(Jun. 15, 2009 3:50 AM)Artie Wrote: but a lot of it isn't groundbreaking stuff and is pretty safe music.
They're like the most mainstream band in the world, I don't really think they can afford to do anything groundbreaking. lol
Viva la Vida was a huge departure stylistically and artistically from their older works though, and was kind of huge risk for the band. I remember when they first released the single for Viva la Vida before the album came out and everyone was really concerned that the shift in style would doom them to poor record sales. Little did they know it would go on to be the best selling album of 2008. lol
As for them being sued, that's mostly just over the song Viva la Vida:
Wikipedia Wrote:Coldplay were briefly accused of plagiarism of "The Songs I Didn't Write" by American alternative band Creaky Boards, for the melody of "Viva la Vida".[10] Creaky Boards' band member Andrew Hoepfner claimed that Martin had heard them playing the song at a live show in October 2007.[11] The band released a video clip, in which it compares sections of both songs.[11] Coldplay denied the claim; band spokesman Murray Chambers said Martin was working in AIR Studios in London at that time, having checked the singer's diary.[12] In addition, Coldplay had recorded a demo version of "Viva la Vida" in March 2007, long before Creaky Boards performed it live in October of the same year.[11] Creaky Boards later retracted the accusations and speculated that both songs may have been inspired by the video game The Legend of Zelda.[12]
Around the same time as the Creaky Boards incident, it was also widely alleged that certain track elements of "Viva la Vida" were plagiarized from well-known French musician Alizée, who produced the track J'en ai marre!. [13]
On 4 December 2008, American guitarist Joe Satriani filed a copyright infringement suit against Coldplay in Los Angeles.[14] The suit claims that "Viva la Vida" incorporates "substantial, original portions" of his instrumental track "If I Could Fly" from his 2004 album Is There Love in Space?.[15] The band has denied the allegation, saying the similarities were "entirely coincidental".[16]
Cat Stevens however, has stated that the song is very similar to his song "Foreigner Suite", stating "My son brought it to my attention and said: 'Doesn't that sound like 'Foreigner Suite?'"[17] Stevens stated that any legal action he might take "depends on how well Satriani does."[17] Coldplay drummer Will Champion denied the claim, stating, "We're confident we haven't done anything wrong."[18]
Most of these lawsuits have gone nowhere, so whatever.