Being “Coldplayed” is a term that was born this past summer. We all remember the mid-July viral video clip of a man and woman seen at a Coldplay concert. This cozy couple was spotted in a luxury suite by the kiss-cam snug in each other’s arms. A full stadium of fans witnessed the pair as their image was shown on the jumbotron.
As soon as the couple realized they were on full display the woman put her hands over her face and turned her back from the crowd and the camera. The man dropped himself low to the floor and out of sight. The odd reaction prompted Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin to say from the stage, “Oh, look at these two. All right, c’mon, you’re okay.”
Bashful? Nope. Just a married couple, only married to other people. Oops! Busted, popped, nailed, caught and yes, “Coldplayed.”
More consequences than red faces ensued. The man was a CEO for a big company and his skybox cuddle girl was a co-worker. Jobs were left, families were thrown into upheaval and well, you know the rest.
THE COZY COUPLE BEFORE AND AFTER THEY GOT “COLD-PLAYED.”
This whole scene and its fall-out reminded me of a concert I attended back in the fall of 1992. It was an invitation only TV taping at the WTTW Channel 11 studios to see legendary rocker Neil Young perform a solo acoustic concert. Young was promoting his recently released “Harvest Moon” album but he played tracks from his entire career, even opening the night with a slow and steady reading of “Mr. Soul” from his days with Buffalo Springfield.”
Here’s how the “Coldplay Incident” comes into this story. There were only about 100 people or so at this special show and chances were good that folks in the audience would be shown on camera during the taping which would eventually be broadcast nationwide.
So, before Neil Young came out, as we all were seated in the studio, an emcee came out to explain the whole “You might be seen on camera during this show” situation. Then the guy said something to the effect of, ‘So if you’re here with someone you should NOT be seen with you might want one of you to move to a different seat AWAY FROM YOUR DATE.’ Everyone kind of chuckled at this warning that cheating couples could inadvertently be busted. They could end up being “Coldplayed,” over 30 years before that term ever became part of the American lexicon.
NEIL YOUNG PlAYING AN ACOUSTIC SET AT THE WTTW STUDIOS.
I have no idea why this emcee’s warning was given; maybe in the past, some folks at Channel 11 show tapings got busted, so it was a fair and safe heads up.
One thing I know for sure, in 2025, cheating couples should be careful where they go and how they behave in public. The whole world is wired with cameras, kiss cams, security cams, cell-phones that record video, etc. You all have been warned. Act accordingly. Don’t get “Cold-Played.”
NEXT BLOG- Radio bits from the past.