Today I’m playing a Coldplay classic, Viva la Vida. In Spanish it can mean either “live the life” or “long live life”, and it the song was inspired by a Frida Kahlo painting. The artist had suffered considerable pain through polio and a broken spine, but nevertheless embraced life, inscribing the words “Viva La Vida” on one of her most well-known paintings.

There’s a huge amount of energy in this song, helped by the strings arrangement which keeps it moving at a fairly fast pace. I may have run away with myself a bit in this one, but I hope you enjoy it anyway!

First time on the site? Find out more about the 365 Songs project, listen to my previous Coldplay songs, or see all of my March songs here.