ImOuttaControl said:
Reread my posts-- I don't think you were really able to grasp the points I was making. This is the type of defensiveness we were talking about, because you read what you wanted to and missed my points. U2 is my favorite band by far with Coldplay at a distant second, so I'm not saying this like Coldplay is my favorite band, just as someone who's not defensive about U2 inevitably having to pass the torch someday.
1. Never said Coldplay was bigger than U2.
2. At their respective points in their first 5 years of thier careers, U2 had 4 big hits with I Will Follow, Pride, Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Years Day. (although I would argue that IWF wasn't a huge hit at the time, maybe only in the UK)
Coldplay has had 6 with Yellow, Trouble, Clocks, The Scientist, In My Place and Speed of Sound, all of which have been huge hits. That's even before the release of their 3rd album.
3. I'd say that Coldplay has pretty much conquered America, considering "Speed of Sound" made its debut at #8 on the U.S. charts--the first British band to accomplish this feat since The Beatles released "Hey Jude" in 1968.
4. Again, read what I wrote. Sex appeal has a lot to do with youth--U2 aren't exactly spring chickens anymore. They simply don't appeal to the under 20 crowd like they used to. Coldplay does.
5. Your last point is totally subjective. Songs like Politik, Yellow and Clocks pack a ton of emotion IMO. Why does music have to be proactive to be good? One, The Fly, Gone, With Or Without You, Vertigo, Sometimes, Until The End of the World, Stay...ect are among U2's best songs, yet they don't really inspire me to get off my ass and "do something good."
I COMPLETELY AGREE! Of course I am defensive, it kind of shits you when someone comes on here and starts crapping on about how some new album is going to be putting Coldplay on the same pedistall as U2.
There is alot of Heresy going on about X&Y before it's even released. And as you said it's suppose to be down tempo and if that's the case it's gonna be dissapointing for me.
WARNING!!!
The below quote may offend some!
"""""3. I'd say that Coldplay has pretty much conquered America, considering "Speed of Sound" made its debut at #8 on the U.S. charts--the first British band to accomplish this feat since The Beatles released "Hey Jude" in 1968.""""""
What I meant by conquering America was not chart singles, I mean as in a whole, they had the albums the tours they were also controversial. In 1985 U2 had about 5 tours by that stage. Your measurement techniques put other bands other than Coldplay in the same league as U2.. ie: Matchbox 20 and No Doubt. U2 had also done Live Aid, Red Rocks and had a huge cult following, which is owed to there touring.
I also never stated that Coldplay's songs have to be pro-active to have to be good, I like there songs the way they are and I think they are beautiful. I also never stated Colplays were crap because it's not pro-active. What I am saying is because they lack that big huge rock sound and aggresiveness that makes you want to get up and want to do something about this fucked up workd. Coldplay songs so far are Melon Colies, alot of them are downer songs, not fighter songs!
One and The Fly are extremely pro-active songs, One is about a gay guy telling his dad for the first time he is gay and it's a conversation between the two! I agree it's not the most jumpy song. But.. where are coldplays pro-active songs? Whats going to make them be remembered, what is their legacy?
and about The FLY??? That song has a framework like no other(lyrically). It's about the media and it has a sound which completely makes you want to jump around.
Songs like Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Years Day, Pride, Where The Streets Have No Name, Even Better Than The Real Thing, Elevation, Beautiful Day, Mysterious Ways. Plus all those others which were never released as singles..
Out of all the songs that you listed which were hits with Coldplay I would have only mentioned Clocks and Yellow as big hits and they lack that focus and energy I mentioned. I love The Scientist and In My Place, but are they going to be played on the radio in 5 years...
Your right about not saying they are as huge as U2 were at this point, I am sorry that I stated such. But you did say they were at the same point, which I feel is unfounded.
Cheers Mate
WARNING!