para-para-parrotdies

I agree completely. On paper, a collaboration between Coldplay and Rihanna might not sound great. But how do we know until we hear the finished product? I'm personally hoping the song will assuage my concerns about MX

Lukestar1991, thank you for your post to the discussion. As I've tried to make clear time and time again, every fan should have the opportunity to voice his/her opinion, whether it's positive or negative and you certainly have this prerogative.... as long as it's in a respectful manner. I've started this thread not to simply criticize Coldplay but to start a genuine conversation regarding Coldplay's lyrics, whether or not it's changing for the better. If trying to analyze the lyrical content of the songs we all love and enjoy makes me "childishly shallow," then please forgive me. I am, after all, "severely mentally derranged" :embarrassed:

Chris genuinely seems like a very nice guy in interviews + at concerts - it's part of his charm. I also think this is what's preventing him from progressing as a songwriter. He's too nice and wants to be liked by all. As some poster commented before, Chris's writing seems to have lost a spark since the X&Y days and I can't help but feel it's partly due to the media criticism of that album

How I wish "Paradise" was divisive in nature like Radiohead's "Everything in Its Right Place" :( I do have my fingers crossed for the new songs though especially "Us Against the World." Coldplay has proven time and time again that they can handle the quiet, stripped down songs very well.

Yes, but only because fans of the recent songs keep creating new threads to voice their support.

If Coldplay decides to go in the pop direction with MX I'd be disappointed at first but accept it as part of their desire for change. As so many people have already said, you can't expect nor should you want the band to make Parachutes v2 or AROBTTH v2. However, Paradise isn't even a good "pop song"... Unquestionably great pop songs are Beyonce's "Crazy in Love," Rihanna's "Umbrella," Britney Spears' "Toxic," or Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance." Even if you don't normally listen to pop (I certainly don't), you have to concede that these songs are truly great in their genre. What about Paradise you ask? It's incredibly flat, repetitive and commits the worst crime for a "pop" song: it's incredibly boring. Add in the uninspiring lyrics and the overproduction, you end up with a mediocre song (I do think ETIAW makes a decent pop song if that's what they were going for)

I think the issue is that fans of the song wrongly believe that any amount of criticism towards the band is akin to committing a sin. The large majority of posters that criticize the recent songs is because they know the band is capable of so much more. There's nothing more disappointing that someone not realizing their true potential. However, when this opinion is voiced, the fans immediately label this as "hate" and the posters as "non-fans." Being a true fan means acknowledging both the accomplishments and shortcomings of a band.

I completely agree - it would be interesting to see how Coldplay works without Brian Eno and his influence. I would love Coldplay to work with Nigel Godrich but this will never happen... they probably don't want to deal with more "Radiohead-lite" comparisons. I wonder what current producers would be able to further develop Coldplay's sound...

To some degree, I agree with your statement. If MX is indeed a concept album, then the lyrics would have to be interpreted in a different light. I'll save judgment for that until I hear the album in its entirety. But I want to make clear that this thread isn't only directed towards MX-era songs. Simply put, Coldplay seems to have regressed lyrically since their early days. Take Viva-era songs as well - I already used Lost as an example so how about 42: "Those who are dead are not dead / They're just living in my head." Where has the inspiration gone?

This hits the nail on the head. No one is trying to split the Coldplay camp into "old fans" and "new fans." After hearing the recent output, people are concerned about the direction the band is taking. The fans worry that it doesn't mark a maturation in sound, that it's actually a regression. The world isn't black + white; similarly, if we dislike a song, that doesn't mean we hate Coldplay. Take this analogy: Friends generally support our actions. But good friends also tell us when we're in the wrong so we can fix it before it's too late. Bad friends on the other hand turn a blind eye and continue to tell us everything is great.

Don't get me wrong - the last thing I would want is Politik v2 or Amsterdam v2. As much as I enjoyed AROBTTH + Parachutes, I like other fans want an evolution of Coldplay's sound. It would be boring for Coldplay to make similar sounding records over and over again. As I've mentioned several times in this thread, I'm wondering about Chris Martin's songwriting abilities aka the lyrics. Without getting into a discussion about the music, just a quick comparison of the lyrics seem to be pointing towards a regression of sorts. For example, take the lyrics of a song like "A Rush of Blood to the Head": (He said oh I'm going to buy a gun and start a war / If you can tell me something worth fighting for) and compare it to the lyrics of "Paradise": (Life goes on / It gets so heavy / The wheel breaks the butterfly / Every tear, a waterfall). Can you honestly say the lyrics to Paradise are better?

I actually wonder if Brian Eno has much say in the recording sessions. Say what you will about the man but he is a musical legend and visionary . Granted, his recent stuff doesn't compare to his previous work but it sounds inspired compared to the recent Coldplay songs. Example: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMQXm4etRhU]Brian Eno / Rick Holland: glitch - YouTube[/ame]

I tend to agree... Major Minus: "You got one eye watching you / And one eye what to do / So be careful who is it you're talking to" I wish Chris Martin realizes that not every line has to rhyme for it to be a good song.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3zL0uog4ZQ]Radiohead Bloom (The King Of Limbs Sessions: From The Basement) - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cf3Hhj9JLc]Radiohead Give Up The Ghost (The King Of Limbs Sessions: From The Basement) - YouTube[/ame]

I absolutely agree. Coldplay has and probably always will be mainstream. There's nothing wrong with being mainstream per se. However, problems arise when your songs are bland and lack any substance. That's the real issue people have with ETIAW + Paradise. It's not the fact it has that mainstream feel... it's the fact that both songs, from the arrangement to the lyrics, are frankly uninspired and unimaginative.

That still doesn't explain why the lyrics are getting progressively worse. Plus, it's not like the new lyrics necessarily complement the new songs... Again, it's my belief that Chris Martin doesn't have that "spark," the creative influences to really write a good song anymore. Once you reach the point where you have the money + the fame, where do you turn for inspiration? You certainly can't turn to your own life....

I take great issue with this portion of your post: since when does more exposure lead to better songs? By that logic, the pop artists that dominate the charts (Katy Perry, Ke$ha, etc) will continually produce "more and better songs in the future" Really??? Listen, this isn't about trying to be a "hipster" (whatever that means :rolleyes:) or being a "hater." It's simply realizing the fact that Coldplay can evolve as a band without resorting to Top-40 material. But their recent output suggests otherwise - they're repetitive, they're bland, they're uninspired. And that's the worst "change" of all.

First off, I don't think anyone is truly opposed to Coldplay changing their sound - that's what separates good bands from great bands, the ability to take on new influences and expand their musical horizons. That doesn't mean all change is good. An example of musically inspired change was Radiohead's decision to shift gears from the sounds of OK Computer to Kid A. In contrast, you have Coldplay's recent output which sound overproduced and substantially lacking - from the lyrics to the melodies (I'll reserve judgment of the entire album until I hear it). Simply put, they sound no different than sounds that populate the Billboard 100 (I was instantly comparing Paradise to OneRepublic's "Apologize") and that's what's disappointing. We know Coldplay can do better and want them to realize their potential. Hopefully, the rest of MX will prove me wrong but at this point, I wouldn't bet on it...

If trying to generate conversation about Coldplay's lyrics makes me a troll, then yes I'm guilty....:rolleyes: Like I've said before, my intention is not to generate any negativity or hate. Coldplay remains one of my favorite bands of all time. That being said, I'm not going to be like blind sheep and hold the view that Coldplay can do no wrong. And one thing I am genuinely concerned about is Chris Martin's songwriting abilities. It's true that Coldplay never had the greatest lyrics - no one is going to confuse Chris Martin with a Bob Dylan or Neil Young for that matter. Still, the lyrics in the early days far surpass the recent output, including the MX era songs. Usually songwriters get better over time but it seems to be the opposite with Coldplay and I'm truly puzzled by it

The post actually isn't meant just for the recent MX songs. I'm speaking generally about Coldplay lyrics and how it seems they're progressively getting worse. Take Christmas Lights: "Christmas night, another fight / Tears, we cried a flood" or Lost: "Just because I'm losing / Doesn't mean I'm lost" Let's take the music out of the equation for a second and just analyze the lyrics and the lyrics alone. Can anyone honestly say Chris Martin's songwriting abilities have improved over time? This was the reason for my post. I'm not trying to be a "hater" or anything of that sort (I'll save judgment for MX once I actually hear the entire album). I'm genuinely puzzled why the songwriting has significantly regressed since the early days and trying to figure out why.

It's because the songs from Viva sounded like a logical musical progression for the band, especially after the misstep of X&Y. However, the recent output sounds overproduced and frankly, similar to Top-40 songs.

But why? Why does Coldplay feel the need to have radio singles + attract a bigger audience? Why can't they just let their music speak for itself? Take a band like Arcade Fire for example - they don't exactly have the most radio friendly songs and yet their albums receive critical acclaim + still manage to sell out every show.

I don't think anyone genuinely hates that Coldplay is changing direction (except for the minority stuck in the Parachutes + AROBTTH days). Listen, I welcome change. It's always good for a band to progress and try to improve. But take off the blinders for a second. Can you honestly say songs like Paradise and ETIAW is a logical musical progression for the band? If the name Coldplay wasn't attached to these songs, would you honestly download them and listen to it over and over? The fact of the matter is that it sounds similar to other Top-40 singles from pop bands like OneRepublic - there's no substance to speak of. And even if you do think the song sounds good, how do you explain the subpar lyrics? Surely even the most devout Coldplay fan must acknowledge that the recent output doesn't have strong lyrics... (Exhibit A: Para-para-paradise)

But that's exactly my point - should Coldplay really care about promoting the album to a wide audience or should they focus on making the best music they possible can? For example, take Radiohead. Whether or not you like their music, you can't say they're a band that's afraid to change. And despite never having a single place in the Top-40, they still attract a rabid fanbase + critical acclaim. Instead of trying to get radioplay + a wide audience, it seems they focus on making music that challenges them and allows them to progress creatively.

The new single "Paradise" only confirms what we have long suspected: the Hollywood lifestyle is bringing the demise of this once great band. As many members have questioned, how is it that a band once capable of writing great songs like "Amsterdam" and "Politik" resort to releasing material like "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall" and "Paradise"? The reason is that Chris Martin cannot handle the money nor the fame... he has been desensitized by the Hollywood lifestyle. When your life is pretty much perfect and you're hanging out with celebrities like Jay-Z + Beyonce on a regular basis, how can you continue writing songs dealing with unrequited love like "Sparks" or "A Warning Sign"? How can you write about the troubles of everyday life like "Spies" or "A Rush of Blood to the Head"? Consequently, there's no substance to the new songs and this is reflected in the lyrics. "Wa-wa-wa-wa-waterfall"? "Para-para-paradise"? Really guys? My biggest fear is that Coldplay secretly knows their new songs lack substance and they try to hide it by overproducing every single track, almost as if to distract us from the fact that their new songs essentially don't mean anything. Same with their live shows: instead of just playing music and letting that speak for itself, they're pulling out all the tricks with fireworks and lights... And note: this isn't a post saying I want Clocks v2 or Yellow v2. I welcome change - For example, I love Radiohead's new direction after OK Computer or U2's decision to release Achtung Baby after Rattle and Hum. However, this doesn't mean all change is good. Coldplay's new songs hint that they would rather be the biggest band in the world, rather than the best. Coldplay should be challenging themselves musically and further developing their sound rather than regressing by producing Top-40 songs and trying to get widespread radioplay. It's a massive waste of their talent and that's the most disappointing thing of all.