Coldplay

Although Western music tends to be very mainstream, they shouldn't be discounted for music research. All bands and artists each have their own unique style and individual flare which make them "mainstream."

One of my favorite bands is Coldplay. They are a Brihtish band that has achieved high success wthin the UK and the U.S. In terms of aesthetics, they do not present as many unique qualities as African music, but there are certain elements that become incorporated into their music which gives them their sound. Texture is pretty standard as far as this band goes. They do tend to be very "poppy" so most of their songs are usually homophonic. The instruments support the lead singer Chris Martin as he belts out "emo" lyrics. On another note, the voice is naturally deep and low. It is his somber voice which carries the emotion throughout the song. Instrumentally, their songs often showcase the lead singer with a piano accompaniment. Rhythmically, they are not very complex but rather cyclical. Songs tend to follow the typical song schema with 2-3 stanzas of lyrics, followed by a chorus, 2-3 more stanzas, chorus, and end. However, at the same time, these characteristics which are present in Coldplay's music are common features of many mainstream bands as well. It is these things such as emo lyrics, simple instrumentation, homophonic texture, and rhythmic simplicity which tend to define these mainstream bands. It gives them their identity as this popular British band. People's relationship to their music can best be defined through a live concert. All concerts are like these ritualistic performances where people come together to celebrate their love for a band's music. Lighters sway back and forth, fans mouth lyrics , people wear shirts or other apparel related to the band, etc. This is the classic social pattern we find at concerts.

Many people tend to hold the opinion that if a band or artist goes mainstream, they have "sold out." Many mainstreamers do are starting to incorporate different culturally-focused instruments from other regions of the world. Although I cannot say that Coldplay uses any special instrumentation, if they did then those instruments can potentially gain recognition through mainstream music. Is that such a bad thing that these instruments begin to grow in popularity elsewhere? Even moreso, how bad of a thing can it be for these other cultures to gain notoriety?