Tuesday, April 5, 2011

A Story in a Song

Viva la Vida - Coldplay
Plot: The king of France, isn't a good king. Isn't treating the people very generously. Makes them starve, isn't giving them enough food or clothing or anything, taxing them more than they can afford... basically all the bad things every other tyrant has done in the past. The song basically goes through all the things that happen to him and his kingdom as it falls. And bites the dust. Hard.
Characters: King Phillip, the people/inhabitants of France being mistreated, narrator (I think he's talking in the voice of the king, but I'm not 100% sure, so don't quote me on that.)
Setting: France, 1700s (ish)
Theme: Frustration and anger with the king. Confusion - Phillip's confused because he doesn't understand that not feeding people kills them. Weird how that happens, y'know? With, like, every tyrant or annarchist. Ever.
Conflict: Subjects of the kingdom don't want to be treated poorly anymore, like dirt, so they want to dethrone him. Or kill him. Unfortunate for him.

Geek in the Pink - Jason Mraz
Plot: A guy really likes this girl. He's describing how he feels about fitting in and doesn't care what other people think. He's telling the girl that she's going to regret it if she lets him slip away. He can save her from "unoriginal dumb-dumbs" who "wouldn't care if they complete her or not", which there are too many of in this world, IMHO.
Characters: Geek in the Pink (my idol), girl he likes
Setting: Uh, not really known or described. I'll just guess as a social setting or something...
Theme: Undying love and adoration. If you plead and wish enough, things might start looking up. Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.
Conflict: Cupid "must have fired multiple shots at her" because she "falls in love too often". That's what's the matter. She doesn't know who she loves. He likes her, but she doesn't know if she likes him or not.

2 comments:

  1. Viva La Vida has one of the weirder stories for a song that I think I have ever heard. I wonder what the band members thought when the idea was presented. 'Really? A song about a king that was in some history book in Jr. High? We cant think of anything better than that?'

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  2. i agree with good old quentin but i like the song ok. you did a good job bro

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