Check My New Site

I've been working on a new project with my buddy, Dave. It's a searchable database of nearly 7,000 colleges, universities, community colleges and career colleges. Tons of schools, tons of programs to choose from across the United States and outlying countries. Let me know what you think:

Premier Colleges

Much Love,

Ian

Coldplay's Guide to Ripping Off U2

So, as many Kansas Citians did, I attended the Coldplay show the other night. A stellar performance indeed. I'd seen them three years ago with 2,000 others in a small theatre (and with a ticket price of just $12). While I enjoyed the smaller show, it was obvious that the band I saw the other night had learned how to create a concert experience and not simply play music live. The multimedia was excellent, Chris Martin was a maniac, the music was tight, it had all of the components of a great rock show ...

And yet something irritated me...

I'd seen it all before. It seemed like every Chris Martin gesture, every quip in between songs, the camera angles on the big screen, the animation and lighting, Johnny Bucklands guitar tone all had been done before. I will now make the most bold assumption I allow myself to make: I believe that Coldplay have probably heard of U2. Let's go one step further: I believe that Coldplay listens to U2's music and allows it to influence the way they write songs. Final statement: I believe that Coldplay has seen U2 perform live (most likely with number 2 pencils and Big Chief notebooks on hand so as not to forget anything). Nearly everything I saw was an unapologetic page out of the unofficial U2 history book. Let me offer evidence to support my hypothesis:

Exhibit A: ON-STAGE BANTER
Chris Martin said, "Thanks for giving us a good life." I heard Bono say the same thing in Chicago on March 7, 2005 just after a shpeel about how Coldplay was in attendance. Coincidence? I think not. Furthermore, later in the show CM said, "On with the show." Bono said the same thing every night in the Zoo TV tour of '92 and '93 when he would take off his devil horns for the final three songs. An example of this can be found on the U2 Live from Sydney tape from 1994: "Off with the horns, and on with the show ..."


Exhibit B: GESTURES, PART A
Bono's gestures have been widely noted and looked up to for the past 25 years. His charisma is unmatched. One of his most defining moves is his outstretched hand. I believe with all of my heart that Chris Martin has seen Bono use this gesture and is now imitating him.


Exhibit C: GESTURES, PART B
See photos below. Too hard to explain.


Exhibit D: SILHOUETTES
Speaking of Zoo TV, could Coldplay's performance of "Square One" have looked any more similar to U2's performance of "The Fly?" The lead singers' silhouette in front of a solid screen. The dramatic gestures that would look completely asinine if you saw them in normal light. However, they do look sweet at a rock show. Again, I muse, we have a copy-cat in our midst.


Exhibit E: THE STAGE
The stage and lights, while spectacular, were old territory. U2 invented and perfected the multimedia stage. It's no surprise that every band is trying to live up to the glorious Zoo TV and PopMart stages. So the attempt was noble, even convincing, but there's a world of difference between Charles Schultz and Andy Warhol. Get it?


So, I submit to you that I fully believe that Coldplay has heard U2's music, seen U2's shows and have probably even met U2 in person. I have provided evidence and scientific data about this, as well as provided photo evidence courtesy of a quick Google Image search and Photoshop. This means that if you don't believe me then you're an idiot. Thank you for your time.

Let me be the first to welcome myself to 2003.

I understand that I am two to three years behind the civilized world with this blog thing. To be frank, I've never had much interest in it. I thought it would turn out to be a flash-in-the-pan deal that would create unbridled embarrassment for years to come (much like the New Kids on the Block poster you had in your room in the fourth grade ... don't lie, you know you had one). However, I've put it off for too long. I've seen too many of my friends have way too much fun with their blogs and today, September 7, 2005, I have finally succumbed to my jealousy and began my own blog.

I've entitled my blog "U2, Cheese and the NES" because that's probably the majority of what I will talk about, at least those are my main interests (other than guitars). With that said, I pride myself on the wild rabbit trails that I'm prone to follow from time to time. Hopefully you'll find them entertaining as well.

I've attached a picture of me with a beard (even though I haven't had one for a year in half) to conceal my identity and to portray myself as an international man of mystery. Perhaps one day I'll reveal my true identity on this blog. You'll just have to check back from time to time and see what changes. Thanks for dropping by. Hope to see you again in the future.