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The Coldplay to Radiohead Connection: A Video Exploration

Rolling Stone

Posted Jun 26, 2008 7:24 PM

"Yellow" (From Parachutes)

Plot: Martin walks on a beach in a single take and insists that the stars are, in fact, yellow.

Is The Band In a Remote Location? The remainder of the group is absent and there's not another soul around Martin, setting up a pattern for future Coldplay videos that established the band as loners who were constantly fleeing from other people.

Radiohead Reference? Martin's dead-eyed stare into the camera recalls Thom Yorke's gaze in just about every video Radiohead has ever made.

"Don't Panic" (From Parachutes)

Plot: The partially-animated band does some cooking in an underground location, then get a first-person look at their alternate universe's eco-system.

Is The Band In a Remote Location? Yep, it's population: Coldplay.

Radiohead Reference? It's fancier, but the animated chaos recalls "Paranoid Android."

"Trouble" (From Parachutes)

Plot: Somebody has kidnapped Chris Martin!

Is The Band In a Remote Location? They would have to be, as Martin is all alone to face his fate.

Radiohead Reference? Though Martin isn't being tortured, he's clearly being held against his will — not unlike Thom Yorke in the "No Surprises" clip.

"In My Place" (From A Rush of Blood to the Head)

Plot: Coldplay takes over a large, empty space to play the hell out of their new single.

Is The Band In a Remote Location? Indeed.

Radiohead Reference? Nothing in particular; the specifics of this clip remind us more of Oasis' "Wonderwall" than anything from Radiohead.

"Clocks" (From A Rush of Blood to the Head)

Plot: The band plays sullenly in a remote location — or is it?

Is The Band In a Remote Location? It certainly seems like it for most of the video, until the blinding lights clear out long enough to reveal that Coldplay are in fact playing for a massive crowd.

Radiohead Reference? Playing an anthem in a seemingly empty location until legions of fans are revealed? Sounds like "Creep" to us.

"The Scientist" (From A Rush of Blood to the Head)

Plot: Martin crashes a car, (apparently) killing the passenger, then walks away and lies down on a mattress — all of which is seen in reverse.

Is The Band In a Remote Location? Martin is the only one in the clip, and he is around people. Though it's probably safe to assume the rest of the band is stashed away in a bunker somewhere

Radiohead Reference? Nothing in particular, but Thom Yorke is obsessed with disasters in automobiles (see "Karma Police").

"God Put a Smile On Your Face" (From A Rush of Blood to the Head)

Plot: A man in a business suit wanders frantically around a city, panicking as he slowly dematerializes.

Is The Band In a Remote Location? Martin and Company are safely tucked away in a magical white room.

Radiohead Reference? The shadowy black and white and missing limbs evoke "Street Spirit" pretty thoroughly.

"Speed of Sound" (From X&Y)

Plot: Coldplay jam in the world's most elaborate lazer dome.

Is The Band In a Remote Location? Ticket receipts not only allowed them to purchase their own space but also a sign that says "PRIVATE."

Radiohead Reference? The colorful walls may be a nod to "Fake Plastic Trees", but otherwise there isn't much.

"Fix You" (From X&Y)

Plot: Martin wanders the streets forlornly, swearing he'll fix us (or at least he'll try). Our remedy apparently involves a giant stadium of people going nuts for Coldplay.

Is The Band In a Remote Location? Martin wanders by himself until he arrives late to his own concert, where he is joined by the rest of his bandmates (and several thousand fans).

Radiohead Reference? Thom Yorke is afraid of crowds that big, though the first part of the video does sort of evoke UNKLE's "Rabbit in Your Headlights" (for which Yorke provides vocals).

"Talk" (From X&Y)

Plot: Coldplay visit a strange planet where they meet a friendly robot who turns on them and consumes their space ship.

Is The Band In a Remote Location? Can you get any more remote than outer space?

Radiohead Reference? Nothing direct, though Thom Yorke would probably agree that most robots would be malevolent.

"Violet Hill" (From Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends)

Plot: The group hangs out in front of an old manor house while Martin sometimes walks through the snow.

Is The Band In a Remote Location? Do you have to ask?

Radiohead Reference? Martin's wandering through the foothills could be a nod to "There There", but otherwise the group appears to be settling into their own visual style.