ApproximatelyInfinite

I bet it really is a lot of the label people etc. coming up with these ideas, especially because it *could* be Coldplay's last album with EMI and they want to suck as much money out of them as they can. But I feel like Coldplay's just going to re-sign with them anyway...

^Yeah, that's the thing--I may be being naive, but I don't fully believe they're doing this for themselves anymore, at least based on the few songs we've heard, as much as I like most of them. Unless they've all been struck by lightning, anyway :P

I have to say I agree with the main idea of this thread, at least to an extent. This time around, they seem very keen on gathering up as many new fans as possible, at least at first, and Paradise is something that the average Top 40 radio listener will probably be drawn to. Not that songs that sounded more "Coldplay" to me in the past weren't something that radio listeners will latch onto, like Viva or Speed of Sound, but this really caters to what's popular now vs. what Coldplay are going to end up making popular later, and to me that's a shame. I think when you consciously start to target specific audiences when you're writing and recording music rather than just coming out with something that meets your standards, that's when you start to get into trouble. I don't know if that's what Coldplay actually did with this song, but it sounds like they really might have to me.

Every Teardrop, by FAR. Even though there was so much drama surrounding that song too, and it was probably their most polarizing song, I've actually always really loved it, despite its flaws. But Paradise...I don't hate it or find it unlistenable, but I really think it's the weakest single they've ever released, and it might be my least favorite thing they've ever come out with. Besides the fact that it's just not my vibe or style, at least ETIAW is fun and exciting, something a lot of people might not love, but that at least we'd all kind of bop around to happily at a gig. I just find Paradise to be meandering, repetitive and boring, and I can't really imagine it being a big one at shows.

Yep, preorder details are up on the homepage. $80/£50, pretty much as expected.

I gave it a 2. I'm just...really let down. I've never rated anything that low, not even a title or album art. I don't even know how I'd rate it if it was done by another band (it certainly doesn't sound like something from one I'd really choose to listen to) and I heard it randomly on the radio or something--I just can't get over that this is a SINGLE, technically a first one at that, from one of my absolute favorite bands.

This is EXACTLY how I feel. I completely understand that bands are always going to be influenced by other bands--I'm not trying to say that's a bad thing. But it seems to me that Coldplay, at least with this song, is missing out on the part where they're supposed to put their own spin on it and inject some of their flavor into it too. All I hear now is One Republic and generic 90s R&B. I don't really believe they, at least the four members, are trying to be bigger and more popular as a forefront goal, but it sure sounds like they care more about charts and radio plays and album sales right now than they do about making solid songs like they used to. That sounds so harsh and like I'm ready to give up on them when I don't think I am yet, but really, I'm just disappointed in this song and the general direction they *seem* to be moving in. I like all of the other songs we've heard so far in their live manifestations, quite a lot for some of them (and I actually do really like ETIAW as a song, but not so much as a Coldplay song), but I feel like they're all tinged with this "WE MUST GET MORE POPULAR" vibe, besides UATW, which seems like a bone thrown to the "oldie" fans that's basically a rewritten Til Kingdom Come/Now My Feet Won't Touch The Ground.

I think this is definitely my least favorite thing they've ever released. I don't HATE it and I don't think it's completely unlistenable, but I can't believe I'm listening to a Coldplay song. At least ETIAW had the fun, anthemic factor, despite it being more commercial and poppy than a lot of their previous stuff. Paradise just kind of meanders around and feels like a One Republic or 90s R&B song. I seriously barely hear the other members of the group, just synths and strings. It has a cool beat, but it sounds so overproduced that it could be anyone playing.

I think this is definitely my least favorite thing they've ever released. I don't HATE it and I don't think it's completely unlistenable, but I can't believe I'm listening to a Coldplay song. At least ETIAW had the fun, anthemic factor, despite it being more commercial and poppy than a lot of their previous stuff. Paradise just kind of meanders around and feels like a One Republic or 90s R&B song. I seriously barely hear the other members of the group, just synths and strings. It has a cool beat, but it sounds so overproduced that it could be anyone playing.

It works for me on a Mac on Google Chrome, but not on any other browser... And I'm really, really not a fan. Like I don't HATE it or anything, but it's just...not my style, not my vibe at all. The music kind of reminds me of like, 90s R&B ballady kinds of things (I don't know how to explain myself better, but like...Boyz II Men or something--no one will agree with me on that, I guarantee it :P). Chris's voice sounds great, but the song is quite repetitive, and I don't find the lyrics to be anything special. It's just a bit too dream-poppy sounding for me. I'm actually a really big fan of ETIAW, despite that's song's crappy lyrics and commercial poppyness, but that has a great central riff and is something you can jump around and be happy to, to me. It's just...fun. To me, this song lacks the fun factor. It just kind of meanders along and doesn't reach much of a peak.

I really don't think that the two halves of the album thing is a huge deal--we already know that the album is something of a story and that the tracklisting is vital to the telling of it. Don't stories always have a middle point? And as several have said before, I think the separation has more to do with the vinyl LP release than anything else. I think a lot of musicians still think of albums in terms of halves, even less ambitious story-telling ones than this :shrug:

WOW, I really disliked that based on the preview. And I rarely come out and say that flat out without hearing the whole thing and then sitting on my first judgements for awhile. But to me, it sounds like an R&B boyband ballad, based on those 30 seconds. And this is coming from someone who actually loves ETIAW, as well. Oh God, I hope it either gets better in terms of the whole song, or that it's the only major dud on the album :sick:

I entered every day too, and my mom and my brother. I at least want ONE of the three people to win to be a Coldplayer...but so far that seems too much to ask :sad:. I feel like enough of people that are just going for the hell of it are going to things like the ACL taping and maybe the Dave Letterman taping too, but for this really big special thing, I just want people that will appreciate it to the fullest to go. SIGH.

Those aren't even rules, ugh. I want the fine-print stuff that no one ever reads, but I can't seem to find those anywhere. I'm very confused about their whole "enter with someone else's name" thing as well. I legitimately have no hope for this unless Coldplay do what they're doing for the ACL taping :sad:.

I just entered again too. I expect a phonecall tomorrow with all the diligent entering I've been doing :P.

Yeah, I bet like half of it is people that win through radio contests, and the other half "privileged" people, like sponsors and industry people. As usual. Anchorman did say something like "stay tuned for chances to win" though, right? Maybe soon they'll do a giveaway on the official site like they're currently doing with 165 pairs of tickets for the ACL taping. That would make me feel a lot better, if the band themselves have a large chunk of tickets to give away to people that apply.

The one for Connecticut has you "bidding" with points you earn from being a loyal listener to the radio station :dozey:. Yeah, there's really no way I'm going to this thing.

I think most of them state in the rules that you have to be residents of the immediate areas to apply for those particular contests anyway :sad:

I like how the show is in NYC, and there's only one NYC contest to actually go :dozey:. Dumb residential restrictions. Right now, I think I have a better chance of winning the ACL contest, and that's in Texas :lol:!

*schemes* :sneaky: We're having a mini one, at least, though!

Way to do this AFTER I move away from England, guys :bigcry: Really great idea, though :D. I'll be there in spirit! Maybe you should badger the pub crew to see if they have wifi so you can Skype in members from far away :lol:

I LOVE "My Brothers" :D. I'm not the biggest fan of COITD, but I don't dislike it, either. "Fallen Empires" will have to grow on me, I think, but I can sense that it will (even though I agree with the comments earlier that it doesn't seem to go anywhere and is more like a long intro to something that never comes). "I'm Ready" is good too, but so far "My Brothers" is definitely my favorite of them all :wacky:.

ACL is the Austin City Limits festival in Texas on September 16 (which will be livestreamed, I'm pretty sure). And Paradise is being released on September 12, so you're covered if they play it! :smiley:

I've already applied to win a ticket through a random radio station...not that that means anything, but I plan to try and get tickets SOMEHOW, as it's so close to me and I have nothing else currently going on in my life. And I think there's probably a very strong chance of hearing Paradise :D. I bet they'll play it at ACL too on September 16.

You can enter to win tickets via a radio station already here: http://fresh1027.radio.com/2011/08/30/see-coldplay-perform-live-on-letterman/ Kind of a weird contest :lol:. I assume there will be other ways to win too, like Anchorman says on the website. Plus apparently that radiostation will have on-air giveaways leading up to the show. I really want to go :wacky:.