I’m sure any Shakespeare scholar worth his salt could point to an “oh baby, baby” or similar in one of Shakespeare’s plays. But I can’t think of one just now.

Interestingly, they are all largely ’80s bands which suggests a possible re-postulation of your sweeping generalisation:

All the really good bands were in the ’60s and ’70s when there were lots of new musical ideas and music was evolving so fast that reinvention was almost inevitable. Now most of the good ideas have been used up so there are many less good bands and less reinvention.

On more serious matters, I had never considered the lyrics of ‘Oops..’ obvious. To me, they are laced with subtleties, double meanings, metaphors, imagery… And you call yourself an arts student. Would Shakespeare himself not have been proud of this:

“I think I did it again/I made you believe we’re more than just friends/Oh baby/It might seem like a crush/But it doesn’t mean that I’m serious/‘Cause to lose all my senses/That is just so typically me/Oh baby, baby”

If there is one thing I have always thought was missing from his work, it was a few ‘Oh baby, baby’s.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we do have the record labels to blame for this Coldplay-trend from modern groups. But then, would it be fairer to lay the blame on the people who make this commercial landscape a reality? It wouldn’t be making money if people didn’t expect the same thing, again, every time, from their favourite bands.

Now, let me try a sweeping generalisation: Have all the really good bands in history had at least one major reinvention/change in style?

But boring as that may be, it seems to be serving them pretty well, particularly Coldplay. I doubt whether I would be all that adventurous if being repetitive would ensure me Top 10 singles and albums around the world and the pretty piles of money associated with that.

On the other hand, I would suspect much of the sameness would be due to record company pressure. They have a habit of being even keener on pretty piles of money than individuals (especially since theirs are generally larger). I have heard/read interviews with both bands suggesting that their future albums would have a heavier sound and then we just get more of the same. That could well be down to some faceless record company exec.

It is also interesting how quickly music which a few years ago sound new and original becomes standard and mainstream. A prime example would be Kid A, which was widely attacked for being too out there/experimental on its release but is now generally accepted as one of Radiohead’s best and most influential records. When you start of as M.O.R as Coldplay/Travis, a few years can really date you.

Personally, I’m more an ‘Oops!…I did it again’ fan.

I also like the twangy guitar towards the end of Toxic. And other things. I’d listen to it again but I’m waiting for it to randomly arrive.

There’s something special about a song you like to listen to coming up randomly. It’s exciting when you’re listening to a radio but for some reason I find it’s just as exciting when I’ve made a playlist of my favourite songs. Simply selecting the song doesn’t have the same enjoyment factor.