Friday 26 October 2012

Coldplay and a dollop of Marmite


After much deliberation I have decided that the word that applies here is ‘Marmite’.  It always interests me how words extend their meaning over time and Marmite, despite being a trademark, is one of them.  These days it refers not only to that sticky black stuff that you spread on toast, but also to an attitude towards certain things.  If an object or concept is ‘Marmite’ it is generally understood to divide opinion into those that love and those that hate – there is no half-way house.

Which brings us inexorably to Coldplay and the problem that I have been wrestling with.  Whilst I can readily appreciate that Coldplay could be quite properly described as a Marmite band, this does not quite help with my dilemma.  You see, I’ve gone down a level and have found that it is not the band per se as much as each individual song that is Marmite.  It’s the only explanation.  For some time now, I have found that I am cherry picking about half a dozen of their songs from their catalogue.  These are the songs that I find utterly uplifting yet I reject all their remaining material as dross.

Let’s not be coy.  Those on the list are the likes of ‘Speed of Sound’, ‘Paradise’, ‘Clocks’, ‘Yellow’ and ‘The Scientist’ and maybe one or two more and they sit in a playlist on my ipod as shining examples of modern pop.  But that’s where it stops as far as Coldplay is concerned as I’ve never really got on with the remainder of any of their albums despite owning them all.  In all my years of music obsessive-ness, I’ve never known a band that splits my allegiance on a song by song level to such a degree.  It’s a bit un-nerving and if at the next social function anyone asks me whether I like Coldplay, I’m not sure what I’m going to say.  I’ll probably open and close my mouth a few times like a beached fish and fail miserably to construct any sort of reasoned argument.

I suppose that when it comes down to it, I find Coldplay a bit, well, boring in the way that their fiercest critics propound and that would explain my antipathy to most of their output.  Yet, somehow, when their style works, it works spectacularly well as in the list above.  It seems that they tread a very fine line and the spark that lifts them above it is a rare and splendid thing.  Perhaps it is just as well that it is an infrequent occurrence as it makes the results something to be savoured.

It just pains me to think that I bought all those albums just for a handful of songs.

6 comments:

Jayne said...

Hello! I know what you mean about Coldplay. But I also like a lot of their songs... let's do the iPhone test. *quick interlude* Ok. I have 4 songs by Coldplay - Talk, The Scientist, Viva La Vida and Violet Hill. Four songs is quite an allegiance for me. I have only 2 songs by Blur, for example, but would say I'm more of an Blur fan than a Coldplay fan - although not according to my iPhone!

music obsessive said...

Hello Jayne. First, how can you not have 'Clocks'? and second, iPhones are such liars - mine is telling me that Coldplay is thrashing Blur 6-0, yet I'm a Blur man too. Must remember to add some Blur to my playlists...

TAD said...

Hey Martin: I'm with you. "Clocks" is the only good song on its album, "Talk" & "Speed of Sound" are great, & "Viva la Vida" has been growing on me slowly for the past few years -- it gets better each time I hear it.
But for the rest, I wonder what all the fuss is about. RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD is the most boring album by a "major" band that I've ever heard. & nothing on their most recent album worked for me.
What's with their "iffy" inspiration? When they're good, they sound a little like U2 -- brilliant, anthemic. When they're uninspired, there's no reason to listen at all. It's a puzzle, alright....

music obsessive said...

Hi Tad -= I'm glad someone agrees with me, I thought it was just me. I've really struggled with Coldplay over the years but now I just accept that I like a few songs and ignore the rest. Works for me.

Claire said...

I've been trying to summarise my opinion of Coldplay for years and you've just gone and done it for me - you've put into words exactly what I've been trying to explain to people since... Well, a long time ago.

Great post!

music obsessive said...

Thanks Claire - my good deed for the day done, then! Must have a read of your blog, it looks very interesting.