Coldplay: Viva la Vida


My podcast is an analysis of Coldplay's newest album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends. My analysis focuses on the album's cover song, Viva la Vida, and the message(s) it tries to convey. I approach the song from a political and a religious angle. After that, there is a clip from Coldplay describing the meaning of the song's lyrics. I also briefly discuss how this album fits into the larger realm of literature.

I feel as if the speaking sections of my podcast are rough and need to be re-recorded. Some of my ideas could also be better developed and more clearly stated.

This assignment compelled me to take a closer look at the lyrics of songs. It also encouraged me to view songs from different angles and vantage points.

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Coldplay_ChristopherThompson.mp38.74 MB
Daniel Anderson's picture

Scott, I like the opening

Scott, I like the opening song—sets a nice tone. I wonder if things jumped in without the forecast if it might bring the reader in more quickly. Think about revising the lead-in to remove the address to the listener. Also, if you can tighten the narrative after the first verse it will keep things moving. In general, maybe coming up with one point to highlight after each segment will focus the narration. I’m feeling like there is a bit of explaining what the song says, rather than a sharper statement on what it means. I like that you are talking in detail about the elements of the song, but feel like a more focused discussion will make it stronger. For the interview, again editing the address to the listener can give you an opportunity to tie things together. Overall, I’m not sure that the religious piece is pulled through or the references to literature at the end. So, overall, maybe keeping it on the political, refining a few points to make about the song in terms of politics, and then reworking the narrations so that they get more at these points with less summarizing of what the lyrics say. The volume levels are good. Watch the popping and bumping of the microphone.

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