[6th May 2009] Will Champion interview: "Only our successful songs are linked to plagiarism" (update

[busybeeburns]

 

Hampton Roads interview with Will:

 

So just hung up with Will Champion, the drummer from Coldplay. (Our second time talking; great guy. Chill, humble, smart and patient with someone who's probably asking at least one question someone else already has.)

 

Anyway, I digress. You might have heard that, as of yesterday, there are now four groups claiming Coldplay plagiarized them, the latest being Yusuf Islam, who says "Viva La Diva" swipes part of his 1973 song "Foreigner Suite." (Of course, he recorded that song under a different name. But, I say if a man vants to be called Muhammad Ali, this is a free country, you should respect his vishes, and call the man Muhammad Ali!")

 

There are all sorts of scholarly breakdowns of Coldplay's alleged thievery online, but Will says they are not, to quote Ice Cube, jacking for beats. Check it:

 

Malcolm: So I read that there was yet another plagiarism accusation to come out yesterday. I read that you guys aren't commenting on it, but do you care to now?

 

Will: I don't know...in general, we're very...It's tough when people accuse you of stealing something when you know that you didn't. So, we accept that it's part of the territory and know it is only for some reason, God only knows why, the successful songs that seem to be the ones that are accused of being stolen. So you go figure it out. (Laughs.)

 

Malcolm: That can be kind of subjective too right? I mean, you can take a whole lot of songs and say, 'Hey that's the drum or melody from such and such.'

 

Will: Yeah I mean I think if everyone...there are elements of our music that I've heard in other people's music but it's kind of...I don't know. It's interesting but a very difficult thing to define. How can you...there are only eight notes in an octave and no one owns them. And there are probably about 12,000 songs that feature the exact same chord progression. I think it lies on an intent to steal, which we certainly have never done and never would. So it's unfortunate but it's the way people are. That's that. We're confident we haven't done anything wrong.

 

Ok then. Whoomp: there that is.

 

Check back later for the full interview.

 

Coldplay does the Verizion Amphitheater here in VB May 20.

 

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/05/exclusive-will-coldplay-says-we-are-not-jackin-beats

[Cris_Santos]

Thanks, Ian :thumbsup:

[Talor]

thnx for posting :) :)

[mrman78]

Right on Will...

 

"So, we accept that it's part of the territory and know it is only for some reason, God only knows why, the successful songs that seem to be the ones that are accused of being stolen." So true :rolleyes:

 

I'll tell you why, MOOLAH!

[forcin]

Thanks, can't wait for the full interview:smiley:

[Sparks22]

Will's statement is so right , it was also on my mind when I read about Cat Stevens' accussation. Very ominous that they are all jumping onto Viva la vida.

[Sirhc]

Well said Will :nice:

[but a dream]

We're confident we haven't done anything wrong.

 

We know that's true too Will :nice:

 

Thanks for sharing Ian :D

[rudy_o]

Wise words from Will :nice:

[Ab]

Will: Yeah I mean I think if everyone...there are elements of our music that I've heard in other people's music but it's kind of...I don't know. It's interesting but a very difficult thing to define. How can you...there are only eight notes in an octave and no one owns them. And there are probably about 12,000 songs that feature the exact same chord progression. I think it lies on an intent to steal, which we certainly have never done and never would. So it's unfortunate but it's the way people are. That's that. We're confident we haven't done anything wrong.

Very well said, Champ! :clap:

[suzanafg]

Thanks! :D

[The Escapist]

I think it lies on an intent to steal, which we certainly have never done and never would

 

exactly

[Corkus]

I always imagined Will as the wise one of the group personality-wise. This proves true. :)

[mksh24]

corkus.. your signature is disturbing

[cillaben]

Very well put, Will. Can't wait for the full interview.

[Benjamin]

Yesss, I hope everything turns out for the best for them. :\

 

What annoys me about this whole thing is that all of these stupid accusations are harming the band's reputation.

 

Just last week, this guy said to me, "Maybe you you should like a band who actually writes their own music". I was REALLY frustrated and explained the whole thing, but he seemed to believe the media more than I.

[Frangipanis]

Ugh, I hate that. It's like, do you not find it weird that 4 bands/artists claim to have written the same melody? And it's not like it's the only song they've ever written, sheesh.

 

(If it's cool to hate Coldplay because they're popular, is it counter-cool to take the unpopular stance of liking Coldplay? :thinking:)

[illuvcoldplay]

I never for one minute thought that they did

[Lyric]

Will is so lovely. :heart:

[marie/pims]

You go Will :D

[nishafrisha]

GO WILL!

Ugh. Same. This boy at my school was like, "you know they stole that song..."

I tried to reason with him but he wouldn't listen either.

Very irritating :/

[Texasluvsjonny]

Swine Flu sews Coldplay....Chris Martin stole my RNA structure! :dozey:

[anniea89]

I think they're handling this in the best way possible.

Haters are gonna hate though, so the more allegations that come up, the more it fuels people's hatred.

[PolarMonkey]

meh. it's just got to (always) be the popular/famous/Grammy-winning/Grammy-nominated one that gets picked on.

 

poor guys. :\

[tauiwi]

Yeah, he's true that successful artists' songs are targeted, but then again it's not that frequent that bands are caught out for any similarities. I think Coldplay are an easy target and over the last 12 months have featured heavily in the media and any story about them is likely to generate public interest.

 

Will's right, as long as they're confident and handle the process with minimal fuss.