Coldplay's special 'Orange' song for Luton up for Radio Times Moment of the Year

Nearly a year on since BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend came to Stockwood Park, one of the best moments of the festival is up for a title at this year’s Audio and Radio Industry Awards (ARIAS).

In May 2024, Luton Town FC fans had hoped frontman Chris Martin would change the lyrics of their famous song ‘Yellow’ to the Hatters’ colour – orange. During their highly anticipated set, Martin sang something he wrote especially for the club and its fans – who were still reeling from their relegation to the Championship.

The song started with the lyric: "It's hard to be a football fan here in Luton Town.

"Sometimes you do the best you can, still you find you’re going down.”

He went on to sing: "We didn't win all our matches, we didn't win the cup.

"But when you get knocked down in Luton, you always get back up.

"So you can come in singing Yellow, that's all right with me, I prefer a warmer colour spelt o-r-a-n-g-e."

Before singing his special version of the song, Martin reassured the crowd that it had "nothing to do with Luton", referencing Watford FC, Luton’s arch rivals.

Now, BBC Three Counties Radio’s coverage of the fantastic song has been shortlisted for Radio Times Moment of the Year 2025, along with Johnnie Walker’s final show farewell and an emotional tribute to the late DJ Steve Wright. You can click here to vote for your favourite moment. The deadline is May 1.

A pressure group in Luton, Save Our Town, urged followers to cast their votes. They said: “Remember when a Luton fan made it very clear to Chris Martin that "that colour" was not welcome and Chris needed "to do as he was told"!

"Justin Dealey asked listeners an important question on BBC3CR: ‘surely they can’t play Yellow, can they? Why not? Well, Luton Town Football Club is orange, and their rival, Watford FC, play in yellow".

"It really was all ORANGE. It will ALWAYS be so.”

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