金曲｜Viva la Vida：生命万岁
Coldplay are an English alternative rock band formed in London in 1998. The group comprises Chris Martin (lead vocals, keyboards, guitar), Jonny Buckland (lead guitar), Guy Berryman (bass guitar), and Will Champion (drums, backing vocals, other instruments). Coldplay's early material was compared to acts such as Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, U2, and Travis. They achieved worldwide fame with the release of the single Yellow, followed by their debut album, Parachutes (2000), which was nominated for the Mercury Prize. The band's second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), won multiple awards, including NME's Album of the Year. Their next release, X&Y (2005), received a slightly less enthusiastic yet still generally positive reception. The band's fourth studio album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), was produced by Brian Eno and released again to largely favourable reviews, earning several Grammy nominations and wins. Coldplay have sold over 50 million records worldwide.
Since the release of Parachutes, Coldplay have drawn influence from other sources, including Echo & the Bunnymen, Kate Bush, George Harrison and Museon A Rush of Blood to the Head, Johnny Cash and Kraftwerk for X&Y and Blur, Arcade Fire and My Bloody Valentine on “Viva la Vida”. Coldplay have been an active supporter of various social and political causes, such as Oxfam's Make Trade Faircampaign and Amnesty International. The group have also performed at various charity projects such as Band Aid 20, Live 8, Sound Relief, and the Teenage Cancer Trust.
歌词中提到的耶路撒冷的钟声、罗马骑兵的合唱、传教士深入远疆，这些都不是国王亲眼所见，而是他的想象。这就跟秦始皇在位时想象着自己的子孙和皇朝可以千秋万代一样。这种想象是虚幻不实的。与这种想象形成落差的是，国王本人现在要死了。马上就要上断头台了，这才是真实的。换句话说，死亡才是真实的。就是在这样即将要死的一刻，他才领悟到，即面对死亡的现在这一刻活着的自己才是真实的。他感受到了这种真实，并且看到了在位统治时的不真实。在他生命周期要完成的这一刻，这些领悟就是他得到的东西。他也只是从这一真实的领悟中感受到了自己生命的一点所得和意义，这使他最终获得了与墨西哥人一样面对死亡的勇气和豁达。
这首歌的主题关于生与死，怎样面对死的映照着待生。只有赋予生以意义和过得真实，才能获得直面死亡的勇气和豁达。《生命万岁》在如柴可夫斯基般的行板中层层推进，激昂的弦乐再次取代吉他成为了乐章里呼风唤雨的角色。如果说酷玩的《紫罗兰山丘》还显得有点儿沉闷，那么《生命万岁》则要轻快许多。除了成员们光鲜的外型外，鼓手威尔·查平更是丢掉架子鼓，转而敲起大鼓和大钟。气势和华丽在《生命万岁》中得到完美的诠释，相比于《紫罗兰山丘》，这首歌更有一击致命的能力。
I used to rule the world
大千世界曾由我主宰
Seas would rise when I gave the word
巨浪也曾因我之命澎湃
Now in the morning I sleep alone
而今我却在黎明独自入眠
Sweep the streets I used to own
在曾属于我的大道落寞徘徊
I used to roll the dice
凡人生死曾由我主宰
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
尽情品味惊恐在死敌瞳孔绽开
Listen as the crowd would sing:
欣然倾听百姓高歌喝彩：
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"
“先王亡矣！新王万代！”
One minute I held the key
此刻我手握权位经脉
Next the walls were closed on me
转瞬才知宫墙深似海
And I discovered that my castles stand
恍然发现我的城池
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
基底散如盐沙乱似尘埃
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
听那耶路撒冷钟声传来
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
罗马骑兵歌声震彻山海
Be my mirror my sword and shield
担当我的明镜，利剑和盾牌
My missionaries in a foreign field
我的传教士屹立边疆之外
For some reason I can't explain
只因一些缘由我无法释怀
Once you go there was never, never an honest word
一旦你离开这里便不再， 不再有逆耳忠言存在
That was when I ruled the world
而这便是我统治的时代
It was the wicked and wild wind
凛冽邪风呼啸袭来
Blew down the doors to let me in
吹散重门使我深陷阴霾
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
断壁残垣礼崩乐坏
People couldn't believe what I'd become
世人不敢相信我已当年不再
Revolutionaries wait
起义大军翘首期待
For my head on a silver plate
有朝一日我站上断头台
Just a puppet on a lonely string
恰如傀儡随吊线寂寞摇摆
Oh who would ever want to be king?
悲哉，谁又曾渴望万人膜拜？
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
听那耶路撒冷钟声传来
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
罗马骑兵歌声震彻山海 担
Be my mirror my sword and shield
担当我的明镜，利剑和盾牌
My missionaries in a foreign field
我的传教士屹立边疆之外
For some reason I can't explain
只因一些缘由我无法释怀
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
我亦知天堂之门不会为我敞开
Never an honest word
不再有逆耳忠言存在
But that was when I ruled the world
但这却是我统治的时代
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