The People Versus

One of the biggest music releases of the year has lived up to its hype as Coldplay’s latest offering headed straight to number 1 and even spawned (excuse the pun) their first UK number 1 single, a position ‘Speed of Sound’ was embarrassingly denied by that damn Crazy Frog a couple of years ago.
Even so, as ‘Viva La Vida’ or ‘Death And All His Friends’ or ‘Come On Martin Pick One Title’ or ‘Is This Just A PR Stunt?’, hit the top with a sprinkling of iTunes advertising magic, it only just survived some scathing reviews from the critics.

But does the fact it will clearly go on to sell millions and save EMI’s arse once again go to show that the general buying public doesn’t listen to critics?
After all, surely if the most praising review of the Crazy Frog song was ever uncovered (and the critic who wrote it sent to a darkened room for the rest of their days), didn’t help propel it to number 1 that time over Coldplay. Does public demand beat critical opinion?

Maybe it’s different across the board of media, people and fans of different music know what they like and are loyal to it. On the other hand something like film often depends wholly on the opinions of a review to even get it off the ground.
I can only whisper the word ‘Glitter’ starring Mariah Carey without getting a shudder – god knows how many of us actually donned a fake moustache and glasses to go and watch it, but the rotten tomatoes and bad reviews it got certainly put me off I’ll freely admit…not that I was too bothered about a film based loosely on Mariah’s life – as loose as her bra evidently.

But the gem in the people versus critics comes when a slow burner of an album or film suffers the mauling of a hungry clan of critics only to then be outdone by Joe Public as they buy and attend in force, based on the best form of publicity there is – word of mouth.
If some old dodder from The Guardian tells you Will Farrell is an unfunny buffoon attempting to mock the 1970s news genre but then your best mate tells you ‘Anchorman’ is funny as fuck – based on whose opinion will you honestly bother going to see the movie?

The public know what they like, whether it makes a lot of sense of not – after all, ask yourself, do you actually know anyone who bought the Crazy Frog song? Or even a Westlife single? WHO is doing that? If you do know, I’d suggest you hand them into the nearest police station as I certainly consider them a threat to the public.
Then again, making such a statement - does that make me a critic now?

The buying public, whether it’s music, cinema, fashion or theatre to name a few, appreciate that what they like is a lot of the time based on what it gives them. The critic’s opinion may sway your impulses if perhaps you’re undecided, but fundamentally you know what type of coffee you like and although someone may suggest you try something new you stick to that one as it gives you what you want.
Now I’m not comparing Coldplay to a mocha latte with wings or probably the more appropriately named chilly frappachino (hell, let’s make it Fair Trade if we’re being precise) but that’s my example.

As the Crazy Frog no doubt wallows in a pond full of spawn from the past groupie conquests of his hey days, Chris Martin continues to write what some see as dreary soft rock and others as anthemic, arms in the air classics, waking up beside Gwyneth Paltrow and making trade fair, you tend to think if Coldplay satisfy so many people with their music then who, besides a frog in goggles, is going to stop them – certainly, for now, not the critics.