Viva La Vida - Coldplay

See all shipping options

by: Jason (United States)
on: Thursday, 28-October-2010

The song tells an emotional story of how he used to rule the world then how he went from having everything to having nothing. The song Viva La Vida shows alot of the same pop tones found in the band U2 and is very similar to U2s songs.

Viva La Vida has both modern and postmodern ideas as it tells the story of a man who had everything then lost it. Coldplay starts by comparing how things used to be when he ruled the world and how things where after he lost everything. They talk about how Seas would rise when I gave the word, They also mention I used to roll the dice, and Feel the fear in my enemys eyes (2,5-6). Then they talk about how he lost everything Now in the morning I sleep alone / Sweep the streets that I used to own, also the song says One minute I held the key / Next the walls were closed on me (3-4, 10-11). I think the song is kind of both a modern and a postmodern song. The song is postmodern when it talks about how he had everything then he lost it but its kind of modern when it talks about him bouncing back and having Saint Peter call his name.

The strong religious base of the song becomes very apparent when you really look into the lyrics and their meanings. This religious base is shown in the third paragraph when they say And I discovered that my castles stand / Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand (12-13). I thought that this kind of mimics the parable Jesus told about the wise man building his house on the rock and the foolish man building his house on sand. So what they are saying is he is the foolish man because he built his castles on pillars of sand. These lines are also a good example of a hyperbole because he didnt actually build his castles on pillars of salt and sand, but he is exaggerating to to show that his castles didnt have a good foundation.. The religious feel is also shown in the chorus when they mention Be my mirror my sword and shield (16). I think that this means that he is calling out to God to protect him and help him. This is also an example of a metaphor because he doesnt actually mean be my mirror, sword, and shield but he is speaking more figuratively. Then later in the song it says I know Saint Peter will call my name (46). So this I think this is him hoping Saint Peter will call him to show that he had become a better man than he was. The song also has a great example of another metaphor when it says It was the wicked and wild wind (23). This is a good example of a metaphor because the wind isnt actually wicked and wild and wind cant have these attributes.

by: KnoxKen (United States)
on: Sunday, 19-September-2010

Viva La Vida is a superb combination of composition, orchestration, instrumentation, chord selection, and mood. This is one of the all-time great recordings (in any genre). We may regard it as the album U2 has been trying to make ever since All That You Cant Leave Behind --- if only they could get over themselves and focus on writing/recording quality music! While comparisons are unnecessary, All That You Cant Leave Behind (also one of the great albums of all time) was written in the bright sunlight. Viva La Vida was written by the light of a full moon. Mystery . . . poetry . . . prophecy . . . this CD has it all, but mostly its just GREAT music.

by: A Customer (United States)
on: Monday, 19-July-2010

Coldplay seem to just keep getting better. This is a different approach, especially the title track with strings (which I love) but thats just the tip of the iceberg. This is a really good album and Im happy to hear how theyve continued breaking new ground as a band. Great lyrics, playing and as always well engineered with very big sound to it. Jonny Buckland has some great riffs on this and his hooks direct the songs in subtle but strong ways. It would be interesting to hear him really take center stage but what he does is great. Overall Id have to say this is my favorite album of theirs yet and a consistent pleasure to listen to!

by: Michael Griswold (Rockford, USA)
on: Monday, 14-June-2010

I bought Viva La Vida on the recommendation of a friend and Coldplay has had a fair share of success and I understand why because their music can be very soothing and relieving, but for me personally the Coldplay sound is just too light for my tastes. However, I did enjoy the track Strawberry Swing because it sounded a bit heavier than the other tracks on the album and has a really cool tune attached to it. For the Coldplay fan that enjoys their sound or someone whos not interested in a cornucopia of heavy metal guitars and hyped up drums than this album is definitely for you.

by: A. Dewangan (United States)
on: Saturday, 29-May-2010

I had lost touch with Coldplays recent works but when they decided to visit the city I decided to give it a shot. Their live performance was really good, but this review is not about that. How that is relevant is because they gave a live version of their album to all attendees and I started listening to songs from this album. I did not really like them when I listened to them a about two times. But slowly the songs started growing on me and I listened to the whole album over and over again for a long time during my office commute. I bought the MP3 album from here and have really enjoyed each song on the album since. Recommended!
Viva La Vida

by: legalos3 (Winnipeg Canada)
on: Sunday, 11-April-2010

I loved the entire album no weak moments and they know how to paint a picture with lyrics and music.

by: alternarocklover (Columbus, OH USA)
on: Friday, 5-March-2010

Viva La Vida is the first Coldplay album that I can listen to from beginning to end without skipping a single song.

I cant get enough of this album, its one that I keep going back to and listening to again and again (either on CD or on my MP3 players).

There are songs that I do like more than others. My favorite songs are the title track, Violet Hill, and Yes. My least favorite is Strawberry Swing, but I dont dislike it enough to skip it.

by: Anne La Mont (MI USA)
on: Wednesday, 27-January-2010

I have other cds by Coldplay but I think this is their best yet from beginning to end.

by: K. Mcgrath (Boston, MA USA)
on: Saturday, 23-January-2010

And I just want to say Brian Eno for President.

This is so damned good its painful. Im a pretty big Coldplay fan but theyre not Numero Uno for me. But the stuff on this CD is so good and diverse and outside their box its really on my desert island list.

Every time I hear it I hear something different. I almost always listen to it all the way through. Amazingly lovely stuff to be found here. What a classic. Nice, nice work.

I do wish they could lose Gwyneth Paltrow altogether, but hey, ya cant have everything.