# Why Coldplay could never be the next U2 - they have no Edge **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 25, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-coldplay-could-never-be-the-next-u2-they-have-no-edge/482926 "2009-01-25T16:40:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![percussion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@percussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percussion)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-coldplay-could-never-be-the-next-u2-they-have-no-edge/482926/21 "2009-01-26T18:15:11Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I guess I am responding to a common meme I read in music writing - Coldplay aspires to be like U2 both in size but also in ambition - to be about bigger things. I think they are a fine pop band, but not capable - at least not from what I’ve heard so far - to truly have the breadth of U2… > > \*\*percussion \*\*- interesting to hear your thoughts on U2, given your username and U2’s reputation. Do you feel Larry Mullen, Jr. is as limited a drummer as his detractors portray him to be? Is that what is behind your _meh_-ness for U2? No one sounds like larry mullen, Which is neither good or bad. his grooves for tunes are pretty unique.. Pride (in the name of love)…the snare pickup into the chorus kicks some serious ass. Honestly, I have no beef with him! He’s not throwing chops (hard licks) out everywhere which would probably lead some to believe he sucks. I just think hes pretty tasteful… Not one of my favorite drummers but that does not mean he is not talented!! I Don’t really know why I don’t dig U2…a lot of their jams sound the same…which I can dig in small doses…kinda like Neil Young for me.. or hell the stones.. Its great but I get sick of it after too many in a row. I find that couldplay does some really interesting stuff in their tracks, Track 2 off of that new album has some VERY hip metric modulation going on. You would probably have to know what that is to appreciate tho.. their tunes just do more for me than U2 ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-coldplay-could-never-be-the-next-u2-they-have-no-edge/482926/22 "2009-01-26T20:10:56Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > You know how I know you’re gay? Because I macrame’d myself a pair of jean shorts? ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-coldplay-could-never-be-the-next-u2-they-have-no-edge/482926/23 "2009-01-26T20:24:22Z")
[New U2 for anyone who cares.](http://goyb.u2.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-coldplay-could-never-be-the-next-u2-they-have-no-edge/482926/24 "2009-01-26T20:32:57Z")
[U2 Pit Thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=503679), fwiw ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-coldplay-could-never-be-the-next-u2-they-have-no-edge/482926/25 "2009-01-26T20:50:15Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > While I agree The Edge has created a distinctive and cool sound that makes U2 a lot of what it is, I’d say the differences amount to pretty much the entire bands. Coldplay are pretty much a beige-boring outfit from top to bottom, and it’s way past musical ability; their SONGS are boring and unoriginal. They have decent hooks but lack highlights. All scenery. What I find particularly notable about their songs is the lack of notability of their choruses. That’s pretty much it for me. U2 at least can (or used to) get anthemic and rousing - Coldplay is just terminally bland. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-coldplay-could-never-be-the-next-u2-they-have-no-edge/482926/26 "2009-01-26T21:05:21Z")
> [@jovan](#): > > I think I lost **GorillaMan** ’s respect when I professed my liking of Shostakovich What on earth gave you that idea?! Quite the opposite! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-coldplay-could-never-be-the-next-u2-they-have-no-edge/482926/27 "2009-01-26T21:19:52Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Oh - I thought the portrayal of ColdPlay as the next U2 was pretty common… > > I did a [Google Search](http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=s0&oq=coldplay%20the%20next%20U&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_en&q=coldplay+the+next+u2)on “coldplay the next U2” and got a bazillion hits, so there is some discussion out there… Oh, I don’t doubt you. I may not have heard this but I totally believe it’s out there. Any new artist will draw comparisons and claims of all sorts. I just don’t see it as being something that serious music fans are mounting a case for or that will last. I’m not a huge U2 fan, but I think the comparison’s unfair to Coldplay; they’re a decent band and all but the likelihood that they will attain the level of greatness U2 has is one in a zillion. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-coldplay-could-never-be-the-next-u2-they-have-no-edge/482926/28 "2009-01-26T23:31:11Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Because I macrame’d myself a pair of jean shorts? Well, that and you know the real name of the Rule the World song :). ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-coldplay-could-never-be-the-next-u2-they-have-no-edge/482926/29 "2009-01-27T00:17:18Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > What on earth gave you that idea?! Quite the opposite! Well, it was meant to be tongue-in-cheek. I should have put a smiley there. But, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-coldplay-could-never-be-the-next-u2-they-have-no-edge/482926/30 "2009-01-27T00:33:21Z")
Actually, I just remembered: it’s Scriabin, not Shostakovich, you dislike, right? ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-coldplay-could-never-be-the-next-u2-they-have-no-edge/482926/31 "2009-01-27T01:30:51Z")
> [@jovan](#): > > Because they’re an overpriced VW? Yeah yeah. I no speaky english no more - 12 years in. I’m sure you’re familiar with the syndrome. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-coldplay-could-never-be-the-next-u2-they-have-no-edge/482926/32 "2009-01-27T16:30:58Z")
> [@jovan](#): > > Actually, I just remembered: it’s Scriabin, not Shostakovich, you dislike, right? Yes, that’s more like it 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-coldplay-could-never-be-the-next-u2-they-have-no-edge/482926.md?page=1)