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June 26, 2008

Coldplay Meet Jon Stewart, Chris Martin Giggles

thumbnail icon: Coldplay Meet Jon Stewart, Chris Martin Giggles

The men of Coldplay are still in NYC after doing their free show at MSG, Chris Martin is still in NYC because I imagine he and Gwyneth have fabulous loft spaces in all of the world's great cities. Yet for the extended stay and the ample closet space, the band refuses to change clothes, right down to Will's sheer shirt and tie combination, and Chris's dusty jacket (it's dirty being revolutionary in the French countryside, guys) with "V" emblazoned white undershirt. My guess? They smell. (Despite the daily dry cleaning.) Regardless, they sound nice on "42," they sound great on "Lost!" which is a bona fide Viva jam, and they make Jon feel silly in his used car salesman suit (which in turn makes Chris effusively giggly). Celebrities, they're neurotic just like us! Except when they channel their neuroses into world-moving entertainment. That's a pretty cool trick.

"42"

"Lost!"

Chris says the Daily Show is in fact his only commitment on the night, but that's not quite true -- Billboard.com has him taking in Pearl Jam at MSG (Chris says in the new Rolling Stone he started out trying to sound lke EdVed). Apparently the Olsen twins were at the PJ show too; incidentally, they also were spotted at Bonnaroo taking in some sidestage action with Eddie Vedder in tow. I'm not usually one for that sort of gossip but srsly guys, what is that.

Posted at 10:01 AM by amrit in
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52 Comments

they look like absolute poser idiots. and their music is predictable shite.

Posted by: RichardC at 06/26/08 10:21 AM | Reply
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i used to not hate/not like Coldplay but this whole "i'm going to hit you over the head with this FREE SHOW!!" bullshit has made me loathe Chris Martin. even Eddie Vedder laughed it up about the FREE SHOW!! last night.

Posted by: grace6697 at 06/26/08 10:27 AM | Reply
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anybody else weirded out by the fact that they played a song called "42" and then a song called "lost!"? i'm going all hugo reyes over here and i'm doing it all alone....

Posted by: ben at 06/26/08 10:28 AM | Reply
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42 is Douglas Adams' answer to "Life, the Universe, and Everything" - read Hitchhikers Guide. They are obvious Adams fans with "Don't Panic" and now "42".
Lost! is just a coincidental following.

Posted by: K. in reply to ben's comment at 06/26/08 8:11 PM | Reply
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Ya know, I didn't understand it yesterday and I still don't understand all the hate on the free show. Even Eddie Vedder "laughed" it up about the "FREE SHOW!!!" you say? Man, you're obviously very hip. Should I direct you to the David Cross rant on how you can't buy anything with "hipster cred"?

Posted by: Rich at 06/26/08 11:13 AM | Reply
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Rich- you missed the point entirely. the problem is not with a free show. it's with constantly reminding your audience that they're at a "FREE SHOW!!". classy guy, that Mr. Martin.

Posted by: grace6697 in reply to Rich's comment at 06/26/08 2:24 PM | Reply
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I think they are going for an eerie Lost(the show) feeling. I think this because they create an ominous feeling live by making us wonder just where the organ is coming from. Is it coming from the Island, slave children, or from god himself?

Seriously, I enjoy the album, but when Chris Martin or any other number of members of the group is able to play organ, then please play the organ. It is ridiculous that they sample that in. Beats I can see sampling in, but no entire instruments.

Posted by: Alan Knut at 06/26/08 11:13 AM | Reply
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So is "Viva La Vida" their "Ghost in the Machine" taking the world music influences up a notch to reach a more global audience?

Posted by: Zachra at 06/26/08 11:17 AM | Reply
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Despite all the money their stylist makes to perfect their "new look", this band remains incredibly lame.

Posted by: George St. Bernard at 06/26/08 11:34 AM | Reply
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wah wah. omg coldplay is so lame and im so awesome.

Posted by: Comehomenow profile link at 06/26/08 12:02 PM | Reply
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it is always tough being the #1 band in the world... always gonna be the haters... it is just human nature to want to like super indie stuff cause people like to cheer for the underdog and are usually jealous of bands that go all the way, especially when they liked them when they were "indie"

Posted by: lou at 06/26/08 12:07 PM | Reply
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Man, I want to like these guys, I swear, but when listening to this album, i get the feeling that orchestral arrangements and the infamous organ are creating most of the music, while they are just adding touches to the ambiance with their instruments. Now seeing this live, it kind of confirms it. Where is the huge string section that carries 3/4 of 42? I guess all of their songs just sound like ambient angels with a few rock licks thrown in on top here and there... I want to like it, but it is hard. Sigur Ros manages to create a more full sound with a small string section on stage, why sample 3/4 of the song? Why not create rock songs like they did with their first 2 albums, they were damn good.

Posted by: Sammy at 06/26/08 12:07 PM | Reply
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Whoa, Sigur Ros is better than Coldplay?

Posted by: christian at 06/26/08 12:49 PM | Reply
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Yes, actually.

Posted by: Zachra in reply to christian's comment at 06/26/08 1:40 PM | Reply
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sigur ros sucks. just because it is hip to like them and hate on bands that are actually successful in the mainstream doesn't mean they are actually better than coldplay. sigur ros songs are so simple they border on being fucking boring, whereas coldplay is able to produce catchy music that is fun to listen to. writing songs in a made up language doesn't make it edgy. it makes it pointless, because you can't relate to the lyrics at all. i really like coldplay, and *GASP* other bands stereogum commenters seem to hate, vampire weekend. so sue me.

Posted by: samma in reply to Zachra's comment at 06/26/08 7:03 PM | Reply
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you can't relate to music? huh.

you say you can't relate to lyrics when they are in a language you can't understand, but did you ever think of those vocals as simply another instrument? i would challenge you to listen any classical composition and not relate to some aspect of it. it might be hard, though, cause all those damn cellos aren't speaking english.

Posted by: ben in reply to samma's comment at 06/27/08 12:15 AM | Reply
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classical music reminds me of the dentist. i'm just trying to prove a point. i'm sure many people find sigur ros songs to be transcendent and easy to relate to, but a lot of people feel that way about coldplay. just because sigur ros does it in another language doesn't make it more credible to listen to.

Posted by: samma in reply to ben's comment at 06/27/08 10:17 AM | Reply
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The music isn't bad, actually. I'll just have to stay away from watching videos of them because its the blatant Arcade Fire style lifting that really annoys me. Will check out the album.

Posted by: Grand at 06/26/08 1:21 PM | Reply
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everyone samples. all rock bands do it now. its just so obvious in their songs cos they are so string and organ heavy. you can tell eno put it together.

Posted by: b at 06/26/08 1:40 PM | Reply
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Wait.. what? where'd this come from? I don't get how eno sounding like eno is "sampling"...?

Posted by: sasquatch profile link in reply to b's comment at 07/01/08 2:27 AM | Reply
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how dare these fools play music and make money! we're so much cooler here at our keyboards. coldplay will never be us.

Posted by: the laughing penis at 06/26/08 2:05 PM | Reply
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I think the point is that if they were actually playing the music, we would like it. Something about dancing on stage to a song that is mainly sampled organs and strings makes these guys look like Crazytown.

Posted by: Sammy in reply to the laughing penis's comment at 06/26/08 2:32 PM | Reply
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sorry, my bad. i thought this WAS crazytown.

Posted by: the laughing penis in reply to Sammy's comment at 06/26/08 2:44 PM | Reply
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Yeah, the first thing I noticed was the ridiculous amount of sampling. Sad. =/

Posted by: Jarrett at 06/26/08 2:49 PM | Reply
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Yeah, the usage of those prerecorded samples sure are an outrage...Maybe Coldplay should try to be more like credible, hipster-worthy bands that never use backing tracks...like The Flaming Lips! Oh wait...

Posted by: Stu Benedict profile link at 06/26/08 3:31 PM | Reply
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The Other Matthew

I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting some bands to play their music, instead of relying heavily on sampling. Look at the White Stripes. As far as I know, they never sample in concert, and you'll see Jack jumping back and forth between instruments multiple times, in some songs. It doesn't sound as pretty as on the albums, and it certainly doesn't look as dignified on-stage, but you get a much more authentic, enjoyable performance, when they do it all for you, live.

It has nothing to do with hipster cred. Some people can tolerate heavy sampling, but I think a lot of rock music fans tend to prefer fully-live performances. And I don't think it works as well, with Coldplay. They could totally pull it off without the sampling.

Posted by: The Other Matthew profile link in reply to Stu Benedict's comment at 06/26/08 6:28 PM | Reply
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wtf is up with the argument that "the music is not *that* bad"?! why is that an endorsement to listen? have we really sunken to the level of lowest common denominator taste??

Posted by: grace6697 at 06/26/08 4:20 PM | Reply
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I love the album, but don't hear even a hint of "world music" there. Nice textures and rhythm, great melodies, certainly nothing indigenous.

But live: Just add a fifth player, for fuck's sake. One of those shadowy session cats that can multi-instrumentalize. Or have Eno there on the side workin' it.

And the matching "ragged glory metro sexual dirtbag from the future" costumes are going to get old real soon.

That's a hella lotta shot going on for four blokes. They ain't foolin' nobody.

Posted by: Dan at 06/26/08 4:23 PM | Reply
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I agree with the costume bit... they are just trying too hard. I hate gimmicks.

I don't hate the album but I was very disappointed. I've seen them in concert twice, have their albums but definitely won't be spending my money on this tour.

Posted by: Nikita in reply to Dan's comment at 06/26/08 6:33 PM | Reply
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Only one sees the envy and the whish , slightly well, is musical and point, is good, the soul makes me happy and not only to my ... ...... since we have bought Viva La Vida through many people...

Slope so much to admit that they are good ... and I agree with a commentary ... yeees, Chris Martin is a gentleman .... clear that if....

Chile (sorry for my bad English)

Posted by: Gloria at 06/26/08 4:44 PM | Reply
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I'm really sick of this whole "coldplay sucks" trend. Stop making yourselves sound like idiots. Coldplay is the BEST band on this planet and if you don't like it, you may kindly EXIT it.

Posted by: Dora at 06/26/08 6:18 PM | Reply
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when is the last time you listened to a new band?

Posted by: grace6697 in reply to Dora's comment at 06/26/08 8:34 PM | Reply
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what ever or who ever wrote the comments about Coldplay sucks they suck themselves.

i hate all those people.

and ofcourse no band is not also so better than Coldplay.

if you hate coldplay you may probably doesn't even know what music is actually!

and Don't get your comments over Chris if you're there in his position you can understand how it will be like.

Posted by: Pallavi at 06/26/08 8:45 PM | Reply
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ah,
the polarized spectrum of the coldplay debate.

Posted by: goodietwoshoes at 06/26/08 9:01 PM | Reply
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Coldplay is the best band in the world.

And i am going to see them in Today show,Philadelphia,New Jersey shows this year.

Any people in this world haters or likers will never stop them growing.

what ever evils they are.

Posted by: Pallavi at 06/26/08 9:10 PM | Reply
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look, sure, they're inoffensive. they don't really make me want to jab pencils into my ears. but that doesn't make a band great. that just makes them...an inoffensive band?

DOWN WITH LCD MUSIC.

Posted by: grace6697 at 06/26/08 10:37 PM | Reply
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We have a saying in Australia about the 'Tall Poppy Syndrome'. Coldplay is a tall poppy and people are always trying to cut it down. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Coldplay is a brilliant band.

Posted by: simo at 06/26/08 11:02 PM | Reply
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This is a blog where we talk about music. Your tall poppy syndrome analog fails in this situation. If all anyone did was praise everything, there wouldn't be much to talk about. It is funny b/c most of the people being critical on this thread are rather inoffensive. Personally, i am a fan of Coldplay, I like them. I just feel like the whole sampling thing is out of control. If i go see band live, I want them to play their music. Seeing this is like seeing Ashley Simpson or something. This also speaks to a larger issue, which is the fact that Coldplay is relying too much on these ambient noises to create their melodies and rhythms, while they appear to only play backing parts with their instruments. Even the drummer has little to do with the best on Violet Hill, it is all the strings. Is this horrible? No. But it is a major shift from their earlier work... and it would be nice to have someone laying these parts live when they are such a major part of each song.

Posted by: Sammy at 06/27/08 11:56 AM | Reply
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If I could type, that would have read:

This is a blog where we talk about music. Your tall poppy syndrome ANALOGY fails in this situation. If all anyone did was praise everything, there wouldn't be much to talk about. It is funny b/c most of the people being critical on this thread are rather inoffensive, really. Personally, I am a fan of Coldplay, I like them. I just feel like the whole sampling thing is a bit out of control. If I go see band live, I want them to play their music. Seeing this is like seeing Ashley Simpson or something. This also speaks to a larger issue, which is the fact that Coldplay is relying too much on these ambient noises to create their melodies and rhythms, while they appear to only play backing parts with their instruments. Even the drummer has little to do with the BEAT on Violet Hill, it is all the strings.

Is this horrible? No. But it is a major shift from their earlier work... and it would be nice to have someone PLAYING these parts live when they are such a major part of each song.

It is okay to be a little bit critical if you actually have something to say. It doesn't mean you are a hater.

Posted by: Sammy in reply to Sammy's comment at 06/27/08 12:11 PM | Reply
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grace6697

so in summation, you also sort of dislike them.

Posted by: grace6697 profile link in reply to Sammy's comment at 06/27/08 1:03 PM | Reply
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Ad Hominem

Look it up Grace!


Posted by: Sammy in reply to grace6697's comment at 06/30/08 10:45 AM | Reply
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Today i saw them at the Today show at rockefeller plaza
and the show is absolutely amazing!

i don't think that Sammy is saying anything negative to Coldplay to dislike them.

he just wants them to play with another person in the back rather than sampling.

but Today show live i saw they haven't done any sampling there.

and i saw Lost sound check too there!

Posted by: Pallavi at 06/27/08 5:32 PM | Reply
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The sampling/no sampling debate is interesting. How many of your favorite hip hop artists play their instruments either in studio or onstage? How is that a component of authenticity?

I think Coldplay is a little dulll, but I can see why some people like them. They have a pleasant sound, and their songs are pretty. That doesn't quite cut it for me, but it also doesnnt mean that it's objectively shit.

The only thing I actually dislike is their fashion, which reminds me of the Police Circa Sunchronicity--it just seems to be trying way too hard.

Posted by: virgil at 06/27/08 7:57 PM | Reply
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I hate bands like this that just sample lots of stuff live. I like real live performances like Girl Talk and Justice.

Posted by: J. Greenwood at 06/28/08 3:03 PM | Reply
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the end of '42' reminds me of the strokes' 'barely legal'.

Posted by: jho at 06/29/08 1:27 AM | Reply
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radiohead is the best band in the world and coldplay nice band

Posted by: israel jew at 06/29/08 6:28 AM | Reply
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Over-exposure is a perfectly valid reason to hate a band,

Posted by: Steve at 06/30/08 9:48 AM | Reply
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I want to say I hated Coldplay before it was cool.

Posted by: Steve Sanders profile link in reply to Steve's comment at 07/01/08 6:39 AM | Reply
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Anyone else notice their outfits look surprisingly similar to St. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band? What's with the outfits guys? www.lifeninemusic.com

Posted by: LIFENINE profile link at 07/01/08 12:58 PM | Reply
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i was wondering why or how IS it offensive that Chris Martin kept reminding ppl it was a free show?

also, i'm always on the borderline of disliking and liking Coldplay. I've bought their previous albums and can spot so many similarities their songs have to other bands'. Chris Martin has even admitted to doing this. I wonder in my ignorance how much worse off it really is...well you know what they say about ignorance being blissful. And then they just seem to be a group that just enjoys the spirit of music. They just want to enjoy life and spread a good feeling to others, so I can't say they suck/they're shit. But I can't say they're very original either.

Posted by: Theoothello profile link at 07/03/08 2:18 AM | Reply
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I liked Coldplay before it was cool, then I hated them before it was cool once liking them became cool, and now I like them before it's cool since hating them became cool.

tl;dr I'm cooler than you

Posted by: Cool McIndie at 07/03/08 2:59 AM | Reply
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