Coldplay Talk Super Bowl Performance, Springsteen Advice
With less than a week to go before Coldplay perform to “three gazillion” people during the Super Bowl 50 halftime show, the band spoke to CBS Sunday Morning about preparing for the Big Game and what inspired them to take on the high-profile gig.
“I loved the whole concept of trying to present your entire musical life in 12-and-a-half minutes,” Martin said. “It’s a great challenge…We’ve possibly got 11 good minutes. So we have some special guests and they’ll cover the rest.” Martin confirmed that Bruno Mars and Beyoncé are among the guests that will take the Levi’s Stadium stage.
Martin also relayed some advice he was given by a recent Super Bowl halftime show performer. “I spoke to one of the other artists who did it a few years ago, and he said, ‘It’s gotta be muscle memory,'” Martin said. “Well, I’ll tell you, it was Bruce Springsteen, ’cause I realized I was starting to do his gruff accent: ‘You gotta know every note, man. Twelve minutes. It ain’t long, but it’s long enough!'”
The singer’s daughter Apple also gave her father some pointers. “My daughter said the sweetest thing yesterday. ‘How you feeling about the Super Bowl?’ ‘Of course, we’re a little bit nervous.'” Martin said. “She said, ‘Dad, the worst that could happen is you’ll get turned into a meme. And after a month or so people will just forget!'”
Later, Martin discussed the time David Bowie rejected a collaboration with the group. “He was so wonderfully humorous and kind in his dismissal! We were on the phone, and I said, ‘What do you think about this?’ He said, ‘Oh, it’s not one of your best, Chris.’ And that was it,” Martin said. “I was like, ‘You know what? He’s right. This is shit!'”
“But at least I can say we sort of worked together!” Martin laughed.