Now before you go and cut off my genitals, let me make this clear. I do not mean this as in "I hate Coldplay and here's what's fucked up about them." On the contrary, I am a huge Coldplay fan, own their three full EPs and the Live CD/DVD, have travelled 11 hours to see them...etc. etc. etc.

 

However, no band is without it's flaws, and it's bands that look at their own weak spots and improve them that really stand the test of time.

 

Anyways, that being said, I believe this thread should be here to discuss what Coldplay could do to be better as a band, both musically and as performers overall.

 

The first thing I see with them is that they are caught in two minds. They want to simultaneously be U2 and Radiohead, which is impossible. On one hand they want to be the biggest band in the world with simplistic, lovely music that speaks to people, while they also want to be Radiohead, one of the biggest bands there are, which is a more complex, intriquite (sp) style of music. It's fine to have a major influence on an album, but it's not good when you have two conflicting influences. Parachutes was a fabulous album, definate shades of Radiohead while also showing the band could produce things that Radiohead never would (Yellow, Don't Panic) shine. Same for AROBTTH. Amazing album. Less of a Radiohead influence and more U2, still one of my favourite albums to date. Probably always will be. They had huge success with songs that mirror the U2 kind of sound, the simplistic riff in 'In My Place' etc., while also producing very different music, songs like Clocks that will be memorable for some time to come.

 

However, with X&Y, they seem to be caught in two minds, on whether they want to keep it simple and anthemic like U2 or go for more musical risks like Radiohead. This lead to an album that shone brilliantly in spots and was quite dull in others. Imagine if they'd kept the class of Fix You, Square One or 'Till Kingdom Come throughout the whole album. It would've been another masterpiece. Coldplay need to go one way or the other, or a completely different way completely, but not trying to go both, it wouldn't work for the best of bands.

 

Anyways, another problem with them is their live shows. No, I'm not saying they sound bad. They are amazing, their sound is perfect, it's just a little bit repeating. When you go to a U2 show, you never know what's going to be on the setlist. Will they reach back, play 'Bad' or 'With Or Without You', will you get to hear the pounding drums of 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' or the beautiful 'Kite?' Same goes for a Radiohead performance, will they bust out old songs, like 'Anyone Can Play The Guitar' or the gritty 'Black Star.' There's an element of suprise, it makes every show that much more special, they got a setlist that nobody else, or just a few other shows got.

 

I love Coldplay shows, but I would wish they'd incorporate more diversity. It looks like they are on this second leg of the Twisted Logic Tour, the inclusion of Dylan and Embrace, while adding old favourites like 'Trouble' and 'Shiver.' When I travel to a concert, I'd love for there to be an element of suprise. Especially older material. I'd love there to be a chance for Trouble, Shiver, Spies, We Never Change etc. from Parachutes, a Warning Sign or Amsterdam from AROBTTH etc. You get the picture.

 

Coldplay have the potential to be the next U2. But if they are not careful, they could be overtaken by bands like Sigur Ros or Arcade Fire, or a resurgent Radiohead. All bands have problems to address, I'm just discussing this here.

 

Please don't turn this thread into a stupid "u r wrong i <3 jonny" thread, please actually take some time and look into it and enter your own opinions.

:/ i cant say anything, just.. :/

Maybe try re-titling the thread like...

 

Coldplay - I can 'Fix You'... :lol:

*laughs out loud* Thanks for the idea.

 

I will. Maybe then people will actually post!

:lol: :lol:

Some people are just never satisfied!! :(

*laughs out loud* Thanks for the idea.

 

I will. Maybe then people will actually post!

 

im not actually post, right? :P j/k

Basically, I can agree with you... _basically_

 

I think, you are comparing too much - you know? You say like Coldplay's 50% U2, 30% Radiohead and stuff and in my opinion it's a thing you can't do. You can't take your favourite band as the bar for other band, because every band has it's own style (speaking of _good_ bands, no pop-shit). And Coldplay's style is diversing - Parachutes was very calm and emotional, A rush of blood became more intellectual, the current album is more simple and kinda electric/experimental.

You know Pink Floyd? The started with Blues-Stuff, came to psychedelic rock and split off at a phase of progressive rock. And PF is undoubtfully one of the biggest bands, isn't it?

 

I don't think, they want to become any band, that's wrong. It's good to have your idols but you mustn't become them. Coldplay's just looking for some new stuff and I think it's good - 3 time parachutes would have been boring, wouldn't it?

Personally, I'm happy with the band the way they are. They are trying out new stuff and 'evolving' and as far as I'm concerned, they can take all the time they need to do this. I will support them no matter what.

 

As for improving their sell out shows, the only thing that bugs me it them wearing all black [but if that's what Mr Martin wants Mr Martin can have whatever he likes :lol: ]. The setlists are fine with me. There is only so much a band can remember [song wise... :lol: ]

might be taken over by arcade fire? are you serious?

 

I thought coldplay could be the next U2 but now i think they could be better which would be very hard to do but they have another side, coldplay, espically after the talk video

^I agree with Felix.

 

I don't see Coldplay as like ripping-off other band's style. Who would be happy such band? If you are always to compare Coldplay with other bands, you will probably end up seeing its flaws, how it should have tried to be more like U2 or Radiohead or whatever. Why don't we just see how the band compare against itself?

 

Of course, we cannot discount that Coldplay has been influenced with different sorts of musical styles and I can see that the band has been evolving. I can see how it progressed since Parachutes and we may or may not like the direction its music is heading, but it's just a normal part of the process. I don't want Coldplay to sound the same as it did in Parachutes.

 

I do agree with you that Coldplay should play more some of its prior great songs in its tours.

Please don't turn this thread into a stupid "u r wrong i <3 jonny" thread, please actually take some time and look into it and enter your own opinions.

 

lmfaoooo :lol: But I do <3 Jonny!! :cry: :P

 

I think I understand you and what you're trying to say, and of course I'm not going to attack you for voicing your opinions. Everyone has them and everyone can share them!! This would be a pretty boring place wouldn't it if we didn't have some good discussion threads going on.

 

It's hard to say WHO Coldplay is, or WHO Coldplay wants to be, since we're NOT Coldplay. I don't know what's going on in the four of their minds when they walk into the studio or step out on stage. Therefore, I don't think any of us have the right to assume things like "They are trying to be U2! They are trying to be Radiohead GRRR!" (and I am NOT mocking you here, by any means! I'm simply over exagerating things, as usual :rolleyes: :lol: ). As a fan of all three bands, however, I think it's fair for us to analyze the similarities and make of them what we will.

 

I think that I have to agree with you when you say you wish they'd put more diversity into their shows. I think that what they're playing is GREAT (of course, I'm not going to complain about it!), but it would be really cool if all of a sudden they pulled some random B-side out of nowhere. Or mixed the setlist up a little. Keep in mind, however, they're only playing about 18 songs. (I don't know what the current tour is doing, but they only played that many back when I saw them in August.) U2 did 26 songs at my concert in October, not counting the random snippets they put in, for example, at the end of 'One' or 'Sometimes'. It's simply a different league. U2 can do that, they have the back catalogue and the fan base where they have the ability to do this. I don't know about you, but the majority of people who were around me at my concert in Boston were all dipshits. Honestly. Drunken frat boys with their ditzy girlfriends yacking about pot the entire time. I don't know if Coldplay have reached that height in their career (they've only been around for a good 5 or 6 years!) where they can do something only the major fans have heard. Let's be honest here, a LOT of the people at a Coldplay concert just want to hear Yellow then fuck off. That's exactly what a lot did at my concert. Even though it was nice having AN ENTIRE ROW empty to move around in for the encore, it was pretty depressing. That's not Coldplay's fault. And I'm sure they see the people leaving from behind the stage before they come out. I don't want to even imagine what they must feel. I know I'd be pretty pissed. :dozey:

 

I think I lost the point of what I was talking about here :lol: Erm... So yes. I don't know if it's fair to compare U2 and Coldplay's live sets. In fact, it's completely unfair. Personally, I'm still waiting for Coldplay to release an album HALF as genius as War or a quarter as great as Achtung, Baby. (*waits for gunshot :uhoh: *) But until they do that, and until they've been around for 25+ years and until they're playing over 25 songs at their concerts, I think we all need to stop comparing them and hoping time speeds itself up for this still relatively young band.

 

As for Radiohead, I am in no position to compare the bands. I have never seen Radiohead live, nor do I know much about them. I am only a big fan of their studio work, and even though that amounts to something, I've never really bothered comparing their sounds. For some reason I never heard it.

 

I love X&Y, personally, but when I listen to it I usually just let myself forget about all the other bands I love and just enjoy it for Coldplay. Instead of letting my concious thought take over and analyze every note and think "Shit, that's The Edge!", I let the unconcious take over and let myself fall in love with the music and the music alone.

 

And that's all I have to say about that. :smug: :lol:

 

 

 

(but wait a second, if Coldplay is going to be the next U2, WHERE'S U2 GOING!? :snore: Better not go anywhere before next week when I see them, that's for sure. :rolleyes: )

Thanks for all of the responses!

 

Anyways, pushing on with it...

 

Winnie, valid points indeed. I must clarify however. I'm not saying that Coldplay is my bar for other bands I like, such as Radiohead and U2, simply that I think they're attempting to emulate them too much. I can understand how some people wouldn't agree with me, but it's something I've noticed they're doing very much recently. I was listening to The Hardest Part and it hit the chorus and I started singing Wild Honey by U2 off of ATYCLB, because the Coldplay song was so similar to U2's.

 

I love Coldplay, they're my most consistently favourite band, I just think they should try to stick to their own. Not repeating Parachutes or AROBTTH, good point, but simply sticking with the formula of going a bit different, a different style, and sounding really good as they do it. As it is for many people, 'Fix You' is my favourite track off of X&Y. Yet U2 nor Radiohead have produced something like it. They're going on their own and it's beautiful. It's seriously among my favourite songs I've heard, period, I listen to it as much as the soaring 'With Or Without You' or the amazing 'Street Spirit.' However, there are tracks on X&Y that are dull and that need the energy and creativity of other songs, that was all. I'm just saying they need to change the formula some for Album 4.

 

Also, as to Nettie. I don't mind their attire. I love it, in fact, I love seeing how Chris gets so drenched in sweat he has to change before the encore, the holes in the back of his shirt, you get the picture. They all look very comfortable in their attire. I mean, for the love of God, when I saw them it was 107 degrees and they were in all black! That takes definate bravado. Anyways, I don't think they can complain about not being able to remember songs. U2 still plays songs from 'War' in 1983, then there's bands like the Rolling Stones who are playing songs for 40 years, and the Eagles doing the same. Coldplay's been around, what, 5 or 6 years? :) They can surely remember stuff from that far back.

 

And Sparky, yes the Arcade Fire could overtake them, they are seriously one of the most talented bands in the world right now. Just gobsmacking musicians, and they still only have one album done. If they repeat the brilliance of the first album, they'll definately be up there with Coldplay. And yes, I agree that Coldplay could definately be as good as U2. It's all about desire. U2's third release was War, which isn't as good as AROBTTH but is on par or better than X&Y. It was really only by U2's fifth (maybe sixth?) album that they came into it and hit their peaks (The Joshua Tree). And Coldplay haven't produced a crap album, just sort of a step back. U2 produced two albums in the mid 90's that weren't viewed so positively, but they came back with wonderful releases in 00 and 04. Coldplay still have a very long time to go, it's just seeing if they have the desire to go out and push their limits as a band.

might be taken over by arcade fire? are you serious?

 

 

lmfao The Arcade Fire is incredibly good, but they're so different from Coldplay it's like moon and sun. They've only been around for a year now, so I mean there's no chance in hell they're going to surpass Coldplay in the mainstream soon. At least not here in America. DEFINATELY not here in America!!!

Great points, An.

 

Although I don't think War was that amazing of an album. Some brilliant moments, but overall I wouldn't rank it with the others. Achtung Baby, though, is a masterclass.

 

I also agree that we don't know who Coldplay is trying to be or trying not to be. Although I did read somewhere they admitted the large U2 influences on X&Y, so I am not sure.

 

And about the just enjoying the music, yeah that's the goal. I can sit back and listen to X&Y and enjoy it, yeah, but when I'm looking for something that makes me go, "God damn, this is brilliant" like I did when I first heard The Joshua Tree, I can't listen to it.

I don't know about you' date=' but the majority of people who were around me at my concert in Boston were all dipshits. Honestly. Drunken frat boys with their ditzy girlfriends yacking about pot the entire time. I don't know if Coldplay have reached that height in their career (they've only been around for a good 5 or 6 years!) where they can do something only the major fans have heard. Let's be honest here, a LOT of the people at a Coldplay concert just want to hear Yellow then fuck off. That's exactly what a lot did at my concert. Even though it was nice having AN ENTIRE ROW empty to move around in for the encore, it was pretty depressing. That's not Coldplay's fault. And I'm sure they see the people leaving from behind the stage before they come out. I don't want to even imagine what they must feel. I know I'd be pretty pissed. :dozey: [/quote']

 

Now that's really sad... :angry:

 

I like the way you write an_cat.. :) And I'm totally jealous you're seeing U2 soon.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that.

 

For me, there were a whole lot of drunk, shirtless college people. Which was good and bad. During Franz Ferdinand beforehand, I was getting grinded on by some amazingly breasted scantily-clad college woman who'd been drinking. A lot. To my right were a whole bunch of college guys who smuggled in a whole fifth of whiskey.

 

However, by the time the show started and the crush to the front began, I was surrounded by people who sang every word to White Shadows and Everything's Not Lost. :)

 

I could tell it was a mainly 'Yellow' kind of crowd, although there were a good number of hardcore fans near the front where I was.

War is one of my all time favorite albums, I've only recently re-discovered it. Of course, everyone's got completely different views on what can be classified as "genius" or "brilliant". War means things to me for personal reasons, so yeah... As for Achtung, Baby... I don't know what could match that. I don't WANT anything to match that. :lol:

 

I know that they have admitted to U2 influences, but what I was trying to say was that it's unfair of us to assume the EXTENT to which they apply this influence. Chris also loves Jay Z. So, there you go. :lol:

 

Yes, I'll admit I've done that too. I just feel really aweful after I start comparing them though. It's strange. I feel like I have 2 children, one older and one younger, and someone's telling me to choose which one's the best at math. One's in the second grade and the other's a Freshman in college (oh please, U2 is SO not graduated yet!).

 

Hoorah for stupid analogies. WHOO! LMFAO! But you know what I'm trying to say? I can't do it.

 

I'm sort of confused, though. You don't want them to become U2 yet.... You're comparing them TO U2 (and again, I can't fairly talk about Radiohead here because I just don't know how). They've talked about not using the piano on the next album, they've talked about working with Timbaland. I'm terrified of the change they could go through, but who knows. Maybe your wish will be granted.

I don't know about you' date=' but the majority of people who were around me at my concert in Boston were all dipshits. Honestly. Drunken frat boys with their ditzy girlfriends yacking about pot the entire time. I don't know if Coldplay have reached that height in their career (they've only been around for a good 5 or 6 years!) where they can do something only the major fans have heard. Let's be honest here, a LOT of the people at a Coldplay concert just want to hear Yellow then fuck off. That's exactly what a lot did at my concert. Even though it was nice having AN ENTIRE ROW empty to move around in for the encore, it was pretty depressing. That's not Coldplay's fault. And I'm sure they see the people leaving from behind the stage before they come out. I don't want to even imagine what they must feel. I know I'd be pretty pissed. :dozey: [/quote']

 

Now that's really sad... :angry:

 

I like the way you write an_cat.. :) And I'm totally jealous you're seeing U2 soon.

 

It made me REALLY REALLY REALLY angry. I was practically purple in the face with anger. Ok. No I wasn't. :lol: I was actually really glad that I could move over 10 spaces because 1) The lady behind me kept telling me to stop jumping around and dancing and 2) there was a Giant in front of me who apparently fell off his beanstalk and ended up in a Coldplay concert. :lol:

 

Why thank you :) Oh gawd, excited is not the word for what I'm feeling. *jigs around room* 7 days!!!! :lol:

I really hate it when tall people are in front of me. I think it's really selfish, especially is you're 'height challenged'. I was at a Bloc Party gig the other day and this these 2 dudes were right up the front and centre and one had this big afro. I was directly behind them. After a while, I got tired of trying to see through the 'fro and I got my 'make poverty history' wristband and I tied the dudes hair into a ponytail... :lol:

 

He didn't mind...

 

For me' date=' there were a whole lot of drunk, shirtless college people. Which was good and bad. During Franz Ferdinand beforehand, I was getting grinded on by some amazingly breasted scantily-clad college woman who'd been drinking. [/quote']

 

I guess that's not a bad thing - if you're a bloke... :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

Tell me about it. I'm fairly height challenged, which is frustrating on it's own, but it only adds insult to injury when you've got some 7 foot bastard who just stands there in front of you. Who obviously doesn't know the music to begin with and is just :snore: SIT DOWN! :lol: That's so funny about tying the fro into a ponytail. Now that's resourceful!

I was at the end of my tether. Good job I can get away with things like that.... :wink3:

 

Dude was hawt too [a little bit too young for me though... :lol: ]

i must say that i agree with you isaac on one or two things..

 

mainly..i agree on their too predictable playlist, cus it litteraly got me to hating god put a smile upon my face, okay not hating, but you know what i mean..maybe it's just me but...and as for someone's claims (don't know who's sorry) that coldplay must play all these songs to be recognized or whatsoever but how come they didn't mind that on their last tour, when they were even less popular and they did play one i love moses and even see you soon for which we all know that they're not popular nearly as trouble or yellow and yet..

not that i'm complaing just making an observance...

 

as for x&y... well i'll put it in (bad) analogy.. parachutes were like beautiful paths where you always have an great urge to pass through...and x&y is kinda road, beautiful road but still road...i don't know if i mae my self clear?

 

sorry for the bad english