Coldplay’s Viva La Vida hit #1 in UK

Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends Coldplay

Released: May 26, 2008 Charted: June 15, 2008 Peak: 12 US, 15 UK, 15 CN, 14 AU Sales (in millions): 2.8 US, 1.5 UK, 10.5 world (includes US and UK) Genre: alternative rock/Britpop

Tracks: Song Title (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Life in Technicolor Cemeteries of London Lost! (6/21/08, 40 US, 1 AA, 10 MR, 54 UK, 55 CN) 42 Lovers in Japan (11/3/08, 39 RR, 19 A40, 3 AA) Yes Viva La Vida (5/24/08, 1 US, 11 RR, 1 AC, 1 A40, 1 AA, 1 MR, 1 UK, 4 CN, 2 AU) Violet Hill (5/9/08, 40 US, 1 AA, 9 MR, 8 UK, 6 CN, 9 AU) Strawberry Swing (9/13/09) Death and All His Friends Total Running Time: 45:49 The Players: Chris Martin (vocals, piano, synthesizers, guitar) Jonny Buckland (guitar, backing vocals) Guy Berryman (bass) Will Champion (drums, percussion, backing vocals)

Rating: 3.979 out of 5.00 (average of 21 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: “To say there has been a lot of anticipation for Coldplay’s fourth album, Viva La Vida, is an understatement. Having enlisted legendary leftfield producer Brian Eno, borrowed their album title from a painting by renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and made tantalising remarks about sonic reinvention, the world has been curious (to say the least) to hear what the ‘new’ Coldplay might sound like.” DM “Viva La Vida definitely makes some departures from the band’s usual formula, which happens to be one of the most commercially successful rock-pop blueprints of recent years. The plangent chords, emotive melodies, stadium-rock rhythms and universal lyrical concerns remain, but Martin and co. have gone out on several limbs here, incorporating instrumental tracks (Life in Technicolour), using subtle North African and Latin elements (Yes, Strawberry Swing), and overhauling previously strict verse-chorus-verse structures in favour of slightly more avant arrangements.” AZ “The old Coldplay still shine through (see tracks like Violet Hill and the title song) but even their classic sound feels more muscular and confident. The band’s new flourishes, cosmetic and self-conscious as they may be, are enough to make Viva La Vida a welcome break from the old routine.” AZ

Resources and Related Links: AZ Danny McKenna, Amazon.com WK Wikipedia Other Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/26/2008; last updated 5/1/2022.