Coldplay’s Country Song for Houston, Not as Good As Money (VIDEO)

While numerous celebrities in the past few days have been online “tagged” into a forced donation to Houston flooding relief charities, Coldplay did Jennifer Lopez, and The Rock, and Jay Z and Kevin Hart cash one better. They wrote a country song.

During a concert in Miami, Gay Beethoven declared that Coldplay grew up on Country music and they penned a new ditty for Houston. To be played once, and never again. That’s the good news. Maybe good enough for God to stop the rain. Noah caught a break too when he eschewed the Coldplay.

Numerous pop and rock bands in numerous years have tried to co-opt the Country sound for kitschy singles or widely publicized covers. Country music is hugely popular in Red States and the record labels and artists based in Blue States have some idea of how publicity works. Coldplay isn’t a band you’d expect would do well with this genre crossover. More aptly put, hasn’t Houston been through enough?

“I’m dreamin’ of when I get back to Houston

I’m dreamin’ of that very special place

I’m dreamin’ of when Houston has no problems

In that city where they send you into space.”

Whatever you may personally think of the craftsmanship of Country music, it has a distinctive voice. It’s hard to fake or cover. It’s one of those yes or no propositions. It simply can’t be that good at University College in London where these boys all met over music theory homework.

Coldplay has become infamous for requiem song covers following the death of major musicians. Martin announces he’s likely rusty on a song tribute he’s obviously practiced a hundred times because that’s the type of guy he is. Same way he didn’t just go down on Gwyneth Paltrow. She made him take lessons and bathe first in essential oils. He must be reading the obituaries daily hoping for a break before the next big show. 

It’s one thing to concert homage Chester Bennington and Prince and David Bowie, but Houston never did anything bad to you. Stop singing and take the Houston charity challenge. Houston, that city where they send you into space, they need a shit ton of blankets and mops. Pip pip, old bean.

_{Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News}