Coldplay 2009 Tour

I had completely forgotten about the Grammy Awards until I turned on my television and saw Jennifer Hudson singing an inspirational song left over from American Idol.

Following her emotional performance, a band by the name of Blake OU812, or Blake Edwards, or Blake’s 7 (I’m not sure what they were called) came on stage and announced they were reuniting.

I immediately yawned.

After that, the band and their tattoos awarded the Grammy for best rock album to Coldplay. Then I remembered why I don’t watch the Grammy Awards.

I suppose if I really thought about it Coldplay is an actual rock band. But if I had Coldplay tickets I would be anticipating a mild night of pop not a wild night of rock and roll.

I doubt there will be a mosh pit when Coldplay performs in Charlotte. Nor would I expect to see fans banging their heads to “Clocks” when Coldplay plays a show in Mansfield, Massachusetts.

After all, this is a band fronted by a man who named his kid after a fruit.

Suffice to say, Coldplay doesn’t have the greatest reputation.

Only a few months ago, I heard ESPN personality Jim Rome lambaste America for making Coldplay the number one band in America for 2008.

Then there’s this old joke: Why do guys listen to Coldplay? They have girlfriends.
Had I continued to the watch the Grammy Awards, I would have seen Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida” win Song of the Year.

It’s quite ironic that Coldplay won Song of the Year (an award that goes to the composers) for a song they’ve been accused of stealing—not once but twice.

The first accusation of plagiarism came from indie band Creaky Boards. Lead singer Andrew Hoepfner went so far as to post a video on YouTube stating his case.

Hoepfner claimed Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin was at a Creaky Boards show in New York in October of 2007. It was at this show that Martin heard the song in question, the appropriately titled, “The Songs I Didn't Write.”

Coldplay refuted Hooepfner’s accusations and offered two pieces of evidence to back up their statement.

One, Martin was working at AIR Studios in London at the time he was supposed to be at the Creaky Boards show. And two, Coldplay recorded a demo version of "Viva la Vida" way back in March of 2007.

Perhaps the band realized the song’s similarities were coincidental or perhaps they received all the media attention they wanted, but Creaky Boards recanted their accusation.

"I'm not sure if there was any copying going on," Hoepfner said. "I think it's possible that Coldplay and I are just heavily influenced by 'The Legend of Zelda.’”

Surprisingly, Nintendo isn’t the next entity to accuse Coldplay of plagiarism. Legendary guitarist Joe Satriani claims “Viva la Vida” contains substantial parts of his 2004 song, "If I Could Fly."

Satriani’s suit was filed in December of 2008, but the band has since avoided being served. There was talk by Satriani’s lawyers that Coldplay would be served at the Grammy Awards, but apparently Kanye West’s process server license has expired.

Did Coldplay rip off “Viva la Vida?"

No.

“The Songs I Didn't Write” sounds very similar to “Viva”, especially the first line, and the same can be said for Satriani’s “If I Could Fly.” All three songs are reminiscent of the other two, but all three are distinct and separate compositions.

Whenever cases like this arrive, experts like to remind fans that western music contains only 12 notes and songs are bound to sound alike.

The experts may want to back off teaching musical theory and instead explain how a song that sounds like two others won a Grammy for songwriting?

And if Coldplay were the artists accusing the Creaky Boards and Satriani of plagiarism, the case would have gone to court yesterday.

Still, I would love to hear Coldplay at the Gorge in George, Washington or Coldplay in Mountain View, California at the Shoreline Amphitheatre perform “Viva la Vida." Hearing their version of the song outside and under the stars would be breathtaking.