Kinda

Of course we could just take this expression but to a lot of people "Alternative" means punk, metal, gothic and so on that's why I'm not using this expression for Coldplay, that would be an insult to their music :smug:

 

 

Surely Punk, Metal and Gothic are categories in their own right??:dozey:

Surely Punk, Metal and Gothic are categories in their own right??:dozey:

 

To be accurate main category is alternative and then comes Punk, Metal etc. as an under category - in German it's called like this - man I don't know the word for it - it's not in leo.org :laugh3:

 

Anyway it does not matter, categories are something for bored people who want to pigeonhole something.

To be accurate main category is alternative and then comes Punk, Metal etc. as an under category - in German it's called like this - man I don't know the word for it - it's not in leo.org :laugh3:

 

Anyway it does not matter, categories are something for bored people who want to pigeonhole something.

 

Pretty much, yes - which all makes this thread rather pointless!!:P

It's not pointless, a bit of healthy discussion amongst the threads about Chris' ass or Guy's new ear stud is healthy.

 

Yes we all enjoy the trivial stuff too, but there's nothing wrong with inviting a bit of a debate into proceedings.

They're more pop than ever but that's not really a bad thing i guess ( unless they start doing some coreography and shite :uhoh:) but i prefer when they used to be indie and way less popular.

 

I wish they weren't such a girly band too then their straight guy fans would feel much better and wouldn't deny liking coldplay in public :wacky:

It's not pointless, a bit of healthy discussion amongst the threads about Chris' ass or Guy's new ear stud is healthy.

 

Yes we all enjoy the trivial stuff too, but there's nothing wrong with inviting a bit of a debate into proceedings.

 

 

I completely agree. This thread was not meant to classify something, I think it was just a discussion about Coldplays change of style.

 

I'm really happy that this forum exists, but unfortunately there is not so much discussion about their music, although this should be main the thing we like about CP.

It's not against the ladies in the pictures thread :D, I really like reading the thread too but I miss some discussions about their music which goes further than just saying what's your favorite song today.

i can't label them becasue they are ever changing, evolving and growing, not sitting still for enough time the be called something. i just love them at all stages, especially the Warning Sign stage, sort of like someone becoming comfortable with themself with all the crap and good stuff that life throws at you

i think i just have a skewed definition of what "pop" actually is in the common definition, or i'm just unclear on it. i can point to artists which i count as pop acts, but i can't really give a concrete definition for "pop" that most people would agree with. to me, pop means that the music is more manufactured than written (i.e., written or heavily, heavily sculpted by people that are not the performers themselves), and that the performers have another motive that is equally or more important than the music itself. i know coldplay dress up (i kinda wish they didn't), but it's not ABOUT the crazy jackets. beyonce, for example...it's less about the music and more about how she looks and how she dances. to me, that's pop (however, she does at least co-write a lot of her music, so perhaps she's not the best example).

 

i just have a hard time pinning down what pop means...to me, i take it on a band-by-band basis. the term "pop" has a negative connotation in my mind, so i hesitate to put it on coldplay, even though i don't really care what they're labeled as. however, all the points you all have been making make sense to me, about coldplay's music being generally appealing to a wide demographic (not like radiohead, for example, who are a bit too "weird" for many mainstream tastes. they're popular, but they're not mainstream, in my opinion). i think coldplay are mainstream and very popular these days, but not necessarily POP, in my definition of it that i can't articulate :P.

 

Yes - in recent years it's generally come to mean garbage, which Coldplay aren't. Therefore it's case closed.:smug:

 

that's your OPINION, not a fact. pretty much everyone on this board would agree that coldplay aren't crap, but that doesn't mean it's a scientifically-proveable truth and that doesn't mean this thread is pointless. learn the difference between FACTS and OPINION.

They're popular indeed, they're probably today's biggest band in the world, especially since Viva la vida came out. I think it kinda started with X&Y too. It's not a bad thing.. but people could take it the wrong way.. Being pop isn't flattering somehow, as it may be associated with pop-rock cheesy music bands.

I don't mind them being called a popular soft rock, indie, whatever band, as long as they're not being called a pop gay band.. :)

agreed

But didn't you know everyone? Mark's opinion is *fact*... how very bad of you not to know that! You deserve a slapping.

 

You're a fucking tool???

 

Hey, I kinda like you kiddo, ya got style

 

that's your OPINION, not a fact. pretty much everyone on this board would agree that coldplay aren't crap, but that doesn't mean it's a scientifically-proveable truth and that doesn't mean this thread is pointless. learn the difference between FACTS and OPINION.

 

Maybe the creator of this thread should then, seeing as the thread title is a statement rather than a question.:smug:

But didn't you know everyone? Mark's opinion is *fact*... how very bad of you not to know that! You deserve a slapping.

 

 

 

Hey, I kinda like you kiddo, ya got style

 

Only if you condone unnecessary profanity.:rolleyes:

To me, pop band = girl band/boy band (like NSync, Backstreet Boys, Pussycat Dolls). Their music is mostly synthesized, they have group dance moves, and the concerts are mostly lip-synced.

 

Coldplay would NEVER fit the mod of "pop band" to me. But, I sort of agree with what Chris Martin said during one of their acceptance speeches at the Grammy's. They're not exactly rock...more like limestone. ;D

Only if you condone unnecessary profanity.:rolleyes:

 

I love how you ignored the first part of my post :heart:

So many thanks for your input guys, there have been some great posts here. And it's interesting (but not a little surprising to me) that the overwhelming vote has been that Coldplay are not pop.

 

I especially enjoyed reading Sparks22's and Chelsea's responses. I think the perception that 'pop means that the music is more manufactured than written' may be crucial in why the votes are against, rather than for, them being pop now.

 

I was planning to list why I felt they have now become pop (vocal and musical backing tracks, uniforms, choreographed dance routines for Chris, etc etc etc) but I shan't bother I don't think. To my mind they HAVE become pop, but as I hinted earlier in the thread, I don't care, I have absolutely no problem with it whatsoever. The music grows ever stronger, the live shows more and more incredible. And actually I feel that they're redefining what a pop band is - The Beatles led the way, and Coldplay are now reinventing the genre.

 

I'm hugely proud to be a Coldplay fan, pop or not.

I completely agree. This thread was not meant to classify something, I think it was just a discussion about Coldplays change of style.

 

Exactly, thanks so much Sparks. I think they're pop now, but do other people? I'm not trying to force my opinion on others, I just want some healthy debate. It's interesting to me to hear what everyone else thinks - isn't that what a forum's for? :)

when i think "pop" I immeaditly think of what is really popular like a couple of hits, on the radio, disney manufactured, jonas brothers... I don't think coldplay falls into those catergory... yes they are popular, but they aren't that kind of pop. Anyways some songs of viva la vida for certain lean towards pop, but then some don't... viva is more of pop album than parachutes, a rush of blood, and x&Y too. But they did when best ROCK album which really wasn't that too much rock... i hope i made sense. Overall I don't think they are looking at the past 3 albums.

^ Again, pop means much more than 'popular'. The Beatles originally defined 'pop' music and it's grown and developed ever since.

I love how you ignored the first part of my post :heart:

 

I merely treated it with the contempt it duly deserved.:smug:

I merely treated it with the contempt it duly deserved.:smug:

 

I laughed out loud at your post. And once, when you weren't even trying to be punny! :surprised::lol:

This debat is really interesting..!

 

To me 'pop' doesn't necessarily mean 'crapy music for masses'...Pop music (to me) define more 'lively' music whose sound 'bursts' like champagne's bubbles...(I don't know if you see what I mean). But it doesn't always mean that it's lyrically or musically poor... Michael Jackson is (was? XD) the king of pop and I don't think anyone could objectivly say that he was not creativ...Same goes for Madonna and Mika today is one of many pop artists but, like him or not, he writes his own lyrics/music and also is creativ musically speaking...

The Beatles have done pop songs...who can say they're crap? XD

 

But I guess that to majority, pop means boys band and stuff...

 

As to 'alternativ', again, it's just an adjectiv you add to say it's not totally: rock, pop, hard rock etc.... and is that sense, Coldplay is an alternativ band cause they're not totally rock, or pop or whatever...

 

I understand why some of you have the feeling that they're becoming 'pop' but it's just because their music sounds more 'lively' ... But it's just a feeling on a few tracks and therefore, you can't categorize them as 'pop' artist cause they're a little bit of everything! (look at the artists they worship and take their influences...very diverse!)

 

So to sum up: Coldplay style is 'Coldplay'...XD Like someone saif, it's unique.

Great post a-chan, thanks a lot for contributing to the debate :)

 

I suppose for myself I consider them a pop band not so much for the style of music, but for their attitude now, and some aspects of their live shows (the backing tracks - both music and vocals - etc).

 

It's interesting that while the 'no' votes are winning on the poll, there have been quite a few 'yes' votes. I wish now I'd added a third option 'yes but it doesn't matter' as I have a feelijng some people see the band being called pop as something negative, and so may vote the other way, when in actual fact I couldn't care less because in my eyes (and to my ears!) they're the best band in the world, and they could start to play country music and I'd still follow them and love them just the same.

 

Oh wait, they've already started playing country music!! Ignore that bit then:P

yeah they're totally different from most other genres

Coldplay is a "Very Heavy Soft Rock" band.

 

That's why they are unique and different.