Coldplay
ColdplayAlbums
Viva La Vida
They never imagined taking reign of the U.K.’s ever-changing rock scene. Each member had come from a solid household of working-class parents who encouraged music. Martin, the eldest of five, began playing the piano as a young child. He started playing in bands around age 15 and sought solace in the words of Tom Waits. Buckland, on the other hand, was into the heavy guitar work of Eric Clapton andThe Jimi Hendrix
Coldplay was heart-rending like Travis, passionate like Jeff Buckley, and as fresh as Oasis when they burst onto the scene. They had played their first gig at a festival for unsigned bands in Manchester, and the Safety EP was issued shortly thereafter. The Brothers & Sisters EP was issued by Fierce Panda and released a year later. (Both releases saw only 500 pressings.) Their sweet melodies and swooning lyrics landed Coldplay a U.K. deal with Parlophone in April 1999, and the five-track limited-edition Blue Room EP followed that fall. With nods from the media, the dream pop foursome was hailed as the next Travis, thanks to their simplistic acoustics and charming personas. Two more EPs, Shiver and Yellow, arrived in spring 2000.
Their full-length debut, Parachutes, earned the band a Mercury Music Prize in the U.K. It saw a U.S. release in November 2000, and a month later “Yellow” was chosen as the theme song for all promo spots for ABC. The well-received hype surrounding Coldplay continued throughout 2001 as well; they were nominated for three Brit Awards and embarked on a sold-out ten-date tour of the U.S. Rumors of a split consumed most of the U.S. tour. Martin frequently battled nasty colds and voice exhaustion, which led Coldplay to cancel a series of American dates and scrap a European tour. With all gossip aside, Coldplay resumed playing in summer 2001 and earned additional success with second single “Trouble.”
By fall, they headed into the studio for a second album. Rumor had it that it might be Coldplay’s last album, for the bandmembers felt they might not capture such brilliance again. A Rush of Blood to the Head was released in August 2002. The CD/DVD package Live 2003 was issued one year later. Capturing the band’s show at the Horden Pavilion in Sydney, Australia, it highlighted Coldplay’s monumental success worldwide with A Rush of Blood to the Head. Martin specifically earned a higher notch on the celebrity scale by marrying actress Gwyneth Paltrow in December 2003. Paltrow gave birth to the couple’s first daughter, Apple Blythe Alison Martin, the following April.
Fatherhood didn’t stop Martin from working, as Coldplay began recording material for a third album within weeks. Previously recorded material with longtime producer Ken Nelson was scrapped early on, while Danton Supple (Morrissey, the Cure) joined Coldplay to complete the recording of X&Y. “Speed of Sound” marked Coldplay’s first single from their long-awaited third effort in spring 2005; the album followed in June, topping the charts around the world, including America and Britain. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide
เป็นสัปดาห์ของการเปลี่ยนแปลงชาร์ท “บิลบอร์ด” คึกคักอีกครั้ง สัปดาห์ที่แล้วเพลง “Viva La Vida” ของ วงColdplay ขึ้นอันดับ 1 ได้ไม่นาน ปรากฏว่าถึงตอนนี้หล่นตุบร่วงมาอยู่อันดับ 6 ซะแล้ว หลีกทางให้เพลง “I Kissed A Girl
นอกนั้นก็เป็นเพลงอันดับเก่าๆที่ผลัดกันขึ้นๆลงๆเหมือนเดิม แต่ที่อยากให้จับตามองคราวนี้ต้องยกให้เพลง “Bust It Baby Part 2 [Feat. Ne-Yo ] (Amended Album Version)
Coldplay is in the running for most improved and inventive band of the year. “Viva La Vida” has been selected as the song to lead the charge on mainstream radio, and Coldplay expands on their new “cultured” sound. Gone are the melodic experiences that were “Clocks” and “Speed of Sound,” and welcome to the string-based epic of “Viva La Vida.” Is the new sound better? While most would say no, I think the song grows on you. And in the end it’s nice to have a fine work of art worthy of Da Vinci, rather than the pumpkin carvings of Young Jeezy.
The sound is as I said a melodic epic with lots of strings. The music goes perfectly with the song, and it seems to hit all the right notes. Structurally, it is equally as brilliant, building to its epic climax complete with choirs and bells. Chris Martin can only add to the song with his ever-melodic vocals, which have never sounded better. You have to admit, Gwynth Paltrow and Chris Martin have only gotten better in their work, and they have seemed to hit new highs this summer.
Lyrically, it undeniably has a lot of Christian imagery, which would make sense since he’s Catholic. But the overall meaning could be a myriad of things. But in either case, the lyrics, the music, the vocals, the atmosphere, all mesh together in one glorious tune. And amazingly, the song comes out a bit catchy.
Overall, Coldplay’s best? It’s epic. It’s melodic. It’s different. It’s brilliant. It’s Coldplay. I can’t wait to listen to the whole album, but if it’s anything like the two I’ve heard so far, it should be the best album of the past few years. A true work of art in the sea of tranquility. I can only hope it reaches #1 on the Hot 100.
By Bush
Are we listening to the same song
First off, let me state that I’m a huge Coldplay fan. “A Rush of Blood to the Head” was a remarkable album virtually exploding with delicious pop hooks and memorable songs.
That said, Viva La Vida is a pompous overblown self indulgent piece of music that was coincidentally stolen almost note for note from Joe Satriani’s “If I could Fly”. A fine hook, it just isn’t THEIR hook.
By hempomatic
Viva La Coldplay
Coldplay’s “Viva la vida” isn’t a cover of Ricky Martin’s Latin hit, sorry to say. PETA’s favorite British vegetarian, Chris Martin, belts out a song that’s more reflective than most pop radio. There’s the sad refrain of “I used to rule the world.” It’s something that Americans can currently identify with. There is a sense of defeat. Martin makes Christian references to Jerusalem and Calvary, speaking of how Christians are the revolutionaries.
“Viva la vida” shows how Coldplay has changed. They started as an electronica/new wave type of band. Now they’ve gone for an orchestral “Wall of Sound.” It’s like the Beatles with “Day in the life.” “Viva la vida” shows that Coldplay can still pen thoughtful summer hits. Pompous? Yes. Pretentious? Yes. Great to listen to,and a refreshing change from the norm? Definitely.