Artwork from Coldplay's Latest Album

A year ago, I really did not like music. To a certain extent, I still dislike music to this day. I can’t stand rap (for philosophical reasons because it’s awful) or country music (because it’s just bad). I almost changed my tune (no pun intended) when Coldplay came out with their new album a few weeks ago. First, I just downloaded “Viva la Vida” after hearing it in an iPod + iTunes commercial, but after a few days of trying to resist, I downloaded the whole album. I still dislike most music, but I’m a bit of a Coldplay crazy now!

Coldplay has managed to blend excellent music with provocative lyrics. Alternative music groups have a tendency to make their lyrics so outlandish that you are more likely to find their meaning by visiting your local astrologist and using a decoder ring than listening to and thinking about the lyrics. Viva la Vida is probably the most played song from the new album, but the song also has the most interesting lyrics. The song begins:

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

The song is what somebody with whom I work would call “kill yourself music.” I admit the song isn’t upbeat, but the lyrics are fascinating. I can’t post them here for copyright reasons, but the song is about a fallen hero. I’ve often wondered what happens when people fade from the spotlight and this song expresses that. After the Clinton years, for example, I wondered how Clinton coped with moving from a busy life as commander-in-chief to the memoir-writer-in-chief.

Coldplay isn’t afraid to leave several minutes of silence, either. “Life in Technicolor” has about a minute without vocals at one point.

Other great songs include ” Clocks“, from an earlier album (with a great piano section you may recognize) and “Lost!” from this album. Even the people that don’t usually like this type of music should at least listen to “Viva la Vida.” It remains my favorite.