In a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Coldplay front man Chris Martin has admitted to plagiarizing many, if not most, of the songs he wrote. Specifically, Chris said:
“We’re definitely good, but I don’t think you can say we’re that original,” he notes. “I regard us as being incredibly good plagiarists.”
In another article, the song “Fix You” was specifically mentioned as being a copy of Elbow’s “Grace Under Pressure”. To that, guitarist Jonny Buckland had this to say.
“We’ve never so directly stolen off anyone before. We’ve never paid for our plagiarism.”
Since I don’t listen to the bands involved and can’t say if this is true plagiarism or just a case of them being “hevaily inspired by”, I can’t really pass any judgment. However, despite that and this not being a case of Internet plagiarism, it’s worth noting for several reasons.
First is that it could indicate a shift in the views on plagiarism in the artistic community. Despite this very open admission and some very wide exposure regarding it, Coldplay has seen no backlash from its fans, from the bands that it “stole” from or the media.
Second is that it might become a justification in other plagiarists minds. Personally, I wonder if the “Coldplay excuse” will become common, no matter how irrational or legally unfounded it might be.
Finally, it shows just how deep plagiarism has worked its way into our artistic society when even the number one band admits to engaging in it. Those of us with original content and wish to protect it against misuse are facing something far more pervasive than previously imagined.
After all, if Coldplay does, who else does?
well, i'll say the fact that coldplay admit to having borrowed aff a few songs, means it can't be plagiarism, can it?
Are you joking? the Creaky boards case is the best case ever!
Ask Ringo Starr how many died for the lies of who wrote the songs the Beatles sung. I wrote one, and still suffer this indignity with violence. etc. How many more will be burned? Is a song worth dying for? Will he be more?
Well why should someone else benefit for your hard work thats ridiculous
Christina Das: Kraftwerk originally did “Computer Love” not that other band.
And what about the claim from Cat Stevens that “Viva La Vida” is a ripoff of his song?
"Pat – whats that?" – Pat, remember that?
“Pat – whats that?” – Pat, remember that?
2 Cents is like 2 Cents short.
Agreed. That's why I don't have kids.
Kate, its obvious your not a musician. If you were, you'd care more about theft, instead of being technical to the point that they used real strings in the record. The reason I said "synth strings" is because I didn't think any string section worth their salt would knowingly provide music for those lymie thieves. In defense of the players though, most classical/chamber musicians probably are not well versed on Satch; making them unwittingly an accessory to the crime. Don't mean to be technical, but while working as a government official, I saw acts of blackmail routinely. So it would seem it's your ignorance to the workings of the world that will be the source of your humiliation. If you would like to tell Stoleplay I made a false statement about them, please do so. I'm sure you communicate through your fansite, of which you're no doubt a charter member. That's fine. Please tell 'em, you'd be doing me a huge favor. I can't wait to get a seven-figure settlement (like Satch) .
No music can ever be written that doesn't sound like someone else's music. Why? There's 12 damn notes and I don't care if you flatten, sharpen or play it fast or slow. It's going to sound familiar! If you want to call this phenomenon "plagiarism", then every band has a case to win and lose in a court of law. Chord progressions? Sorry, they've all been done so no more music can ever be made again or it will be plagiarism. And everyone that's ever recorded a song in audible format now owes money to apes and birds that were making those sounds long before humans existed. Let's be more ridiculous. Shall we?
Its more the fact that they've admitted to ripping off all these bands that makes it plagiarizing, and theres still more to do.
You obviously have little musical understanding, there's really an infinite amount of sounds and chords. There's an unlimited amount of chords, and thus, chord progressions, but you're probably restricting your info to the commonly used chords.
But really, saying that all music that's been made has been made before is just…stupid. And where the hell did you get the notion of "music has only 12 damn notes" that's beyond wrong, considering theres eI doubt you even know what a "note" is in the world of music
[...] Update: Via comments below, Jose shares Coldplay’s admission of plagiarism in the past in this article. [...]
[...] The band has once said that they were “definitely good, but I don’t think you can say we’re that original,”. And lead vocalist Chris Martin admitted in an interview: “I regard us as being incredibly good plagiarists.” [...]
I have a question to all those think they know it all abou music out there, is it plagiarism to create a song on the piano and then taking our time to adjust the final touching to it, released it without ever checking up on the millions of songs out there in the world, and be called a plagiarism because it sounds like someone else's song? Remember I'm talking about just messing around with the keyboard without listening to any song while creating musical art. Yes of course it has a big chance of sounding like another song and should I be sued for my own creation that I made up off the keyboard? I mean what have the world come too? I understand listening note by note and switching notes around, my work will still be called plagiarism because I failed to copyrighted right before whatever song that it sounds like right? Great mind think alike people, it's the truth, you can't say only you in this world have created a unique sounds out of how many people out there
[...] may ask: why am I so adverse to Coldplay? And I will simply tell you to read this, watch [...]
Yes, “guest” post, it is. When anything is being released nationally (or internationally) they should be checked before releasing. Why wouldn’t they be? If I was an Architect and built an amazing building in NY and when it was done it had most of the dimensions of a famous “unnamed” chapel in Rome what would you say? I should have measured every building to make sure I was original? No, I should have known that it was the same or at least far too close to be considered original.
Maybe it was coincidence? Then in that case they must pay the price for going hugely public with a piece of music they claimed was original.
Another point: That song is so basic that again yes, they should have checked it with several professional people before branding it as original. Everyone that worked on that album should be embarrassed if they are not further GUILTY.
Where is Coldplay in 2011? I just wrote an article on this on my site Bandwriter.com.
[...] opinion (forced out from some guys dumb comment on the matter at plagiarismtoday.com) BenRacicot5 [...]
Should I enroll in the army against Coldplay for plagiarism?
Listen to this comparison between “Paradise” and a song I recorded in 1993:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h5c3VYn3N4
For a moment I was a little puzzled, but then I thought that some musical ideas will come out with little variations from different minds, at different times, without knowing each other.
I think there are very few cases of real plagiarism…