Viva La Vida

"Viva la Vida" (Spanish: "Long Live Life") is the second, Grammy-nominated single released from the English alternative rock band Coldplay 2008 album, Viva La Vida. It was initially released only with iTunes Store pre-orders of the album on 7 May 2008, later becoming a download-only single on 25 May 2008. With over 3 million plays, the song earned the number one spot on the Last.fm Best of 2008. The song was used in an advertising campaign for Apple's iPod and iTunes Store while Coldplay performed the song live for the first time at the 2008 MTV Movie Awards. Two versions of the music video were released, one directed by Hype Williams, and the other, an homage to the music video for Depeche Mode's Enjoy the Silence, by Anton Corbijn. Unlike the typical arrangement of Coldplay songs, in which the piano and/or guitar dominate, "Viva la Vida" mostly consists of a string section playing the song's upbeat riff, along with a steady bass drum beat, bass guitar, and Chris Martin's vocals. Coldplay were the first British group to hit #1 on the Hot 100 for over ten years. The previous British group to top the US singles chart was the Spice Girls with Wannabe in February 1997. (See http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=11520 for plenty more trivia on "Viva La Vida"). The california based hip-hop/reggae band Dirtyheads cover this song. The BBC reports (Dec 5th 2008) that Coldplay are being sued over this song by Joe Satriani for plagiarism of his tune If I Could Fly. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7766683.stm 'Viva La Vida' is the title track from Coldplay's hugely successful fourth studio album. It shot to the top spot in the UK charts on download sales alone scoring the band their first ever UK number one single in June 2008.

[Verse 1: Chris Martin] I used to rule the world Seas would rise when I gave the word Now in the morning I sleep alone Sweep the streets I used to own [Verse 2: Chris Martin] 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 salt and pillars of sand [Chorus: Chris Martin] 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't explain Once you'd gone there was never Never an honest word And that was when I ruled the world [Verse 3: Chris Martin] It was the wicked and wild wind Blew down the doors to let me in Shattered windows and the sound of drums People couldn't 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? [Chorus: Chris Martin] 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't explain I know Saint Peter won't call my name Never an honest word But that was when I ruled the world [Bridge: Will, Jonny, Guy, Brian] Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh [Breakdown: Chris Martin & Will, Jonny, Guy & Brian] (Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh) I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing (Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh) Roman Cavalry choirs are singing (Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh) Be my mirror, my sword and shield (Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh) My missionaries in a foreign field (Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh) For some reason I can't explain (Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh) I know Saint Peter won't call my name Never an honest word But that was when I ruled the world [Outro] Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm Mmm, mmm...