British alternative rock band Coldplay performed a set of their greatest hits at the 50th Super Bowl. The band was joined by special guests and Super Bowl half-time performance alums Bruno Mars and Beyonce for an exciting performance. The set was complete with a light-up stage, marching bands, giant flowers, and lots of colors.
The half-time performance began with lead singer Chris Martin singing the band's 2000 hit "Yellow" on the football field. Dozens of screaming fans, all dressed in black, ran past him and crowded the stage. As the running died down, the music changed to recognizable string hook from the band's 2009 Grammy-winning Song of the Year "Viva la Vida." Martin jumped onto the giant stage and a camera overhead revealed the stage's light-up floor. Colors swirled underneath the band members as an orchestra joined them. Their string instruments looked splattered with brightly colored paint.
After "Viva la Vida," Coldplay transitioned into another favorite from their album Mylo Xyloto: "Paradise." As Martin jumped around the stage, the cameras panned out, revealing a colorful marching band spread out along the football field. Tubas were painted yellow, purple, blue, and more, making the field looked decorated in polka-dots.
The crowd cheered as fans recognized the band's next song in their set: "Adventure of a Lifetime." The first single from their latest album, "Head Full of Dreams," "Adventure of a Lifetime" gave the band a perfect opportunity to interact with the audience. Band members Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion encouraged audience members to echo lyrics. Martin even held his microphone up to some fans, letting their voices sound from the speakers as they sang along. Also during the song, dancers holding giant flowers strutted onto the field. They ran around, collecting to form gardens as they spun and bloomed their props.
Next, the familiar baseline of "Uptown Funk" came on the speakers, and cameras showed DJ Mark Ronson behind turntables. Coldplay left the spotlight as Bruno Mars and his dancers appeared onstage wearing leather hats and jumpsuits. They sang out one of the most popular songs of the year while performing dance moves reminiscent of Mars' 2014 Super Bowl halftime performance.
The special guests kept pouring in when Beyonce next appeared on the field, introduced by an all-female marching band. With a group of nearly 20 female background dancers behind her, she made audiences crazy by performing her latest song "Formation" live for the first time. After, she strutted onstage, challenging Mars and his dancers to a boys versus girls dance off. The teams tried to out-dance each other to remix of Beyonce's "Crazy in Love" and "Uptown Funk." After their battle was over, they joined forces with Coldplay to finish singing Mars' "Uptown Funk."
Afterward, Martin teased fans by playing the piano riff of the 2004 Grammy-winning Record of the Year "Clocks." However, instead of singing the song, he used the piano intro and transitioned effortlessly into the band's emotional hit "Fix You." During this song, the camera overhead showed the stage floor projecting different clips of past Super Bowl halftime performances, including U2, Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Prince, and last year's Katy Perry.
After this 50th anniversary tribute, the band began it's finale, mixing the music of "Fix You" with the lyrics of the band's new song, "Up&Up." Beyonce, Mars, and Ronson joined Coldplay, belting the lyrics, "We're gonna get it, get it together and go up and up and up" as the stadium audience held colored panels in the air that read "Believe in Love" for the final note. The band thanked the audience as the camera panned to reveal the entire stadium, which was reminiscent of a rainbow.
Overall, Coldplay delivered a feel-good performance for the Super Bowl's 50th halftime show. Fans can only wonder what artist will be chosen to try and top Coldplay's performance next year.
