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Jun 12, 2019 · Learn the meaning and story behind Coldplay's hit song "Viva La Vida", which is about the last words of King Louis XVI before his execution. Discover the album cover, the painting, and the violin cover of this modern classic rock anthem.
"Viva la Vida" ( Spanish for 'Long Live Life'; / ˈviːvə lə ˈviːdə /, Spanish: [ˈbiβa la ˈβiða]) is a song by British rock band Coldplay. It was written by all members of the band for their fourth album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008).
- Long Live Life
- King Louis XVI’s Death and Final Speech
- The Rise and Down Fall
- Bells Ringing
- Vive Les “charts”
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
In Spanish, “Viva La Vida” means “Long Live Life” and is tied to the Delacroix-like painting portraying the revolutionaries as heroes there are underlying themes of life and death, regrets, and transformation on the album.
“Viva La Vida” tells the story from the perspective of King Louis XVI and is linked to his last speech, after his monarch was overthrown and he was about to meet his death by guillotine. As he was strapped down on a guillotine bench (bascule) and his neck set in place, the former ruler gave one final speech before he was executed in which he procla...
The next verse spans the start of his rule and his ultimate downfall. After the death of his grandfather, who left France in a fiscally disastrous state, Louis XVI succeeded the throne and was already celebrated as the new king who would bring change—Now the old king is dead, long live the king—and one minute he held the key (to his kingdom) and th...
In the chorus, King Louis XVI knows the people are rejoicing at his demise and looking forward to a new day. There’s even a religious slant towards Catholicism, and Saint Peter, who held the “keys to heaven” refused to call on him when he met his death. I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin’ Roman cavalry choirs are singin’ Be my mirror, my sword and shi...
Released on June 3, 2008, as the second single off Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, “Viva La Vida” was Coldplay’s highest charting single hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100and winning the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 2009. Photo: James Marcus Haney / Atlantic Records
The song is a retelling of the last speech and death of King Louis XVI, who was executed by guillotine in 1793. The title means "Long Live Life" in Spanish, but also reflects the theme of life and death in the song.
May 25, 2008 · Revered as an essential rock song of the 2000s, “Viva La Vida” tells the story of a monarch who’s lost his kingdom. In another aspect, the song is also seen as a narrative on the French...
Dec 19, 2023 · Viva La Vida is a song by Coldplay that imagines the final speech and thoughts of King Louis XVI before his execution in the French Revolution. The song contrasts his former power and glory with his current fate and regret, and humanizes him as a flawed but sympathetic figure.
Mar 19, 2008 · Learn how Coldplay chose 'Viva la Vida' as the name for their fourth album and what it means in different languages and cultures. Find out the connection with Frida Kahlo and the Mexican expression 'Viva la Vida'.
Apr 7, 2019 · Learn the story behind the song, the inspiration from a painting, and the references to historical events and figures. Find out how the lyrics express the perspective of a king who has lost his throne and his appreciation of life.
