British rock band Coldplay has turned the spotlight on Singapore with their latest music video for the song Man In The Moon, released as part of the Moon Music (Full Moon Edition) album in 2024. Filmed during their record-breaking six-night stint at the National Stadium in January 2024, the video transforms the city-state into a cinematic canvas, blending iconic landmarks with everyday heartland scenes. Featuring a diverse cast of local youth, the production—created in partnership with Warner Music Singapore and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB)—celebrates themes of unity and shared human experiences.
The nearly four-minute video captures Coldplay performing on a bespoke floating stage in Marina Bay, framed by the glittering skyline of Marina Bay Sands, the Singapore Flyer, and Gardens by the Bay. Interwoven with their performance are snapshots of Singapore’s cultural tapestry, from the modern marvel of Jewel Changi Airport to the historic Fort Canning Park and the unassuming charm of an HDB estate in MacPherson. Even a humble coffee shop in Geylang, Mountain Coffee, gets its moment in the global spotlight.
What stands out is the video’s focus on Singapore’s youth, drawn from varied backgrounds and talents. Model and cosplayer Akihiko Turner, 25, described the gruelling yet rewarding three-day shoot, telling local media at the video’s premiere on 5 February 2025 at Marina Bay Sands’ SkyPark, “The hours were long, but they were worth it. I got to meet a lot of people, and meeting Chris Martin was very fun.” Similarly, musician Tenzin Tsundu, 22, who slides down a slope at Fort Canning Park on an ice slab in the video, expressed pride in showcasing everyday Singaporean life to a global audience. “For Coldplay to feature our HDB estates and coffee shops, things that we see daily, it gives people insight into how Singaporeans live,” he said. 
The band themselves embraced the spontaneity of the project. In a statement, they shared, “While we were in Singapore, we shot the video and captured some of the amazing, young, vibrant people whom we had met. We are interested in shooting things in places we have never filmed before and mixing people up as much as possible. It was really fun to have a kind of dance party out in the middle of the water, just us and the otters.”
Directed by Los Angeles-based Ben Mor—who previously collaborated with Coldplay on Hymn For The Weekend (2015)—the video also features local personalities like visual artist Sam Lo, known as Sticker Lady, spray-painting a mural at People’s Park Complex in Chinatown, and singer-songwriter Shazza navigating the alleys of Kampong Glam on a skate scooter. These vignettes, alongside scenes of youth singing in Clarke Quay’s Level Up arcade and cosplayers meeting at Gardens by the Bay, paint a vivid picture of Singapore’s multicultural vibrancy.
This project marks the latest in a series of collaborations between the STB and global pop acts to promote Singapore as a dynamic destination. Previous partnerships have included American artists like Billie Eilish and Charlie Puth, as well as Hong Kong star Jackson Wang, all of whom have filmed at various locations across the city-state. For Coldplay, whose Music of the Spheres World Tour drew massive crowds, the video doubles as a love letter to their Singaporean fans and a creative exploration of a city they’ve come to admire.
Beyond the glitz of Marina Bay, the inclusion of heartland spots like MacPherson’s HDB flats and Geylang’s coffee shops offers a grounded perspective, resonating with the song’s theme of unity across differences. It’s a deliberate choice, reflecting Coldplay’s intent to connect with local communities in an authentic way. As the youth gather on the floating stage to dance and sing alongside the band, the video culminates in a powerful visual of togetherness against one of South East Asia’s most recognisable skylines.
For Singapore, the exposure is a boon. The STB’s strategy of leveraging international artists to showcase the city’s blend of modernity and tradition continues to pay dividends, positioning it as not just a tourist hub but a cultural crossroads. Coldplay’s Man In The Moon video, with its mix of high-energy performance and intimate local stories, invites the world to see Singapore through a fresh, youthful lens—a place where global icons and everyday heroes share the same stage.
