koho

May I stress that that is not my Twitter account. I just noticed those tweets and as they proved a point, I copied and pasted it here. My twitter account is my name here, with a @ in front ;-)

O well, it's even right there in the Dutch Wikipedia page about Viva La Vida: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viva_la_vida_(single) Scroll down to Trivia Het nummer wordt regelmatig gebruikt door de VVD tijdens campagnes en congressen Meaning: The song Is regularly used by the VVD during campaigns and congresses. See what I mean? I'd be concerned. I am not attacking those who don't give a toss about this. I'm pointing it out to those who do. Here, even found an ANTI -VVD clip on YouTube. http://youtu.be/PdS1yvZg_mc The VVD viewpoints are sonically illustrated by ... yup. That's because this song is synonymous with this political party.

Okay, on Twitter this VVD "House of Representatives" member (called De Tweede Kamer here in Holland) Ard van der Steur now claims: @ArdvanderSteur tweets: Sinds 2010 is Coldplay onze campagnesong leverancier! Meaning Since 2010 Coldplay is our campaignsong supplier! Ah well, that's alright then. That's official? :\ --- Another interesting interchange between this guy and someone else questioning the VVD's use of the song goes: @slooprechts tweets @ArdvanderSteur Ik denk dat Coldplay koude rillingen van woede krijgt als ze weten dat hun nummer door de VVD wordt misbruikt. Meaning I think Coldplay gets cold shivers of anger when they get to know their song is mis-used by the VVD Our friend Ard replies: @slooprechts Niet als Coldplay onze standpunten kent over het auteursrecht Meaning Not if Coldplay knows our views about copyright Hello ...?

I can understand if a-political people are not bugged by this. I'm just pointing this out to those who do care. Here, another one. And I am absolutely certain there are well known bands out there who would be so offended by the use of their songs. I don't know if Coldplay's amongst them. It's their music. If it's not the political motive though (this is the age of apathy after all) I would at least be bugged about copyright.

for instance: VVD campaign film from 2011. Nice soundtrack. Used by any congress of theirs, as I think opener and ending theme.

To illustrate my point, here's a little tweet exchange from 12 June. One @IlseSvdV writes that she plays Viva la Vida. Then one @Attiemeemee responds: @IlseSvdV Coldplay - Viva La Vida = VVD muziek : ) followed by @IlseSvdV who responds: @Attiemeemee Omg, nou is het image van het nummer verneukt. Bedankt vvd! Meaning: Omg, now the song's image is fucked up. Thanks VVD! And that nails it. Well do with that what you want. Again the management doesn't care because they don't respond. One can tweet to @VVD tho'. It may mean nothing to most of you if you're not in Holland I guess.

If it's just A song, fine. But it is THE song. Of course Coldplay is not linked to a rightwing Dutch party. I'm sure they don't know. But I hope they do care. If I'd transfer this to a USA situation, what if the Tea Party nicks your song and makes it their theme tune? It colours the band whether they want it or not. What if the Greek neo fascist party decides they use the Beatles Ob-la-di Ob-la-da as their theme song. Would Paul be happy about that?

It bugs me, again. Again in Holland there is a VVD congress. Again I see tweets by VVD people saying, for instance (a "House of Representatives" member) @ArdvanderSteur "Nog steeds rillingen bij Coldplay's nummer viva la vida #vvdbd #vvdbrabantdag ". ("still shivers down my spine with Coldplay's" -etc). So it is stll the rightwing conservative party's lead theme. Do they know this? Does the band approve? Does their management know? I sent an email and there wasn't even the decency to reply to me. Hey it's not MY song but if it were, I'd be pissed off. Not just because I am a lefty and proud of it. But because it uis used by a (as in ANY) political party. That associates Coldplay with this party. If they want to, fine. If it troubles them, let them do something about it. The VVD today announced one of its main goals for the next elections (September). It's the axing of the biggest part of third world relief budget. Main news today in Holland. So they can keep on driving their BMW's. Coldplay's their soundtrack. I know many many bands who would be bugged by that. I'm just the messenger OK.

Let me make clear that I am not trying to start a political debate and it's not about what the band members are voting. It's just the use of this specific song, linking the band to a specific party. In Holland (for what it's worth). for instance. No it's not just "a" song on the speakers, it's a theme tune. They're using it at their congresses when all the bigwigs are getting their ovations. They're using it for TV spots. When the VVD has permission to use this as their own, fine. But I doubt it. I'm just the messenger, but find it toe curling that the management doesn't even bother to acknowledge receipt of my enquiry. Which I believe is in THEIR interest, not mine.

Hey from Holland … I sent an email to the Coldplay management about this but am not getting a reply. Given the band’s endorsements of, say, John Kerry, Barack Obama and initiatives like Make Poverty History, I am very (very) surprised that Coldplay’s Viva La Vida is used during congresses and promo spots of Holland’s biggest political party, the ruling rightwing VVD. These things do not match, to me. The VVD is on the conservative/right side of the Dutch political spectrum, and currently ruling (its leader Mark Rutte is prime minister). The (minority) government is on a leash by the populist rightwing PVV, led by islamophobe Geert Wilders. It is butchering the arts; it is thinking about severely axing third world relief, its environmental policy is non-existent (the only goal it has money for is roads, roads, roads), its god is Money. Suffice to say I am not a fan. What can you do though, they are the biggest party. Still, for a biggest party, like that, to use a Coldplay song and have its suits and ties cheer along to that … it’s in essence fine by me, BUT it does now link Coldplay in Holland with the VVD, and I very much doubt the band or its management has any knowledge of this. It’s right there at Wikipedia too, the Dutch version of it. http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viva_la_Vida_(single) The last bit, under Trivia, it says “Het nummer wordt regelmatig gebruikt door de VVD tijdens campagnes en congressen”. Meaning, “the song is regularly used by the VVD during campaigns and congresses”. They are the Dutch equivalent of the Tories; the Dutch equivalent of the Republicans, the very existence of their current minority government is made possible by populist xenophobe Geert Wilders’ PVV. As Coldplay’s management does not reply, I post it here. Is Coldplay willingly linked with this rightwing political party? If I were a songwriter with a political let’s say “progressive” and green heart, I’d be very miffed if my song would be used without permission by those who would essentially be my very political enemies. Bruce Springsteen’s Born In The USA comes to mind, used by Reagan in the 80’s. Koen