"Midnight": I know what Coldplay are doing

I assume you've at least heard of Coldplay. I might be so bold as to assume you've heard a Coldplay song. Perhaps you've heard the band's newest song "Midnight," which has been averaging over 1 million YouTube views per day since its release. The song sounds kind of weird, doesn't it? I must admit, it doesn't sound like anything you'd hear on the radio. It doesn't even sound like Coldplay. I just think you should know, Coldplay have never really had their own sound anyways.

Coldplay released their first single "Brothers and Sisters," as well as their first music video "Bigger Stronger," in 1999. I may not be George Washington, but I cannot tell a lie: Coldplay were basically a soft rock rip off of Radiohead. Chris Martin's voice was the meager impression of Thom Yorke and Jonny Buckland had Jonny Greenwood's guitar effects down to a T. 15 years later and Coldplay are now one of the biggest bands in the world. They recently released a track with some nocturnal electronica vibes, which might seem cool and futuristic to people who only listen to popular music. This is new territory for Coldplay, but the band's influences are just as borrowed as they were 15 years ago.

Chris Martin isn't impersonating Thom Yorke on "Midnight," but with the help of a vocoder, he sounds a darn lot like Bon Iver's Justin Vernon. The line "when I'm rolling with the punches" uses the exact same note-for-note hook that is heard on the line "'til one night, one stormy night" on their 2011 hit "Paradise." These factors prove Coldplay's lack of originality. However, this new track is produced by Jon Hopkins, an electronica artist who made one of my personal favorite albums of 2013. "Midnight" isn't nearly as corny as anything from 2011's "Mylo Xyloto." These aspects give me some hope for Coldplay's future. I'm still just on the fence about this new song, but I'm not budging any time soon. After all, Coldplay have spent their entire career on the fence.

Coldplay have tried mimicking everyone from Radiohead to U2, from Arcade Fire to New Order, and apparently are now stretching from Bon Iver to Jon Hopkins. I'm curious; what does Coldplay sound like?

Coldplay were one of my personal favorite bands growing up. I am now cynical and have abandoned my childhood music tastes. Don't get me wrong, Coldplay deserves some credit for consistently trying new things. They just need to stop taking baby steps in different directions and take an artistic leap forward. "Midnight" is a baby step into the world of overly-popular hipster music. People who wear fake glasses and expensive scarves might play this song on their iPhone after some M83 or Matt & Kim. The song is a cry for hipster cred. At the same time, Coldplay remain blandly ambient enough that your mom might dig this song. "Midnight" may sound dark, but never too dark. Martin repeats "leave a light on" five times here. 

I know what Coldplay are doing. Something different, nothing bold.

I hope that "Midnight" doesn't trick you into thinking Coldplay is a weird band now. I hope you explore the history of pop music genres and learn all the different artists that have been making music like this for the past 30 years. I hope you decide to take progressive leaps in your lives and as Chris Martin sang in 2002, "I hope you understand."