On the eve of the U.S. release of Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, Coldplay now finds themselves in the middle of a plagiarism controversy. According to Andrew Hoepfner, frontman of Brooklyn band Creaky Boards, the melody found in Coldplay’s song, “Vida La Vida”, is eerily similar to the one found on their song ironically entitled, “The Song I Didn’t Write”.

From the evidence presented in the below video, it sure seems like Hoepfner has a valid case.

Coldplay is dismissing the claim, citing the fact that their song was written in March of 2007 - some months before Chris Martin, as Hoepfner points out in the video, saw Creaky Boards live. A Coldplay spokesperson has since noted that Martin was in London during the time of the supposed appearance.

Of course, all this won’t stop the release of Coldplay’s new album tomorrow or the inclusion of the band’s songs in Guitar Hero III.

Or for that matter, even their upcoming world tour…

Coldplay 2008 Tour Dates:
06/16 - London, England @ Brixton Academy
06/17 - Barcelona, Spain @ Espacio Movistar
06/23 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
07/14 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
07/15 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
07/18 - San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion
07/19 - Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
07/23 - Chicago, IL @ United Center
07/25 - Philadelphia, PA @ Wachovia Center
07/27 - Pemberton, BC @ Pemberton Festival
07/29 - Montreal, QC @ Bell Center
07/30 - Toronto, ON @ Air Canda Centre
08/02 - Hartford, CT @ XL Center
08/03 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
08/04 - Boston, MA @ TD Banknorth Center
08/09 - Osaka, Japan @ Summer Sonic
08/10 - Tokyo, Japan @ Summer Sonic
09/01 - Strasbourg, Germany @ Zenith
09/02 - Mannheim, Germany @ SAP Arena
09/04 - Lyon, France @ Tony Garnier Hall
09/06 - Barcelona, Spain @ Palau St Jordi
09/07 - Madrid, Spain @ Palacio de Deportes
09/09 - Paris, France @ The Bercy
09/12 - Cologne, Germany @ Koln Arena
09/14 - Hamburg, Germany @ Colorline Arena
09/15 - Berlin, Germany @ O2 World
09/18 - Stockholm, Sweden @ Stockholm Globe Theatre
09/19 - Osio, Norway @ Spectrum
09/22 - Prague, Czech Republic @ O2 Arena
09/23 - Budapest, Hungary @ Budapest Arena
09/24 - Vienna, Austria @ Stadthalle
09/26 - Munich, Germany @ Olympiahalle
09/28 - Zurich, Switzerland @ Hallenstadion
09/29 - Bologna, Italy @ Palamagotti
09/30 - Milan, Italy @ Datchforum
10/02 - Rotterdam, The Netherlands @ The Ahoy
10/04 - Antwerp, Belgium @ Sportpalais
10/20 - Ottawa, ON, @ Scotiabank Place
10/21 - Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
10/26 - East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center
11/03 - Detroit, MI @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
11/07 - Orlando, FL @ Amway Arena
11/09 - Sunrise, FL @ Bank Atlantic Center
11/11 - Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
11/13 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
11/14 - St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
11/16 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Ford Center
11/18 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
11/19 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
11/21 - Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center Arena
11/22 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Energy Solutions Arena
11/26 - Phoenix, AZ @ Jobing.com Arena
12/01 - Brighton, England @ NIA
12/02 - Brighton, England @ NIA
12/05 - Glasgow, Scotland @ SECC
12/06 - Glasgow, Scotland @ SECC
12/07 - Sheffield, England @ Sheffield Arena
12/10 - Liverpool, England @ Echo Arena
12/11 - Manchester, England @ MEN Arena
12/12 - Manchester, England @ MEN Arena
12/14 - London, England @ O2 Arena
12/15 - London, England @ O2 Arena

Tickets are still available via ticketmaster.com.

Categories: News, Tour
Tags: Coldplay, Creaky Boards