By Joel Hanek and Adam Murphy, with spiritual guidance from Jim Cantiello
In spite of being one of the biggest acts in the world today, Coldplay continues to take flak for releasing songs that are, er, evocative of other songs. The band is being sued by guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani for alleged similarities between his song "If I Could Fly" and Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" — and Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens) is now saying that "Viva la Vida" sounds remarkably similar to his song "Foreigner Suite." (Note: In 2003, Islam and the Flaming Lips agreed to share royalties after similarities were noticed between their "Fight Test" and his "Father and Son.")
Whether you agree with those accusations, we thought it might be fun to make a lighthearted list of artists and individuals who could be suing Coldplay on general principle ...
1) U2. Ask any scientist — heck, anyone: If it weren't for U2, there would be no Coldplay. Exhibit A: Chris Martin's Bono posturing in the "Speed of Sound" video. Bono has been belting out plaintive falsetto croons since Martin was in short pants. If U2 really wanted to stick it to Coldplay, they'd simply go back in time and not make The Joshua Tree. However, that would leave Coldplay seeking inspiration in albums like U2's subpar Pop LP — a lose-lose situation!
2) Travis. Before Coldplay's "Yellow" came out, Fran Healy and the boys had the whiny emo-Brit-pop on lockdown. Sure, for most Americans Travis may have faded into relative obscurity after leaving only a trace of a couple scattered singles like "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?" and their campy/ironic cover of Britney's "... Baby One More Time," but that doesn't mean that they don't deserve their due.
3) Radiohead. When "Yellow" first came out, the Internet was abuzz with chatter about how Coldplay was Radiohead Jr., and Coldplay's X&Y was definitely an attempt to ride the Kid A highway ...
4) Brian Eno. As if paying constant homage to U2 weren't enough, they've teamed up with the man who produced some of the Irish quartet's greatest work (not to mention David Bowie, Talking Heads, etc.). Any music nerd worth his mettle will tell you that Eno's genius defies genre, space and time — and his hit streak has clearly continued with Coldplay.
5) French Revolutionaries. The sans-cullotes should rise from their graves and sue the pantaloons right off these guys! Who are they to prance around onstage, clad in pseudo-revolutionary clothes, making a mockery of the brave Frenchmen who so nobly fought for a new democracy for their nation? I suggest that the millions of outraged music lovers storm Chris Martin's place like the Bastille. Forget "Viva la Vida" — vive la France!
Comments