Coldplay’s Chris Martin had to sing for his supper – or a ride to the Super Bowl – as he hitched a lift with James Corden in his Carpool Karaoke wagon this week.

Chris Martin
Chris Martin thumbed a lift to the Super Bowl with James Corden (The Late Late Show/YouTube)

Before he takes to America’s most-watched stage on Sunday, Martin got in some practice with the band’s hits – from Viva La Vida to oldie Yellow and new track Adventure Of A Lifetime.

But it was what we learned in the intervening periods that was really interesting…

Watch the entire Late Late Show car journey here.

1. Chris Martin is pretty good at impressions.

Pretty being the operative word. He started semi-okay with his imitation of “The Boss” Bruce Springsteen, but his Mick Jagger might cause an international incident if they’re ever in the same room together.

Chris Martin
Martin tries to take on The Boss (The Late Late Show/YouTube)

Pouting his lips, Martin drawled: “I think my favourite band to go and see is The Stones. I love it, I love going to see them anywhere.

“There’s only one secret which is you’ve got to go from high for low,” he explained.

“Imagine a big old tidal wave starting quite excited but coming down quite slow for the end.”

Thanks for the advice…

2. He’s a huge David Bowie fan.

Martin is that guy at a house party who’d get out his guitar at 3am and lead people in a round of, well, probably Coldplay’s Fix You. So on the car trip, he naturally brought along a keyboard.

Chris Martin
Martin sang Bowie’s hit Heroes (The Late Late Show/YouTube)

But it led to one of the most beautiful moments in the car journey. Martin and Corden sang an understated version of Bowie’s Heroes and it was stunning.

3. He’s very forgiving of mistakes.

Viva La Vida is arguably one of the band’s biggest hits, but Corden has absolutely no idea what Martin is singing.

“A few cherished bells are ringing,” Corden warbled before Martin turned the music down and demanded to know what on earth he’d just sung.

“A few cherished little bells are ringing,” Corden repeated.

“Yes, let’s go with that. It doesn’t matter. That’s what music is about,” Martin responded.

“Wait. I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing?” said Corden.

“Yeah, that’s what I sing, you can sing whatever you like,” said the gracious Coldplay star.

Although we all know the work experience person who printed out the lyrics for Corden might be finding themselves unemployed very soon.

4. He should never be allowed sugar.

“I want to punch an elephant!” Martin screamed after the two stopped off to buy super-sweet lemonade.

Chris Martin
The diabetes squad (The Late Late Show/YouTube)

To be fair to him, he spent 12 years on ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow’s macrobiotic diet so this is probably the most rock and roll white stuff he’s ever put in his body.

5. He’s jealous of Adele.

Fun fact: Coldplay were called Starfish for one concert before picking the famous moniker. But it’s not famous enough for moany Martin.

“You know what’s a cool name – Adele. The one word. Adele, Beyonce, Taylor. You know who I mean. I think if you say cold, no-one’s thinking Coldplay so we’ve got a way to go yet.”

Corden broke the news gently to him: “But a cold, with all due respect, I think if you’re thinking the word cold will only be associated with your band and not temperature or mild sickness you’re in for a shock.”

6. He makes a great naptime buddy.

An exhausted Corden fully embraced KitKat’s ‘take a break’ mantra as he forced Martin to stop off at a local motel for a kip.

Obviously, Corden hilariously hopped into bed with Martin, but we did learn he’s a darn good snuggler as well as a brilliant night time lullaby singer.