It's something that has got me thinking recently.

 

I was reading a BBC review on a-ha 25 - The Very Best Of and it stated that the album 'leads one to the unexpected conclusion that they were the Coldplay of their generation, accomplished at writing songs that carried an emotional depth capable of reaching out across arenas'.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/qrd3

 

I certainly see the similarities. I would consider Coldplay a soft rock band/mature pop band and the best of their era. Likewise this can be said of a-ha. Now I know what you're going to say - Coldplay have tonnes of hits. a-ha have only Take On Me and The Sun Always Shines On TV (this being a particularly brilliant song personally!). Obviously the differences are clear in that Coldplay haven't really done synthpop although fans of X&Y may agree to disagree but I do believe there is a similarities between the two.

 

I personally think it holds more weight than the Coldplay/U2 debate which quite frankly I feel is nonsensicle in most parts. But what do you think? Are Coldplay similar to a-ha or do you have any other bands in mind?

I just don't see it. The Coldplay/U2 debate makes MUCH more sense to me than a Coldplay/A-ha comparison. A-ha never really went beyond being big for a couple years: they didn't reach a level of greatness that Coldplay already has. And they were never as big as Coldplay are now across the globe.

 

Coldplay's style is based somewhat on U2 and Chris Martin has called U2 one of his biggest influences. U2 is the undisputed biggest band in the world (in terms of recognition and being able to sell out a full stadium in any corner of the globe). Coldplay is the only other band on the face of the Earth that could potentially pull that off.

 

Is U2 the band it was musically back during the late 80's and early 90's? No, but they still make great music. Admit it, No Line on the Horizon (although not as good as Viva la Vida) was musically and lyrically better than most give it credit for. And their next album will (without question) surpass their last one (in terms of music, style, sales, everything). Coldplay keeps getting better and are possibly on the verge of their Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby, so to speak.

 

I think there will soon be a "passing of the torch" from U2 to Coldplay when it comes to being the universally recognized biggest/greatest rock band in the world.

I just don't see it. The Coldplay/U2 debate makes MUCH more sense to me than a Coldplay/A-ha comparison. A-ha never really went beyond being big for a couple years: they didn't reach a level of greatness that Coldplay already has. And they were never as big as Coldplay are now across the globe.

 

Coldplay's style is based somewhat on U2 and Chris Martin has called U2 one of his biggest influences. U2 is the undisputed biggest band in the world (in terms of recognition and being able to sell out a full stadium in any corner of the globe). Coldplay is the only other band on the face of the Earth that could potentially pull that off.

 

Is U2 the band it was musically back during the late 80's and early 90's? No, but they still make great music. Admit it, No Line on the Horizon (although not as good as Viva la Vida) was musically and lyrically better than most give it credit for. And their next album will (without question) surpass their last one (in terms of music, style, sales, everything). Coldplay keeps getting better and are possibly on the verge of their Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby, so to speak.

 

I think there will soon be a "passing of the torch" from U2 to Coldplay when it comes to being the universally recognized biggest/greatest rock band in the world.

 

That's a totally fair comment ryan and I have to say I agree almost entirely. Status wise Coldplay are probably twice as big as a-ha were and for that reason can be compared to U2 and admittedly are probably the only band that can rival U2. If we're talking about album sales then Coldplay are already bigger than U2 because VLV shelved twice as much as NLOTH which quite frankly was never given the credit and time it deserved. But I think musically they compare more with a-ha. Instantly catchy melodies, wonderful arena pounding anthems. Of course you can say that about U2 as well but for me there is simply something godly and heavanly about U2 performing that is of at least three levels higher than any other band has been able to achieve.

I saw a-ha back in the 80's on the tour for their first album (yikes - just realized how old i am!).

a-ha are/were great but never had the massive success coldplay did. this was also pre-internet, however, so i'm sure they might of been bigger had they had that as a marketing tool.

I dont think they should be compared to A-Ha

 

because as far as the US is concerned... A-Ha is that one band with that Take On Me Song from the eighties.

 

Coldplay have had a hit in the US with Every CD theyve released.

 

Even if this were not the case.

 

Coldplay is NOTHING like A-Ha

 

so no

 

Coldplay are not the A-ha of this generation

 

they arent Radiohead Lite

 

They arent "The Next U2 of our generation"

 

They arent "the next Beatles"

 

Coldplay is the Coldplay of our generation, no one else.

 

FIN.

Do you mean as big or the kind of music?

I kind of didn't get this comparison...

 

a-ha were massive in the eighties, so are Coldplay nowadays. but this is all they have in common IMO...

Chris himself says that Coldplay are influenced by a-ha's music, but I can't see much similatiries... probably the melancholy, most emphasized on a-ha's 8th album, Analogue (Keeper of the Flame and Summers of our Youth really remind me of Coldplay)

 

But still, Coldplay are much more famous and succesful than a-ha. When dismissing the generation thing, do you think it was so because they weren't British? Do you think that bands which are not British must make an extra effort to prove what they are really worth?

Funnily enough, (as I was telling peeps on the boat last week) someone has mixed A-ha's Take on Me with Viva La Vida, see:

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itjURpjK-os]YouTube - Coldplay vs a-ha "Take on Viva La Vida"[/ame]

 

It starts well but goes pear shaped when it gets to the chorus!

 

The comparison is hardly suprising, since both Chris and Guy are huge fans on A-ha to my knowledge.

 

I loved A-ha in the 1980's too and was lucky enough to see them live when they came to my hometown for Saturday Morning Superstore (does anyone else here remember that?) :)

I think Coldplay is The Beatles of their generation but The Beatles is The Beatles of all generations. there is no doubt.

A-ha had way more than two hits! None on the scale of Take on Me, but in the UK they had a lot of success.

 

They were the first band I really loved... I can see a link between them and Coldplay

 

P.S Saturday Morning Superstore? Loved it... aw, I'm feeling all nostalgic now :p

I think Coldplay is The Beatles of their generation but The Beatles is The Beatles of all generations. there is no doubt.

 

yeah i think Kanye might not have been on another drunken rampage when he compared Coldplay to The Beatles

I personally think it holds more weight than the Coldplay/U2 debate which quite frankly I feel is nonsensicle in most parts. But what do you think? Are Coldplay similar to a-ha or do you have any other bands in mind?

 

 

 

to be honest A-ha & Coldplay have a family relationship but not U2 & Coldplay.

So.. yes it is a big part of the inspiration for Coldplay but Coldplay made their own style and personality and inspired by others bands too.

 

and I say that A-ha stops their career soon.

Coldplay is the generation after A-ha. (we are fans of A-ha, remember A-ha ? )

 

U2 is more the same generation that A-ha, and this two bands be inspired.

I just don't see it. The Coldplay/U2 debate makes MUCH more sense to me than a Coldplay/A-ha comparison. A-ha never really went beyond being big for a couple years: they didn't reach a level of greatness that Coldplay already has. And they were never as big as Coldplay are now across the globe.

 

Coldplay's style is based somewhat on U2 and Chris Martin has called U2 one of his biggest influences. U2 is the undisputed biggest band in the world (in terms of recognition and being able to sell out a full stadium in any corner of the globe). Coldplay is the only other band on the face of the Earth that could potentially pull that off.

 

Is U2 the band it was musically back during the late 80's and early 90's? No, but they still make great music. Admit it, No Line on the Horizon (although not as good as Viva la Vida) was musically and lyrically better than most give it credit for. And their next album will (without question) surpass their last one (in terms of music, style, sales, everything). Coldplay keeps getting better and are possibly on the verge of their Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby, so to speak.

 

I think there will soon be a "passing of the torch" from U2 to Coldplay when it comes to being the universally recognized biggest/greatest rock band in the world.

 

Their ninth album, Foot of the Mountain, was first released on 19 June 2009 and returned the band to the UK Top 5 for the first time since 1988, being certified Silver there and Platinum in Germany.[4] The album peaked at number 2 in Norway (their first not to reach number 1 in their home territory). On 15 October 2009, the band announced they would split after a worldwide tour in 2010,[5] the Ending On A High Note tour,[6][7] which will culminate in four farewell shows in Oslo on 30 November, 2, 3 and 4 December 2010.[8][9]

 

 

 

this is the first band A-ha that inspired me in life I grew up with

 

and still people who watch A-ha as a small band of anything without really knowing their careers :(

 

good reading and sorry if they had a record label as shit Warner Bros

in 1991 made anything for them .

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-ha

I totally agree that if a-ha had a better marketing machine they would have been so much bigger and wouldn't just be known to most people as' that pop band that wrote that Take On Me'.