Feeds
06-16-2008, 05:50 PM
http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/52206.x-news-coldplay-sm.jpg?
It's a well-known storyline and one that feels increasingly frequent with the speed of media in the internet age: Popular band steals idea from unknown band without giving proper credit. But in theYouTube-originated (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUhFLiw6h6s) case of Coldplay (http://www.coldplay.com/) vs. Andrew Hoepfner of Brooklyn band Creaky Boards (http://www.creakyboards.com/) (via NME.com (http://www.nme.com/news/coldplay/37392)), it's not so simple (is it ever?).
On one hand, Hoepfner claims in his video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUhFLiw6h6s) that Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" steals one of its main melodies from a Creaky Boards song coincidentally titled "The Songs I Didn't Write". Hoepfner says, "We were flattered when we thought we spotted Chris Martin in the crowd" at a Creeky Boards CMJ performance last fall and then goes on to make passive-aggressive comments about wishing the band well, collaborating with them, and how his lyrics would be more appropriate for the iTunes ad in which "Viva la Vida" appears.
On the other hand, a Coldplay spokesperson gave NME.com (http://www.nme.com/news/coldplay/37396) the information that not only was "Viva la Vida" "written and demoed in March 2007, seven months before Creaky Boards claim Martin was at their gig," but that, according to Martin's diary, he was at London's AIR Studios when the CMJ show took place.
That's right, the evidence pits one guy's YouTube video against the other guy's diary. Can we all just agree that, especially since Hoepfner isn't pursuing any legal action, it's probably just a silly coincidence? [Or a smart publicity stunt on Hoepfner's part. Good job, dude!-- Ed.]
In other news, Coldplay start bringing Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/51286-viva-la-vida-or-death-and-all-his-friends) to live audiences (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/51207-coldplay-postpone-start-of-north-american-tour) today (June 16) in London. [MORE...] (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/51319-coldplay-deny-stealing-melody-from-brooklyn-band)
http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/link-arrow.gif?1200372477Video: Coldplay: Viva la Vida / Violet Hill (live on Jimmy Kimmel Live!) (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/51113-coldplay-viva-la-vida-violet-hill-live-on-jimmy-kimmel-live)
http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/link-arrow.gif?1200372477MP3: Creaky Boards: The Songs I Didn't Write [from the forthcoming Brooklyn Is Love LP] (http://www.belowsky.com/creakyboards/music/Creaky_Boards-The_Songs_I_Didnt_Write.mp3)
http://feeds.pitchforkmedia.com/~a/pitchfork/today?i=cjrlVs</img> (http://feeds.pitchforkmedia.com/~a/pitchfork/today?a=cjrlVs)
http://feeds.pitchforkmedia.com/~r/pitchfork/today/~4/313308732
More...
It's a well-known storyline and one that feels increasingly frequent with the speed of media in the internet age: Popular band steals idea from unknown band without giving proper credit. But in theYouTube-originated (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUhFLiw6h6s) case of Coldplay (http://www.coldplay.com/) vs. Andrew Hoepfner of Brooklyn band Creaky Boards (http://www.creakyboards.com/) (via NME.com (http://www.nme.com/news/coldplay/37392)), it's not so simple (is it ever?).
On one hand, Hoepfner claims in his video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUhFLiw6h6s) that Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" steals one of its main melodies from a Creaky Boards song coincidentally titled "The Songs I Didn't Write". Hoepfner says, "We were flattered when we thought we spotted Chris Martin in the crowd" at a Creeky Boards CMJ performance last fall and then goes on to make passive-aggressive comments about wishing the band well, collaborating with them, and how his lyrics would be more appropriate for the iTunes ad in which "Viva la Vida" appears.
On the other hand, a Coldplay spokesperson gave NME.com (http://www.nme.com/news/coldplay/37396) the information that not only was "Viva la Vida" "written and demoed in March 2007, seven months before Creaky Boards claim Martin was at their gig," but that, according to Martin's diary, he was at London's AIR Studios when the CMJ show took place.
That's right, the evidence pits one guy's YouTube video against the other guy's diary. Can we all just agree that, especially since Hoepfner isn't pursuing any legal action, it's probably just a silly coincidence? [Or a smart publicity stunt on Hoepfner's part. Good job, dude!-- Ed.]
In other news, Coldplay start bringing Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/51286-viva-la-vida-or-death-and-all-his-friends) to live audiences (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/51207-coldplay-postpone-start-of-north-american-tour) today (June 16) in London. [MORE...] (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/51319-coldplay-deny-stealing-melody-from-brooklyn-band)
http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/link-arrow.gif?1200372477Video: Coldplay: Viva la Vida / Violet Hill (live on Jimmy Kimmel Live!) (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/51113-coldplay-viva-la-vida-violet-hill-live-on-jimmy-kimmel-live)
http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/link-arrow.gif?1200372477MP3: Creaky Boards: The Songs I Didn't Write [from the forthcoming Brooklyn Is Love LP] (http://www.belowsky.com/creakyboards/music/Creaky_Boards-The_Songs_I_Didnt_Write.mp3)
http://feeds.pitchforkmedia.com/~a/pitchfork/today?i=cjrlVs</img> (http://feeds.pitchforkmedia.com/~a/pitchfork/today?a=cjrlVs)
http://feeds.pitchforkmedia.com/~r/pitchfork/today/~4/313308732
More...