Analysis- Cherry

300 words

VivaLa Vida by Coldplay- Analysis using Historic Method

Although Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" is a modern classic, its melodious strings may obscure the underlying
themes of the French revolution. Even though "Viva la Vida" is Coldplay's most popular song, many fans
are ignorant of the album's and song's central themes. "Viva la Vida" is a song and album about the
French Revolution and King Louis XVI's death.

The record cover is the first thing to analyze. Coldplay's fourth studio album, "Viva la Vida or Death to All
His Friends," contains a version of the 1830 historical picture "Liberty Leading the People," which is
frequently simply referred to as "Viva la Vida." The painting depicts French revolutionaries marching and
raising the French flag, headed by the human incarnation of Lady Liberty, and was created by French
artist Eugène Delacroix. The picture complements the Album's themes of life, death, conflict, and
transformation by portraying the revolutionaries in a heroic light.

Now, to examine the album's most popular song, "Viva la Vida," some historical context regarding the
French Revolution is required. — King Louis XVI's monarchy was eventually destroyed during the last
stages of the French revolution, and the King was imprisoned by his people. A hasty trial ensued, with
the former monarch's fate determined almost immediately. The guillotine was to be used to execute
King Louis. As he made his way to the gallows, the former king paused to deliver one more message to
his people. However, when he began to speak, the fervent French mob began to yell and boo, raising the
volume of the executioner's drums to drown out his remarks. The French people were unconcerned
about what their former king had to say, and they waited for the executioner to arrive. As a result,
Monarch Louis' captors pushed him down onto the guillotine before he could continue his speech, and
the former king was killed. His speech is now irretrievably lost.

The song "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay is a reinterpretation of King Louis's lost final words before his death.
The song is written from the perspective of King Louis, as he apologizes to his people and accepts his
destiny.

“I used to rule the world Seas would rise when I gave the word Now in the morning, I sleep alone”—
With his few words, King Louis commanded hundreds of ships and governed one of the world's most
powerful kingdoms. He was now forced to sleep in a prison cell by himself.

“Listen as the crowd would sing: “Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!”— After his grandpa died,
King Louis XVI ascended to the throne. Following the death of his beloved king, Louis XV, Louis XVI had a
lot of promise in the eyes of his people. His ascension to the throne was widely acclaimed.

“Shattered windows and the sound of drums People couldn’t believe what I’d become.” – Despite seeing
great potential in the new monarch, his subjects were dissatisfied. Early in his reign, he was known for
reform and prosperity; nevertheless, as time passed and promises were not kept, the French people
sought a new order.

“Revolutionaries wait for my head on a silver plate. Just a puppet on a lonely string. Oh, who would ever
want to be king?” — Louis understands that the movement has reached a tipping point and that no
amount of change will be able to assist him now. Despite his enthusiastic acceptance of the throne,
Louis sees his abilities as a burden. He confesses that the power he desired was not the same as what he
had.