The incredible moment when Coldplay’s Chris Martin gave our Hatters that unforgettable musical nod at Radio 1’s Big Weekend has just bagged a prestigious national award.
BBC Three Counties Radio has scooped ‘Moment of the Year’ at The Radio Academy’s Audio and Radio Industry Awards (Arias) for the campaign that sparked this unbelievable Luton tribute.
Local presenter Justin Dealey collected the award, tipping his hat to the listener who dreamt up the brilliant idea of Coldplay trading their ‘Yellow’ lyrics for our Town’s mighty orange.
When Martin hit the Stockwood Park stage last May, he pulled something special out of the bag – a brand-new tune called ‘Orange’ he’d penned in his hotel room just hours before. With a cheeky grin, he told the crowd he’d been warned he “might never make it out of Luton alive if he sang ‘Yellow’” – a playful dig at our rivals down the M1.
His tribute nailed our town’s gutsy spirit: “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.” Hatters fans stood tall as thousands joined in a stirring “I love you Luton” chorus that still gives us goosebumps.
None of us will forget this epic moment. It will forever go down in our town’s history – a bit of Luton magic that perfectly captures what we’re all about.
Nearly a year since BBC brought the Big Weekend party to our patch, and this award ensures our town’s special moment keeps on shining – orange, of course!
About the Author
Laura Redmond
Laura is a passionate supporter of the Step Forward Luton campaign and a Marketing Manager. Armed with a journalism degree and unwavering love for her university town, she believes there's more to Luton that meets the eye. She loves to lace up her walking shoes to explore the town's green spaces or unearthing Luton's hidden foodie gems.
