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Coldplay, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars combine for Super Bowl halftime blowout

Cool pyro, bro.

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Ramon Ramirez

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OK, sure, Coldplay was pretty bad.

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At the Super Bowl halftime show, Chris Martin’s opening coos from 16-year-old smash single “Yellow” presented a punchless band here to play atmospheric curator for pop titans Beyoncé and Bruno Mars. The band begun in earnest with 2008’s “Viva La Vida,” a U2-inspired arena ballad with a gooey center but the kind of payoff that needs fireworks to lift. 

Good thing they brought colorful violins, adorable children, psychedelic pomp, and almost enough “whoa” chants for stadium catharsis. A yellow-outfitted marching band twisted. Then about 30 seconds each from singles “Paradise” and “Adventure of a Lifetime.” 

If you were on drugs and at Coachella, you’d almost be inspired. 

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From there, pop lothario Bruno Mars turned out “Uptown Funk,” the 2015 smash hit built for earbud-fueled Gold’s Gym sessions. Dressed in gold chains and black Nikes, he was the young and hip portion of the show. 

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And then Beyoncé incinerated Levi’s Stadium with scorching choreography and New Orleans-inspired brass. She was a late addition to the bill—surely here in part to promo new single “Formation” and immediately announce a tour—but she dusted off the previous herbs and showed why she runs the world.

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But all zany cram sessions from unrelated acts require a Glee-level mashup finale. Mars and Bey danced off. Snippets from “Crazy In Love” were piped in. Martin slid back into the fold to assist on “Uptown Funk” like a hip dad singing along in the Honda Odyssey. 

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Since this is Super Bowl 50, Coldplay’s vague “Fix You” served as montage music. But about the only thing that the forced nostalgia inspired were millions of American restroom breaks.

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Update 7:25am CT, Feb. 8: Beyoncé’s announcement of the Formation World Tour crashed her website as fans scrambled to find out which cities she’s visiting.

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Michelle Jaworski

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Tickets go on sale Feb. 16, but the pre-sale begins Feb. 9, and now you know where your Super Bowl pool winnings are going.

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Screengrab via CBS.com

 
The Daily Dot