The song ‘Viva La Vida’ by Coldplay is arguably one of the greatest, most atmospheric songs of the 21st century, its emotional lyrics and instantly recognizable sound proving a winning formula for the band. With this in mind, you’d think it was unlikely that a cover or an alternate version of the song could make it any more emotional. A recent flash mob performance of the song in Cannes, however, proved that this wasn’t necessarily the case.
Involving 50 child performers and an entire orchestra, this extraordinary moment began with a young child playing the opening to the song out of a window into a crowded street. This alone was enough to get the attention of those watching, but little did they realize that this part of the performance was just the beginning.
In a matter of moments, other hugely talented young performers began to appear from all over the street – the lead singer actually turns up in a horse-drawn carriage! It is at this moment that the crowd realize they are truly part of something extraordinary, with many gesturing to those they are with that they’re getting goosebumps, and some people even shedding a tear as the performance carries on.
The jaw-dropping rendition was actually led by YouTube pianist Julien Cohen, who can be seen playing a beautiful grand piano during the performance. Julien is already known online for his viral videos of incredible performances happening in unexpected places. The most viewed video on his channel at the moment, for instance, depicts a Bohemian Rhapsody flash mob happening on a random street in Paris.
These flash mobs, like the ones organised by Julien Cohen in both Paris and Cannes, are truly beautiful moments to witness, and we can’t help envying those who were lucky enough to be there in person on that day. For now, however, most of us will have to make do with watching them through Julien’s YouTube channel, which fortunately is full to bursting with performances like these that restore your faith in humanity.
This Cannes flash mob proves “Viva La Vida” still moves us—especially sung by 50 children and an orchestra. If this performance tugged at your heart, check the useful links below to watch the full moment and find further videos, background and credits.