Following Lorde’s stunning David Bowie tribute at last year’s Brits ceremony – it’s not massively surprising that the award’s organisers carved out some time in the lightning fast ceremony to take time and pay a touching tribute to iconic British popstar George Michael, who died on Christmas Day 2016.
Following emotional speeches help from his former Wham bandmates, Andrew Ridgely introduced one of “the finest singer-songwriters of his generation”, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, for a stripped back performance of Michael’s ‘A Different Corner’, accompanied by a string orchestra – and even featured a duet with the singer’s original vocals. Even Prince got it in with a little nod to the singer.
Coldplay singer Chris Martin duets with recording of George Michael and brings the crowd to tears. #BRITs2017 pic.twitter.com/Ebo8OXqv2h
— Yahoo Celebrity UK (@YahooCelebUK) February 22, 2017
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But, the internet is gonna internet – and the opinion of Martin’s solo tribute was certainly divisive.
These people thought Martin nailed it
#brits2017 Beautiful Tribute… a total class act!! #GeorgeMichael #chrismartin pic.twitter.com/IIYV2F7XLM
— Saulo (@Saul_RzG) February 22, 2017
Fabulous tribute to #GeorgeMichael #BRITs2017 perfect choice Chris Martin. Really moving
— Angie Routledge (@AngieRoutledge) February 22, 2017
Chris Martin duetting with a posthumous George Michael is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen #BRITs2017
— Grace Guimaraes (@grace_guimaraes) February 22, 2017
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The duet didn’t totally land with everyone
https://twitter.com/Tany_woo/status/834505691993763840
Fair play to Chris Martin: not many stars would stand up at #Brits2017 & agree to be totally out sung by a dead man #turnadifferentcorner
— Ally H-L (@allyhl) February 22, 2017
Chris Martin should be arrested for this vocal ?#BRITs2017
— The Red Devil (@Diavolo_Rosso1) February 22, 2017
You can always count on Chris Martin to ruin a good song #BRITs2017
— Stuart Gracie (@stuartgracie) February 22, 2017
Just turned over to the #BRITs2017 to hear Chris Martin butchering George Michael's best song. Terrible tribute
— Rob Scott (@RobScott04) February 22, 2017
Some used The 1975’s tongue-in-cheek performance props to express their opinions
#BRITs2017 when Chris Martin performs a tribute to George Michael!? pic.twitter.com/LXANIfWYCq
— Rhona Cryan (@RhonaCryan) February 22, 2017
#BRITs2017 Chris Martin performing pic.twitter.com/GGxboy6TEm
— dolores (@dolorezxx) February 22, 2017
For the most part though, it just reminded us what a legend we’d lost
https://twitter.com/DeanomusicUK/status/834505811619635213
Incredible tribute to the wonderful George Michael from Wham bandmate Andrew Ridgeley & Pepsi & Shirlie & @Coldplay's Chris Martin. #BRITs pic.twitter.com/EetatrIovF
— George Michael (@RIPGeorge_M) February 22, 2017
The George Michael tribute was so lovely ? #BRITs2017
— ??? (@lemonworId) February 22, 2017
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