but a lot of not-mainstream songs talk about shallow stuff too! most rock music just talks about trashing hotel rooms, doing drugs and having sex!

 

Yeah well, I don't listen to that kind of music either. Not being mainstream doesn't mean being good, I never said that. My point was just that most of the current mainstream is not to my taste. Coldplay were not mainstream at first but they were good. They gradually became more mainstream and still were good (up to a certain point, I'd say, but that's just my opinion and I know you have a different one, but nevermind). That's what sets them apart.

 

On the subject of "shallow", we may have different definitions because I truly think that music CAN be shallow. Doesn't mean it can't be background for a remarkable memory. And it does - I can associate things to countless songs of the 2000's that fulfil my personal defintion for "musical crap" but that I still have a little fondness for just because of these memories. I even have many of them on my mobile phone music archive. I respect them as part of my "life soundtrack" but I don't hold them to the same artistic value as I hold, for example, "Politik".

who get the money from the record/cd sales then? if artist, somewhere, where you work, get their money only from the gigs. the record companies. But you have to get some money as well, when people spin your music in supermalls and any other public place, right? if not, move into Finland, here we have a bit better rules! and rulers :D

 

so first you need to publish a single to be heard from the radio, and that way, your name gets bigger, you get more concerts and may become a musician, in there, where you are? alright

 

The largest part of musicians' income ususally comes from touring.

usually, I don`t know why that got into my eye, but I pull you a bit down right here, if you don`t mind okay?

Yeah well, I don't listen to that kind of music either. Not being mainstream doesn't mean being good, I never said that. My point was just that most of the current mainstream is not to my taste. Coldplay were not mainstream at first but they were good. They gradually became more mainstream and still were good (up to a certain point, I'd say, but that's just my opinion and I know you have a different one, but nevermind). That's what sets them apart.

 

On the subject of "shallow", we may have different definitions because I truly think that music can be shallow. Doesn't mean it can be background for a remarkable memory. And it does - I can associate things to countless songs of the 2000's that fulfil my personal defintion for "musical crap" but that I still have a little fondness for just because of these memories. I even have many of them on my mobile phone music archive. I respect them as part of my "life soundtrack" but I don't hold them to the same artistic value as I hold, for example, "Politik".

the only releases by coldplay that weren't mainstream were the three EPs previous from parachutes, yellow was the biggest song of the 2000 and most played songs in the radio... trouble, shiver too were mainstream, the scientist was mainstrem, clocks hell its on of the biggest singles to date

 

i think politik and aoal are not different artistically speaking, they just aim at something different, politik makes you think about your choices, aoal makes you wanna live life at its fullest, those songs have different styles and aim at a different reaction from the crowd and its unfair that one songs should be treated with a less "respectful" manner just cause it wants to make people dance instead of thinking. dancing, enjoying stuff without thinking about is part of us and so its natural that some music doesnt aim at making you think about the world, but just wants you to enjoy the dance floor

Apart from the commercial implications you mentioned, I just plainly don't like it in terms of style. A question of personal taste. It feels shallow for me, not profound enough, and I simply do not like the music itself.

Is mainstream just one certain style? (Not a trick question or accusation - I honestly don't really know what it means.)

 

Thinking of mainstream, for me pretty wide and different worlds of music come to mind that are simply popular with a large number of people at a certain time. From grand pop ballads with soul influences by Adele, to catchy (and yet in parts very deep) alternative hip-hop from Macklemore, established rockers like Muse, indie R&B from The Weeknd, synth-pop by Ellie Goulding, singer-songwriter folk by Ed Sheeran, to pop from Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez and the likes... (all currently in the Billboard 100; bad genre labeling by me :D).

 

Of course all of these things are up to one's personal taste. They just feel very different to me musically. :)

A few years ago I would have said most of the things that have been said in this topic to try to explain why I prefer the first part of career of the band rather than the second one (rock to pop issue, mainstream and indie, past better than the present and all these quite useless things).

But in the last times I naturally (I'm growing or, to say it it better, getting old) expanded my musical tastes to a large amount of different styles and genres or musical currents, so I find it very difficult to describe my favourite kind of music and I won't ever have the urge to say that I'm better than anyone else for the music I listen, I'm not that kind of person.

I just want to express that I don't feel close to my heart the songs they're producing like it was back in the first decade of 2000s, I don't feel that sense of warmness, truth, self-deprecation, black optimism, spiritual depth, introspection, nostalgia and maturity anymore.

Other than that, the fact that makes me so disappointed is that they lost their perfectionism: from MX to AHFOD (and I'm generally talking, they can still write some good songs) they failed almost every aspect related to music production, lyrical depth, song structure and arrangements fullness.

I might disagree with the change of lifestyle and artists/bands they get inspired from, but these are personal decisions I don't have the permission to syndacate on, but they clearly reflect on the music they produce and that's why a lot of people who liked/loved their music now criticize them.

A few years ago I would have said most of the things that have been said in this topic to try to explain why I prefer the first part of career of the band rather than the second one (rock to pop issue, mainstream and indie, past better than the present and all these quite useless things).

But in the last times I naturally (I'm growing or, to say it it better, getting old) expanded my musical tastes to a large amount of different styles and genres or musical currents, so I find it very difficult to describe my favourite kind of music and I won't ever have the urge to say that I'm better than anyone else for the music I listen, I'm not that kind of person.

I just want to express that I don't feel close to my heart the songs they're producing like it was back in the first decade of 2000s, I don't feel that sense of warmness, truth, self-deprecation, black optimism, spiritual depth, introspection, nostalgia and maturity anymore.

Other than that, the fact that makes me so disappointed is that they lost their perfectionism: from MX to AHFOD (and I'm generally talking, they can still write some good songs) they failed almost every aspect related to music production, lyrical depth, song structure and arrangements fullness.

I might disagree with the change of lifestyle and artists/bands they get inspired from, but these are personal decisions I don't have the permission to syndacate on, but they clearly reflect on the music they produce and that's why a lot of people who liked/loved their music now criticize them.

 

this is fine for you to think that, if aband or music style doesnt reflect what you wanna hear, its normal for you to dislike it, but i wont call it "fall from grace", that a strong word for something which changes from person to person

I still dont get why you hate mainstream music, like, what did it do to get hated by you people? im not criticizing you, i just really wanna understand, and its not about the money cause some not-mainstream acts make more money than mainstream ones...

 

In today's mainstream, you have:

-Worth It

-Hey Mama

-Anaconda

-Black Magic

 

like songs.

I don't think they're a work of art or anything. Quite plastic-y, fake, lyrics suck, feel "hollow", etc.

Coldplay's music is light-years away (and better) than our mainstream today if we take the four songs listed above as examples of what forms mainstream today.

If you're talking about really good music that's in the mainstream ex: Love Me Like You Do, Hello, etc. those are starting to reach the level of Coldplay's latest album. These songs would find a spot in the middle of the rankings, and even though they don't have the Coldplay magic to them, they're still pretty good. But rare, in the mainstream.

However, I'd consider most of Coldplay's work "different" enough to stand out from the mainstrean, looking from a completely unbiased perspective. Even though there are songs in the mainstream that are better than some songs on AHFOD, they have the structure of mainstream music. There's something different about Coldplay that makes it stand out so I still don't think they're completely mainstream yet. The song structure in some songs is starting to show mainstream signs, however, and all they did with this album is make a better album than GS and maybe a couple others (haven't ranked this album completely yet, although I definetely know now it's in the bottom 3) and they also went more towards the mainstream line. Coldplay needs to go away from that mainstream line, make more originial structure (example, Kaleidoscope has a fairly unique structure) and make music that sounds truly original, fresh, new, and mostly never tried before. I'd love it if they tried a song or two with 432 HZ tuning -- some say that kind of music can have "effects" on you. Not sure how much I believe that, but one thing's for sure, you know if they try different tuning's they're starting to disappear from making "mainstream" music. Unfortuantely it hasn't happened yet, but hopefully Chris takes a break between the upcoming tour and the next album and really just look back at Coldplay's discography and see what heppneed to them ever since GS. (And what happened to more of the deep, true melancholic side since around X&Y or Viva -- I love MX, however the superb songs cover up a bit of a flaw in the "richness" and "deep" I guess, overall (though a few songs on MX were true and kind of like their older music).

In today's mainstream, you have:

-Worth It

-Hey Mama

-Anaconda

-Black Magic

 

like songs.

I don't think they're a work of art or anything. Quite plastic-y, fake, lyrics suck, feel "hollow", etc.

Coldplay's music is light-years away (and better) than our mainstream today if we take the four songs listed above as examples of what forms mainstream today.

If you're talking about really good music that's in the mainstream ex: Love Me Like You Do, Hello, etc. those are starting to reach the level of Coldplay's latest album. These songs would find a spot in the middle of the rankings, and even though they don't have the Coldplay magic to them, they're still pretty good. But rare, in the mainstream.

However, I'd consider most of Coldplay's work "different" enough to stand out from the mainstrean, looking from a completely unbiased perspective. Even though there are songs in the mainstream that are better than some songs on AHFOD, they have the structure of mainstream music. There's something different about Coldplay that makes it stand out so I still don't think they're completely mainstream yet. The song structure in some songs is starting to show mainstream signs, however, and all they did with this album is make a better album than GS and maybe a couple others (haven't ranked this album completely yet, although I definetely know now it's in the bottom 3) and they also went more towards the mainstream line. Coldplay needs to go away from that mainstream line, make more originial structure (example, Kaleidoscope has a fairly unique structure) and make music that sounds truly original, fresh, new, and mostly never tried before. I'd love it if they tried a song or two with 432 HZ tuning -- some say that kind of music can have "effects" on you. Not sure how much I believe that, but one thing's for sure, you know if they try different tuning's they're starting to disappear from making "mainstream" music. Unfortuantely it hasn't happened yet, but hopefully Chris takes a break between the upcoming tour and the next album and really just look back at Coldplay's discography and see what heppneed to them ever since GS. (And what happened to more of the deep, true melancholic side since around X&Y or Viva -- I love MX, however the superb songs cover up a bit of a flaw in the "richness" and "deep" I guess, overall (though a few songs on MX were true and kind of like their older music).

 

 

?!?!?!

in 2000 mainstream songs talked about butts too, like Baby's got Back, or Hot in Herre or i could go on...

 

also there loads of non-mainstream songs that talk about butts

 

its always been like this, both mainstream and non-mainstream music have a side were they main focus is on butts, acohol, parties, drugs, trashing hotel rooms, having casual sex, shaming other people for said casual sex, cheating and another side were the main focus is about emotions, whatever they are and its fine to listen to both, or talk about both (shaming people not so much or cases like blurred lines which are just ewwwwww)

 

also have you ever heard/read the lyrics for pills and potions by nicki minaj??? every mainstream act has both side, the deeper and ligther ones

:bomb:

 

Getting REALLY tired of this, folks, REALLY tired of this

When we talk about personal taste, discussions are not objective...

Mainstream today sucks the most balls ever.

 

But overall Coldplay aren't mainstream. Or mainly pop.

 

They're Coldplay and we should be happy about that.

 

No matter what influences they get, there will always be songs that still sound like Coldplay.

 

As we said this could be a poppy phase that they're going through.

 

They'll get over it, so enjoy what you want to enjoy and have fun in this era.

 

:D

 

Oh and yeah, 80's were incredible too and all because we got U2, Live Aid, On A Friday (also known as a little band called Radiohead) and Queen's reign in rock. (and that set at Live Aid;))

 

And the 90's were incredible: we got Nirvana and the grunge scene and the legendary Ok Computer plus a small band called Coldplay with their The Blue Room EP. And not only that but The Bends, the underrated Pablo Honey, Zooropa, Pop, Nevermind, Superunknown, In Utero, Safety, Ten were all released in that era. Plus the Britpop movement we got Oasis and Blur known for (What's The Story) Morning Glory? (Oasis) and The Great Escape (Blur).

 

And the 2000's brought us the beautiful Parachutes, the ambient masterpiece Kid A and the best album of all time (with X&Y and OKC) A Rush Of Blood To The Head. P

 

In the past we could say that music was at its best 1950-2012

 

There was always mainstream like today but not as bad as it is today.

 

(I'm still trying to work out why Sam Smith was picked for Bond instead of Radiohead though)

But overall Coldplay aren't mainstream.

That's subjective; what does mainstream mean from your perspective? (not to be taken aggressively)

That's subjective; what does mainstream mean from your perspective? (not to be taken aggressively)

 

Sorry I meant Coldplay aren't crappy.

Some of their music is mainstream sounding, but I still like it.

Sometimes I think mainstream means crappy like today's, but it was good back then. But saying Coldplay is crap, I couldn't say that.

 

E.G.

 

 

Hymn's catchy and has guitars and piano AND VOCALS.

 

What does Anaconda have. Butts. Just butts.

 

The winner is Hymn, Anaconda isn't even listenable.

Sorry I meant Coldplay aren't crappy.

Some of their music is mainstream sounding, but I still like it.

Sometimes I think mainstream means crappy like today's, but it was good back then.

But mainstream doesn't immediately mean crappy, does it?

My question is if Coldplay are mainstream or not.

^

No not immediately.

 

Good Mainstream: AOAL, Hello, The Wolf, Bloodstream

Typical Tired Mainstream: Black Magic, Sorry, Dear Future Husband, Where Are U Now

Bad Mainstream: Anaconda, Anything by Tyga or Chris Brown, etc

 

To me Coldplay aren't mainstream, they just sound a little like it in some songs on AHFOD:)Apart from Army Of One its the good kind of mainstream except some which aren't mainstream and are incredibly good pieces of alternative like AHFOD, Birds, Interludes and Up&Up.

^ thank you for clarifying.

 

In the past we could say that music was at its best 1950-2012

Hell yeah.(?)

 

(I'm still trying to work out why Sam Smith was picked for Bond instead of Radiohead though)

Probably because of soundtrack sales; Sam's more popular so he'd draw more attention than Radiohead.

 

(Sorry if I've been petulant)

Thanks @anthamic

 

 

 

This is what I say to the people who selected Smith:

SHOULD BE ABOUT THE MUSIC :angry:

 

NOT THE SALES.

For me personally they've been "mainstream" (whatever that means) ever since AROBTTH. That was when I didn't get blank stares for mentioning Coldplay as my favourite band anymore. Instead I got knowing looks of either slight disgust for liking such a whiny and humorless band, or gleeful expressions of people and everybody's mother loving Clocks as well. Suddenly they were played on regular radio stations, the gig venues were getting bigger, and Chris made the gossip news columns for allegedly smashing a paparazzi's car windscreen. :D

 

Actually, for a while back then I felt betrayed. I didn't want them to be big. I wanted them to be my small, well-kept secret - something that made me different from the rest. I let go of that notion quite quickly, though. They will forever be "my" band, because of all the history and memories I connect with them. Nobody is taking that from me, even if they are much more well-known now.

 

And for my taste, once they got bigger I quickly noticed that it also made them more confident and eager to try out new things. I wouldn't be a fan today if they had made Parachutes seven times by now. But yeah, I totally get it when some people don't feel the current direction. I happen to like it and they still make my life better on a regular basis. Maybe I have fallen from grace as well. :p

 

Sorry, did I venture off? I started writing and then forgot what the thread was about. :eek:

 

This is just so much the story of my experience with this band, and why they resonate so well with me as well!

*checks thread after one day of absence*

 

*wall of texts everywhere*

Where is the love?

*checks thread after one day of absence*

 

*wall of texts everywhere*

 

I dare to prognostisize that the years 2014-2016 will in the futeure be known as the "Oldplay vs. Newplay fighting" Era in Coldplaying History.

?!?!?!

in 2000 mainstream songs talked about butts too, like Baby's got Back, or Hot in Herre or i could go on...

 

also there loads of non-mainstream songs that talk about butts

 

its always been like this, both mainstream and non-mainstream music have a side were they main focus is on butts, acohol, parties, drugs, trashing hotel rooms, having casual sex, shaming other people for said casual sex, cheating and another side were the main focus is about emotions, whatever they are and its fine to listen to both, or talk about both (shaming people not so much or cases like blurred lines which are just ewwwwww)

 

also have you ever heard/read the lyrics for pills and potions by nicki minaj??? every mainstream act has both side, the deeper and ligther ones

 

I wasn't just talking about the lyrics. The songs themselves aren't that good. Full of fake beats, some are overloaded with synths, most are overproduced, etc. The style of most mainstream music today just isn't that great.

 

And about the lyrics, sorry but it mostly stays to the mainstream. The mainstream artists write songs that aren't in the mainstream but sound mainstream, and they have those kinds of lyrics, so you are right, there are always going to be songs that aren't mainstream that talk about that stuff. But again mostly it sticks to the mainstream. I have no idea why people would rather listen to that over real meaningful lyrics with actual songs, but hey. Apparently people's musical tastes suck nowadays, and no one cares about the level of artistry anymore. They're all in it for the "plastic, commercial stuff" as I'll call it. EDIT: Personally, I wouldn't want Coldplay to start writing those kinds of lyrics. What about you?

 

And yes, there are some songs by artists who usually write trash lyrics who in that case actually write about something better. Every artist has a bit of talent in them, even Nicki Minaj, who can write some good songs, just not a lot.

Mainstream today sucks the most balls ever.

 

But overall Coldplay aren't mainstream. Or mainly pop.

 

They're Coldplay and we should be happy about that.

 

No matter what influences they get, there will always be songs that still sound like Coldplay.

 

As we said this could be a poppy phase that they're going through.

 

They'll get over it, so enjoy what you want to enjoy and have fun in this era.

 

:D

 

Oh and yeah, 80's were incredible too and all because we got U2, Live Aid, On A Friday (also known as a little band called Radiohead) and Queen's reign in rock. (and that set at Live Aid;))

 

And the 90's were incredible: we got Nirvana and the grunge scene and the legendary Ok Computer plus a small band called Coldplay with their The Blue Room EP. And not only that but The Bends, the underrated Pablo Honey, Zooropa, Pop, Nevermind, Superunknown, In Utero, Safety, Ten were all released in that era. Plus the Britpop movement we got Oasis and Blur known for (What's The Story) Morning Glory? (Oasis) and The Great Escape (Blur).

 

And the 2000's brought us the beautiful Parachutes, the ambient masterpiece Kid A and the best album of all time (with X&Y and OKC) A Rush Of Blood To The Head. P

 

In the past we could say that music was at its best 1950-2012

 

There was always mainstream like today but not as bad as it is today.

 

(I'm still trying to work out why Sam Smith was picked for Bond instead of Radiohead though)

 

Exactly, I like how you said 1950-2012 because IMO that was the last year of really good mainstream music. Some say 2008, that was the last year when actual rock stayed in the mainstream. After that, until 2012, it was arguably pop-rock. And TBH I love pop-rock music (now you know why I love Mylo) so that's why I really liked that era of mainstream as well, there were a lot of really really good pop-rock written in that era and really there are a ton of amazing pop-rock songs out there. After that, 2013-present the pop-rock scene really started to fade, which is really unfortunate, because at least pop-rock music is rich in sound. The electronic beats of 2013-present mainstream era just got worse and worse, and now it feels incredibly plastic, shallow, fake, etc. Then, we're also getting the overproduction and smothered in synths problem too. 2013 it got a little worse, 2014 even more worse, then 2015 is when our mainstream just went completely sideways. I miss the mainsream of 2012 and before, wish it would come back. I used to listen to the radio alot I admit, now I really don't. The mainstream has gotten some bad, I'm getting so sick of it. I'll turn on the radio in 2016 and see if it's any better, hopefully it improves. One things for sure, I hope Chris Martin's musical tastes get fixed because if they don't for this next album then we'll take another step into mainstream which is really unfortunate. Hopefully the mainstream gets way better so Chris Martin knows what real music is.

Sorry I meant Coldplay aren't crappy.

Some of their music is mainstream sounding, but I still like it.

Sometimes I think mainstream means crappy like today's, but it was good back then. But saying Coldplay is crap, I couldn't say that.

 

E.G.

 

 

Hymn's catchy and has guitars and piano AND VOCALS.

 

What does Anaconda have. Butts. Just butts.

 

The winner is Hymn, Anaconda isn't even listenable.

 

Anaconda, easily worst song written of all time.

 

If Coldplay writes one song like it then I'll give up on the band. (although I know it's ain't gonna happen)