merril

The more I think about 'Los Unidades' the more I understand the idea behind it. It was made to promote the idea of Global Citizens and especially that concert in Johannesburg. Musically speaking, global citizens means the collaboration between global musicians with special focus on the site of the venue, in this case South Africa. Whether 'good 'music is made by many artists of very different cultures working together is difficult to answer, and I am not sure whether the whole EP is really 'good'. But at least it was a worthwile try. All the music at Global Citizens festivals is by definition 'world music'. In our 'Internet age' anybody can listen to anything any time, and musicians will more and more be influenced by other musicians worldwide. And it will become increasingly difficult for musicians to keep up their own profile. Perhaps the future of music lies in collaboration? Anyhow, the side project of Coldplay, Los Unidades' gives them the chance to tread new paths, to collaborate with other artists all over the world, to make an accustic EP, to make a record with all their wives and kids singing, to create a song with all the four of them singing a capella to make each of them play a different Instrument (Chris on the drums, Jonny on the piano, Guy on the keyboard, Will on the guitar ...). Los Unidades could be a creative playground for them, so that they can e.g. release a new EP for the next Global Citizens festival under the name 'Los Unidades' and at the same time create interesting new songs, 'real Coldplay Songs' under their real name.

I think it's not that unlikely. Will always seemed so grateful, even to the extent of almost crying, on the rare occasions when he got the chance to sing. Of course the songs would be different, especially the lyrics, Perhaps this is what they are 'hatching'? Who knows` Anyhow, I would of course be very happy if they released new songs with all the four of them in it. It will be very interesting to see which direction they will go. As long as it's a direction all the four of them are happy with, we as their fans just have to accept it. We can't prescribe them what music they should make!

That's the core of the problem and perhaps the fact that Chris and the band are mutually fed up with one another. But it wouldn't really be Coldplay any more, would it? Perhaps 'Coldplay2'?

Rumours without end, and nobody knows anything. There's much tabloid gossip going on about Chris, and it seems he is only in Malibu and nowhere else, except popping up now and then for a performance (Global Citizens, wedding in Spain etc.). I have the feeling that Coldplay is sort of splitting up, with Chris on the one side in the USA and the rest of the band on the other side in London. I can imagine Jonny, Will and Guy releasing an acoustic Album, perhaps with some vocals by Will. OK, that's only an idea of what might be going on. I would like them to come forward with a completely new Album with all their so far unreleased songs. There must be hundreds.

Yes, Chris went well together with all the artists he sang with. When he is not with Coldplay he keeps himself nicely in the background and doesn't jump around like crazy. My favourite song on the EP is 'Timbuktu', I can't get it out of my head.

[quote I'm glad that I bought the EP and so have supported a great cause. Yes, that's what it is all about.

I tried to figure out what it all is about. 'Los Unidades' - which by the way is wrong, in Spanish it ought to be 'Las Unidades' - means 'The Unities'. So it's a group of musicians collaborating, probably for special occasions. Under this name Coldplay can work together with various other artists and the music need not be a music they personnally like the best but will always be the music that best fits the occasion. New music with other musicians will probably be released for the next Global Citizen Festival in New York next year. Meanwhile they might be working on new music under their 'real' name of Coldplay. Chris is probably writing new songs all the time. I can also imagine that the three other members are writing new music. The question is whether they will get together to record it. There were rumours about the band being fed up with Chris because they thought he had not enough time to work together with them. Perhaps after all they are going to separate? Anyhow, Jonny, Will and Guy are not in Johannisburg. Is this a bad sign of them going separate ways? I hope not! At first I didn't like the new EP, but now I like it a bit, not more. But - perhaps the end (Global Citizens, South Africa) justifies the means??

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