Justin Bieber’s debut as a headliner at Coachella left many fans disappointed, as the pop star chose to perform a set largely composed of his more obscure tracks. This marked the first time the 32-year-old took the main stage on Saturday night.
Previously, Bieber had surprised festival-goers by appearing as a guest artist alongside stars like Ariana Grande, Chance the Rapper, Daniel Caesar, and Tems. However, this year, he took center stage, reportedly earning $10 million for his performance.
Scheduled for a late start at 11:25 p.m. on the festival’s second day, there was speculation that strong winds in the desert might cause further delays. Despite these concerns, Bieber began his performance punctually, to the delight of the audience.
Appearing in a casual outfit of shorts, a hoodie, and sunglasses, Bieber opted to focus on his recent, lesser-known songs rather than the classic hits fans expected. This decision led to a mixed reception from the crowd.
Fans quickly took to social media to express their disappointment. “Justin Bieber headlined Coachella just to not play any of his classics,” one person tweeted, while another commented, “There’s just no way Coachella paid Justin Bieber $10 million to dress up like Jesse Pinkman.”
Fans reacted with disappointment and derision, tweeting remarks like: ‘Justin Bieber headlined Coachella just to not play any of his classics lmao,’ and: ‘There’s just no way Coachella paid Justin Bieber 8 mil to dress up like Jesse Pinkman.’
Justin Bieber left his fauns haunted and delighted by his soulful set as he headlined Coachella for the first time ever this Saturday
During an interlude, he vaunted the ‘beautiful faces in the audience tonight,’ and sweetly asked those watching the livestream: ‘How you guys doing at home?’
The eerie set was filled with smoke, with a sloping pearl grey topography that made him look as though he were walking across another planet
‘I cannot imagine paying thousands of dollars to watch Justin Bieber sound a mess and walk around in a hoodie and glasses. This is insulting to his fans,’ fumed one.
Others wrote: ‘I hate the outfit sucks band and the low rent hip hop,’ and: ‘Justin Bieber got paid 10 million just to walk around this damn stage??’
He began the set with his song 2025 song All I Can Take, which the Canadian pop act performed amid psychedelically flickering blue and white lights.
He then served up a rendition of his defiant 2025 number Speed Demon, which took a derisive attitude to the public speculation about his well-being.
In an insistence that his musical output should speak for itself, he crooned: ‘They try to say I’m out of my mind, but now they singing every line.’
During an interlude, he vaunted the ‘beautiful faces in the audience tonight,’ and sweetly asked those watching the livestream: ‘How you guys doing at home?’
He then offered fans the opportunity to ‘help me with the songs tonight’ by picking their ‘favorites’ and posting them in the stream’s rolling comments.
The eerie set was filled with smoke, with a sloping pearl grey topography that made him look as though he were walking across another planet.
Bieber delivered renditions of his songs First Place and Go Baby, both of which are loving tributes to his wife Hailey Bieber, who has been seen dashing about Coachella with her gal pal Kendall Jenner in the run-up to his show.
Among the other new songs he performed were Walking Away, rumored to be addressing the divorce rumors between him and Hailey, and his song Petting Zoo, which some fans interpreted as being about their couple’s quarrels.
Shortly before Bieber’s show, Jennifer Lopez made her surprise Coachella debut a after a glittering music career spanning almost three decades.
The 56-year-old sent an ecstatic shockwave through the audience when she materialized onstage as the guest artist during David Guetta’s set.
Lopez was on hand to deliver a her first live rendition of her and Guetta’s new song Save Me Tonight, which they released just last month.
The crowd exploded as Guetta announced he had ‘invited a friend,’ prompting Lopez to hit the stage in a skintight The Blonds bodysuit that showcased her killer physique and featured a tantalizingly plunging neckline.
Her sparkling silver number was accented with an aquamarine Julien McDonald feather jacket and a pair of Dolce X Ray Ban sunglasses, in the latest flourish of her unerring instinct for high-octane showbiz chic.
Right at the beginning of the performance, she aimed a mischievous grin at the crowd and threw her shades down to be caught by a lucky fan.
She then sent the audience spiraling into squeals of delight as she tore her jacket off and swung it back and forth before casting it aside.
‘Make some noise for JLo!’ Guetta roared as Lopez traipsed over to the DJ booth and enfolded him in a fond embrace, the pair of them beaming.
Shortly before Bieber’s show, Jennifer Lopez made her surprise Coachella debut a after a glittering music career spanning almost three decades
The 56-year-old sent an ecstatic shockwave through the audience when she materialized onstage as the guest artist during David Guetta’s set
Lopez was on hand to deliver a her first live rendition of her and Guetta’s new song Save Me Tonight, which they released just last month
The crowd exploded as Guetta announced he had ‘invited a friend,’ prompting Lopez to hit the stage in a skintight The Blonds bodysuit that showcased her killer physique
Her sparkling silver number was accented with an aquamarine Julien McDonald feather jacket and a pair of Dolce X Ray Ban sunglasses
Right at the beginning of the performance, she aimed a mischievous grin at the crowd and threw her shades down to be caught by a lucky fan
She then sent the audience spiraling into squeals of delight as she tore her jacket off and swung it back and forth before casting it aside
‘Make some noise for JLo!’ Guetta roared as Lopez traipsed over to the DJ booth and enfolded him in a fond embrace, the pair of them beaming
Kehlani also made a surprise appearance during Day 2, thrilling the massive audience on the fairground by striding on during Giveon’s show
She treated the audience to a rendition of her new song Folded, which was a solo number on the record but which she and Giveon rearranged into a duet
Giveon, 31, then teased a potential new record collaboration with Kehlani, saying: ‘You guys may be hearing something from her and I very soon’
Sombr was also among the cavalcade of boldfaced names to hit the stage at Day 2 of Coachella, performing a medley of his hits
Among the 20-year-old rocker’s setlist were Back to Friends, We Never Dated, Come Closer and I Wish I Knew How to Quit You, plus his live debut of his song Potential
The New York native, whose real name is Shane Boose, then paid a tip of the hat to his genre’s legacy by bringing on Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan
Together, in a touching passing of the torch, Corgan and Sombr performed the Smashing Pumpkins song 1979, originally released in 1995
Kehlani also made a surprise appearance during Day 2, thrilling the massive audience on the fairground by striding on during Giveon’s show.
She treated the audience to a rendition of her new song Folded, which was a solo number on the record but which she and Giveon rearranged into a duet.
Giveon, 31, then teased a potential new record collaboration with Kehlani, saying: ‘You guys may be hearing something from her and I very soon.’
Sombr was also among the cavalcade of boldfaced names to hit the stage at Day 2 of Coachella, performing a medley of his hits.
Among the 20-year-old rocker’s setlist were Back to Friends, We Never Dated, Come Closer and I Wish I Knew How to Quit You, plus his live debut of his song Potential.
The New York native, whose real name is Shane Boose, then paid a tip of the hat to his genre’s legacy by bringing on Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan.
Together, in a touching passing of the torch, Corgan and Sombr performed the Smashing Pumpkins song 1979, originally released in 1995.
