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Only 2 days before the new year and, thus, the irritating sound of fireworks shot off by people too drunk to feel how cold it is outside at midnight, I prefer to think about some other topic — any other topic — than the fact I’m going to be another year older in a few months.
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So…Instead of expounding on the wonders of another D@*%ed year, I’m going to shoot from the hip and discuss the importance of drive-by research.
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Among the emails I receive from family, this song arrived at my in-box:
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Since I’m entirely inept at adding a URL, here’s the link to the video:
The song, by Coldplay, sounds like it could’ve been written in 1978, not 2008. The first time I heard it I thought, “This is a great cure for insomnia.”
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After listening to it twice, I read some of the remarks below the video. “It’s about the French Revolution” “No, it’s about Christ.” “No…”
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And the debate raged on.
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Instead of speculating the ways in which the French Revolution might be like Jesus, my first reaction was a bit less cerebral.
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“What the hell?” I muttered with a bitter laugh.
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I did what any self-respecting social media addict would do. I went straight to Wikipedia for the answer.
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It’s easy to see why there’s such confusion when the band members have differing opinions of what it’s about.
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Martin (singer): ‘I knowSt. Peter won’t call my name’ “It’s about … You’re not on the list…”
Berryman (lead guitar) “It’s a story about a king who’s lost his kingdom… (and guerillas)”
During the album’s production, “Viva la Vida” was one of the songs that had polarized each member’s opinion over which version they should choose. In an interview, vocalistChris Martin recalled: “We did quite a few different versions and went round the houses a bit and eventually settled on those treatments for it.”
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What a wondrous story! If only we knew what inspired them to write this musical equivalent of a quilt, and why.
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So, I looked up information about the Album on Wikipedia. where Martin explains that the song takes its name from a Frida Kahlo painting.
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All right. Who the hell is Frida Kahlo? Some 20th century artist from Mexico.
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Now I’m getting somewhere! (I think). It would’ve been nice to see a picture of the painting and discover the richness of the art, the vastness of inspiration.
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Inspiration, my sprained ankle! The poor woman was in constant pain for years, had one leg amputated below the knee in the 1950’s and completed her inspirational painting about The Day of the Dead, 8 days before her death.
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To recap:
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This is why some people think it’s about the French revolution.
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Coldplay’s Album Cover (from Wikipedia):
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Frida’s painting:
Viva la Vida, Watermelons – 1954
She wrote her name, date, and the year on the melon’s red pulp, adding the title “VIVA LA VIDA – Coyoacán 1954 Mexico”
When I understand what the French Revolution, Christ, and watermelons have in common, I’ll let you know. All I can say is that after this un-depth research, I’ve come to one conclusion.
Poetic license is a state of mind that doesn’t have to make sense to anyone who enjoys the result.
During many 5 and 10 minute in-depth researches I’ve discovered a resource that students are mining gold-rush style. There are people with PhD’s who can’t find jobs and are willing to write your papers for a fee. Unfortunately, if most of your papers start out with, “Hey man, Sockratease wuz a nice dude” and the next one says, “Socrates was the greatest thinker of his time,” the prof becomes a wee bit suspicious. 🙂
Does it mean anything that I am more familiar with Frida Kahlo, her life, work and brows, than I am with Coldplay? I’m just a bit too old to have gotten into them, but I remember that song. Don’t remember ever wondering what they were talking about.
I cared only because of the differing opinions about it. Then, when I finally found the watermelon picture I laughed so hard I thought my tea was going to come outta my nose. 🙂
Yikes – just noticed I’m on the schedule for this weekend! As in 2 days from now! After New Year’s Eve celebrations and resulting recoveries! Did I say Yikes yet? This promises to be epic. By which I mean crappy.
Good for you for researching. I never think about what lyrics mean. I just enjoy the beat and zone out. I love your last line because that is exactly how I feel about all of my blog posts.
I don’t just stop at snopes. They’re great for a starting place, but everyone has their hang-ups, especially when it comes to UFO’s and ancient aliens.
Billions of habitable planets in our galaxy and no one wants to believe that a few drunken aliens crashed in this tar pit? 🙂
Great Research. Frida is now ensconced with the title of “Our Lady of Perpetual Narcissism.” Her most famous painting; “THE ORIGINAL SELFIE.”
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She seemed to be into thick eyebrows, too. 🙂
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OMG. Thick eyebrows on women are like large shoes on men.
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😀
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I love your idea of limiting research to 10 minutes. So very…freeing. *grin*
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During many 5 and 10 minute in-depth researches I’ve discovered a resource that students are mining gold-rush style. There are people with PhD’s who can’t find jobs and are willing to write your papers for a fee. Unfortunately, if most of your papers start out with, “Hey man, Sockratease wuz a nice dude” and the next one says, “Socrates was the greatest thinker of his time,” the prof becomes a wee bit suspicious. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Two on a Rant and commented:
I’m going to be lazy today and edit for 10 hours instead of writing a post. Here’s my contribution to the Nudge Wink Report for this month. Enjoy. 🙂
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I have made an entire career on drive-by research. That may be why my colleagues make so much more money than I.
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But you’re able to do fun stuff while they needlessly dig into the minutia. 🙂
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How else would I blog?
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Does it mean anything that I am more familiar with Frida Kahlo, her life, work and brows, than I am with Coldplay? I’m just a bit too old to have gotten into them, but I remember that song. Don’t remember ever wondering what they were talking about.
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I cared only because of the differing opinions about it. Then, when I finally found the watermelon picture I laughed so hard I thought my tea was going to come outta my nose. 🙂
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Yikes – just noticed I’m on the schedule for this weekend! As in 2 days from now! After New Year’s Eve celebrations and resulting recoveries! Did I say Yikes yet? This promises to be epic. By which I mean crappy.
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Yikes! I’d be climbing the ceilings. But you’ll do it. I know you will!
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Good for you for researching. I never think about what lyrics mean. I just enjoy the beat and zone out. I love your last line because that is exactly how I feel about all of my blog posts.
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I don’t just stop at snopes. They’re great for a starting place, but everyone has their hang-ups, especially when it comes to UFO’s and ancient aliens.
Billions of habitable planets in our galaxy and no one wants to believe that a few drunken aliens crashed in this tar pit? 🙂
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I believe it.
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