had it been released as a single. Either way, it’s the kind of synth-funk tune Maroon 5 would have killed for. The warbling and sped-up vocal effects in the background don’t overshadow Martin's chirpy vocals as he reflects on a summer romance with all the “good feelings” it entails.
6. Alien Hits / Alien Radio
With Martin declaring Coldplay will call it quits after two more albums, maybe one of them would be a fully-fledged ambient album. Titled as a rainbow emoji on streaming platforms, while called Alien Hits / Alien Radio, on the liner notes, it’s a spacey and largely instrumental tune with meditative effects, and is augmented further by a recording of an interview of late African-American author Maya Angelou.
7. iAAM
Coldplay are masters of the slow build. Time and time again, from Fix You to Trouble, they know how to develop a song from a muted introduction to a celestial-sounding crescendo by the end. Track seven iAAM, a plea to understanding one’s self-worth, does just that and you can’t help acknowledging the song-writing craftsmanship and production skill at work. Bravo.
8. Aeterna
While Coldplay’s success is admirable, you sometimes wonder at what artistic price? While Moon Music is rightfully viewed as a companion piece to Music of the Spheres, both albums often sound like a solo Martin effort rather than a band's.
While the successful world tour encompassing both records dispels the notion, the recordings are often bereft of Coldplay’s signature sounds such as the shimmering arpeggios of Jonny Buckland and languid basslines of Guy Berryman. Sometimes you don't even hear drummer Will Champion at all with all the processed beats powering the songs. Aeterna is the apogee of that sound, a tropical dance track may go down a treat in Saint-Tropez clubs while sounding like an empty band effort.
9. All My Love
Much better. The band lock into a lovely power ballad that is shorn of any unnecessary electronics and strings. It’s nothing but unabashed warmth with Martin penning his most direct set of romantic lyrics since Fix You. Expect this song to be a future wedding staple.
10. One World
Oh dear. For such a renowned ear for quality control, producer Martin should have pulled the band aside and said: "No lads.” One World is more a mantra of a song, with singer Martin repeating the lyrics, with a subtle variation here and there, as it builds from solitary piano to a choral finale. It leaves Moon Music on an alarmingly cloying note.
The verdict: Is this Coldplay’s best album?
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Once the hysteria dies down regarding their brilliantly successful Music of the Spheres tour, fans may regard Moon Music as a largely middling effort with a few bright notes. While lovely and stirring at times, the album falls short in reaching for the kind of humanistic pathos the band are striving for. That said, even when reaching for the moon, their ambition hasn’t dimmed their seemingly endearing ability to please anyone and everyone.
Fixtures (6pm UAE unless stated)
Saturday Bournemouth v Leicester City, Chelsea v Manchester City (8.30pm), Huddersfield v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm), Manchester United v Crystal Palace, Stoke City v Southampton, West Bromwich Albion v Watford, West Ham United v Swansea City
Sunday Arsenal v Brighton (3pm), Everton v Burnley (5.15pm), Newcastle United v Liverpool (6.30pm)
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX RESULT
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 1:39:46.713
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 00:00.908
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 00:12.462
4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 00:12.885
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 00:13.276
6. Fernando Alonso, McLaren 01:11.223
7. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 1 lap
8. Sergio Perez, Force India 1 lap
9. Esteban Ocon, Force India 1 lap
10. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren 1 lap
11. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso 1 lap
12. Jolyon Palmer, Renault 1 lap
13. Kevin Magnussen, Haas 1 lap
14. Lance Stroll, Williams 1 lap
15. Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber 2 laps
16. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber 2 laps
17r. Nico Huelkenberg, Renault 3 laps
r. Paul Di Resta, Williams 10 laps
r. Romain Grosjean, Haas 50 laps
r. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 70 laps
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE SPECS
GMC Sierra Denali 1500
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Price: Dh232,500
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Company%C2%A0profile
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Oppenheimer
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
T10 Cricket League
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
December 14- 17
6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
Bengal Tigers v Kerala Kings
Maratha Arabians v Pakhtoons
Tickets available online at q-tickets.com/t10
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
McIlroy's struggles in 2016/17
European Tour: 6 events, 16 rounds, 5 cuts, 0 wins, 3 top-10s, 4 top-25s, 72,5567 points, ranked 16th
PGA Tour: 8 events, 26 rounds, 6 cuts, 0 wins, 4 top-10s, 5 top-25s, 526 points, ranked 71st
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.
The trip
The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.
The hotel
There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
SHAITTAN
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
How it works
Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com
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At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020
Launched: 2008
Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools
Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)
Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13
Impact in numbers
335 million people positively impacted by projects
430,000 jobs created
10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water
50 million homes powered by renewable energy
6.5 billion litres of water saved
26 million school children given solar lighting
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
