Anyone who has talked to me for more than five minutes knows that I enjoy a good dose of Coldplay.
I was watching Coldplay’s latest video for the song “Strawberry Swing” from the album “Viva La Vida”. At first, I hated it. The video has nothing to do with the song and I’m sure the band paid a ridiculous amount of money for the effects while simultaneously boasting about their involvement with Oxfam and other humanitarian organizations. I mean, I think we can do without a music video that no one will ever see since MTV has chosen to maintain it’s name yet should be called RTV (reality tv). Donate the amount of money you were going to use to one of those organizations why don’t you?
The more I think about it though, the more I realize that I am forgetting a few things that should never be forgotten.
If you want to help people in this world there is more to it than just selling everything you have and giving it to the poor. This is a great idea for some people and is necessary. However, in order for change to happen, there have to be people in the world who are successful at something, who are influential, that stand up in front of their fans and communicate. Those people have to use their influence to reach out and tell their followers about the problems that they believe in and that the world faces every day. Communication is the most powerful tool when it comes to change. Cos see, everyone has to be involved. Unfortunately, not everyone is informed.
While Coldplay’s video may be meaningless to me, it may serve a larger purpose thanks to the band’s involvement in global affairs and social injustice. Some of Coldplay’s fans, and just fans of art in general, will watch the video and become more aware of Coldplay. As they become more aware of Coldplay they will see that the band is involved with the aforementioned issues and organizations. Maybe, just maybe, those fans will take notice and support the cause as they support Coldplay. Those same fans have talents and communication outlets of their own and may further communicate the issues to others in a multitude of different ways. Eventually, that one ridiculous video will have gotten a variety of people involved in a much greater cause.
So, rock on Coldplay. Keep drawing attention to yourself and making artistically inspiring videos. Keep promoting change in the world. Keep asking your fans to become involved themselves. And please, keep posting free music on your website!
