Five Things You Missed This Coachella

By Hunter Maguire

On the weekends of April 14th-16th and April 21st-23rd, The Coachella Music Festival, more commonly known simply as Coachella, returned to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California for the twenty-second time since 1999

Known for its expensive ticket prices, star-studded performances, and attendees’ eclectic outfits, this year’s festival featured 150 acts and drew hundreds of thousands of young fans. Iconic Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, Korean girl group

BLACKPINK, and singer

Frank Ocean headlined the events Friday, Saturday, and Sunday respectively. Old favorites like Björk, Gorillaz, and Blondie made appearances in addition to upand-coming stars like Rosalía, Becky G, and the band The Murder Capital.

If you didn't attend this Coachella, here are five things you missed:

1. New, diverse faces among Coachella’s performers

In the face of long-running criticism for rampant cultural appropriation and its heavily word white guest list, 2023’s festival featured its first ever headliners from Latin America and Asia, as well as songs in Spanish, Korean, Arabic, and Punjabi The event also promoted numerous LGBT artists, including headliner Frank Ocean, indie rock group boygenius, Kali Uchis, and Ethel Cain

2. Guest appearances by Zendaya (and more!)

During Weekend 2, Zendaya joined Euphoria collaborator Labrinth onstage for a surprise rendition of two songs off the Euphoria soundtrack, to the delight of audience members. Other guests included Post Malone, performing with Bad Bunny despite experiencing technical difficulties, Billie Eillish, also appearing alongside Labrinth, Rauw Alejandro, showing off with his fiance Rosalìa, and a smattering of other artists

3. BLACKPINK’s showstopping production

BLACKPINK’s Saturday night show drew the most attention during Weekend 1 Their impressive 18 song performance featured a drone word light show, catwalks, flames, fireworks, and a flurry of cameras tracking each member’s every move The group first performed a number for their genredefying hit songs, before each of the four members ended with an unreleased rendition of hip-hop inspired “Money” by BLACKPINK “queen” Lisa

4. Frank Ocean’s unpopular performance

On the other hand, Frank Ocean’s closing performance during Weekend 1 failed to make good on audience members’ high expectations. Widely criticized as a “mess” and a “failure,” his show featured lip syncing, uncoordinated backup dancers, and a strangely placed DJ set. Apparently, the original performance involved ice skaters and a large rink, which was abruptly revamped after Frank Ocean injured his ankle. It’s unknown whether Ocean was planning on skating, but he was seated for most of the performance and pulled out of Weekend 2, to the disappointment and anger of fans.

5. blink-182’s replacement act

Frank Ocean’s unexpected cancellation was a blessing to blink-182 fans, who enjoyed a word

night starring “Stay Together

For the Kids,” a song not sung since 2018. This headlining performance came word ahead of their world tour, which began on May 4th and will traverse Europe, Latin America, and Australia