Synopsis

Coldplay climb through a stark, snow-covered landscape before arriving in a silent, seemingly abandoned town. The band performs among its buildings and across the slopes of Mount Etna, with the imagery shifting between color and black-and-white close-ups. Chris Martin sings into a magnifying glass, strikes the camera with a hammer, and moves through scenes that alternate between sped-up and slowed-down motion. The surreal performance ends with Martin collapsing into the snow as the band leaves the town behind.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was filmed in Sicily, Italy, with footage shot on Mount Etna and in the courtyard of Palazzo Biscari in Catania.

• It premiered online in May 2008 ahead of the release of Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends.

• The visual style combines theatrical performance, stark volcanic scenery, monochrome portrait shots, and deliberately irregular changes in speed.

• A separate political satire video, commonly known as "Dancing Politicians," was released around the same time. It used politicians dancing to the song rather than the band's main performance concept.

• The original video was later incorporated into the visual presentation for Coldplay's 2008 Viva la Vida tour, appearing on a small screen onstage.

• "Violet Hill" was the first single from Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends and was initially offered as a free download through Coldplay's website.