Viva La Vida

Sometimes it's hard to give in to the masses, but then you hear a few songs off Coldplay's massively successful album on the radio and they somehow find a home inside your head and then you realize that everyone else has been living by the same tune too.
Britney Spears' performance of "Gimme More" at the 2007 VMA's failed so miserably because she just lacked the confidence and enthusiasm that gave her such fame in the first place. It was like everyone in the room, including Britney, was thinking "Turn this crap off" and "You poor thing, having to lipsink to 'It's Britney bitch' every show." You have to feel bad in situations like that.
On the other hand, Coldplay gave free concerts in London, Madison Square Garden, and Barcelona, according to Wikipedia. That kind of marketing has such a positive message on how your audience views you. Sure, they can afford to pull off sold out free shows in such prestigious locations, but can you think of establishing yourself as an artist in time. Can people come to your shows and see that you are there to stay and that you deserve what you are paid for? Coldplay's fame also comes from their lack of media coverage. In comparison to the Britney Spears papparazzi, Coldplay receives hardly any mainstream coverage in the US as if it were an asset to their name.
Listen to Lost, Strawberry Swing, Lovers in Japan, Reign of Love - these are some good tracks that you just have to let yourself enjoy. I never like to go mainstream because the mainstream usually reflects on the worst in music. Brian Eno, who is one of the producers of the new Coldplay album, thought that songs, in general, were childish forms of art, even though he gave in to producing the songs that were in his head. In the end, work is what progresses the art. Coldplay put a lot of work into every detail of this album and established a trustworthy name for themselves, but it is the transparency of their act that gives them their credibility. People see that they are a real band because they know how to tell the world that they are a real band. We're all people with the same basic needs and emotions, but let your name speak for the show you put on. I guess that's the only game to play. Let your image be a reflection of your life and your lifestyle, what you stand up for, where you are going, what you want, and how badly you want it, because eventually, people will start to see that in you and invest in you too.