I was browsing through Last.fm‘s “Best of 2008” coverage. There have been a number of blog posts and articles about the best new music of 2008, and I’ve found some great stuff reading these. Last.fm’s “Best of” is interesting since it is based on analysis and ranking of all the ‘scrobbled‘ songs that they track for users. I wasn’t that surprised to find that Coldplay‘s Viva La Vida was the #1 album of 2008. It was played by 1,907,044 users a total of 12,584,691 times. On top of all that, it didn’t come out until late in the year!
I was surprised by this comment in the excerpt though.
It’s probably not a stretch to say that Coldplay are the biggest band in the world today.
Now, I’ve always understood that the title of “biggest band in the world” was solely, and strongly, held by U2. So, I figured I’d check out some numbers.
The first place to look is Facebook. Facebook has pages for bands (and anything else) so I checked out the Coldplay page and the U2 page. Drumroll…
Coldplay: 1,175,125
U2: 335,374
How about Last.fm weekly charts. The most recent week’s data ended on Sunday, December 21 2008.
Coldplay: 116,299
U2: 50,867
Maybe Coldplay is the “biggest band in the world”. It also seems this isn’t a new debate at all. It has been debated for 3 1/2 years, U2 vs Coldplay in May 2005.
Well, to start with, let me just tell that I had the same thought as you when I was a massive U2 fan (I still am). But then Coldplay came along about 11 years ago and blew everyone away. No other band (since U2) has achieved as much as Coldplay have in the recent years and their music is simply astonishing. I personally think Coldplay should not be compared to U2 at all because of the way they differ in every sense. If I was gonna compare them to some other band, Pink Floyd would probably be my choice. But in the past 4 to 5 years I have to say Coldplay have been my top favourite band. I was obsessed with U2 so I think you might agree that not any band would and could make me like them so much that put them in front of U2, other than, obviously, Coldplay. Now its got to a point where I cant live for one day without listening to them!!! At this moment and time, Coldplay ARE the biggest band in the world. Whether people like it or not! And as you said it yourself, this has been the case for the past three years. We have to remind ourselves that bands come and go, even the greatest of them. There was a time when U2 conquered the world with their sound and even people in middle of no where knew them; but that time is gone. Don’t get me wrong, im not suggesting that they aren’t as big anymore, im saying this is not 1980’s anymore. Now its Coldplay who are “ruling the world”! And now, with U2’s new album coming out soon, they are going to be a potential threat to Coldplay, but they have to be over the top good to knock Coldplay down! Coldplay are nominated for a resounding 7 Grammys this year!!! Even if they win only 4 or 5 of them, they’ll be becoming even bigger than what they are now!
I find it really amusing because im undoubtedly one of the few people who actually like both U2 and Coldplay. To sum up, people underestimated Coldplay badly, and that’s why everyone who said they were crap and they’ll never make it big, have all gone dead quite now. Because they now it. They know Coldplay ARE the biggest band on the planet right now! I never thought one day there would come a band who are better and bigger than U2. But that time came, and it was November 1999!!
rubbish, look at the concert attendences and album sales
Rubbish? Coldplay had the best selling albums in the world in 2005 and 2008! Not U2 or Radiohead. They are biggest band in the world rite now. Numbers don’t lie. I don’t know why people hate on them. They are classic and very humble individuals.
LOL jon, but what other albums were released in 2005 and 2008? 2008 was horrible year for music, i mean come on, LIL WAYNE had one of the best selling albums and taylor swift and they both are horrible! and U2 didnt release an album in either year lol. they cant really be compared, U2 is 33 years into their career and Coldplay is only 10. this time for U2 10 years in, they released Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby, both albums that are bigger than any album Coldplay has released. Coldplay hasnt made a song that will be as memorable as Sunday bloody sunday, new years day, pride in the name of love, where the streets have no name, i still havent found what im looking for, with or without you, desire, angel of harlem, or one. And that is songs they did in their first 11 years! Coldplay has yellow, clocks, speed of sound, and viva la vida. those are the only songs a non coldplay fan has ever heard. Even if you dont like U2, you have heard like 20 hits from them. And still 30 years into their career, U2 can release hits like Beautiful Day and Vertigo and Magnificent. No other band can do that that far into their career. Coldplay are just repeating themselves over and over again. and this test was taken while Coldplay just released an album and U2 was gone for 5 years, what did you expect to happen? And that just means that the 13 year old girls obssesed with facebook are leaving pages or viewing pages. U2 is still the best band in the world, and 33 years running
also, sorry, i left this out in my above post…Navid, 30 years into their career, U2 was nominated for EIGHT Grammy awards for How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb! and they won them all! lol
I don’t think Coldplay keeps repeating themselves. Each album has a different vibe to it. Viva sounds a lot different than X&Y, which sounds different than AROBTTH, which sounds a lot different than parachutes.
“Even if you dont like U2, you have heard like 20 hits from them. ”
I am not a u2 fan, and I don’t know any more than one or two U2 song sounds like. U2 is undoubtedly massive, but Coldplay makes bigger noise now than does U2.
Steve is right…coldplay had some great songs but it all sounds the same now and gradually getting worse. They are the new kids on the bock …you cant compare them to long term giants like u2.
steve’s comments are completely arrogant and biasd. the fact the people cant even recognise coldplay’s success only becuz of their love for u2 is beyond reasoning. i dont particularly like many bands or singers, oasis and madonna for instance, but i DO at least recognise that they are musically good, very popular and huge people. hating coldplay without proper reason and logic seems to be popular these days, specially amongst u2 fans. im afraid in 4/5 years ur all gonna shut ur mouths cuz at the end of the day, u know coldplay are as big as u2, and by then they’ll be even bigger! oh and by the way, how was u2′s new album eh? pathetic ha? im not quite sure they’ll be recieving any grammys this year! haha
and Igor, coldplay “are the new kids on the block”?!! u must have just woken up mate! they’ve been around since 1996 and u call ‘em “new kids on the block”?! thats what i mean u see! u2 fans: biased and ignorant towards everyone else!
funny you say im biased, because you sounded pretty biased just now. U2 will probably retire in like 7 years. Coldplay will go on for another 10-20 years possibly. When U2 was in their prime, they were untouchable. Coldplay will probably become the biggest band in the world after U2 goes away. But look at the biggest bands in the world now, you got U2, Coldplay, the Killers, Radiohead, but then top acts are like Miley cyrus and the jonas brothers. What is the point of being the biggest band in the world when your competition is the Jonas Brothers? When U2 was in their prime, they out stood bands like Nirvana, Guns n Roses, AC/DC , Michael Jackson (RIP) and more. and im just saying, i kinda liked U2′s new album. But i only liked 2 or 3 tracks from Coldplays
*note, when i said the 13 year old girl comment, im sorry, that was mean, i apoligize*
Smashing Pumpkins before their major breakup was very big as well. Bono was seen at several SP concerts mid to late 90s.
fair enough steve. I understand what ur saying mate. but lets just not forget that everyone has different taste in music and prefer to stand up for the bands they admire the most. I might be biased towards Coldplay, because I truly love them, more than I ever loved u2, and you might be biased towards u2 because unlike me, you prefer them over others. so basically what im trying to say is with knowledge that we all prefer bands or specific types of music over others, we should still acknowledge greatness and good musical ability in people we don’t particularly like.
and I apologize for my comment about u2’s new album. Its not really “pathetic”. I’ve actually come to like 3 or 4 songs on it.
so all in all they are both great bands. lets thank god we have people like Coldplay and u2 to listen to. at least they’re helping us get through these tough times in music, with shite gits like jonas brothers and lady gaga getting number one hits and 24/7 radio streaming!
coldplay rules the world,its a fact nowadays…
u2 old ladies
You make a good point Navid. Coldplay one day might be the biggest band in the world, and if they do, now i do not care if they take U2′s throne. If its gonna be anybody, I hope its Coldplay and not The Jonas Brothers or something.
That is probably why i was so upset to see someone beat out U2. I thought it was the beginning of the end, but If coldplay takes the throne, their is hope
Just posting this meassage (this one) i forgot to mark for email response
Hey, the Jonas Bros rock. I am their #1 18 year old guy fan. They have some really great music and are the best band in the world. The beatles, led zepelin and all those bands like linkin poop stink and dont deserve fame. The Jobros deserve fame. Biggest fan ever. Haters go to hell
I really agree with Steve…U2, in their prime was pure ownage as they call it nowadays…Do you think Navid that any of Coldplay’s albums(in the same time range) will ever sell out Joshua tree on Achtung Baby???Impossible…Now I’m thirteen too, so shut up steve, and i still love both bands…and both are in a class of their own, but Colplay doesn’t stand out as much as U2 did….sure U2 is fading out but the legacy they have left will never, can never be matched by anyone…so it’s u2 all the way, the impassioned world of rock shall be led by one, and hopefully after u2, by a band in the league of coldplay, not JBros or miley cyrus or crap like tokio hotel…
the argument who sold the most music in an age where you can download music for free is irrelevant. i think parachute is comparable to anything U2 has done and is a timeless album, but having said that U2′s time hasn’t come yet and they still seem ‘hungry’ after 31 years. the beatles took over from elvis, the torch then passed to led zeppelin, which in turn gave it to U2 and despite powerful pretenders to the crown (oasis, radiohead, guns n roses) have managed to hold onto it. although if coldplay are still relevant in 3-5 year’s time, it may well be their turn.
its a test of time U2 still going strong and best live act ever
i think all the guys covered everything. U2 are , in my opinion bigger and better but its finally time to make way for muse!!
Why does someone have to be the “biggest” or “greatest”? Can’t you just love the music for what it is?
Music is “art” to be enjoyed – not compared to one another.
It’s like saying “my Dad can beat up your Dad”
Very childish and immature.
But it sounds like a bunch of little teens arguing here.
Grow up please!!!!
Yeah! You’re right Bob!
biggest bands in the world are linkinpark AC/DC metallica areosmith disturbed system of a down slayer iron maiden nirvana and loads more
I’ve been reading the comments on this forum for quite some time now, and I must admit, there were some sound arguments. I live and breathe Coldplay, and U2, I listen to both of them almost every day. Saying Coldplay is the biggest band in the world, is a general and ignorant term. If they are the biggest, what are they the biggest of? Number of Albums sold? Number of fans? U2 has sold over 150 million albums since they started, while Coldplay has only sold about 50 million, now, since U2 has been around for 33 years, and Coldplay being around for about 11 or 12, they are about even. And in terms of fans, Coldplay, without a doubt face stomps U2, not because they are necessarily better, but because they are newer, and “Hip”, they are current.
@ steve, you say that U2 has so many memorable songs, and Coldplay has so few, yet you forgot to mention the following. The Scientist, Fix You, Swallowed In The Sea, Warning Sign, Green Eyes, Rush of Blood to the Head, A Message, In My Place, Politik, What If, Twisted Logic, Gravity….And even they’re newer hit singles such as: Christmas Lights, Rainy Day, Glass Of Water. You might be saying I just started choosing random songs of theirs and typed them up here, but I can assure you that each of these songs is just as good as Clocks or Yellow. While I am not biased towards either of these bands, I must say that I have been a Coldplay fan longer than a U2 fan, as it was my brother who introduced me to U2, and I have come to love them. And I agree with Navid, while some of us prefer one over the other, let us not forget who rules the musical media today, Justin Bieber, Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus and so forth. It almost makes me want to cry thinking of how music has gone from artists such as the Beatles and Bob Dylan to such shitty and overplayed pop boybands and 16 year-old kids with voices higher than my 6 year-old niece’s. If music were a drowning man in a pool, Coldplay, U2, The Killers, Cat Empire (Extraordinary band, they blew my mind.) are its floatation device.
Just a little note, if we are comparing number of albums sold, I hope everyone who is participating in this thread realizes that not a single of the bands mentioned comes close, to Michael Jackson’s Thriller, which sold over 109 million copies, and with overall sales of anywhere between 250 million and 750 million. So, all the arguments above are moot.
Wombat. I can’t believe you are comparing Mike Jackson to either of these. Thriller… Yes I owned it and so did everyone. How many of us still listen to it. I personally find Mike Jackson fans creepy.
You are comparing a real tasty cooler to a fine wine. U2 is timeless, mike Jackson is not.
Much like I found myself patching my rebel jacket in highschool with a led zep patch my children will do the same with U2. And led zep was long gone when I was in High school. I still see the zep as the only band of all time that tops u2. U2 and floyd are a dead heat for second place.
There is no bigger band than AC/DC!!, almost 40 years playing still filling up huge stadiums and selling millions of albums!!