Coldplay cover ‘Running Up That Hill’ with Alan Partridge in London
"Running up hills, up roads... it's all cardiovascular," Partridge told the crowd during the unexpected team-up
By Tom Skinner
Coldplay teamed up with Alan Partridge at their show in London on Saturday evening (August 20) – you can see the footage below.
Chris Martin and co. were performing the penultimate gig of their six-night stint at Wembley Stadium when Steve Coogan took to the stage as Partridge. The fictional North Norfolk DJ and presenter covered ABBA‘s ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’ – from his failed ’90s chat show of the same name – alongside Coldplay, and special guests Jacob Collier and Nicole Lawrence.
Partridge – who donned a red jacket emblazoned with Snow Patrol‘s band logo – then led a joint acoustic cover of ‘Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)’, which he previously performed as part of a Kate Bush medley for Comic Relief 1999.
“Running up hills, up roads… it’s all cardiovascular,” Coogan-as-Partridge said. “Not sure about running up buildings… unless you’re Spider-Man. Excellent humour!”
He then asked Martin what he thought the classic single was about. “I think it might be about overcoming problems,” he replied. Partridge responded: “It’s a metaphor – got it!” At the end of the track, Coogan’s much-loved character told the crowd: “If you’re running up a hill, make sure you wear the correct footwear. Goodnight!”
Check out the footage here:
Coldplay’s run of Wembley concerts has also featured surprise guest appearances from the likes of Craig David, Natalie Imbruglia and All Saints’ Shaznay Lewis.
The band will play two shows in Glasgow this week (August 23, 24) before heading to South America in September.
In a four-star review of Coldplay’s latest album, last year’s Music of the Spheres, Rolling Stone UK described the project as “spellbinding”, adding: “It’s the sound of a supremely confident band, so aware their music now matches the euphoria of, say, a stadium triumph that ‘Infinity Sign’ slyly reworks rudimentary football chant “Olé Olé Olé” into something quite beautiful. It shouldn’t work but it does: epitomising Coldplay’s breathless ascent ever higher. It’s just a thrill to be along for the ride.”