This may be old news to some, but I was at the Kraftwerk gig in Bonn on Sunday and I noticed something hitherto unknown to me. I'm not really familiar with Kraftwerk's stuff after 'Autobahn' and 'Trans-Europa Express' and when I heard the main riff to 'Computerliebe', I recognised it and told my dear wife that it was exactly the same as that in a Coldplay song. I am not a Coldplay fan but go about in public and so am sometimes obliged to hear things I would rather avoid. Upon returning home, I researched it and it is in fact the case. The song in question is 'Talk' and from some basic research it seems that Coldplay approached Kraftwerk for permission to use the riff and Kraftwerk said 'go ahead'. So there it is.
Comments
Not a Coldplay fan but it’s a good use of the ‘riff’ and it makes a decent song.
*I bought XTC’s Senses Working Overtime at the same time, so joint first single.
What do I know? Clearly they are doing something right to be so huge just about everywhere. And still seem relatively normal people, as far as you can tell.
I think, trying to be objective, they both do accessible stuff that is well crafted and inoffensive, catchy and melodic. Clearly most people like their music like that.
I think being able to make music that millions and millions of people like is a true talent.
Sheeran - not my thing at all, but I remember seeing him headline glastonbury, on tv, and you have to say - being able to entertain over a hundred thousand people, for over 90 minutes, with just you & a guitar and your songs - that's quality performance.
However, I'd find it painful, ha!!
That when Coldplay wrote to Kraftwerk requesting permission, they received a reply comprising a single sheet of paper with only the word "Yes" written on it, and
In response to a question about Coldplay using the riff, Ralf Hutter allegedly replied that "at last they asked, unlike that b'stard Jay-z".
At least Coldplay asked.
The same article was generally about borrowing motifs and ideas from other artist's music- in fact it may well have mentioned the Coldplay Joe Satriani case from some years back.
It also pointed out that the first phrase (ten notes or so) of the main theme from Kraftwerk's own "Tour de France" is reminiscent of the opening theme of Hindemith's Sonata for Flute.
If that's anything to go by, borrowing is quite a fertile thing if it means that listeners 'join the dots' and go and listen to the song that inspired someone else. It started me listening to Hindemith, anyway.
But the reason he wants to be the drummer more than say the bassist or the guitarist is brilliant - because he sits down
Coldplay and James Corden!