Coldplay's new single "Talk": cool or shameless?

[MikeP]

Okay, so this week I've already heard the new Coldplay single "Talk" several times which directly lifts a riff from Kraftwerk's "Computer Love". What are your thoughts on this? Is it a cool nod to Kraftwerk that new generations may or may not catch or is it a shameless ploy to create a hook for their new single?

Personally, I feel it's a bit shameless, since it's the Kraftwerk riff, played on guitar, that creates the hook for the song. The rest of the song is pleasant atmospherics, but the riff is what makes it stick in your head.

[Bitter Almonds]

Hmm. No. It says "lack of creativity" to me. I hate Coldplay anyway[}:)]

[2Nu]

Hey, maybe he took a cue from his SO, Ms. Paltrow who did that shamelessly drecky duet cover version of Smokey's 'Cruisin' with Huey Lewis 5+ years back.[xx(]

[MikeP]

Sorry Kimiii ... I wish I had a link. I've been hearing it occasionally on radioparadise.com (a streaming radio station).

[FreeWave]

There's nothing shameless about it. It is rather unusual for artists to use PART of a song and then transform it, but they gave credit where credit is due AND they gave a nod to Kraftwerk. They didn't try to pull a Vanilla Ice (or a Verve) and deny the copying of the original riff.

As a Coldplay fan this is nothing super new as they do often have an eighties sound. There's a very close similarity to Daylight and Echo & The Buynnymen's The Cutter (and they do a great cover of Lips Like Sugar). One I Love has a big U2 feel to it and Don't Panic has a bit of Disintegration-era Cure on it. No big whoop.

[SwampThing]

Well I rather like Coldplay. They have already proven themselves as songwriters. So as long as they give credit where credit due, no harm no foul. Just goes to show that Kraftwerk has cast a wide net in the music world. So many artists from so many genres have sighted them as an influence. In fact I just read an article in WIRED magazine where the creative force of the band System of The Down really digs their stuff.

[devildog]

[quote][i]Originally posted by SwampThing[/i]
<br>Well I rather like Coldplay. They have already proven themselves as songwriters. So as long as they give credit where credit due, no harm no foul. Just goes to show that Kraftwerk has cast a wide net in the music world. So many artists from so many genres have sighted them as an influence. In fact I just read an article in WIRED magazine where the creative force of the band System of The Down really digs their stuff.
[/quote]

I did not know System of A Down had any creative force? [;)][xx(]

As long as Coldplay acknowledged Kraftwerk, it's ok then.

[ghosty]

I thought "Speed Of Sound" was the first single off the forthcoming "X and Y" album. Did they release "Talk" concurrently? I'm not hearing it anywhere.

[FreeWave]

[quote][i]Originally posted by ghosty[/i]
<br>I thought "Speed Of Sound" was the first single off the forthcoming "X and Y" album. Did they release "Talk" concurrently? I'm not hearing it anywhere.
[/quote]

Talk was the first song to leak (about a month? ago) and was initially supposed to be a b-side but its a proper album cut. Speed of Sound IS the first single and is much easier to get a chance to listen to. [;)]

[MikeP]

Actually, I stand corrected ... it isn't yet a single and probably won't even be the 2nd single from the album. The streaming station RadioParadise.com has been playing it occasionally, but they emphasize album cuts over singles.

I like the song and I believe they credit Hutter/Schneider, I just think that they rely too much on the Kraftwerk riff as the melodic focal point. Plenty of artists from the new wave/alt 80's era have done it too. World Party copped "Baby, Please Don't Go" for their single "Is It Too Late", Dead Can Dance co-credited George Harrison for a riff borrowed from "Within You, Without You" on their song "Indus" (from Spiritchaser).

This makes for an interesting topic: borrowed riffs either FROM new wave artists or BY new wave artists.

[SwampThing]

[quote]I did not know System of A Down had any creative force?[/quote]

from http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.05/play.html?pg=2

What are you listening to these days?
Anything by Kraftwerk - it's the most precise and perfectly produced music ever. I want to incorporate some of that stuff into our new songs, but the challenge is to do it without coming off like we're on some sort of corny retro trip. A lot of new bands come out sounding exactly like some '70s act. That's not modern rock - it's just classic rock done in modern times...

This guy sounds like he has his head on strait [:)]

[FreeWave]

I'm a big Coldplay and Chris Martin fan precisely becuase they open-minded about music and frankly humble, funny, and very approachable people. The Thom Yorkes, Gallagher Bros, and even Bono & Company might learn a page from these guys as its very refreshing to see rockstars have real down to earth attitudes.

2003: "We've grown up a bit, travelled a lot more, met so many people. Musically too, we've heard more: the Bunnymen, The Cure, PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, New Order... The last two years, we've been like a cultural sponge. We've sucked it all in and now it's coming out on this record. A lot of it is meant to be about drive and confidence in the face of worry and insecurity."

Some hilarious Chris quotes from my Coldplay site (shameless plug): http://www.angelfire.com/rock3/scientist/chris2.htm
from http://thescientist1.tripod.com/ [|)]

[geoffolehane]

Sure I'm late to respond but it took me awhile to get around to hearing "Talk" by Coldplay. They're a band that I tolerate but don't go out of my way to listen to. Frankly I'm pelased they used the "Computer Love" riff, especially since they gave Kraftwerk credit. Well I suppose they should have or get sued.

I like this song.

[medication881]

I've liked this song since the album came out last fall. So much so that I put it in the top ten of my 25 favorite songs of 2005. #8 actually...here's the link to the playlist: http://www.kdhx.org/playlist.php?date=2 ... Medication
I'm not a Coldplay fan at ALL, but this song really caught my attention big time. You have good taste Mr. President...

"You know how I know you're gay? You like Coldplay..." - 40 Yr. Old Virgin

[medication881]

I'm retarded. I just realized this friggin' thread was 10 months old...duh.