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Coldplay — Viva la Vida
Album: Viva la Vida
Avg rating:
6.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 951









Released: 2008
Length: 3:57
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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

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

I hear Jerusalem bells a 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 go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

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?

I hear Jerusalem bells a 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

I hear Jerusalem bells a 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
Comments (304)add comment
Ahh...intermission time...later
this song has a pretty unusual rating distribution.
Please Bill, stop supporting this worldwide Coldplay hype! Play much less Coldplay, there is so much more great music from not so well known bands...
 mread wrote:
Does not age well.  6 {#Arrow} 5
 
Agreed. Time to bump it down....   oh....     it's already pegged at 1.   {#Cheesygrin}


 floydoftherocks wrote:
yuck why can't RP be one place i don't have to listen to this SHIT??

to boot they stole this song from some no-name indie band..
 

C'mon, this is a great tune.  Thanks Joe!
Your argument would be less lame if this wasn't good music.  Deal with it.
 
floydoftherocks wrote:
yuck why can't RP be one place i don't have to listen to this SHIT??
 


yuck why can't RP be one place i don't have to listen to this SHIT??

to boot they stole this song from some no-name indie band..
Does not age well.  6 {#Arrow} 5

This song was used it for Guardiola (trainer of the F.C. Barcelona - Barça) to motivate the players and it was worked!! They won the league, europe cup's and all the titles!! {#Dance}

sorry for my english!! I'm learning {#Roflol}
 horstman wrote:

I heard Son Volt at "Home Depot"! WTF.
 
I realize Son Volt has been mammothly eclipsed by Wilco since Uncle Tupe splintered, but when I first read that, I imagined Jay Farrar & the Boys were really having a tough time of it lately, taking any friggin' gig they can get!

God this is good for the ears on a Monday morning, despite all the haters
POPISSIMO!   Too bad. Their first album, and for sure their first EPs were so good.
I wonder how many "Coldplay-haters" here are "Coldplay-haters" because it's much cooler to hate 'em than to like 'em... {#Cheesygrin}
I'm not a CP hater, but this one's definitely overplayed, at least here in the Netherlands, so i wouldn't mind not hearing this one for the next couple of years...
I am just so sick of this song, it's an instant mute for me. . .
 vandal wrote:
ok - all kidding aside, I hear this cut in the grocery store, the elevator, in commercials, as football bumper music, and I'm sure that if I listened to broadcast FM radio I would be bombarded by it there too. . .

Can I just lodge a friendly complaint that I would really enjoy NOT hearing here on Radioparadise? 

This is my refuge from all of the above. . .

fingers in ears
 
I heard Son Volt at "Home Depot"! WTF. I never would even of known who it was if it weren't for RP.

On the other hand, before the Porcupine Tree concert in Buffalo in May, I heard "Time Flies" on the jukebox at TGIFridays! But I think the hostess was just playing the audience for a better tip. And it worked!

Coldplay is one of those like/dislike bands. I am still on the fence with these guys. But I mostly dislike their music. Oh well, at least Bill followed this up with Wish You Were Here.

All is forgiven.

 AliGator wrote:
I don't care. I LOVE this song.
 
Same here.

 bobringer wrote:
Is this Joe Satriani?
 

nope just plagerism
This track seriously blows.
I don't know what this song is (okay yes I do by looking at Now Playing  LOL), but I'm bopping my head around while I'm working.  That is a very good thing, so I have to give it a 9.
 AliGator wrote:
I don't care. I LOVE this song.
 
Same here.
Decent.  Needs more church bell.
This song is so unbelievably annoying in so very many ways.
 rtb wrote:
Anyone else know of another situation in which a horrendously crappy fourth album sends a band into the stratosphere of popularity, when it should otherwise cause the band's rapid demise?
 
no, but if you'll hum a few bars, i'll fake it


Not their best, but  as a fan i love this too!!

I don't care. I LOVE this song.

"Acknowledgements to the original Cat Stevens 1973 classic Foreigner Suite are due"

"enough is enough"
 


  And may you never let the music stop! (Sorry this stuff is maddening I really am only one person among many giants, including you)
 
jlind wrote:

 Are you guys having fun yet?

https://jasonlind.wordpress.com/ <— chaos is order, hot is cold, P is NP... everything we ever knew is right and wrong at the same time Q.E.D.

Read the top, then the bottom and make the middle truly your own!!!!! :) :) :)

Bill is the greatest living proof I know of that, and thank you all for playing so effectively.

Sincerely,

Jason L Lind
President / Chief Software Architect
Lind Innovation


 


 Are you guys having fun yet?

https://jasonlind.wordpress.com/ <— chaos is order, hot is cold, P is NP... everything we ever knew is right and wrong at the same time Q.E.D.

Read the top, then the bottom and make the middle truly your own!!!!! :) :) :)

Bill is the greatest living proof I know of that, and thank you all for playing so effectively.

Sincerely,

Jason L Lind
President / Chief Software Architect
Lind Innovation


 spigolli wrote:
What a bunch of contrarian whiners hang out here.  A great tune is a great tune regardless of its exposure.
 

Absolutely, and a suck ass song is a suck ass song regardless of its exposure too!
 The_Shrike wrote:
Reports of Chris Martin's ridiculously huge ego make it harder to appreciate the good music that Cold Play produce.  I just have to take a deep breath...
 

Oh God, it's the Bono factor all over again. Just listen to the music.... it's actually not bad.
Bland.
 spigolli wrote:
What a bunch of contrarian whiners hang out here.  A great tune is a great tune regardless of its exposure.
 
Yo!  Some can't handle it I guess.......

 tenacious_v wrote:


I think we're married to the same person!
 
{#Roflol}

What a bunch of contrarian whiners hang out here.  A great tune is a great tune regardless of its exposure.
Ya know, when I first heard this song, I thought wow, this is incredibly horrible, but to my amazement the more and more I listened, I hated it even more when I thought that was not possible!!{#Eek}


 vandal wrote:
ok - all kidding aside, I hear this cut in the grocery store, the elevator, in commercials, as football bumper music, and I'm sure that if I listened to broadcast FM radio I would be bombarded by it there too. . .

Can I just lodge a friendly complaint that I would really enjoy NOT hearing here on Radioparadise? 

This is my refuge from all of the above. . .

fingers in ears
 
agreed. Why,apparently suddenly, all of this Coldplay "airplay" on RP ?
ok - all kidding aside, I hear this cut in the grocery store, the elevator, in commercials, as football bumper music, and I'm sure that if I listened to broadcast FM radio I would be bombarded by it there too. . .

Can I just lodge a friendly complaint that I would really enjoy NOT hearing here on Radioparadise? 

This is my refuge from all of the above. . .

fingers in ears


I'm am no Coldplay h8er but this song sucks.


 TeleFrank wrote:

No, it's Steve Vai {#Silenced}
 
Joe Satriani ~taught~ Steve Vai how to play. They are friends as well as mentor/student. It was a Joe Satriani instrumental "If I Could Fly" that the Coldplay guitarist used whether he intended to or not.

To RedGuitar
: Satriani & Coldplay have reached a settlement, however they chose not to make the details public. 
First comment from the phone. Watch out RP!
 Forest267 wrote:
My kids don't know anything about music, but they like this song. They say it makes them happy. Perhaps if I didn't know everything that I know about music and what good music is supposed to be, my feelings about Coldplay, my impressions of Chris Martin, who ripped off what song or who borrowed from who... and just listen to the song.... Wow. It's pretty good. Thanks, kids.
 
It makes me happy each time I listen to it, with intensity. It's jubilant.
I walk with this in the streets of Beijing and nothing matters, nor the crowded sidewalks, neither the grey avenues. Just incredibly happy.
Bravo per Bambini!


Pablum.  Pure top forty pablum!
 Forest267 wrote:
My kids don't know anything about music, but they like this song. They say it makes them happy. Perhaps if I didn't know everything that I know about music and what good music is supposed to be, my feelings about Coldplay, my impressions of Chris Martin, who ripped off what song or who borrowed from who... and just listen to the song.... Wow. It's pretty good. Thanks, kids.
 
Yeh, kinda like George AND the Beatles all rolled into ONE!

My kids don't know anything about music, but they like this song. They say it makes them happy. Perhaps if I didn't know everything that I know about music and what good music is supposed to be, my feelings about Coldplay, my impressions of Chris Martin, who ripped off what song or who borrowed from who... and just listen to the song.... Wow. It's pretty good. Thanks, kids.
Highly overrated band. Nevertheless good for the ears, better than most.
 rtb wrote:
Anyone else know of another situation in which a horrendously crappy fourth album sends a band into the stratosphere of popularity, when it should otherwise cause the band's rapid demise?
 

maybe it's because the album isn't as horrendously crappy as you think it is. I liked this one. It's not stellar, but it's decent, and there are some inklings that the boys are finally finding their own style.
 The_Shrike wrote:
Reports of Chris Martin's ridiculously huge ego make it harder to appreciate the good music that Cold Play produce.  I just have to take a deep breath...
 

I don't understand these problems with the ego of the lead singer. The fact is, that if you're going to get up in front of tens of thousands of people and perform your work for them, 300 or more nights a year, for however many years, you need to have a big ego. One could argue that a "big ego" is a requirement for the job. Why then should we have so much trouble tolerating this ego in performers who give us pleasure? 

Besides, as far as frontmen go, I always thought Chris Martin has much less ego than most: if you've ever heard him in interviews, he's always quick to credit his, er, influences, and downplay his own talent. Much different than some of the performers he still idolizes. 
 The_Shrike wrote:
Reports of Chris Martin's ridiculously huge ego make it harder to appreciate the good music that Cold Play produce.  I just have to take a deep breath...
 
Why couldn't he be normal, like Tiger Woods?! {#Mad}

Anyone else know of another situation in which a horrendously crappy fourth album sends a band into the stratosphere of popularity, when it should otherwise cause the band's rapid demise?
That "chop chop chop" of the strings brings this down
I find the song bland and I'm not entirely sure why. Something about it just gives me the impression that they phoned it in. Hard to put my finger on what, exactly.

Mind you, it's not a BAD song. Maybe you just need to be in the right mood...

It gets the "meh" score from me: 5

Reports of Chris Martin's ridiculously huge ego make it harder to appreciate the good music that Cold Play produce.  I just have to take a deep breath...
surprises me that people find this song so objectionable.   i find it very pleasant.   i like it, good song!
 Silent_Voodoo wrote:
Best. Song. Ever.

(Honest)
 
Ever?  EVER??  Let's re-think that one, OK?


Cat Stevens - "The Foreigner Suite Part II (1973):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmOXNlID2Xs


Cat Stevens - "The Foreigner Suite" Part II (1973):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GqBn8hP-QQ

"Cat Stevens: 'Coldplay stole my song!' "

"Acknowledgements to the original Cat Stevens 1973 classic Foreigner Suite are due" 


 AdyMiles wrote:

actually, you clearly can't see that all of the low ratings add up to at least as much as the high ones

most of us have good taste

that said, parts of this song have merit... it's just his voice that ruins it
 
Ady Ady Ady.......who do you mean when you say "us"? 

Do you have a roomful of people with you right now, or just many personalities?

Or are you trying to imply that the "us" you refer to are other listeners who comment on these pages in an attempt conjure up an imaginary majority of people who support your opinion?

That said, .... I'm not even sure what your vague definition of good taste is, or if you even have what would be considered good taste, I believe you only have an opinion.

 Bruceg wrote:
this song has great lyrics and melody. Should have a higher rating IMHO.
 
Probably the Coldplay Backlash Syndrome.

this song has great lyrics and melody. Should have a higher rating IMHO.
Anybody heard how the lawsuit vs. Joe Satriani is progressing?
oh oh oh oh singing, together with 65.000 other people at the live concert, fantastic experience!{#Hearteyes}
hahahahahaha{#Lol}
 
peter_james_bond wrote:

{#Think}

Match

Still doesn't compute:

Cartoon
 


 Silent_Voodoo wrote:
Best. Song. Ever.

(Honest)
 
{#Roflol}


Best. Song. Ever.

(Honest)
 AdyMiles wrote:

actually, you clearly can't see that all of the low ratings add up to at least as much as the high ones

most of us have good taste

that said, parts of this song have merit... it's just his voice that ruins it
 

The "parts that have merit"...did Joe Satriani write those too?   TEE HEE!
 jagdriver wrote:
This is getting too much rotation.
 

Agreed. Enough already.
This is getting too much rotation.
 AdyMiles wrote:
actually, you clearly can't see that all of the low ratings add up to at least as much as the high ones

most of us have good taste

that said, parts of this song have merit... it's just his voice that ruins it
 
{#Think}

Match

Still doesn't compute:

Cartoon

 peter_james_bond wrote:

Is this your justification for not opening your wallet? Pretty pathetic. Based on the ratings it looks like Coldplay probably brings in more donations then it scares away.

 
actually, you clearly can't see that all of the low ratings add up to at least as much as the high ones

most of us have good taste

that said, parts of this song have merit... it's just his voice that ruins it


 ballyhairs wrote:
As long as ColdPlay exists on RP I will not donate, and I mean it
 
Is this your justification for not opening your wallet? Pretty pathetic. Based on the ratings it looks like Coldplay probably brings in more donations then it scares away.

ColdPlay are contemporary pop - what r  they doing on RP?
 oscar_driver wrote:
terrible ... I feel like a little girl listening to this hahaha
 
Yep... there is something about it that reminds me of an old AM radio hit @ Christmas time.

Lame, it is.
 ballyhairs wrote:
As long as({#Puke} ColdPlay) exists on RP I will not donate, and I mean it
 
That's OK.  Bill won't miss your $1.50.  I'm sure you can find some auto-shuffle deep indie channel to listen to.


terrible ... I feel like a little girl listening to this hahaha
 ballyhairs wrote:
As long as({#Puke} ColdPlay) exists on RP I will not donate, and I mean it
 
This, from a knucklehead who has rated exactly FIVE songs since joining RP in 2007?? 

stupid lyrics. what on earth is he on about? predictable music too, though good in parts and talented musicianship
 sal wrote:
Absolutely a great song. Went to one of their live concerts this summer - One of the best concerts I ever experienced!
 
I like some Coldplay songs, but they're not one of my favorites. Some of my husband's friends got us tickets so we went to see them last month. It was your typical big arena show. It reminded me of those old-style amusement park machines you put a quarter in and they do the same thing every time. Like robots. Zero connection with the audience (admittedly hard in a big arena, but I've seen it happen). Booooring. Might as well stay home and listen to a CD.

 ballyhairs wrote:
As long as({#Puke} ColdPlay) exists on RP I will not donate, and I mean it
ridiculous for you to think you have to like every single last song on the play list.  {#Iamwithstupid}

 


 sal wrote:
Absolutely a great song. Went to one of their live concerts this summer - One of the best concerts I ever experienced!
 
Alas some lack a musical ear. Each to their own

Absolutely a great song. Went to one of their live concerts this summer - One of the best concerts I ever experienced!


Yuck yuck yuck. Bad in so many ways. Weird meaningless lyrics, predictable music and weak slightly offtune vocals. PLEASE play less Coldplay! I also agree re the pop music comment

I'm so glad that we've past the stage where this was so overplayed on normal radio. Now we can enjoy it for the great song it is.

PS It would be interesting if all the hip Coldplay-haters would give us an objective reason for why they think this is so bad. Surely overplaying cannot change the inherent quality of a piece of music, just your reaction to it?

 robertwloch wrote:
Jeeze, if I wanted to listen to pop music I'd not listen to RP. Take this off the playlist please!
 

{#Yes}
Jeeze, if I wanted to listen to pop music I'd not listen to RP. Take this off the playlist please!
 audiophelia wrote:

Yes, it is.
 
No, it's Steve Vai {#Silenced}
I am a coldplay fan. I find the music is great, and so the lyrics are!
ewwww Thank GOD I switched when "Counting GRoOOOs" came in ...

 
 whtahtefcuk wrote:
My wife loves Cold Plays new album... But she also like Yanni live at the acropolis
 

I think we're married to the same person!
As long as({#Puke} ColdPlay) exists on RP I will not donate, and I mean it


 bobringer wrote:
Is this Joe Satriani?
 
Yes, it is.
 lawman wrote:

I only ever listen to RP, so this is the only place I get to hear it! Mrgreen

9 or even 10 BTW
 
Exactly.  The rating too.

 bseib wrote:
please, please, PLEASE, permanently remove this song from the playlist Bill. It's ratings suffer, which reflects how musically insulting it is.

(Plus, I get tired of muting it, and then forget to unmute, and then I miss good RP stuff that plays later. Dammit!)
 
I have the same muting problem any time Coldplay or Natalie Merchant comes on LOL!!! Forget to turn the volume back up!
please, please, PLEASE, permanently remove this song from the playlist Bill. It's ratings suffer, which reflects how musically insulting it is.

(Plus, I get tired of muting it, and then forget to unmute, and then I miss good RP stuff that plays later. Dammit!)
 fatcatjb wrote:
Coldplay seems to be a popular band but they just don't do much for me...perhaps my loss

I have a very high tolerance of odd behavior, but their performance on SNL was just plain goofy/weird 
 
Saturday Night Live has turned into a goofy, weird parody of itself so Coldplay acting that way was probably appropriate.

I can take or leave Coldplay.  They put out some solid commercial product just like Bruce Springsteen (using what was played before them) and ELO (using what was played after).  All the indie angst here is amusing.

I'm still an Eno fan, but come on!....Josua Tree was 1987
(I still like the song...)
Man, doesn't get more mainstream for teen girls than this band, I wish mainstream was @ least a bit more hard to get ,, this is just Distilled overproduced easy music ... barf ...
Viva La Coldplay! {#Dancingbanana}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Dancingbanana}{#Bananajam}{#Wave} Ha Ha! That feels good!

Coldplay seems to be a popular band but they just don't do much for me...perhaps my loss

I have a very high tolerance of odd behavior, but their performance on SNL was just plain goofy/weird 
 thatch wrote:
I concur with the majority of negative comments here...blah
 
Concurrence:

This is sooooooo close to "easy listening" it's scary ... {#Curtain}
I concur with the majority of negative comments here...blah
 whtahtefcuk wrote:
My wife loves Cold Plays new album... But she also like Yanni live at the acropolis
 
My subscription to "Dynasty Weekly" ran out in '91...do you know if Yanni is still with Linda Evans?

Saw these guys live a couple years ago—free tix from my bro. I must say it was an excellent show.

Then again I feel like we got lucky. When I see them performing live, sometimes Chris is really solid and inside the music, and sometimes he's flailing around like a maniac, yelping and laughing, with no idea of his place in the music or the band. Like for example their appearance on Saturday Night Live a few months ago. Anyone else ever notice that?

I honestly wasn't a huge fan of Cold Play until I saw them live in 2005... it was an amazing concert, but I can't imagine getting very hyped up to see this song live compared to the likes of "Yellow"

blah...5
why only 6,2?...
 
nice song - #8 with no doubt!

Is this Joe Satriani?
like C P this #7
 jhorton wrote:
Can't detect an ounce of talent anywhere near these guys....
 
Dam it J!, where are they hiding that talent? It's gotta be there somewhere.Take them down to radiology and run some tests. A few X-Rays and an MRI scan should turn something up. If not, try an EKG and then an EEG. If that still doesn't pick up anything, try the electron microscope.
I thought the song was cute the first time or two I heard it.  Then it got to the point I wanted to hammer a nail into my head every time I heard it.  With all the wonderful music out there, I can't understand why this song got so highly rated by so many people.
Solid 2.

Why does this band get so much air play on such a great radio station?

This is like an AM station band. Can't detect an ounce of talent anywhere near these guys....

 
Did they get away with ripping off Joe Satriani in the end?
Too much Cold Play........more old play.
Looks like most of the people here have the right take on this one!{#Puke}
 whtahtefcuk wrote:
My wife loves Cold Plays new album... But she also like Yanni live at the acropolis
 

Hehehehehe!
My wife loves Cold Plays new album... But she also like Yanni live at the acropolis
 wenatchee wrote:

I agree on this song, but not the ratings of the band.  Let's see where the next couple of albums head off to
 
Or let's not!

 Mandible wrote:
this song just made me throw up in my mouth a little
 

oops...

Here

A very popular song in the amateur dance competition circuit this year.  My daughter dances, so I got to hear this tune at least a dozen times over the 2 days she competed in-town.  Not a bad tune, I guess, but I am suffering from overkill.  My daughter loves it though.
this song just made me throw up in my mouth a little

Coldplay  again? They are very boring!!!!