OneRepublic’s success highlights one of the more serious problems facing the music business: a deficit of new Coldplay ballads. Included on producer Timbaland’s album Shock Value (2007) as well as the L.A. group’s own debut, Dreaming Out Loud (2007), OneRepublic’s “Apologize” is a slick simulation of Chris Martin’s favourite tropes. Indeed, singer Ryan Tedder cops the Cold­play front man’s falsetto with Memorex-like fidelity. That the song was one of last year’s biggest hits proves imitation is the most profitable form of flattery.—Jason Anderson