Comments on: A Composer Breaks Down The Music Theory Behind Coldplay’s “Coloratura”

By: residentcynic

residentcynic — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 23:53:16 +0000

In reply to AforN. Beginning and End: Tuning orchestra / white noise effect reminiscent of Sylvan's use of casino hall ambient sound to create a "dreamstate" or alternate reality around the entire album Artificial Paradise (comes in at the start of track 1, Deep Inside, close of final track, eponymous title). I also get a lot of Frost* from this tune.

By: residentcynic

residentcynic — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 23:51:27 +0000

In reply to inthedeadofknight. I would offer that the entire underlying point of this article existing identifies that this is not a pop song, but rather a true masterpiece of (albeit largely piano-driven) progressive rock in the modern sense. Think about this and compare it to a Black Light Machine, Milliontown (Frost*), Artificial Paradise (Sylvan), Domino (Genesis), and you'll see that what really makes this stunning is how outside the standard pop bounds this song truly is.

By: homesickalien

homesickalien — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 19:07:34 +0000

In reply to Vivek Maddala.

Jonny Buckland similar to Gilmour?
https://media.giphy.com/media/4baoNZ5Qo8dX2/giphy.gif

By: stereogump

stereogump — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 19:00:04 +0000

In reply to TheNakedLunch. I've been hacked! Naw, that's not true. Read it more closely and you'll see it's the former.

By: TheNakedLunch

TheNakedLunch — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 18:46:56 +0000

Fiiiine… I’ll listen to Coldplay. If it’s half as good as this column, it’s going to be my song of the year.

By: TheNakedLunch

TheNakedLunch — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 18:42:29 +0000

In reply to stereogump. either this is the subtlest Wilco shade ever or your account is broken.

By: Vivek Maddala

Vivek Maddala — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 18:04:15 +0000

In reply to stereogump.

Yeah, I agree. The guitar solo in “Coloratura” doesn’t really compare to David Gilmour’s iconic playing. Gilmour’s exquisite bends, vibrato, sense of melody and time (with those amazing rakes), and his jewel-like tone (replete with pinch harmonics) are incomparable. Because Coldplay is sort of invoking a Pink Floyd-type vibe, people are associating the two. However, I do think Jonny Buckland’s solo serves a similar role as some of Gilmour’s iconic solos – i.e., to inject excitement and elevate the song.

By: stereogump

stereogump — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 17:41:58 +0000

Dammit, wish this wasn’t the case, but I guess I really am the biggest asshole around here — the only reason anyone (though not Vivek, to be sure) could mistake that guitar solo for sounding like David Gilmour is because it arrives in a song that clearly borrows from Pink Floyd. I mean, it’s like saying Ernie Clement plays baseball like Mike Trout because they both have a mitt. Right? (Also, LOVE this column!)

By: dunnand

dunnand — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 16:02:56 +0000

Love this article thank you!

By: homesickalien

homesickalien — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 15:57:42 +0000

Great article, but where does the part where they talk about how much they were listening to the track Dark Side of the Moon while recording this? I mean, its all over this song…and I love it.

By: Juice Drinksteen

Juice Drinksteen — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 15:55:16 +0000

Fantastic column. As somebody who knows zero theory, the “pedal point” was something I’d noticed in music before but had never known how to describe/express. Also, HOLY HELL, what an an incredible song! I wouldn’t have listened if not for this piece, so thank you.

By: yo_peej

yo_peej — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 15:36:50 +0000

This level of analysis is both entirely fascinating and deeply funny. Goddammit, SG, you did it again.

By: panoramastitcher

panoramastitcher — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 15:06:29 +0000

In reply to arglebargle. I agree, this column is utterly fascinating even though I only understand half of it (probably less).

By: Bootscallahan

Bootscallahan — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 14:35:57 +0000

Hot take: best song they have had since “Rush” era. And this is coming from a fan who has stuck with them (and liked) through the more sugary, poppy things they have done

By: Jeff Buc-lee

Jeff Buc-lee — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 14:32:41 +0000

I really enjoyed reading this, and I know jack shit about theory. A lot of this stuff still goes over my head tbh. “Coloratura” is definitely my favorite song Coldplay has released in ages, and I guess there’s “scientific” (for lack of better word) reason why!

By: AforN

AforN — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 14:31:58 +0000

In addition to this column, I would like to say I like how Coldplay make references to others songs and artist.
In this song (quite beautiful song by the way) you can hear:
-the part at 1.30 (that come back at 4.57) is straight up from Cluster One (from Pink Floyd Division bell)
-the part from 1.06 to 1.15, I hear Radiohead, Subterranean Homesick Alien chords progression
-the part at 5.37 is pure Sigur Ros in my book (think middle of Sé Lest from Takk)

And many more… quite fascinating

By: Analogbrat

Analogbrat — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 14:24:08 +0000

As a music layman (aka. a drummer), I can only quote another Coldplay song in relation to this article: Yes.

By: arglebargle

arglebargle — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 14:17:53 +0000

In reply to arglebargle. it reminds me of Mike Senior’s The Mix Review column, which I can’t recommend enough for those interested in both music theory and production

By: arglebargle

arglebargle — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 14:17:08 +0000

In reply to inthedeadofknight. would love the new Big Thief song “Little Things” because there’s some wild stuff going on with mixed meter and polyrhythms

By: arglebargle

arglebargle — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 14:15:38 +0000

This column is so good, please keep it going as long as you want to do it

By: reggieohead

reggieohead — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 14:11:16 +0000

Fucking rad, I’m excited you picked this one. I haven’t studied theory in ages but I could tell it had some interesting things going. Keep this column!!!

By: sandro

sandro — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 14:04:13 +0000

Why didn’t anybody ask me?

By: inthedeadofknight

inthedeadofknight — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 13:49:38 +0000

Best column in the history of the internet. Can we do some songs that aren’t as poppy?