Since David Bowie died eight days ago, scores of musicians have paid tribute. Bowie’s friend and collaborator Iggy Pop released a statement saying, “David’s friendship was the light of my life. I never met such a brilliant person. He was the best there is.” Kanye West tweeted, “David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations, so fearless, so creative, he gave us magic for a lifetime.” (West is also planning a tribute album.) Smashmouth recorded a version of his duet “Under Pressure” in which their lead singer Steve “Thinking Man’s Guy Fieri” Harwell sings both parts. (He nailed them both.)
On Tuesday, Coldplay’s guitarist (balding guy with hat) and drummer (bald guy without hat) paid the ultimate tribute to Bowie and ensured that he will be remembered as much for his good taste and discernment as he will for his flamboyant reinventions. There’s only one degree of separation between Bowie and Coldplay—reformed space alien Brian Eno has worked with both—and the band apparently approached Bowie to see if he was interested in collaborating on a song with a “David Bowie-type character.” Bowie declined, responding in the same way countless others have when hearing a Coldplay tune: He told the band, “It’s not a very good song, is it?”