Rewrite history by reselecting the singles!

Sir Raptor of Nonsense · 01-07-2005, 10:36 PM

For the sake of fun and frolic, let's go forward from Parachutes and reselect which songs were to be singles. For myself, I'd say:

-Parachutes-

Shiver: No, they chose this one perfectly. No other song could have lead the album so well as it represented it.("Yellow" is too big to resemble the rest of the album.)

Yellow: This one, too, shouldn't be changed.

Everything's Not Lost: Such a sweeping ballad as this should have been destined for radio play. A tad more universal in lyric than "Trouble", it might not be quite as catchy, but evocativeness should've won this one out.

Sparks: More for the sake of added exposure for a lovely song than the chance it might be a big radio hit. "Don't Panic" was too short for the singles market and "Trouble" might be too similar in structure to "Everything's Not Lost".

And as long as we're rewriting history, make "Life is For Living" a hidden track rather than tacking it to the end of 'Lost'. That stupid medley is a playlist-ruiner. (Nothing against the song, mind you, just not to close where the main track would have been more effective.)

-A Rush of Blood to the Head-

A Rush of Blood to the Head: A rallying single to leave off a rallying record, I'd say. "In My Place" seemed too easy-going to work properly as the leader. However...

In My Place: ...that's not to say it should not have been a single at all. Radio-friendly and instrumentally shiny, it could probably grab the people ungrabbed by the title track.

The Scientist or Amsterdam: Again, too structurally similar to be separate releases, "The Scientist" has the musical accessibility, but "Amsterdam" has the edge in lyrics. Considering music is music and production first, I suppose "The Scientist" wins out, thoguh I feel bad that "Amsterdam" didn't receive greater exposure.

Daylight: Just to startle the public.

Actually, I don't know what to put in this space; I don't think the individual songs were this album's appeal so much as the whole thing together.(Which is a double-edged sword.)

-Non-album-

Moses: Appease the masses hungry for a new album by releasing "Moses" as a single. I know, it surfaced and got soem radio play, but it ought to have been recorded in the studio and released commercially.

-X&Y-

White Shadows: Prove to the public this album is different right off the bat, and people won't keep ignorantly claiming that this is Parachutes 3.("Speed of Sound" is remeniscent of "Clocks". We get it.) I think "White Shadows" splashes cold water on those expecting more of the same and kicks off with a killer rythm we may never have had from Coldplay prior to this.

A Message: To remind listeners that X&Y contains a mix of the old and the new, give 'em the most poignant and intoxicating track that's not "Til Kingdom Come".

What If: Maybe a more intricate piano ballad than "Trouble" or "The Scientist", if this makes the cut, it should see good chart success. Kind of hypnotic in all that clamor toward the end.

Low: Exciting and with another classic Crescendo To End All Crescendos™, it carries a lot of weight. It could also be the track that has everyone playing the air bass -- a rarity in a guitar-obsessed society.

Til Kingdom Come: Won't haquaint and powerful. (Incidentally, the plethora of single-quality material ppen, but we're rewriting... well, the future, I suppose. But you should've canned all the hidden track stuff, boys; I've heard several people say they bought the album because they heard this song somewhere or other. It's just that on this album could actually see a fifth single surface. C'mon -- there's so much to choose from!)

Well, that's just me. Were you Coldplay's marketing team, what would you have lobbied/would lobby for?

Kapone · 01-07-2005, 11:53 PM

To be honest, i think they've done exactly what I'd choose for singles so far

TimeIsOnYourSide · 02-07-2005, 05:24 AM

did he just trademark that phrase?

EasyToPlease · 04-07-2005, 02:17 PM

:

Quote:

did he just trademark that phrase?

I'd leave it the same as already really. I agree that Sparks is a brilliant song, but a single? Don't think so. What makes albums great is that the best tracks are usually not the singles, singles should just draw more people to the album (or allow obsessive fans like us to hear some lovely b-sides!) and i really don't think sparks, a rush of blood or til kingdom come, (whilst they are brilliant songs) do that.

kaftie · 04-07-2005, 04:44 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by EasyToPlease
:
Quote:

did he just trademark that phrase?

I'd leave it the same as already really. I agree that Sparks is a brilliant song, but a single? Don't think so. What makes albums great is that the best tracks are usually not the singles, singles should just draw more people to the album (or allow obsessive fans like us to hear some lovely b-sides!) and i really don't think sparks, a rush of blood or til kingdom come, (whilst they are brilliant songs) do that.

You're dead right!!!

I mean, Clocks was the first song I heard conciously.
Unfortunately, that was no earlier than April 2004, which is - of course - much too late.
But the song being that catchy, it opened up my mind to the rest of Coldplay's songs. The guys can say now, that they've brought a former hip hop fan to listening to their music by that song.

Sarah87 · 04-07-2005, 10:21 PM

I think singles do destroy the song for me after a while,I mean The Scientist isn't the same after you've heard it everywhere 109472 times,So I'm very glad that tracks like Amsterdam and Warning Sign hid in the album,makes them more special,That's why I'm afraid I'll get sick of Fix You already so I try not to listen to it much.

I think there AROBTTH singles were great choices and I wouldn't change any,or Parachutes too,hmm...let's see how they do with X & Y.

drewsof · 05-07-2005, 10:13 PM

I think that the Parachutes singles were handled nicely, I probably wouldn't touch them.

Rush of Blood:

Put "Clocks" out first. Get the crowds really excited about the new album and drum up the goodwill early. Plus, this way the song won't become the anthem of everyone who kinda-sorta likes Coldplay.
Then, move on to "The Scientist". Mainly because it's the strongest straight up ballad on the album and every album needs one of them as their single.
Third, "Daylight". Let the people really see some of the different things being done and the other directions they're starting to branch into instead of just rehashing what they've got down.
Finally, "Politik". It's the sort of song that needs to be released to the masses because of its message and it's just a damn good song.

For X&Y:

My leader would have been "Fix You". I get such a rush (no reference intended) hearing that song, it would have been great to have started that. Then, "White Shadows" or "Square One" to again show how this is a "new" Coldplay compared to the old stuff. "X&Y" would be a good single as well, considering it's VERY different from everything else on the radio, with the odd formation of the song. Finish off with "Talk" or "Swallowed in the Sea".

Of course, whatever they do is fine with me

01-07-2005, 10:36 PM	#1
Sir Raptor of Nonsense Coldplayer Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 61 Location: Over by the thing. You know, near the stuff. Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Rewrite history by reselecting the singles! For the sake of fun and frolic, let's go forward from Parachutes and reselect which songs were to be singles. For myself, I'd say: -Parachutes- Shiver: No, they chose this one perfectly. No other song could have lead the album so well as it represented it.("Yellow" is too big to resemble the rest of the album.) Yellow: This one, too, shouldn't be changed. Everything's Not Lost: Such a sweeping ballad as this should have been destined for radio play. A tad more universal in lyric than "Trouble", it might not be quite as catchy, but evocativeness should've won this one out. Sparks: More for the sake of added exposure for a lovely song than the chance it might be a big radio hit. "Don't Panic" was too short for the singles market and "Trouble" might be too similar in structure to "Everything's Not Lost". And as long as we're rewriting history, make "Life is For Living" a hidden track rather than tacking it to the end of 'Lost'. That stupid medley is a playlist-ruiner. (Nothing against the song, mind you, just not to close where the main track would have been more effective.) -A Rush of Blood to the Head- A Rush of Blood to the Head: A rallying single to leave off a rallying record, I'd say. "In My Place" seemed too easy-going to work properly as the leader. However... In My Place: ...that's not to say it should not have been a single at all. Radio-friendly and instrumentally shiny, it could probably grab the people ungrabbed by the title track. The Scientist or Amsterdam: Again, too structurally similar to be separate releases, "The Scientist" has the musical accessibility, but "Amsterdam" has the edge in lyrics. Considering music is music and production first, I suppose "The Scientist" wins out, thoguh I feel bad that "Amsterdam" didn't receive greater exposure. Daylight: Just to startle the public. Actually, I don't know what to put in this space; I don't think the individual songs were this album's appeal so much as the whole thing together.(Which is a double-edged sword.) -Non-album- Moses: Appease the masses hungry for a new album by releasing "Moses" as a single. I know, it surfaced and got soem radio play, but it ought to have been recorded in the studio and released commercially. -X&Y- White Shadows: Prove to the public this album is different right off the bat, and people won't keep ignorantly claiming that this is Parachutes 3.("Speed of Sound" is remeniscent of "Clocks". We get it.) I think "White Shadows" splashes cold water on those expecting more of the same and kicks off with a killer rythm we may never have had from Coldplay prior to this. A Message: To remind listeners that X&Y contains a mix of the old and the new, give 'em the most poignant and intoxicating track that's not "Til Kingdom Come". What If: Maybe a more intricate piano ballad than "Trouble" or "The Scientist", if this makes the cut, it should see good chart success. Kind of hypnotic in all that clamor toward the end. Low: Exciting and with another classic Crescendo To End All Crescendos™, it carries a lot of weight. It could also be the track that has everyone playing the air bass -- a rarity in a guitar-obsessed society. Til Kingdom Come: Won't haquaint and powerful. (Incidentally, the plethora of single-quality material ppen, but we're rewriting... well, the future, I suppose. But you should've canned all the hidden track stuff, boys; I've heard several people say they bought the album because they heard this song somewhere or other. It's just that on this album could actually see a fifth single surface. C'mon -- there's so much to choose from!) Well, that's just me. Were you Coldplay's marketing team, what would you have lobbied/would lobby for?

01-07-2005, 11:53 PM	#2
Kapone Coldplayer Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,715 Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	To be honest, i think they've done exactly what I'd choose for singles so far __________________ www.lemonculture.tk I\'m a member of the \'Ask someone esle to search group\'

02-07-2005, 05:24 AM	#3
TimeIsOnYourSide moving to mars.... Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 4,937 My Mood: Location: Yankee land Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	did he just trademark that phrase? __________________ 9.10.05 TWC Pavilion, Raleigh, NC. 8.6.09 TWC Pavilion, Raleigh, NC (C-Stage dweller) In a haze, a stormy haze I’ll be 'round, I’ll be loving you, always Always Here I am and I'll take my time Here I am and I’ll wait in line, always Always

04-07-2005, 02:17 PM	#4
EasyToPlease Coldplayer Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 363 Location: Yorkshire, Manchester University Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	: Quote: did he just trademark that phrase? I'd leave it the same as already really. I agree that Sparks is a brilliant song, but a single? Don't think so. What makes albums great is that the best tracks are usually not the singles, singles should just draw more people to the album (or allow obsessive fans like us to hear some lovely b-sides!) and i really don't think sparks, a rush of blood or til kingdom come, (whilst they are brilliant songs) do that. __________________ You Never Wash Up After Yourself http://www.myspace.com/nathan_joseph

04-07-2005, 04:44 PM	#5
kaftie Coldplayer Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 11 Location: Berlin Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Quote: Originally Posted by EasyToPlease : Quote: did he just trademark that phrase? I'd leave it the same as already really. I agree that Sparks is a brilliant song, but a single? Don't think so. What makes albums great is that the best tracks are usually not the singles, singles should just draw more people to the album (or allow obsessive fans like us to hear some lovely b-sides!) and i really don't think sparks, a rush of blood or til kingdom come, (whilst they are brilliant songs) do that. You're dead right!!! I mean, Clocks was the first song I heard conciously. Unfortunately, that was no earlier than April 2004, which is - of course - much too late. But the song being that catchy, it opened up my mind to the rest of Coldplay's songs. The guys can say now, that they've brought a former hip hop fan to listening to their music by that song.

04-07-2005, 10:21 PM	#6
Sarah87 Coldplayer Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 173 Location: Kuwait Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I think singles do destroy the song for me after a while,I mean The Scientist isn't the same after you've heard it everywhere 109472 times,So I'm very glad that tracks like Amsterdam and Warning Sign hid in the album,makes them more special,That's why I'm afraid I'll get sick of Fix You already so I try not to listen to it much. I think there AROBTTH singles were great choices and I wouldn't change any,or Parachutes too,hmm...let's see how they do with X & Y.

05-07-2005, 10:13 PM	#7
drewsof Coldplayer Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 21 Location: Over... THERE! Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I think that the Parachutes singles were handled nicely, I probably wouldn't touch them. Rush of Blood: Put "Clocks" out first. Get the crowds really excited about the new album and drum up the goodwill early. Plus, this way the song won't become the anthem of everyone who kinda-sorta likes Coldplay. Then, move on to "The Scientist". Mainly because it's the strongest straight up ballad on the album and every album needs one of them as their single. Third, "Daylight". Let the people really see some of the different things being done and the other directions they're starting to branch into instead of just rehashing what they've got down. Finally, "Politik". It's the sort of song that needs to be released to the masses because of its message and it's just a damn good song. For X&Y: My leader would have been "Fix You". I get such a rush (no reference intended) hearing that song, it would have been great to have started that. Then, "White Shadows" or "Square One" to again show how this is a "new" Coldplay compared to the old stuff. "X&Y" would be a good single as well, considering it's VERY different from everything else on the radio, with the odd formation of the song. Finish off with "Talk" or "Swallowed in the Sea". Of course, whatever they do is fine with me __________________ \"You\'ll always remember this as the day that you ALMOST caught Captain Jack Sparrow!\"