Sangen er beskyldt for at være et plagiat af [[Joe Satriani]]s sang "If I Could Fly".<ref>{{Cite news | author = Daniel Kreps | title = Joe Satriani Sues Coldplay For "Viva La Vida" Plagiarism | publisher = [[Rolling Stone]] | date = {{date|2008-12-5}} | url = http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/joe-satriani-sues-coldplay-for-viva-la-vida-plagiarism-20081205 | accessdate = {{date|2009-3-14}} | archive-date = 16. juli 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716072652/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/joe-satriani-sues-coldplay-for-viva-la-vida-plagiarism-20081205 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
Musik