Song: Viva la vida-Coldplay

I present my research on "Viva la Vida" by the great English band Coldplay, a song that exalts us from its title in Spanish and the way this name came about incorporating Mexican art and the Spanish language, to the depth of the lyrics in each verse alluding to the French Revolution and its events, to then be shown to the world through the international English language.

The following definitely exalts language, culture, art, history and geography.

"VIVA LA VIDA" (Coldplay)

Coldplay is a British rock band formed in London, England, in 1996. They are considered by music experts to be one of the most important acts of the first decade of the 21st century.
Coldplay began when Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland met in 1996 at university in London and formed a band called Pectoralz. Shortly after, one of their classmates, Guy Berryman, joined, and the talented Martin also invited Phil Harvey, a school friend. Will Champion joined the band on percussion. They began playing at small events and clubs around the city, eager to move forward and pursue their artistic endeavors. In 1997, they permanently changed their name to Coldplay.
Now we'll talk about Viva la Vida, the song I chose as a cultural and historical bridge between Mexico, France, and England.
When Chris Martin visited Mexico, he was in the middle of a museum and was amazed to see a painting of Frida Kahlo on a wall. He knew the pain and suffering she had endured in the process of painting it, giving it its proper name, "Viva la Vida." At 2 a.m., a soft melody came to Chris Martin's mind. He went downstairs, played the piano, and the next chords came quickly. They worked for a year to record the song. It was a quick idea, but a long process to complete.
The song's lyrics primarily focus on King XVI of France and recount in the first person what happened to him before and during the French Revolution. The song begins with his experiences at the beginning of his reign and up until his own death, beheaded by the guillotine by revolutionaries in front of the people in Paris, on what was then the Place de la Révolution and is now called Place de la Concorde. Coldplay bassist Berryman states: "Viva la Vida is the story of a king who lost his kingdom, and all the artwork on the album is based on revolutionaries and guerrillas."

This is regularly explained and recounted in several of the verses; "I used to rule the world, the seas rose when I ruled it, now in the morning I sleep alone." This means that the king, who had absolute power, was now defeated, humiliated, and imprisoned by the revolutionaries in the Consegerie Palace, a palace turned prison where he would spend his last days, separated from Queen Marie Antoinette and his three children.
"I heard the people singing, 'Now that the king is dead, long live the king!'" This meant that, due to the death of King Louis XV from smallpox, his grandson would become King Louis XVI of France. In response to these events, the courtiers shouted in the corridors: "The old king is dead, long live the king!"

"For a minute I had the key, then the walls were closed against me. And I discovered that my castles were built on pillars of salt and sand."
It means that the king had been known for his debauchery and neglect of France in his later years, and his death was a relief to the people who had long lived in poverty and saw in a young 19-year-old king a hope for change. When King Louis XVI was king, he thought that by having absolute power, he had only become a king of a nation on the road to decline.

"My missionaries are a foreign field."
Louis XVI was a wise and intelligent king; he loved geography, and that's why he sent people to study countries.

"For some reason I can't explain, once you were gone, there was never, ever an honest word. That's how it was when I ruled the world."

Broken windows and the sound of drums, people couldn't believe what I had become."
This means that many would remember him as an evil king, but others, on the other hand, as a king who, despite difficulties, did not shed blood. In this way, only the king's own blood could be shed.
"The revolutionaries wait for my head on a silver platter, just a puppet on a lonely string.
Oh, who would want to be king!"
This part of the song is exclusive, and it's certainly known that it speaks of Louis XVI, who was condemned to the guillotine by the revolutionaries. This man didn't even want to be king due to many factors, including his age, and he prayed to God for help. So here comes the verse:
"Who Would Want to Be King?"
"Viva la Vida" is an iconic song by the English band Coldplay. In 2008, it sold 6.8 million copies and won a Grammy Award in 2009.
In this vein, "Viva la Vida" became an anthem of international music in the 21st century.

History

Singapore was known as Temasek in the 14th century and was an important trading port where diverse cultures converged. In the 19th century, the British established a colony on the island, turning it into a key trading center. During World War II, it was under Japanese occupation, and in 1965 it gained independence, becoming a sovereign nation.

Culture

Singapore's culture is a blend of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and European influences. It is known as a place where "East meets West" due to its cultural diversity. Official languages ​​include English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil, reflecting its linguistic richness. Furthermore, cuisine is a key element of its identity, with iconic dishes such as chili crab and laksa.

Analysis

Singapore is a nation with a native Malay language and other official languages, one of which is English as the primary means of communication among its inhabitants. Furthermore, it is considered a disciplined country because it stands out for its strict laws and social rules.
Its multicultural identity defines it as a country full of social interests, such as customs, traditions, and languages ​​combined by the diverse population from English, Malaysian, Chinese, and Indian cultures. It is one of the first countries in the world to have overpopulation within its national territory.
This country, despite its diversity of beliefs and religious values, is known as a free and thinking country. This freedom of beliefs and personal roots, with tolerance being a common factor in communication and interaction between people, characterizing it as a fascinating society both for coexistence and tourism, since its variety of buildings are an attraction for visitors.

"Viva la Vida" helps us understand that an artistic painting from beyond the sea can transform the life of one person, but it will later transform the lives of hundreds of people who, simply by hearing the song, can feel great emotions and learn about history and culture through a wonderful language that reaches every corner of the earth, like English.

The song narrates the voice of a figure who once ruled, but is now merely a spectator of his own downfall. Its lyrics evoke images of the French Revolution and the ephemeral power of great leaders. On a cultural level, "Viva la Vida" can be interpreted as a reminder of the fragility of power and the constant reinvention of societies. Furthermore, it's clear that the title of Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" is a Spanish language, indicating that the author wanted to highlight this language and also the origin of the song, exalting the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and her suffering while creating this painting, which greatly inspired the band in working on this major musical project.

From a global perspective, the song's message transcends politics and delves into the human psyche. It explores regret, nostalgia, and transformation, elements present in the cultural changes of any society.

On the other hand, Singapore is an emblematic case of cultural and economic transformation. Since its independence in 1965, Singapore has grown from a small island with limited resources to a financial and technological powerhouse that has managed to stabilize many of its neighbors and residents. The strong leadership of figures like Lee Kuan Yew was key in this process, but it also faced criticism for the lack of democratic freedoms at certain times in its history. In fact, it is thought that Singapore's rules are still strict, but at the same time, they are necessary for order and control, as it is impossible to analyze and make negative criticisms when the country has been slowly developing in the world.

If compared to the message of "Long Live Life," parallels can be found. The vision of a powerful ruler leaving his legacy, nostalgia for times past, and the questioning of success in the face of human costs are themes that could be applied to Singapore's development. The song and the history of Singapore can be seen as examples of evolution and change, reminding us that no period of power lasts forever and that a country's culture is always reinventing itself. In addition to this, and the big difference between these two themes is that Viva la Vida highlights the fall of a great kingdom, while Singapore is an example of great hard work to build a powerful nation.

Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" and the history of Singapore share a profound reflection on the nature of power, change, and memory. Both show us that greatness, however impressive, is fleeting, and that the true importance of a leader or a society lies in how they transform their legacy and learn from their past.

• Vera Da Silva Sinha; Ana Moreno-Núñez; Zhen Tian. Language, Culture and Identity – Signs of Life. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2020. v. 00013. https://research-ebsco-com.bibliotecavirtual.unad.edu.co/linkprocessor/plink?id=4f2b0896-8416-3e52-b104-dd45b5e15617