Litwit Lounge discussion

Is anyone else familiar with this song by Coldplay? If you ever listen to contemporary music, it would be hard to have missed hearing it this past year. I've been fascinated with it for months. Not just the tune but the lyrics themselves which seem to lend themselves to a multitude of interpretations: from Jesus and Napoleon to King Louis XVI and paganism. I think, however, that the artwork and comments from the band point towards the French Revolution although the youtube video connecting it with Marie Antoinette is the most captivating.

The following is not the band's official video, which has been taken off youtube because of a 'deal gone bad' with them and Warner.

>Viva La Vida


Viva La Vida with scenes from the Marie Antoinette movie



Thoughts? comments?

I am not familiar with this song at all altho I loved this movie. Which reminds me I have to hint for a copy of it. The song doesn't seem to go with the movie at all to me. I prefer music of the time to go with movies set long ago. I am glad you reminded me of this movie as Sex with the Queen portrayed as practically being an idiot. If would have escaped if she had not insisted on having her royal coach to escape in (Sex with the Queen).
I loathed The Duchess as Ralph Fiennes portrayed such a rotten bastard. I adored him in The English Patient and own that soundtrack which is great. I also like Out of Africa sound track and Munich soundtrack alth I didn't see the movie as feared it would be too upsetting.
I even got annoyed with Twilight as Edward and Bella listened to Debussy in his car but it was not in the movie. However, the movie overall was excellent.

I didn't care much for The Duchess. Yes, the costumes were beautiful but there's no story here, just the sordid details of infidelity.

The Viva La Vida song wasn't actually in the Marie Antoinette movie, someone just set the lyrics to scenes to make that youtube video. I thought the lyrics themselves fit very well with the scenes. The movie itself did have today's contemporary music, and at first I thought it was strange but after awhile it began to work for me. :)

I love the song, and was glad to hear it won a 2008 Grammy Award.

What a good analysis of The Duchess. You wrote the exact truth about it in just a few words.

I will have to try again to listen to it but my husband is asleep and often he can hear every little noise!

I love the song. It's brilliant. As you said, Reggia, there's a lot open to interpretation. I actually like that entire album a lot. It's a different side of Coldplay.

I keep running across a coldplay CD my son left me and I don't like it at all. Maybe its to remind me to check this one out next time I go to Borders. I can listen in there to see if I like the album enough to buy it. Viva la Vida? I need to write this down maybe but if I go in and say this years number one they should get it for me, right?

Today we listened to the sound track from The Last of The Mohicans which we both love and agree on. I tend to love movie soundtracks. I like The English Patient, Out of Africa and Munchen.

Callista wrote: I love the song. It's brilliant. As you said, Reggia, there's a lot open to interpretation. I actually like that entire album a lot. It's a different side of Coldplay.

Yes, brilliant, that's it! I have it on my cellphone. I don't know all their songs but there are several others I enjoy, too: Clocks, Speed of Sound, Violet Hill...


Alice, you can listen to it just by clicking the youtube link in my first post.

I heard people complain that "Clocks" got played too much, but I've never gotten tired of it. I also really like "The Scientist" and "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face" from the same album "Clocks" is on ("Rush of Blood to the Head"), as well as "Speed of Sound" and "Moses". I think the band is definitely improving with age.

I haven't known much or even recognized their music until this past year or so. Thankfully, I have not grown tired of hearing their songs.

Oh, okay, after just listening on youtube, I realize I have heard The Scientist before, and I kinda like the lyrics on God Put a Smile. Those two and Moses seem a little different but I don't dislike them -- they seem to have a somewhat relaxing style to them. :)