Coldplay have received a piece of good news in their ongoing battle against plagiarism charges, with Cat Stevens saying he forgives them.
Poor old Coldplay. After years of tireless work the band have risen to become one of the most popular on the planet, with last year’s album ‘Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends’ topping charts all over the world.
However almost immediately protests were heard. American guitar picker Joe Satriani claimed that the title track was a complete copy of his 2004 song ‘If I Could Fly’, and immediately launched a legal case in the band’s direction.
Coldplay hit back, arguing that any possible plagiarism was completely unintended. However Satriani was not to be soothed, and announced that he was going to deliver copyright papers personally at the Grammy Awards.
No sooner had that row died down than songwriter Cat Stevens revealed that he felt the same song was reminiscent of his track ‘Foreigner Suite’. Recorded in 1973, since then Stevens has converted to Islam and taken the Yusuf Islam.
Although he continues to believe that Coldplay incorporated elements of his song into theirs, the singer has refused to take legal action.
“I stand by what I said,” Islam told the Daily Express. “They did copy my song but I don’t think they did it on purpose. I have even copied myself without even knowing I have done it. I’ll write down what I think is a good melody and realise it’s the same as something I have already done.”
“I don’t want them to think I am angry with them. I’d love to sit down and have a cup of tea with them and let them know it’s okay,” he said.
Coldplay have already begun work on their new album, which is set to be much more experimental than ‘Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends’. The band’s drummer recently revealed that he is working with a new drum machine, crafting new songs from obscure time signatures.
Chris Martin, meanwhile, has been telling the press that he intends the new album to be written around a special concept.
Coldplat are due to begin recording their new album with Brian Eno later this year.
