Photo: Coldplay Facebook pic of the groups embracing after their performance at the BRIT awards

One can almost hear the collective sigh eminating from music publications (and hipsters) around the world in response to two bands at the top of the industry releasing a single that might have been inevitable. Are we joining the chorus of sighs? Well, this writer isn’t.

Is “Something Just Like This?” going to win points for artistic originality? No. Is it one heckuva of catchy tune destined for chart greatness? Most likely.

Let me be the one to say that The Chainsmokers aren’t really my cup of tea, but I respect what they’ve been able to accomplish – effectively bringing EDM as we know it today into top 40 radio. I think that adding Chris Martin’s vocals into the fray is musically one of the best decisions that could have been made about The Chainsmokers sound. I think the overly auto-tuned, at times monotone vocals of the band alone don’t really have a big punch and that we needed something with range and color injected to this tune. The song isn’t THAT unique when you step back and really think about it – the melody even has an air of familiarity to it. But to most people, including this writer, it FEELS good and that is what is going to matter. I have to admit it takes talent to come up with a melody capable of moving the masses in a positive way. Plus the lyrics are kind of whimsical and I dig that too. “Whimsical yet accessible” is an effect Coldplay is very good at accomplishing with their words.

So is this the new normal? This has been happening for a long time, it just feels new because an EDM group is collaborating with an alternative rock group, when we are used to see hip hop guest with a pop artist, vice versa, or two pop artists. Where I differ from some of the other bloggers out there is that I see merit in this kind of song – if a song adds value to someone’s life, it is worth something. What’s the point in being sarcastic in one’s critique? I see the song for what it is, but I enjoy it darn it.