Hatrack River Forum: Coldplays Viva La Vida = Adam Worthing

This is topic Coldplays Viva La Vida = Adam Worthing in forum Discussions About Orson Scott Card at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Saiyah (Member # 12031) on :

I just read The Worthing Saga for the first time back in January. After I read it I heard Coldplay's Viva La Vida for the first time and I immediately thought of Adam Worthing! Anyone else???

Posted by LargeTuna (Member # 10512) on :

Welcome to the forums Saiyah! hehe now that you put it out there, I can definately see the connection. Good song, but better book. [Big Grin]

Posted by Saiyah (Member # 12031) on :

Thanks, love the book... and the song. I'll take an OSC book over just about any form of entertainment, hands down!

Posted by Dogbreath (Member # 11879) on :

hmmm... maybe OSC should jump on the bandwagon and sue Coldplay for stealing his material, too!

[Wink]

Posted by neo-dragon (Member # 7168) on :

The character who it really reminds me of is Paul Atreides from Dune. It sounds very much like it could be from his perspective just after the end of Dune Messiah.

*Edit to elaborate:
The line, "...Be my mirror, my sword and shield, my missionaries in a foreign field" sounds like a reference to the Fremen. Not to mention Paul's guilt ("...St. Peter won't call my name"), the resentment of his own fate ("just a puppet on a lonely string, who would ever want to be king?"), and those who conspired against him ("revolutionaries wait for my head on a silver plate").

But really, I know that the song can apply to just about any ruler who met a bad end.

Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :

I wonder what song goes with "Dune: House Atreides"?

"American Pie" comes to mind, but there's probably a better fit.

About that song:

quote:
The first English language cover version was by The Brady Bunch in 1972

I was already aware that the Brady Bunch was guilty of many crimes against humanity, but this is the first time I've considered capital punishment.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

quote:
*Edit to elaborate:
The line, "...Be my mirror, my sword and shield, my missionaries in a foreign field" sounds like a reference to the Fremen. Not to mention Paul's guilt ("...St. Peter won't call my name"), the resentment of his own fate ("just a puppet on a lonely string, who would ever want to be king?"), and those who conspired against him ("revolutionaries wait for my head on a silver plate").

Okay, I've never heard the song (yes, I do live under a rock, and like it here, thanks), but your quotations made me have to go look up the lyrics.

The allusions are much more sophisticated than I would expect from Coldplay (I guess I've never thought of them as that sophisticated, lyrically speaking.) Some are pretty basic ("St. Peter won't call me") but some are much more out of the realm of what I'd consider "average exposure" and much more subtle. Nice.

quote:
I was already aware that the Brady Bunch was guilty of many crimes against humanity, but this is the first time I've considered capital punishment.

I have to admit that the thought of the Brady Bunch singing "American Pie" does make me want to retch a bit.