Justin Bieber’s Coachella set was supposed to be a grand and triumphant comeback, but as soon as he took the stage, the internet exploded with mixed reactions. Diplo, who has worked with Bieber before, wasted no time in voicing his support, and as you can see, people completely missed the point.For those who missed it, Bieber’s set was no ordinary Coachella show. Instead, he felt like he invited everyone to a private hangout. Some called it lazy, but Diplo called it “legendary.” For him, it was like being at a party with Bieber, not just watching another headliner belt out their hits.
What Diplo Said About ‘Bieberchella’
Per People, Diplo explained that Bieber decided to remove it on purpose. No big productions or pyrotechnics. No army of dancers. Sometimes it was just Bieber, a microphone and a laptop. He mixed old and new tracks, and at one point started playing YouTube clips, as well as some embarrassing and hilarious ones. He ran through his memes, he showed viral videos – basically, he put his career on screen, disconnected and real.What really stood out for Diplo was that the set was so true to who Bieber is. He wasn’t trying to impress with the show. He just let people in. At Maison Martell’s Toast to Afrobeats brunch, Diplo summed it up: “Nobody could go to Coachella and just sit on their laptop and play stuff on YouTube. That’s legendary. He’s got so many hits, here, you’re going to get this and this.”According to Diplo, the way Bieber structured his set was very true to who he is. “It was like being at a party with him,” the DJ said. According to the DJ, the program of the annual music festival is “very diverse”, which is why he likes to go every year. “They have everything from Davido to hardcore techno. Nine Inch Noize was incredible last night,” he said, adding: “It’s a little bit of everything for everyone, and you can learn a lot about music.“
Inside ‘Bieberchella’: All About Justin Bieber’s Coachella Set
For his Coachella comeback this year, Bieber didn’t go solo the whole time, though. The show had its surprises: Wizkid, Tems, The Kid LAROI, Dijon and Mk.gee appeared and added energy hits. But the core of the set was nostalgia. Bieber also sang duets with music videos of his younger self. That was probably the most nostalgic part of millennial fans who grew up witnessing the rise of Bieber with songs like ‘Baby’, ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and more. Instead of going full Hiccup, he casually sang along, turning the set into a karaoke-style throwback. At one point, there was a break in buffering, which was a completely awkward human moment that somehow made the whole night feel even more distant.
The internet’s reaction to Justin Bieber’s Coachella set
Of course, not everyone got it or liked it. On Page Six, some called a Coachella headline “the bare minimum.” People complained about the lack of production, and the half-assed, half-YouTube karaoke atmosphere left many wondering what exactly they were watching.Other artists came in, mocking the format. Zara Larsson posted a TikTok saying: “Let’s smoke and watch YouTube.” Katy Perry joked about Bieber scrolling through YouTube on stage and was happy that there were no commercials, thanks to YouTube Premium.However, many loved honesty. Labrinth wrote, “I see what you’re doing and I love it. Be true! F— what anyone else thinks.” Lizzo also praised the set, saying she saw Bieber “finally feed himself,” and that being there felt special, like seeing someone let their guard down and be there.
