Music Blogs

So Coldplay look set to sweep the board at the 2009 Grammys, after the band were nominated for seven awards in seven different categories this week. But Chris Martin may well be choking on his umpteenth glass of homebrew organic champagne this morning, judging by the news in today's press. "Viva La Vida", the lead track from their new album of the same name, is up for two gongs at the Los Angeles bash. But it is also the subject of a potentially extremely damaging lawsuit, brought by epic axe-sorcerer Joe Satriani.

He claims Coldplay ripped-off "substantial original portions" of his 2004 instrumental "If I Could Fly" for "Viva La Vida" and is now seeking a jury trial, damages and "any and all profits" for the alleged plagiarism. Which is no small change, bearing in mind the significance and status of the song, which acts as the helm to the entire record, title and all. More significantly, it is amongst their most commercially successful releases, becoming their first Number One in both the US and the UK, topping the charts in 36 countries and finishing second in iTunes' annual poll of digital releases across the globe, behind only Leona Lewis' unstoppable "Bleeding Love".

Amazingly, another act has already accused Coldplay of copying one of their songs for "Viva La Vida". Earlier this year, unknown US act the Creaky Boards alleged "striking" similarities with their own "The Songs I Didn't Write", a claim they eventually dropped before rather curiously suggesting both may have been inspired by the video game "The Legend Of Zelda". Back in 2002, Chris Martin and co were granted permission by German electronic overlords Kraftwerk to use the melody line from their "Computer Love" as the basis for "X&Y" track "Talk". The difference here seems that either they didn't bother asking Satriani's permission or have just simply never, ever ever heard "If I Could Fly", your honour. Which, judging by the clip below, seems rather unlikely.