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May 15, 2008

New Coldplay Video - "Violet Hill"

thumbnail icon: New Coldplay Video - "Violet Hill"

It's finally here! The video you've been waiting for since yesterday, when first we were teased by the sartorial splendor that is the Coldplant. The clip, shot on location in Italy, has a few closely related conceits running through it: there's the part where the band's walking up a (violet!) hill, the part where they're dusty in a marble courtyard, the part where Chris Martin would like you to know he has great teeth for a Brit, and so on. It's dramatic (i.e. it's a Coldplay video), but we think maybe we saw 'em laughing at themselves in the middle somewhere?

Or maybe they just momentarily remembered how rich they are.

Like the song or not, this is beyond debate "Violet Hill" has the worst middle 8, like, ever. Ironically, it's one of the most charming parts of the video. We probably can't cred Eno for that, but we will anyway.

Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends is out 6/12 via Capitol.

Posted at 5:55 PM in
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32 Comments

No more video! :( I'm heartbroken that I can't see this violet hill you speak so highly of.

Posted by: Candida at 05/15/08 6:48 PM  | Reply
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No worries! Wasn't that good anyway. Maybe in a month from now I'll feel different, so who knows.

On a side note ...... hey 'Gum, I've noticed that iTunes has the new album for pre-order as titled "Viva La Vida" only, and I've posters around Manhattan that only say "Viva La Vida". Is it official?

Posted by: b.LOUD  in reply to Candida's comment at 05/16/08 2:48 PM  | Reply
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such reviolutionaries...ha!

the best part of that song is the end where it sounds like something off of parachutes (and because it's ending).

the best part of the video is also the end because it looks like mr. martin is going to bonk his head on the rock.

Posted by: otisore at 05/15/08 7:29 PM  | Reply
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yea, the video has been broken since it was posted. but it seems like it has been fixed and is working now. It's not the greatest video ever but It has a rough "Later-Beatles music video" kind of charm to it. but overall sad seeing as how Speed of Sound and Talk were both great videos from X & Y.

And at first it seemed like we had got a post from sterogum on Coldplay without them taking a cheap shot, but then I find that "worst middle 8 ever" comment below the video. You are so much cooler sterogum now that youve taken them down a peg. I'm sure the pitchfork crowd will love it.

Posted by: Brian at 05/15/08 7:35 PM  | Reply
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reminds me of a bunch of gaylords doing things radiohead do much better, and in far more intriguing ways. pffft, coldplay. who the hell are they?

Posted by: spammer at 05/15/08 7:39 PM  | Reply
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hahaha! omfg! what is WRONG with you radiohead fans?? seriously! that's some sort of paranoia! lol!

Posted by: Vitor at 05/15/08 9:31 PM  | Reply
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paranoid android!

har har.

ps the guy at 1:18 is HOTT.

Posted by: keke  in reply to Vitor's comment at 05/16/08 1:46 AM  | Reply
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I still don't know what to think of the song completely.
Large teeth and small heads are quite amusing, though.

Posted by: eric at 05/15/08 9:33 PM  | Reply
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He just HAD to kill it with that fucking magnifying glass.

Posted by: Apexa at 05/15/08 10:43 PM  | Reply
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Painful to watch. They are trying so hard to copy steal from the look and feel of non major record label bands and they are failing miserably (because the record labels told them to I am sure). Song is ok but predictable and will get boring after three or four listens. Honestly, they wanted money (and who can blame them) but still I don't like seeing what the major record labels wished radiohead would have agreed to but had to much integrity to do so. Yes, I am one of those Radiohead fans for good reason.

Posted by: Miguel at 05/16/08 12:00 AM  | Reply
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I love Radiohead...most of the times, just the head part. This song by Coldplay is pretty awesome, I'm not gonna deny it. Coldplay is like a diet version of Radiohead, give each of them a Starbucks and they'd probably make just as good of music as Radiohead. There I said it!

Posted by: Dyroza at 05/16/08 1:32 AM  | Reply
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An attractive bunch esp. the bassist...

But why does the singer sound like he's singing through a bucket?

Posted by: Les at 05/16/08 1:41 AM  | Reply
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of course, radiohead is better, but coldplay is pretty great too. even chris martin has acknowledged their love for RH.
This is a good song, Eno did a good job, and yes, you can like both bands.

Posted by: er at 05/16/08 1:43 AM  | Reply
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No er. Coldplay isn't pretty great. That was one of the worst songs i've ever heard.

The only thing worth anything musically was the Eno-style ambience at the beginning.

Posted by: paul at 05/16/08 2:41 AM  | Reply
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I don't see the point to comparing Coldplay to Radiohead.
I saw a sick loser last night at a party and he went: "I'm not a Manic Street Preachers fan and I think Starsailor is much better!" WTF?
And for the video, I think it was better for the band NOT to appear to the camera at all, not because they can't act, but because "violet hill" could be shown better in a more cinematographic approach.

Posted by: Pedram profile link at 05/16/08 3:32 AM  | Reply
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Radiohead is one of the most influential bands of music history; but I don't see the point to blame bands like Coldplay for "selling out". Why would anyone play music if not for the sex, the booze and the money?:-))

And 'Violet Hill' is a pretty nice tune actually.

Posted by: Azazello at 05/16/08 4:53 AM  | Reply
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The Video really reminds me of the beatles "I Am The Walrus" video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqOKvonLrH8

Posted by: Brian at 05/16/08 5:04 AM  | Reply
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Ok, but where's the video?

Posted by: Luca at 05/16/08 8:44 AM  | Reply
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nice fools gold rip/ homage to the stone roses. surprised no one caught that one: http://youtube.com/watch?v=7hB-KP4fBbA

Posted by: rob z at 05/16/08 10:15 AM  | Reply
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Now every major band who doesn't leave their label is a sell-out?

You people are too much. Why does Coldplay have to be as good as Radiohead? They are two different kinds of bands. The fact that they come up so often together shows how good Coldplay really is.

Honestly, if Coldplay were an underground indie band they'd be Pitchfork's new Animal Collective.

Their songs are fantastic, and it's funny how it pains so many people to even sort of admit that "parts" of this song are "acceptable."

Hating on Coldplay is really getting old.

Posted by: Comehomenow profile link at 05/16/08 11:26 AM  | Reply
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Coldplay has a milkshake.
Radiohead drinks Coldplays milkshake. They drink it right up.

The end.

Posted by: miguel at 05/16/08 7:00 PM  | Reply
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brian, total agreement. the middle part, particularly, made me *immediately* think of "i am the walrus."

Posted by: gretchen at 05/16/08 11:45 PM  | Reply
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Thank you Rob Z for posting that link to Fools Gold and distracting me from this mess that is not only a Coldplay video, but a bunch of comments about Coldplay.

Posted by: Chuy profile link at 05/17/08 2:12 PM  | Reply
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"They are trying so hard to copy steal from the look and feel of non major record label bands and they are failing miserably (because the record labels told them to I am sure)."

Oh sweet irony. This is funny considering so many indie bands are influenced by Coldplay, either directly or indirectly.

Posted by: J. Greenwood at 05/17/08 7:16 PM  | Reply
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this video fits the song justly; they both lack replay value. I hope the rest of the new album has songs that are slightly better. But I seriously doubt it wont be any better than in rainbows tho. :)

Posted by: sleepyed at 05/18/08 12:10 PM  | Reply
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Um... guys... do you think maybe you're comparing Coldplay to Radiohead because Chris Martin's voice sounds kind of like Thom Yorke's? Oh, and they're both British.

Seriously, they're totally different bands. Totally different good bands.

(Also, totally different overrated bands.)

Get over it.

Posted by: Jocelyn at 05/18/08 2:05 PM  | Reply
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VIOLET HILL A GOOD SONG, BECAUSE IS PART OF THE BEST BAND OF THE WORLD JA JA COLDPLAY IS THE BES IAN THE SONGS, NO NO ANOTHER LEVEL
Excellent subject, as well as the scientist, CLOCKS ..

Posted by: ALMA at 05/18/08 2:47 PM  | Reply
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Radiohead/Colplay comparisons are always a good red flag of a person's musical competency. The bands have virtually nothing in common musically.

Posted by: Sean Jean at 05/19/08 9:38 AM  | Reply
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Why not put up a freakin. Radio Head video?
I couldn't watch this one.

Posted by: timsored profile link at 05/21/08 10:29 AM  | Reply
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"Musical Competency?" Well ok snob since you are SOOOO wise and competent teach us how to truly be "competent" when it comes to music!

Posted by: miguel at 05/22/08 12:42 AM  | Reply
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decent song I guess but all the Coldplay sound the same since their big break: boring

Posted by: bleek at 05/22/08 5:56 PM  | Reply
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You guys are all on drugs. Coldplay is the greatest band to emerge in the past 15 years. Radiohead, U2....all these guys should bow down and pay homage to Chris and the boys.

Posted by: smicker at 07/01/08 2:54 PM  | Reply
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