Cold on Coldplay, hot over anthrocommercialism

Will Femia — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:11:47 GMT

Yes, I probably made up the word anthrocommercialism but it was the best way to complete my "hot side hot, cold side cold" headline pun.

(Hey, did anyone get my "Stem cells...hot" was a play on Captain Picard's classic line?)

Cold on Coldplay, hot over anthrocommercialism

Michael T, Hollywood, CA — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:09:29 GMT

Hey Will,

Check out the blog of the girl who put all those amazing Bento boxes together, with complete step-by-step instructions:

http://annathered.wordpress.com/

Cold on Coldplay, hot over anthrocommercialism

Will — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:22:31 GMT

Oh! I stand corrected! Amylu got the Picard thing in the other post's comments. I didn't see her comment in the queue.

Cold on Coldplay, hot over anthrocommercialism

Mark R., Oxford, OH. — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:38:45 GMT

Will, have you been to www.playauditorium.com ? That is a fantastic timekiller.

Cold on Coldplay, hot over anthrocommercialism

Will Femia — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:50:43 GMT

Wow, Mark, that's really cool. I'll try to remember to point it out in my next post.

Cold on Coldplay, hot over anthrocommercialism

Bran, KCMO — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:21:41 GMT

Coldplay is all one word.

Cold on Coldplay, hot over anthrocommercialism

Vince, Knox TN — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:10:45 GMT

Hi Will. Missed you while you were away from your column for a bit! I agree the "poison merchants" might not have been the best-face-forward first choice of an anthropologist trying to expose somebody to western food culture, but I had to be honest and admit the hamburger (no particular brand in mind) might be one of those iconic "American" things, and it was intriguing to see people literally unsure how to pick it up... I hope somebody does pizza next...

Speaking of interesting anthropological moments... Those guys doing pull-ups on the crane were nuts, and proved to me that young people worldwide can be incredibly foolish... It's not exclusively an American phenomenon, we just happen to have more opportunities, and perhaps more consumers with video cameras...

Cold on Coldplay, hot over anthrocommercialism

Jason, IA — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:46:20 GMT

Looking into the whole Coldpaly plagiarism thing, it really seems to me like a case of Cryptomnesia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptomnesia). Basically, yeah, they heard the song a while back but forgot about it and inadvertently copied it later. Even Nietzsche was guilty of it, accidently copying a story almost word for word that he had read at the age of 11.

Cold on Coldplay, hot over anthrocommercialism

Glenn Stockley — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:39:48 GMT

It's not a rhino photo. It's an animation.

Cold on Coldplay, hot over anthrocommercialism

George, New York City — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 05:31:22 GMT

This Coldplay/Satriani thing seems pretty silly to me. Sure, there's a bit of a similarity. But there's fairly good evidence that both songs are copied from other songs. Stick with me, it'll make sense in a minute.

First check out these two clips, from 2004 and 2002, respectively.
Joe Satriani - If I Could Fly (start at 0:49)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMcjXo8ZuqE
Enanitos Verdes - Frances Limon (start at 0:34)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G57CgtX-BsI

Now check out this video made by a guy who wrote a song for a band called the Creaky Floorboards in 2007. The running commentary is great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUhFLiw6h6s

It seems to me that the only way Coldplay ripped off Satriani is if they ripped off the Creaky Boards who in turn ripped off Satriani. And even if that were true, Satriani clearly ripped off Enanitos Verdes, so the whole point is moot.