Viva La Vida (song)
From WikiColdplay
"Viva la Vida" (Spanish for "Long Live Life") is the second single released from the British alternative rock band Coldplay's 2008 album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends. It was initially released along with the iTunes Store pre-order of the album on 7 May 2008, later becoming a download-only single on 25 May 2008.
Coldplay performed the song live for the first time at the 2008 MTV Movie Awards. Anton Corbijn is set to direct the music video.
The song has been used in a cross-marketing campaign with the iTunes Store. A nationwide iTunes commercial was aired on May 20, 2008 at 9:00 PM in the United States during the finals performance episode of American Idol, as well as the following night on the season finale of American Idol season 7, featuring the band performing the song. The commercial is currently airing on US television.
Contents |
Song meaning
The song lyrics have many historical and philosophical lines, such as "For some reason I can't explain/I know St. Peter won't call my name", and "never an honest word/but that was when I ruled the world", which might mean the person is a sinner or is sin itself.
Reviews
But how does it sound? Pretty good, and it is a stronger cut than "Violet Hill." It opens with a triumphant string melody, and it's the violins that carry much of the song. It's a cleaner-sounding cut than the more aggressive "Violet Hill," but it still glides along with an urgency not heard often enough in Coldplay's music.
By tapping producer Brian Eno, comparisons to U2 will be inevitable, and "Viva La Vida" brings a bit of U2 grandeur with its epic build, but it still colors the song with enough fresh sounds to demand repeated listens. Things get rolling with a frisky violin, and Chris Martin puts it in check with a commanding vocal turn, singing "I used to roll the dice / Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes."
Moments later the song gets more interesting, with a flash of rhythm momentarily sending a more electronic-sounding beat to the background. References to Catholicism grace the song, and Martin repeatedly declares that Saint Peter will be calling his name.
But never mind the biblical nods. The song further reveals the Coldplay of "Viva La Vida" to be a hungrier, more interesting band. Indeed, as the song builds, strings disappear into a twittering of electronic atmospheres that bridge the verses.
Even the addition of church bells sound off just enough to not be corny. As the song comes to a close, a jaunty piano helps carry some background "whoa-whoas," and there's not a guitar in sight. Instead, "Viva La Vida" is swift-moving minimalist orchestra.
Charts
"Viva la Vida" is Coldplay's highest charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's first #1 single and their second top ten on the Hot 100. It is the first song by a British group to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 since "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls in 1997, and it is the first song by a British rock band to top the chart since EMF's 1991 song "Unbelievable". Although the song had been disqualified from the UK charts due to being initially available only by pre-ordering the album on iTunes, it became eligible to chart after the album was released and charted at Number 1, Coldplay's first ever in the UK.
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 6 |
| Canadian Hot 100 | 4 |
| Europe Hot 100 | 58 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 5 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 9 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 3 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 2 |
| Japan Hot 100 | 12 |
| RIANZ Singles Chart | 25 |
| UK Singles Chart | 1 |
| United World Chart | 9 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks | 15 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks | 16 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop 100 | 7 |
Lyrics
I used to rule the world Seas would rise when I gave the word Now in the morning I sleep alone Sweep the streets I used to own I used to roll the dice Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes Listened as the crowd would sing "Now the old king is dead, long live the king" One minute I held the key Next the walls were closed on me And I discovered that my castles stand Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing Roman cavalry choirs are singing Be my mirror my sword and shield Missionaries in a foreign field For some reason I can't explain Once you'd gone there was never Never an honest word And that was when I ruled the world It was a wicked and wild wind Blew down the doors to let me in Shattered windows and the sound of drums People couldn’t believe what I’d become Revolutionaries wait For my head on a silver plate Just a puppet on a lonely string Oh who would ever want to be king? I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing Roman cavalry choirs are singing Be my mirror my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field For some reason I can’t explain I know Saint Peter won't call my name Never an honest word But that was when I ruled the world Hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing Roman cavalry choirs are singing Be my mirror my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field For some reason I can’t explain I know St Peter won't call my name Never an honest word But that was when I ruled the world
External links
| Chris Martin | Guy Berryman | Jonny Buckland | Will Champion |
| Phil Harvey | Brian Eno | Ken Nelson |
| EPs: Safety EP | The Blue Room EP | Norwegian Live EP |
| Albums: Parachutes | A Rush of Blood to the Head | X&Y | Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends |
| Live albums: Live 2003 |
| Compilations: The Singles 1999-2006 |
| Unofficial collections: A Rush Of B-Sides To Your Head | Castles | After After Before |
| Singles: Ode to Deodorant | Brothers & Sisters | Shiver | Yellow | Trouble | Don't Panic | In My Place | The Scientist | Clocks | God Put a Smile upon Your Face | Speed of Sound | Fix You | Talk | The Hardest Part | What If | Violet Hill | Viva la Vida |
| Tours: A Rush of Blood to the Head Tour | Twisted Logic Tour | Latin America Tour 2007 | Viva La Vida Tour |
| Other Stuff |
| Songs | Videography | Concert Reviews | Coldplay Chronology | Collaborations |
