Coldplay’s Multi-Million Pound Musical Smoothie

A Record-Breaking Release

Coldplay's album "Viva la Vida" made an impressive debut, selling 125,000 copies on its first day and 722,000 copies in its first week. This achievement made it the second fastest-selling album in UK history, only behind Oasis's "Be Here Now" (Source: Official Charts). The album's success is a testament to Coldplay's ability to blend various musical influences into a cohesive and appealing product.

The Concept of a Musical Smoothie

In an interview with Maxim magazine, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin described their music as a "musical smoothie." He explained, "You know when you're drinking those smoothies you've got in America, and you're like, 'I think I can taste papaya.' That's what we're trying to do: make musical smoothies. We'll have a Kanye West influence here, a Beatles influence there. As long as the listener can spot the different ones, we're doing our job."

Critical Reception and Brian Eno's Feedback

Despite the commercial success, the album received mixed reviews from fans and critics. Notably, Brian Eno, who helped produce "Viva la Vida," was candid in his feedback. Chris Martin recounted, "He [Eno] said, 'Your songs are too long, you're too repetitive and your lyrics aren't good enough.’ Within 20 minutes we'd forgotten about all our previous record sales."

Fan Reactions

Die-hard Coldplay fans, however, remain loyal. A blogger recently exclaimed, “I effing LOVE Coldplay, this is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. They are true talent and will be around for the long haul like U2!!!” This sentiment reflects the band's enduring appeal and the strong emotional connection they have with their audience.

Measuring Success by Karaoke Bars

Chris Martin has an unconventional metric for success: karaoke bars. He explained, “I’m really determined that there should be more Coldplay songs in karaoke bars. I’ve been into them and you open the lyrics book and there are a million Beatles songs. There’s dozens of ABBA, Culture Club and even Bucks Fizz, but Coldplay? There will be two or at most three.” Martin's goal is to have at least eight Coldplay songs in every karaoke bar worldwide, which he believes would signify their ultimate success.

Future Plans and Digital Milestones

Coldplay has announced plans to release another album in late 2009, featuring songs that didn't make it onto "Viva la Vida." Interestingly, "Viva la Vida" has become the most paid-for downloaded album of all time (Source: BBC). This milestone underscores the band's adaptability in the digital age and their ability to reach a global audience.

Catch Them Live

For those who prefer live performances over karaoke, Coldplay is currently on tour. This is a golden opportunity to experience their music in person before they potentially take a year-long break.

Interesting Stats

• "Viva la Vida" sold 125,000 copies on its first day and 722,000 in its first week, making it the second fastest-selling album in UK history (Source: Official Charts).
• The album has become the most paid-for downloaded album of all time (Source: BBC).
• Coldplay aims to have at least eight of their songs in every karaoke bar worldwide as a measure of their success.

Coldplay's journey is a fascinating blend of commercial triumphs, critical feedback, and a unique approach to measuring success. Their ability to mix various musical influences into a "musical smoothie" continues to captivate audiences worldwide.