Coldplay & U2 --- Discussion

[JazmineUS22]

Yes I Have a question. What's so great about U2. This last month or so during movies or when I am lounging at home I see a commercial. I believe it's for a phone - anyways Bono comes on an start's singing. He's all suited up and glamorized. I personally feel sick. I don't think he's that good of a singer. I would much prefer listening to Coldplay. Also I have stumbled upon some interviews with Chris and the guys saying that there only popular right now because U2's on holiday. I'm thinking no Its because your better then them. I want to know , What do you guys thing of U2? Do you think Coldplay should do commercials? or will that make them look desperate for fans?. If you say yes they should what would they be advertising?

[giulls]

well, Coldplay and U2 are my fav bands ever :rolleyes:

i know people doesnt like him when he's involved in commercials, but believe me, he's such a great singer!

about your last question.. i dont know :thinking:

[jc90]

theres no way u can ever answer the who is better question because its just a matter of opinion...as far as commercials go, they said they felt they should do many commercials 'cause it would subtract from the song meaning...i read that they were approached by GAP and at least one other company for the use of yellow and another song...they gave that exact reason for not letting them use their songs...with that being said, one commercial that actually had coldplay was the viva la vida itunes ad

[theloveless]

Well yeah, they did the iTunes thing, but I don't think that's really compareable with other commercials, because with the iTunes commercial, they're actually promoting the album, their own music, not a product. So I don't think it's selling out in the same sense as if it would have been a GAP-commercial.

But no i really don't think they should do commercials, I respect them so much for having the point of view they have abou their music.

 

As for U2 compared to Coldplay... well I really don't think that they sound like U2 at all... I mean, yeah Jonny uses the same technique as The Edge, but honestly that's just about as far as the similarities go. Yes, they're in the same genre, but so are a lot of bands. U2 have their own sound, and Coldplay don't copy that, they have thier own as well, which is completely different.

And I just get so sick of people, especially journalists who consistently have to compare Coldplay to U2 ALL THE FREAKING TIME!! Always these sneaky little comments like "Well, Chris Martin is no Bono, even if he wishes to be" or "That's not how U2 would have done it" Well :censored:!!

The only song that actually sound like it could have been a U2 song is Lovers in Japan, other than that, their sounds are different, and I could never mistake a Coldplay song for a u2 song.

Sry about the rant, had to ventilate somewhere :P

[Fixed]

Is the Edge's guitar noise/sound/chiming thing a good thing or a bad thing? Yeh you know it's him and it's a trademark or something, but, he's been using it for like 20 years! Move on!

[LoverInJapan]

Well, this is an infinite discussion because people will have different points of view concerning both bands.

 

In my opinion (and it's as valid as anything else:)), I LOVE both bands so much and it's possible to say I am fairly able to distinguish them. I know them as musicians and I find a common hunger for more, for innovation, for something original and groundbreaking. They thrive to become the best they can be and they are in a constant search for that.

 

But their music, while belonging to the same genre, is very different in my opinion. Both U2 and Coldplay have their own trademarks, they are iconic for that reason, they create a sound that can only be theirs.

 

With that being said, there's no real battle since the bands are very friendly with each other and that's one more reason for me to love them :heart:

[Open-Politik]

Is the Edge's guitar noise/sound/chiming thing a good thing or a bad thing? Yeh you know it's him and it's a trademark or something, but, he's been using it for like 20 years! Move on!

so true:P

[JazmineUS22]

I totally agree with you "theloveless" they are each individual. I also do agree they get compared way to much. They are in fact there own bands , I just don't care for U2. I don't hate them I would just rather not listen to them .

[Tnspieler1012]

Is the Edge's guitar noise/sound/chiming thing a good thing or a bad thing? Yeh you know it's him and it's a trademark or something, but, he's been using it for like 20 years! Move on!

In the 90s they did move on, and everybody hated them for it (granted things did get very tacky). But after the rattle and hum era they experiented with some really strange distortions,flangers and wah-wah (The Fly, Mysterious Ways etc.) I'd argue Joshua Tree-Achtung Baby was as radical a change as OK Computer-Kid A.

 

Might I add I am a huge fan of the edge, his percussive guitar style, tone and use of reverb a-la WTSHNN is unique and hugely influential.

[Prospekt.]

U2 is brilliant.

 

I'm sure a lot of people would say "What's so great about Coldplay?"

 

U2 have proven more I think, it's all a matter of opinion. Can't really go out and say that.

[Tnspieler1012]

Here's one, what do you guys think of the way Brian Eno influenced both bands?

 

I always thought the unforgettable fire was really underrated. The change from the War album to avante-garde cleaner tones is truly amazing. In Elvis Presley in America he insisted that bono keep his first practice take of improvised lyrics. and 4th of july wouldn't exist of Eno didn't decide to hit the record button while Edge and Adam were fooling around.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ7puU2yOAw]YouTube - U2- 4th of July[/ame]

 

But Eno adapted Coldplay in an extremely different way, VLV is more impatient and short than the slow indulgence you expected from Eno.

[worldtrav]

guess the commercial you are talking about is the blackberry one...as blackberry is sponsor of the tour..so, not so much of a difference with the itunes commercial CP did.

 

That discussion will go nowhwere, I am not a massive U2 fan but any band who stick together for 30 years and still make good music are in my eyes worth it.

I will go and see them in August in Wembley as I think they are one of the live acts everyone has to see at least once in your life.

sure U2 have "proved" more but they also around for longer time.

 

P.

[The Escapist]

U2 are amazing. In my books, I don't like them as much as Coldplay but they would be coming a close second with keane. If you ever get a chance to buy their 18 Singles album then do so and you will see what I mean.

[flickahidalgo]

I love both Coldplay and U2.

 

But about the question:

 

Coldplay did get their Itunes commercial. U2 gets their phone commercial! Its a win/win situation.

[brianjarmstrong]

I think they are similar in that when you listen to these two bands, you can tell that they write songs that will the back wall of the largest stadiums just as hard as they hit the front of the stage. They write HUGE songs. Even the smaller tunes are quite ridiculously large.

 

They have their obvious differences, but if you take a step back and look at the larger musical picture, you can see lots of easy comparisons.

 

Having said that, I think U2 is struggling. "I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight"? 'Nough said.

 

Meanwhile Coldplay has hit their stride with VIVA finding a different way to be a band. I can't wait to see what Coldplay comes out with next while I could probably care less about what U2's next move is.

 

But, in the words of Dennis Miller, "Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong."

[The Escapist]

I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight is the best

[Caroline]

I honestly don't get whats so great about U2. I like a few songs...Maybe seeing them live would change my mind.

[The Escapist]

as i said. listen to their 18 singles album/compilation/greatest hits. I can't see how anyone couldn't like that.

[PolarMonkey]

Also I have stumbled upon some interviews with Chris and the guys saying that there only popular right now because U2's on holiday. I'm thinking no Its because your better then them. I want to know , What do you guys thing of U2? Do you think Coldplay should do commercials? or will that make them look desperate for fans?. If you say yes they should what would they be advertising?

y'know, the reason the Coldplay guys said that thing about them being on top now cos U2's on holiday is not really their usual self depracating nature at work. it's cos U2 are like their idols & benchmarks...they generally speak quite favourably of U2 anyway. well, maybe more so to Chris & Jonny than the others.

 

& Coldplay may be dominating the charts now, but what person born in the 70s or 80s (e.g. the guys themselves) hasn't grown up listening to U2 songs being played on the radio?

 

on the flipside, Bono has acknowledged that younger bands of the current generation like Coldplay & The Killers are the ones to watch out for cos he feels they're good enough to upstage U2.

[LoverInJapan]

^Mmmm.... Not just Chris and Jonny. I remember an interview(a very recent one) where Guy said U2 are the king to his eyes or something like that and Will has also referred to them as a band they look up to. But yeah, like you said, they grew up listening to them.

 

But how can you not admire a band that wrote a song like Where the streets have no name or I still haven't found what I'm looking for? And I am mentioning TWO, their whole catalog speaks for itself, really....

[a-chan]

U2 and CP are totally differents to me (musically speaking). They both have their own sound that you can identify immediatly but you can't mistake them.

I guess the comparison stand in term of popularity worldwide, the fact that they stadiums filling bands and how both bands can touch so differents types of people.

As for commercials, U2 said themselves that the band is a 'trademark' and a product in itself, so they have no problem to use it as a commercial tool. CP on the other hand refuse that (thx to Will's great vision!). It's quite understandable from U2's part considering how they struggle to make it and where they all come from...

 

I prefer CP because it's my generation but I grew up listening to U2, and I love them. I recently saw them live and they are impressiv but I was kinda disappointed by Bono's attitude towards the crowd...I sense a lack of complicity between us and them...Chris make you feel immediatly that you're part of the band. Bono, even if he owns the arena and make you sing at the top of your lungs, is somehow 'far away'... I don't know, that just my feeling.

[giulls]

as i said. listen to their 18 singles album/compilation/greatest hits. I can't see how anyone couldn't like that.

 

completely agreed:D

[nvdmm]

I think they are similar in that when you listen to these two bands, you can tell that they write songs that will the back wall of the largest stadiums just as hard as they hit the front of the stage. They write HUGE songs. Even the smaller tunes are quite ridiculously large.

 

They have their obvious differences, but if you take a step back and look at the larger musical picture, you can see lots of easy comparisons.

 

Having said that, I think U2 is struggling. "I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight"? 'Nough said.

 

Meanwhile Coldplay has hit their stride with VIVA finding a different way to be a band. I can't wait to see what Coldplay comes out with next while I could probably care less about what U2's next move is.

 

But, in the words of Dennis Miller, "Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong."

 

 

very very true! I used to be obsessed with U2 up until 4/5 years ago. but since realizing how truly amazing Coldplay are, and how repetitive and hugely overrated U2 are, I’ve my lost interest in them and couldnt really give a damn about what they do anymore! Im not denying the fact that U2 are fantastic, but any band have their lifespan. 25 years is surely more than long enough and don’t forget, great bands should always fade away when they are at their peak best. look at Pink Floyd and The Beatles. the same goes for Coldplay. I definitely believe they should quit in 9 or 10 years, as we don’t know for sure how productive and influential they could be after that. if U2 had quit after How to dismantle....... , everyone would have remembered them as one of, if not the best bands ever. of course people will still remember them, regardless of when they quit, but I know for a fact they’re not loved as much anymore. people have started to get sick of 'em and actually hate them. i also believe Coldplay are in no way similar to U2. that’s just what the evil journalists feed music fans in their reign of hatred and jealousy! :evil3::whip: