BBC Radio poll: Coldplay album is 'favourite of all time'

[klr]

If this isn't an April Fools Day joke (and I don't see any hints that it is), then all I can say is "God help us all!!!":

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21995177

BBC radio listeners have chosen British band Coldplay's second album as their favourite record of all time.

A Rush Of Blood To The Head, released in 2002, beat the likes of Pink Floyd and The Beatles to top the Radio 2 poll.

DJ Jo Whiley revealed the winner on Monday afternoon following a countdown of the favourites throughout the day.

The poll was held to tie in with the recent BBC season, The Golden Age of the Album.

A Rush Of Blood To The Head, which includes hits such as Clocks and The Scientist, topped the charts in 2002 and sold more than 2.8 million copies in the UK.

Coldplay's Clocks topped a recent BBC Radio 6 Music poll of the top 100 tracks of the past 10 years.

Taking second place in the Radio 2 list was Keane's 2004 record Hopes And Fears, while Duran Duran's Rio came third in a list that featured just two albums from the last decade.

Head of music at Radio 2, Jeff Smith said: "With albums ranging from Sinatra in the 50s to Emeli Sande in the last year, the range of eras and genres exhibited by the chart is typical of the breadth of Radio 2 and its distinctive music policy.

"Musicians such as Coldplay and Dido have struck a chord with listeners and are in good company in the Top 10 alongside legendary bands like The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, whose appeal remains undiminished after all these years."

Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon (1973), which was recently selected to be preserved in the US National Recording Registry as a significant recording, came in fourth place.

Despite being considered among the greatest and most influential albums of all time, The Beatles' 1967 release, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - only managed eighth place.

A number of other classics figured highly in the list. Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones was in sixth place while A Night at the Opera by Queen was in 10th.

Top 10 albums voted by Radio 2 listeners were:

1. Coldplay - Rush Of Blood To The Head (2002)
2. Keane - Hopes and Fears (2004)
3. Duran Duran - Rio (1982)
4. Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)
5. Dido - No Angel (1999)
6. The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers (1971)
7. The Pet Shop Boys - Actually (1987)
8. The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
9. U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987)
10. Queen - A Night At The Opera (1975)

[rachelbean]

I've not owned number 2 or 5, but have the rest including Coldplay. It's a mildly enjoyable non-offensive non-exciting album, I suppose it's not too surprising as a whole that it would come out on top. At least it's actual music.

[klr]

I've not owned number 2 or 5, but have the rest including Coldplay. It's a mildly enjoyable non-offensive non-exciting album, I suppose it's not too surprising as a whole that it would come out on top. At least it's actual music.

I would have the same general opinion of Coldplay. But to be in the all-time favourite league, their work would need to be something really special, which it's not IMHO.

The presence of Duran Duran in the top 10 is also setting off alarm bells in my head.

My long-term avoidance of mainstream music radio seems to have been a good idea after all.

[Seabass]

9 out of 10 are British. Merkins are so insular/ethnocentric/xenophobic.

[Tyrannical]

I've never heard of Keane, and have only a vague idea of who Dido is. I thought petshop boys were a one hit wonder band.

[klr]

I've never heard of Keane, and have only a vague idea of who Dido is. I thought petshop boys were a one hit wonder band.

Maybe on your side of the pond, but not over here. Even so, putting them in the top 10 is stretching it IMHO.

I have only a vague idea of Keane are as well, and I think it's going to stay that way.

There are so many classic acts and albums from the last 40/50 years - even just from Britain - that the poll results leave me wondering about the profile of the average BBC 2 listener.

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

Now do the same poll on Radio One.

[klr]

Now do the same poll on Radio One.

I don't know how radically different it would be. BBC 6 is the station I'd really like to see polled.

[Audley Strange]

"So what difference does it make?
it makes none." The Smiths.

[Tero]

I only have 4 of those, my kids have the Coldplay. Dark Side was not even my top PF album.

[klr]

"So what difference does it make?
it makes none." The Smiths.

Better still:

"Burn down the disco
Hang the blessed DJ
Because the music that they constantly play
It says nothing to me about my life ..."

[Clinton Huxley]

Keane? They are the like a boring Coldplay....

[Rum]

Yep - who are a kind of boring Mongolian nose flute music band.

[Audley Strange]

I should point out something about Coldplay that most of you will never have considered. While they may be mainstream and middle of the road they are technically excellent musicians, their production is great, its just their music sounds vacant of heart, which considering they attempt to play to the emotional aspect rather than the intellectual aspect means their art is functionary. Now people might complain about that, but it's no real different from going into IKEA and buying "medium sized contemporary wall art", they produce a product that is popular because it presses all the right buttons but never challenges.

That's why they sound so bland, sadly. They have some good bits of tunes in their career that could have been exciting if explored for arts sake rather than the audience.

[rachelbean]

Yep, that's what I tried to say above in a few stupid words