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With the recent Global Citizen Festival coming to a close in Mumbai, a lot of people have succumbed to the fact that Pakistan may not host one of these festivals for a long time. Which may be the truth for the present time, but how would a festival like this actually look like in Pakistan? After the cringe-inducing version of Channa Meraya, and the pure envy of hearing Chris Martin singing Bande Mataram, I ran my imagination to the test and here’s what I got out:
1. Expensive Tickets
Source: Tenor
Let’s not even joke about this. The tickets are going to be insanely expensive. Tickets in India started at 5000rs and went up to 5 lacs! We’d be saving up for a long time, you better believe that!
2. Guest Appearances On Stage
Remember when Bryan Adams came to Karachi? Although it was a part of Shehzad Roy’s charity, he did have an amazing time performing with him. We could definitely expect that if Coldplay came to Pakistan. A Strings and Coldplay performance for Fix You? Momina Mustehsan and Chris Martin duet for The Scientist? The possibilities would be endless.
Source: Tenor
3. Dil Dil Pakistan?
Source: Tenor
Yes, so Coldplay sang Bande Mataram with AR Rahman, so what. Big deal. Coldplay would sing Dil Dil Pakistan. They would trust me. Firstly because Dil Dil Pakistan is easier to say than the Indian chant, AND, well it’s just fun.
4. Xylobands Lighting Up The National Stadium
Source: GIFSoup
A major part of Coldplay’s shows are the lighting aesthetics, particularly the Xylobands; a wristband that lights up on cue with the songs being played. They. Are. Beautiful. Don’t believe me? Just watch a live performance of Charlie Brown.
Now, imagine a packed National Stadium filled to the gates, wearing colorful Xylobands, singing back to a drunk-on-performance Chris Martin singing Charlie Brown. The imagery itself would be an honor to be a part of.
5. 40000 People Crying To Fix You
Source: Tumblr
It can’t only be me. Fix You chokes up everyone who hears it. And the congregational cries to its climax at any stadium fills my heart with tears. But if it were to happen in Pakistan, those tears would be happy tears.
6. 40000 People Chanting To Viva La Vida
Source: Ole Ole Coldplay!
Speaking of congregational chants, the most memorable one of all is the ending chant to Viva La Vida. Just imagine setting your political, ethical, religious differences aside and coming together as one, singing that last chant! I can already hear it.
7. That Random Scum With The Political Flag
Source: LoveThisGif
No seriously, this would definitely happen. Have you seen the 1992 world cup final? There were more MQM flags than Pakistan flags. And in the 2015 Indo-Pak match, some guy (was it you Waqar Zaka?) was chanting Go Nawaz Go! Right chant, wrong place. You’d expect a few bad apples to live up to their reputations at the Coldplay Concert too.
8. The Pakistani Flag Stuck To Chris Martin’s Back Pocket
Source: Imgur
Chris Martin, a showman that he is, loves to incorporate the feeling of oneness in his shows. That’s why he sticks the flag of the country he’s performing on to his body. Because what else can bring a bunch of people together but standing under their country’s flag. Chris Martin raising the green and white as he sings Every Tear Drop Is a Waterfall would send chills down everyone’s spines. A beauty to see!
9. Rubbing It Back To Our Indian Friends
Source: Tenor
It would happen. Hey, I’d be the first one to write a ‘Ha, you’re not better than us’ article if Coldplay played in Pakistan. You can bet all the chat board forums and youtube comment sections would be lit ablaze after they played even a show in Pakistan. And wouldn’t a part of us just want Coldplay to come to Pakistan so we were able to do that?
Here’s to hoping it happens one day!
