Coldplay or Radiohead: Who's Bigger in the U.S.? (unfavourable article)

[LadyBellaStrawberry]

Article: Coldplay or Radiohead in America?

 

Who is bigger? I was wondering who was bigger in America, due to this stupid article:

Coldplay or Radiohead: Who's Bigger in the U.S.?

 

posted Monday, November 2, 2009

 

Last week, BBCAMERICA.com launched our own music section, Tunes From the Thames, and we've included several top 10 lists featuring the best of British pop music. Do have a look around: you may find many openings for discussion and heated debate.

 

The most potentially controversial list is the Top 10 Current British Artists in the U.S. After much hand-wringing, Coldplay and Radiohead were selected as our top two biggest UK artists. In that order. But that begs the question: should the imitator (Coldplay) really triumph over the originator (Radiohead)?

 

An argument could be made for Radiohead as No. 1: their longevity, their continued critical success, their hugely popular U.S. tours, and their innovation both musically and economically. Who else could launch an album as a name-your-own-price download online - and still hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 200 for their full-price, in-stores release?

 

Coldplay, on the other hand, has built a career re-writing Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees" and "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" as sappy indie ballads. Creatively, Coldplay completely fails to measure up to Radiohead. However, commercially, Chris Martin and the boys could be the most successful UK rock group since Duran Duran.

 

So have at it: who's the biggest British artist in America today? Coldplay? Radiohead? Leona Lewis? Winehouse?

 

 

http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/23/anglophenia.jsp?bc_id=1516

[WV Gal]

Honestly, I would say it is a tie between the two because of the different audiences each band attracts.

 

Coldplay seems to have more of a girl following with a good number of adults (older but not too old) liking the music. Radiohead, on the other hand, seems to draw more of the college audience (males in particular) and the crowd that some would say rebel against some of the norms. It's hard to explain but, overall, I say it's a tie.

[Tnspieler1012]

street spirit is a sappy ballad? :shrug:

[busybeeburns]

 

Last week, BBCAMERICA.com launched our own music section, Tunes From the Thames, and we've included several top 10 lists featuring the best of British pop music. Do have a look around: you may find many openings for discussion and heated debate.

 

The most potentially controversial list is the Top 10 Current British Artists in the U.S. After much hand-wringing, Coldplay and Radiohead were selected as our top two biggest UK artists. In that order. But that begs the question: should the imitator (Coldplay) really triumph over the originator (Radiohead)?

 

An argument could be made for Radiohead as No. 1: their longevity, their continued critical success, their hugely popular U.S. tours, and their innovation both musically and economically. Who else could launch an album as a name-your-own-price download online - and still hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 200 for their full-price, in-stores release?

 

Coldplay, on the other hand, has built a career re-writing Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees" and "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" as sappy indie ballads. Creatively, Coldplay completely fails to measure up to Radiohead. However, commercially, Chris Martin and the boys could be the most successful UK rock group since Duran Duran.

 

So have at it: who's the biggest British artist in America today? Coldplay? Radiohead? Leona Lewis? Winehouse?

 

http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/23/anglophenia.jsp?bc_id=1516

[but a dream]

Merged :)

[busybeeburns]

thanks, didn't see it!

[The Escapist]

These comparisons never stop. Why on earth do I choose to listen to a crappy indie band like Coldplay instead of the superior Radiohead, saivours of the music universe?

[davissoiz]

well i do agree with WV Gal because radiohead and coldplay and also muse and U2 would be probably the four biggest rock / alternative acts today and they do attracted different audiences.

[LauraLaura82]

:confused: Yeah this question sounds like: which is best Beatles or Rolling Stones?? :confused:

 

How can we say which is bigger between the two???

Different audience, maybe different life style, a different approach to music.

Yes Different music because now in 2009, Cp reminds a bit Rh style but they are not the same....in my opinion now Cp are more like a "pop rock product", Rh seem to be a sort of "niche product".

Here in Italy every time someone told me "I listen to Rh", they had the attitude like they were saying "I listen to Rh so I'm a music expert....I'm better than you who listen to pop music" :shocked2:

 

So which is bigger?? Each one decide which is the best...bigger, according to their taste!

The one who wrote the article instead of provoke fans, could count Cp and Rh fans "one by one" and then say which is bigger :P

[lucyb]

Horse crap. You cant compare 2 completely different bands....the journo who wrote this is obviously not a Coldplay fan!

[Keddie]

I don't care who the biggest band is. I care who the best band is. And in my opinion, that's Coldplay for sure.

 

I'm really sick of the comparisions to Radiohead. I want to know how songs like Talk, 42, Yellow, White Shadows, Everything's Not Lost, Amsterdam, Yes, and Daylight, just to name a few, are similar to Radiohead.

[noonsun]

hahahahahaha

 

Radiohead is NOT bigger than Coldplay here, regardless of who is better. Failsauce. That's just some bitchy reviewer with nothing else better to do.

[Zeya]

Being big means nothing. Britney Spears' big.

[Guest howyousawtheworld]

Sorry but are the arse wipes who wrote this article still debating this pathetic Coldplay are Radiohead imitators etc etc? Being big in the band worlds means a lot, because generally people think you've got 4/5 talented people who deserve their success. Look at all the huge bands in the past. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, U2... who says they don't deserve their success. Being a solo artist is a whole different competition. Little kids don't buy bands like U2, Coldplay, Radiohead etc. But they'll buy Britney Spears, Beyonce etc because they like to imitate their dreadful heros.

[The Final Track]

British Broadcasting America? Hah, numskulls, Coldplay's tours aren't potular in the States? Well lets ask the people who attened the sold out concerts this and last summer.

[Hans!]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Coldplay being influenced by Radiohead surely its a good thing when a great band like Radiohead influences another like Coldplay. Every band takes influence from other bands otherwise there wouldn't be new music. Anyway both bands are big, it doesn't matter which is bigger.

[SimpleBlur]

I would think Coldplay... :thinking:

The only other person in the school who knows who Radiohead, is my english teacher (insane, but true!!!:lol:)..:P :shrug:

However, it would probably depend on where you live in the US. And both of them are very great bands. :nice:

 

edit: We aren't comparing bands, we're comparing how popular you think they are, two way different things...:uhoh:

[BerrymanGirl1]

:dozey:Wow,crazy people!!!:lol:

[nam42]

music can't be compared. it's all about what the band decides to write about/what feels right to them.

[Guest howyousawtheworld]

Someone once said that Coldplay and Radiohead were like Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorcese, with Coldplay being Spielberg in being the massively commercial and critical success, but Scorcese being the massively critical success, but not as successful commercially or in terms of prize winners. Which is fine by me, because Steven Spielberg is my all time favourite movie director and I've watched a few Scorcese films like Goodfellas etc, but they just don't do it for me.

[cgoal1ie]

ummmmmm VIVA COLDPLAY!!! coldplay is awesoem haters just git over it!!!!

[MK]

Hmmm okay. Coldplay definitely has been influenced by Radiohead. But also by many others. Radiohead has as well been influenced by others. Heck, everyone has.

 

Same old story, Coldplay copying Radiohead, etc... I don't see Coldplay as a Radiohead rip-off. They're making different kinds of music - maybe similar, yes. I see Radiohead as better musicians. Coldplay are more popular.

 

To summarize, jut listen to what you like... and I love both.

[MrMagpie]

Someone once said that Coldplay and Radiohead were like Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorcese, with Coldplay being Spielberg in being the massively commercial and critical success, but Scorcese being the massively critical success, but not as successful commercially or in terms of prize winners. Which is fine by me, because Steven Spielberg is my all time favourite movie director and I've watched a few Scorcese films like Goodfellas etc, but they just don't do it for me.

 

I'm impressed with your diplomatic responses :P

[rubbbyyV]

When it comes to popularity, Coldplay is the most recognized. Coldplay is, no doubt, a commercial success. Radiohead could be as big as Coldplay if they want to, but I think they just choose not to.

 

I like both bands along with U2. They're are my top 3 favorite bands.

[flickahidalgo]

I'd have to say Coldplay is bigger in the US then Radiohead. But, they shouldn't be compared. They are both two totally different bands. That would be like comparing U2 to David Bowie or something.