Of course, my life is one big cosmic joke. Six years ago, I walked into a Best Buy and bought an album. I went along with my 2 best friends, and after getting in the car, I put the cd on. Me and my friends listened to it for about 30 seconds before my friend Niel said, "wtf is this crap?" I guess he didn't like "A rush of blood to the head." I knew from that moment on, Coldplay would not work in my favor. To this day, they are my favorite band. I have spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars attending their concerts. I have all their albums, b-sides, and rare live songs. To this day I've never found someone in my area with the same devotion and genuine love for this band.

 

Today I read an article in a british newspaper. The Independent's article "Why I Hate Coldplay" is frustrating to say the least. This might be an exaggeration, but IMO never in the history of music has there been a more despised band for more inexplicable reasons. "Coldplay is gay, they just suck." Really? I must have missed when that happened. Of course, these are opinions, but most of the opinions I hear are without merit. Coldplay has become, over the years, the easiest band to hate on. They are not typical rock stars. Sure, Chris Martin has a little bit of Bono in him, and his smugness and sometimes sarcastic tone can be a little annoying, but deep down he seems like a genuine guy. He's modest, and in a recent rolling stone review, he even admitted to X&Y's problems. The other three band member, Will Champion, Guy Berryman, and Jonny Buckland have tremendous talent as well as Chris. Not many bands can shift their members to different instruments. Chris can play guitar, piano, keyboards, and he sings. You don't see that often in most popular bands today.

 

Coldplay makes soft rock music. If you don't like soft rock music, you might not like Coldplay. That's a justified critique. I don't like rap, because I find it repetitive and lacking artistic value most of the time. There are many exceptions, but I don't like today's rap. There are usually two types of people who don't like Coldplay. Either the person just flat out doesn't like the music, or the person sees Coldplay as a bland, repetitive band that really has nothing to offer to the music world. The 2nd type of people are usually into more "diverse" bands that have different sounds and supposedly have something "new" to offer the music world. More often than not, these people come off more pretentious than some of Coldplay's weakest lyrics.

 

Now, I will tackle the old "Coldplay copies Radiohead" argument. Sure, some of Coldplay's earlier music does have certain guitar sounds that you could compare with Radiohead. Other than that, there really is no argument in my humble opinion. Was Coldplay inspired by Radiohead? Absolutely, but the argument that Coldplay blatantly copies Radiohead, from a musical perspective is ridiculous. When Chris admits plagiarism, you have to look at it from his perspective. He's joking because he knows that a ton of people think that Coldplay plagiarizes. Personally, I love both bands. I saw Radiohead in concert a few weeks back and they were amazing, but I have to make an observation about both bands.

 

Are Radiohead's lyrics and music more complex? Yes. Chris Martin has written some predictable lyrics, but when looked at in the context of the song, I really have no problem with that. Some of the best poems and lyrics have utterly predictable rhyming. And although radiohead is a great band, let's be honest they are a bit dark. Radiohead are a mood band. I personally can't just put on Radiohead any time of the day. Radiohead is more of a band I listen to when I'm in my house at night. I can listen to Coldplay anywhere, anytime. To me, they are a very uplifting band. Even their slow songs seem to have a positive feel to them.

 

Now, X&Y was a tad disappointing to me, but it still has some of the best Coldplay songs to date. Is Speed of Sound a rip off of Clocks? No. Do they have a similar sound? Yes. Chris Martin even admitted that on the third album, they kind of plagiarized themselves. I respect that Chris has admitted mistakes with X&Y. You rarely see that in a band. I can't recall the last time a band said, "yea our last album was mediocre. You guys deserve better." After listening to Viva La Vida, they have made up for it in spades.

 

The last part of my argument has to do with Psychology. Now, human society has always looked down on sensitive males. The brute cave men always gathered food and got the women. In today's society, sensitive male behavior is showing up more and more. Most men falsely believe that if you ever show feelings they are weak. Human society has falsely come to believe this as true. Hence male coldplay fans being labeled as "Bed Wetters." Nothing could be further from the truth. You know why popular male rappers admit to liking Coldplay? Because they can. They are already in positions of power. Jay-Z is one of the biggest celbrities in the world. Kanye West too. They like Coldplay because they can. The average middle class guy such as myself will often admit he likes Coldplay and get made fun of for it. The 40 Year Old Virgin line made it worse. I love the movie, but when the line was said, my inner monologue was like, "oh great, this will make it even worse." And you know what, it did for a while. Whenever I admit to friends I like Coldplay they say, "you know how i know you're gay?" I answer, "wow, I've never heard that before!" I laugh it off.

 

If someone doesn't like Coldplay because they think they're "gay", then I feel sorry for those people. It's ignorance really. They have tried to fit into a world where they will never be able to comfortably show their feelings. If you don't like Coldplay because you just don't like their type of music, that's fine, but I'm tired of the bashing from people who have only heard Clocks and Speed of Sound. Most people that I find, say that have only heard maybe a few songs. Listen to their 3 albums out now, and if you don't feel SOMETHING, then I don't know what the deal is with you. Are Coldplay the best band in the world? No, but they are good songwriters who are more talented than I and most of the people who criticize them. I personally think that they are very talented and that they create good songs that can give people a range of emotions. No one wants to admit that PEOPLE LIKE THEM. Andy Gill says that he can't find Coldplay fans. We are here sir. You just haven't been opening your eyes.

About that last part, Andy Gill probably doesn't have anyone to talk to as from what I've heard by those who know him he had his head so far up his ass he could loop round and go back in, ergo his point in rendered invalid.

 

I've actually never gotten a tough time for being a CP fan, 40-Yr Old Virgin wasn't all that big over here and yeah, I do sometimes get "Not as good as Arcade Fire" or whatever but its only in passing.

That was nice to read, and ofcourse I agree with you.

Nice read indeed!

 

Coldplay does get a lot of unnecessary hate. There is "opinions" and then there's just being malicious. I've always thought, "fine, you don't like the band..don't listen". And like I said, there is nothing wrong with critiquing the band, even if you don't like them, but people go above and beyond to be vicious and rude.

Thanks for posting this! Sums up my feelings rather well. Hating on Coldplay without logical reason has become so popular, and it is getting more than annoying. There is music I don't enjoy at all (like alot of country), but I never in my life would tear into an artist on such a personal nature (or seek out a fan forum to post my negative opinions). Why is it so cool to be so hateful towards Coldplay and in particular Chris Martin? I really am stunned by it. It is a very strange and unsettling phenomenon, and I hope it doesn't have too much of a negative impact on the band because it has to bother them, at least somewhat.

That was a fantastic read.

 

 

The only thing I disagree with is when you said, "Are Coldplay the best band in the world? No, but they are good songwriters who are more talented than I and most of the people who criticize them."

 

That's not true because COLDPLAY IS THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD!

From my point of view a lot of Coldplay's credibility is lost in its fans. There are simply too many people around here that will defend their beloved band no matter how shite a song or album maybe. There is no objectivity or ability to look at the core, the music, as the subject, instead the opinion was : If its Coldplay: I LOVE IT! (^^ see above post)

 

I think it has something to do with the amount of teenage girls that Coldplay attract that are "in love' (please...) with the members of the band and are completely missing the boat with the music.

 

X&Y had some tunes...but any heart the album had was completely drowned out by insane and inane overproduction. The group completely lost the plot with X&Y and yet the fanbois and girls refused to see the blatant truth that anyone with any musical sense or experience or taste could see...The band, guilty by association, lost a lot of credibility from the incessant "I LOVE GUY NO MATTER WAT HAPPENS" BS that the teenys continued with...

 

At least that's my take on it...from someone who was lucky enough to see the band when they were Starfish and who worships Parachutes as a masterpiece...the band simply lost its soul with X&Y.

 

This album is definitely a big step forward. Songs like Yes, Strawberry Swing, Loves In Japan, Violet Hill...the heart and soul are there. We can only all hope that they strip back to basics for the next album...lose the synth and layers and get back to the heart of it all and quit worrying about who they want sound like and just be Coldplay.

to me, Coldplay music is very wholesome. A lot of music now a days doesn't have that punch like Coldplay has with it's music. It gives me goosebumps with such percussion and vocals. Everything in it is just ridiculously spectacular. Sometimes, i start to get a headache because it's so good. I know that sounds odd but like, i'm listening and all the neons in my body just light up. Their music IS the best I've ever heard. I can't stop listening too it no matter how hard I try.

to me, Coldplay music is very wholesome. A lot of music now a days doesn't have that punch like Coldplay has with it's music. It gives me goosebumps with such percussion and vocals. Everything in it is just ridiculously spectacular. Sometimes, i start to get a headache because it's so good. I know that sounds odd but like, i'm listening and all the neons in my body just light up. Their music IS the best I've ever heard. I can't stop listening too it no matter how hard I try.

 

"Location: Guy Berryman's Bed "

 

Get a grip...

What's your point?

hahahaha ....

 

Read.

The.

Thread.

I read the entire thread from top to bottom. Again, what's your point?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, I still stand by my post about them being wholesome, are they not?

i'm listening and all the neons in my body just light up.

 

I love that expression :) I'm with you on the goosebumps front too - very surreal feeling, and what makes music so ridiculously amazing, especially Coldplay!

My point is fairly clear in post #7.

 

 

Wholesome?

 

Parachutes: Yes.

AROBTTH: At times.

X&Y: So far from anything wholesome or pure it's laughable.

VLV: AT times.

Thanks guys! I spent a lot of time writing it cause I was pretty angry with Mr. Gill. I know this probably won't change much, but I'm glad some of you feel the same!

Very accurate, and more well-written than I could have managed.

 

I'm very tired of the Coldplay = Radiohead thing, too...partly because I hate Radiohead, but mostly because, looking at it objectively, the two bands sound completely different. I could never mistake a new Radiohead song for a new Coldplay song or vice versa, even without the vocals. They have totally different styles, and really I have no clue where that comparison comes from. Coldplay has some strong similarities to Keane, U2, and Travis; but Radiohead? No way.

 

I've managed to avoid letting any males I know that I like Coldplay, because of the painfully predictable reaction. I wish they could just get over themselves and stop drowning their emotions in testosterone, but that's probably never going to happen. Hating things because they're "gay" (since when does music have sexual preferences?) is just too much fun, I guess.

clockpolitiks: I meant to say in my post - great argument. You managed to articulate a lot of feelings that have been on my mind for a while.

You wouldn't believe how liberating it is to tell your buddies you like Coldplay. I get the feeling mine respect me more for admitting it. Believe it or not, masculinity isn't tied up in System of a Down or Linkin Park.

well said, clockpolitiks...one of the most encouraging things I've read. It's nice to see some well thought out arguments as opposed to the ridiculous Coldplay accusations we've been reading lately.

 

Also...Coldplay has more in common with the Beatles than they do with Radiohead. And, when we look at it that way, hasn't every band ripped off the Beatles ever since they revolutionized the industry? Why is it that when Radiohead's influence from other bands is obvious, it's 'inspired', (or other critically 'acclaimed' bands for that matter) but Coldplay is a 'rip off' of everything? It's pure bullshit. All the music we hear today is influenced by something from the past now-a-days...even the brilliant Radiohead.

 

EDIT: P.S. 100TH POST!!...oh...and that wasn't an attempt to bash Radiohead because I love them in ADDITION to Coldplay. *GASP* What's the deal with that??

Are Coldplay the best band in the world? No, but they are good songwriters who are more talented than I and most of the people who criticize them.

 

See this line really makes me mad.

 

By that logic I can't criticize food because I'm not chef. Hell, that means you can't criticize anything but your specific field. Do you realize how stupid that sounds? They make music to release worldwide and put themselves in the spotlight. People have every damned right to criticize them as much as they want. Some people are just to insecure to listen to criticism of something they like.

I'm not saying they don't have the right to criticize. I'm all for free speech. What I meant was that if you criticize something, at least try to give some advice on how to make it better. I'm just tired of people saying "coldplay sucks" without explaining why.

The other key is musical preference. Do you listen to other bands that are similar to Coldplay, like U2 or Keane? If you do, and you dislike Coldplay, then you've probably got some insightful reasons why.

 

But if you only listen to Lil' Jon and Nickelback, then the fact you don't like Coldplay isn't surprising.

 

It's like hating a particular Mexican restaurant and blaming the owners when in fact you hate all Mexican food.