This was a special moment for the fans.
Coldplay certainly aren’t the kind of band to shirk any form of sentimentality. Whether you’re a fan of the ballad-happy foursome or not, they certainly have a knack of marking poignant moments good and bad with on-stage accolades and impromptu performances. It is very much their thing.
On Bank Holiday Monday, the legendary and much-loved Gene Wilder died at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease; he was 83 years old. It is no exaggeration to describe him as one of the most important and talented comic actors in cinematic history.
According to his family, Wilder died while peacefully holding hands with his wife as he listened to his favourite music. Anyone who has had the pleasure of tuning into his appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs will know how important music was to the sorely-missed thespian during his life.
It is therefore perhaps fitting that Wilder should be remembered in musical form. During their sold-out concert at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Coldplay performed a little tribute to the actor by giving a short burst of ‘Pure Imagination’ from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory…
In a world of pure imagination… R42 pic.twitter.com/R2KD3kA0RK
— Coldplay (@coldplay) August 30, 2016
As you probably imagine, it caused many fans to flip out at what they saw as the very special moment:
perfect😭😍
— Emilia (@flockofbirds42) August 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/Jennifer0401/status/770806033279221760
https://twitter.com/coldplaiy/status/770477390040563712
https://twitter.com/Esther_Byrne/status/770501770237865984
https://twitter.com/Daniel_CP42/status/770482417413029888
so amazing and beautiful
— autumnwolf (@kim_sassa) August 30, 2016
Say what you want about @coldplay but they know how to bash out a heartwarming tribute
— will mcmahon. (@jck_hrdwck) August 30, 2016
…although not everyone was impressed:
https://twitter.com/fontzepontze/status/770867746083053569
Here’s the magical and incomparable original. Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgHLqM5jB88
