Viva La Vida by Coldplay (2008)

by David Doty

Coldplay‘s pop hit, Viva La Vida (2008), may have reason to be considered almost (ok, somewhat?) classical. I’ll spare you the recording and chart performance details (you can read about them on Wikipedia here). I am far more interested in what’s going on musically.

  
Somewhat Classical

What makes this pop song at least somewhat classical? For me it’s the refreshing use of strings  (strings? Yes, strings!), a synth patch that sounds like a hammered dulcimer, combined with the use of timpani, a bell, bass drum, and suspended cymbal in place of a typical drum/trap set.

The song is in common (4/4) meter throughout and begins with eight measures of introduction featuring the song-characterizing riff-loop of the strings. This riff-loop is pretty consistent throughout. The chord progression IV, V, I, vi is also used throughout as well as the bass drum pulse on every beat beginning with the entrance of lyrics in the first verse. The combination of the strings’ rhythmic activity and the bass drum’s consistent pulse provide momentum and propel the song forward.

Tension and Resolution

The song builds to the first chorus when all of the tension created by the strings, drum, and melody (generally higher frequencies, except drum) is finally released with the entrance of the bass guitar filling out the texture. This moment is suitably accompanied by a crescendo created by the timpani and suspended cymbal.

Word Painting

The chorus, containing the lyrics “I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing,” is nicely augmented by a bell struck on the off-beats (beats 2 and 4). This gives the chorus a brighter color (timbre) with the additional high frequencies.

Poignancy

A number of elements contribute to the poignancy of this song. The melody of the vocalist and the countermelody of the strings create and resolve many suspensions, thereby adding to the richness of the harmonic context. The particular chord progression used extensively throughout may add to the sense of poignancy. Additionally, the lively tempo (137 BPM according to someone on Wikipedia-Oh where is my metronome when I need one?) and upbeat feel of the rhythmic content contrasts sharply with the dismal lyrics of the song’s protagonist.

Final Thoughts

The constant rhythmic pulse of the bass drum in this song is nearly a sure-fire way to make listeners happy. The psychology behind this phenomena, however, is beyond the scope of this post. Yet this pulse is only one of the many elements that I appreciate about this song. I welcome the use of classical instruments. The repetition of the same four chords is not unusual but nevertheless an enjoyable progression. And the lyrics are interesting…

…But I will refrain from speculating on their meaning in this post.

To watch the official Coldplay Viva la Vida MV on YouTube, click here.

To buy the Coldplay Viva La Vida album or MP3 download, click here.