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Viva La Vida By Coldplay

Why did I chose this song?

• One of my favorite songs & bands

• Familiarity

• Multiple Interpretations and Meanings

The speaker is a man who was once a king or official with power but lost it all due to his actions or circumstances. He seems to be reflecting due to the frequent use of past tense.

Some people pinpoint the speaker to a specific person in history such as King Louis XVI or Napoléon.

Who is the speaker?

1. Live life to the fullest and don’t take it for granted/ You don’t know what you’ve got until it is gone

2. Absolute power corrupts

3. Personal Struggles (public appeal)

- Stating that kings go through the same troubles as everybody else

- Song was inspired by Frida Kahlo’s painting “Viva la Vida” after her accident

Lyric Analysis

I used to rule the worldSeas would rise when I gave the word

Now in the morning I sleep aloneSweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the diceFeel the fear in my enemies’ eyes

Listen as the crowd would sing“Now the old king is dead, long live the king!”

One minute I held the keyNext the walls were closed on me

And I discovered that my castles standUpon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells ringingRoman cavalry choirs singing

Be my mirror my sword and shieldMy missionaries in a foreign fieldFor some reason I can’t explainOnce you go there was never

Never an honest wordBut that was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild windBlew down the doors to let me in

Shattered windows and the sound of drumsPeople couldn't believe what I'd become

Revolutionaries waitFor my head on a silver plate

Just a puppet on a lonely stringOh, who would ever wanna be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringingRoman Cavalry choirs are singingBe my mirror, my sword and shieldMy missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explainI know Saint Peter won't call my name

Never an honest wordBut that was when I ruled the world

• (n.)- 1. A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

2. A thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, esp. something abstract

Metaphor

• (n.)- Repeating a word, phrase, line, or stanza multiple times in a literary work

• Gives continuity

• Emphasizes a thought through reiteration

Repetition

• (n.)- figure of speech that makes a reference to, or a representation of, people, places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by implication

• Biblical/Religious Allusions

Allusion

Julius Caesar:

- Great politician of Rome who was “on top of the world”

- Lost all power (death)

- Lost his foundation

- Was a feared general and official

Marcus Brutus:

- Was a well-respected politician but lost power after the people turned on him (lost foundation)

- Made poor choice to murder Caesar

- Was hunted and attacked by an army

Compare the Experience: The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

http://bethfusseya2.blogspot.com/2012/10/digipak-analysis-1-coldplay-viva-la-vida.htmlhttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:King_Henry_I_from_NPG.jpghttp://www.nndb.com/people/230/000092951/http://knarf.english.upenn.edu/People/napoleon.htmlhttp://www.nj.com/insidejersey/index.ssf/2010/04/the_hottest_casinos_in_new_jer.htmlhttp://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/mirrors/wall-mirrors/bronze-sword-shield-mirror/id-f_491672/http://aaenemies.blogspot.com/2012/12/america-dust-on-bible.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peterhttp://www.biography.com/people/julius-caesar-9192504 http://hoocher.com/The_Philippics/The_Thirteenth_Philippic.htm

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