I don’t get Coldplay.
Thursday, June 26th, 2008
I think I’ve asked this question every time Coldplay has put out a new album, and after listening to a few tracks off their latest offering, Viva la Vida, I must do so once again: Why do people go crazy for this band?
On recordings, they’re OK at best. The band plays well enough, but their lyrics don’t make a lot of sense and sound more or less like something a decent high-school songwriter could pen. Chris Martin’s vocals are alright, but his fluttering falsetto annoys the piss out of me after more than two listenings of any song. At least he sings on key and in the proper pitch, though, which is more than I can say of his live performances.
When not aided by a skilled engineer, Martin’s vocals are a total mess. I’ve never once heard a live cut from Coldplay where Martin’s voice is as rich and melodic as it is on records. It sounds more like a wet fart on a hot day, to be honest. I don’t understand why he doesn’t sing in a lower key, because he sure as hell can’t hit the high notes you hear on recordings consistently enough to prove his voice doesn’t get a generous polishing from the engineer. And if a band is supposed to be one of the top acts around, I expect that its singer be able to drop vocals without any electronic modification.
So what is it about Coldplay that drives people to a frenzy? If anyone can explain it to me, I’d be forever grateful.