: The title "Viva la Vida" ("Long Live Life") was inspired by a painting of the same name by the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, created shortly before her death.

The video and song are deeply rooted in historical and artistic references:

: The background uses multi-colored textures interspersed with imagery of speeding clouds and the same artwork featured on the album's cover.

: The video concludes with the band members metaphorically crumbling into rose petals .

The lyrics and video tell the story of a reflecting on his lost power and past glories.

The video features the band performing against a of Eugène Delacroix's 1830 painting, Liberty Leading the People .