Ranked number 9 on Rolling Stone magazine's "100 Best Songs" list in 2008, winning "Song of the Year" and "Album of the Year" at the 2009 Grammy Awards, topping the "Billboard Hot 100" chart, along with high-profile copyright accusations after its release, Viva la Vida by the British pop-rock band Coldplay became known to the public as a musical product with revolutionary lyrics and a strong biblical tone.
Viva la Vida
The Spanish title of the song, Viva la Vida, was taken from a painting by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and is a celebration of a long life. When asked about this title, referencing the resilience that Frida Kahlo had to show while battling spinal inflammation for many years, Chris Martin, the lead vocalist of Coldplay, said:
She went through a lot of pain, of course, and then she started a big painting in her house that said 'Viva la Vida', I just loved the boldness of it.
Unlike the background music of other Coldplay songs where piano or guitar are the main instruments, the primary background of "Viva la Vida" is a repeating violin sequence (right from the start of the song), along with drums, bass guitar, and steady percussion (including timpani and church bell). Along with the driving rhythm, the steady, solid breathing of the percussion, and the firm harmonization, all affirm the message of Viva la Vida: nothing can stop our steps, let's live for a long life.
Viva la Vida also evokes the fiery atmosphere of the Crusades, the mysterious stories from the Bible, which have truly been revived. The image Coldplay used to illustrate the album, the painting "La Liberté Guidant le peuple" by French artist Delacroix, also sparked much debate. Some argue that Viva la Vida might also be a manifesto about the French Revolution. The band members assert that the song was inspired by many different revolutions, not just the July 1830 French Revolution (Trois Glorieuses) and the one in 1789.
On IGN magazine, critic Chad Grischow commented on this work as follows:
...It is their one and only foray into unabashed orchestral pop, but the punchy strut of the strings and fantastic marching vocals make it far too charming and lively to dislike, and even harder not to love.
Contrary to Coldplay's typical style of arrangement, where piano and guitar are the most dominant instruments, in Viva la Vida, the strings, percussion, and Chris Martin's expressive vocals are almost the sole lifeblood. Although Coldplay is considered an alternative rock band, this composition of theirs leans toward the classical style of baroque pop or chamber pop.
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Regarding the lyrics of the song
Let's start with the first main verse (verse 1):
I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sweep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes
Listen 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 sand, pillars of sand
In this first part, Chris imagines himself as God and laments the loss of power he once had (referring to people's faith in God). "I used to rule the world, seas would rise when I gave the word" is a reference to rational people abandoning religion and realizing that religious claims only help them spiritually, similar to "I discovered that my castles stand upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand." (Chris's idea here is that religion only holds spiritual value, lacking real-world value, much like a castle built on sand—it may look beautiful, but when waves crash, it will collapse and disappear).
Continuing with verse 2:
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can not explain
Once you know there was never, never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world
(Ohhh)
This verse refers to how missionaries spread fear and used religious rhetoric to transform and keep ordinary people in submission, reinforcing faith in God. The line "Be my mirror, my sword, and shield. My missionaries in a foreign field" speaks to how these missionaries are no longer revered or trusted. The line "Once you go there, you’ll never hear. An honest word, but that was when I ruled the world" is a way to deceive believers, suggesting that if they submit and obey God, they will rule the world alongside Him.
Verse 3:
It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in.
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People could not 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?
The first three lines of this verse are a confession about the "evil and wild" methods, implying that God (and religion) spread in such a way. People began to realize that God was merely a madman, a superstitious figure (hinting at the manifestation of ordinary people's desire for power in reality). "Revolutionaries wait for my head on a silver plate" is a reference to those who don’t believe in religion (against atheism and atheists) and are waiting for its downfall. "Just a puppet on a lonely string, oh who would ever want to be king?" is a clear acknowledgment that ordinary men have used religion (and the idea of God) to assert their power.
Verse 4:
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can not explain
I know Saint Peter won’t call my name
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world
(Ohhhhh Ohhh Ohhh)
When asked by Q magazine about the meaning of the line "I know Saint Peter won’t call my name," Chris Martin responded:
It’s about…You’re not on the list. I was a naughty boy. Its always fascinated me that idea of finishing your life and then being analyzed on it…That is the most frightening thing you could possibly say to somebody. Eternal damnation. I know about this stuff because I studied it. I was into it all. I know it. It’s mildly terrifying to me. And this is serious.
"I know Saint Peter won’t call my name" is the final confession that there is no Saint Peter, and none of the religious teachings are true. It never existed, it never happened.
Final verse:
Hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can not explain
I know Saint Peter will call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Oooooh Oooooh Oooooh
"I know Saint Peter will call my name" seems to contradict verse 4. However, being the closing line, and with the religious context in the song, it cleverly declares the downfall of missionary work.
The implications in the song
Viva la Vida is considered the most successful song in Coldplay's career. It was the first song to top both the US and UK charts. The appeal of the song lies in its captivating music, along with political and religious undertones in its lyrics. Although many listeners don't pay much attention to the lyrics, there are still a few who tend to believe that every song written contains a deeper meaning than what they hear. This hidden meaning contributes to making the music more interesting.
There are many interpretations of the hidden meanings in Viva la Vida, but two theories are the most widely agreed upon. These are:
The Catholic Church
Some people believe that Viva la Vida refers to the decline in the number of followers of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). At its peak, the RCC was a powerful force with significant influence in the world, but by the time Viva la Vida was referenced, its influence had waned. Therefore, this theory suggests that the song is set against the backdrop of the Crusades, where Western feudal nations, incited by the Roman Church, invaded Jerusalem. The crusading armies were a mixed group: regular troops from kings and feudal lords, mercenary knights, peasants, beggars, children, and even thieves. The RCC also formed an army known as the "Roman Cavalry Choirs" to participate in these expeditions. There were a total of 8 Crusades over nearly two centuries, most of which ended in disastrous failure. Clearly, the inspiration from this theory, combined with the fact that Coldplay composed and produced the album while traveling in Latin America and Spain (two of the places with the highest Catholic density in the world), provides clear evidence that Viva la Vida may imply the Catholic Church.
Napoleon / King Louis XVI / French Revolution
Since Viva la Vida uses lyrics and references to events related to the French Revolution, many people believe that it is indeed about that period. Some others think it refers to the death of Napoleon. One might ask, "Who else could rule the world?" Napoleon ruled and held power over his enemies, but he would eventually lost his head to the guillotine (in reality, the two most accepted theories about Napoleon's death are that he either suffered from stomach cancer or was poisoned with heavy arsenic). Therefore, this theory might not be entirely accurate. This leads to another theory: it could refer to the execution of King Louis XVI. The sound of the drums in the melody somewhat evokes the image of King Louis XVI being brought to the guillotine, while revolutionaries below wait for the execution to be carried out.
People continue to debate which of these theories Viva la Vida is conveying, but I think the song addresses more personal issues: the fear of death and the love of life. Chris named the English version of Viva la Vida "Long Live Life". Perhaps he believes that life ultimately triumphs over death. Indeed, the entire album is titled Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends. The titles of the songs on the album also reflect this: "Life in Technicolor," "Cemeteries of London," "Lost!," "Death and All His Friends." The song "42" includes lyrics about something more terrifying than death, followed by hopes for what comes after. Chris has said that perhaps the dead never truly die because they live on in the memories of those who remain.