Coldplay becomes 3rd wheel at its own Super Bowl halftime show

From the moment they were announced as the halftime entertainment at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, fans and critics were second-guessing the NFL for picking a quartet that’s better known for its weepy ballads than high-octane hits to entertain one of the world’s biggest television audiences. Unlike previous halftime performers such as Paul McCartney, Madonna and Prince, the group didn’t walk into the stadium with the songs that would inspire mass singalongs. The group — which also includes guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion — raced through clipped versions of its most popular hits, starting with “Viva La Vida,” then “Paradise” and its latest single, “Adventure of a Lifetime,” with loads of enthusiasm but little gravity. Even before their famous guests arrived, Martin was nearly lost in the sea of fans who swarmed the stage, taking selfies and mugging for the television cameras. [...] Ronson hit the turntables, while Mars and his entourage arrived, channeling MC Hammer’s precise dance moves and brandishing the irresistible “Uptown Funk.” When all the entertainers converged on the stage, Coldplay had become a third wheel at its own halftime show, lost amid Beyoncé’s star power and Mars’ natural shine. Earlier in the day, Lady Gaga, dressed in a red sequined Gucci suit and towering American flag platform heels, delivered a knockout rendition of the national anthem to open the game.