What went down at the music industry’s hottest weekend? Two words: so. Much.
For as long as I can remember, Coachella has maintained its image of being the hottest music festival to be in every year. Stellar lineups and outfits to anticipate, the hype around it can be palpable even for someone miles away. The coolest people are either spotted partying in the desert of Coachella Valley or rocking the stages and tents of the coveted music festival. So when it got postponed due to the pandemic, many regular festivalgoers and long-distance fans (like us) mourned the loss of the 2020 lineup. But, after two years of lineup changes and wishful thinking, the bar for Coachella 2022 was higher than ever.
Safe to say, its grand return was explosive. But aside from ushering the old ways of on-ground music festivals, the first weekend of Coachella 2022 provided some pop culture landmarks on its own. Up ahead, we list down the moments that put the festival back on our radars.
Billie Eilish rocked the valley as Coachella’s youngest headliner
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Oscar and Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter and Gen Z Queen Billie Eilish adds “Youngest Coachella Headliner” to her list of accomplishments. The Happier Ever After singer rocked the main stage, bringing Burn and Gorillaz’s Damon Alburn for her song, Getting Older and Gorillaz’s Feel Good Inc. So even if she isn’t Beyoncé, “one for the books” can only describe Billie Eilish’s set for that weekend. So is anyone even doing it like her, breaking the glass ceiling one achievement at a time?
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Beabadoobee's Coachella debut at the Gobi Stage
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Speaking of another barrier broken and a glass ceiling shattered, Filipino-British singer Beabadoobee performed her first set in Coachella 2022. She follows in the footsteps of fellow Dirty Hit talent No Rome as the second Filipino—and the youngest—to perform at the festival. After the success of Fake It Flowers, Bea continues to carve a space for young Asian girls in such a predominantly male and white music genre. This debut at Coachella is a prelude to more heights she’s about to conquer, especially with her forthcoming album Beatopia.
Epik High returned to the Coachella Valley
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As much as keeping track of “The First ___ Ever” in all industries can get repetitive and tiring, a win is a win nonetheless. In the case of iconic rap trio Epik High, their Coachella 2022 sets at the Gobi stage also mark them as the first Korean artists to be invited back to the biggest music festival in the world. In the first weekend alone, Tablo, Mithra and DJ Tukutz brought the house down with their impeccable bars, even throwing some Next Level dance steps if you catch my drift.
88rising brings forth the biggest throwbacks ever
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88rising brings an exciting and diverse lineup for their Coachella 2022 set called Head In The Clouds Forever. But aside from mainstays such as Warren Hue and NIKI, the collective had more surprises up their sleeve. The ladies of legendary K-pop group 2NE1 reunited at the Main Stage during CL’s set, pulling a surprise stage much to everyone’s glee. The leader closed the show in true Beyoncé fashion by bringing Dara (complete with her gravity-defying hairstyle), Minzy and Park Bom for the finale. In 2022, 2NE1 proved why they have the right to say, “I Am The Best.”
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But that’s not the only throwback brought by 88rising. J-Pop icon Utada Hikaru surprised the crowd by singing their hits such as Passion and Sanctuary from Kingdom Hearts. Hikaru also performed their classic single First Love, providing everyone with all the nostalgic feels in the best way possible. If you need us, we’ll be listening to her songs on loop like it’s the 2000s.
Another remix of BIBI’s The Weekend? Sign us up
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One can never have too many remixes, and in the case of BIBI’s The Weekend, this holds definitely true. For Coachella 2022, the singer recruited her boss and Korean Rap Queen Yoonmirae for another spin on her hit song—we stan this FEELGHOODMUSIC tandem. Here’s to hoping we get it on streaming services soon.
If you’re feeling the FOMO on 88rising’s Head In The Clouds Forever set, fret not. The musical collective and label dropped a compilation of the new songs that debuted in Coachella 2022. The collection features BIBI’s Best Lover, and the collaboration between Warren Hue and Utada Hikaru called T. Stream it on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming platforms.
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Harry Styles brings Shania Twain on stage
Music icon. Fashion icon. And true friend ?? I am honored and thrilled to have joined @Harry_Styles onstage for his @coachella debut. What a magical moment!! And I mean c'mon… WHAT A SHOW ? I'm a huge fan! Grateful we got to create this memory together – Thank you Harry. pic.twitter.com/Tl7OpbSOnN
— Shania Twain ? (@ShaniaTwain) April 16, 2022
For his debut set on Coachella, Harry Styles brings his own surprise guest: singer-songwriter Shania Twain. In his opening spiel, the singer thanks the woman who taught him two things: 1) how to sing and 2) men are trash. Despite Styles’ cheeky quips, it was a sentimental moment to witness on a historic stage. Then, styles and Twain went on to sing Man! I Feel Like A Woman and You’re Still the One, leaving us in awe.
Megan Thee Stallion performs a new song
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The real HTown Hottie wows audiences by previewing a new song during her debut Coachella 2022 set. The 90s-era, old school flow is giving everyone flashbacks to Lil Kim’s reign as hip hop’s queen, proving time and time again that Megan Thee Stallion is one of the best rappers of this generation. Seems like we’ve got a new anthem for the year as the Hot Girl Coach pushes us to stay unapologetic.
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What else did we miss from Coachella’s first weekend? Sound off in the comments below! Meanwhile, check out our Coachella 2022 fashion round-up right here.
Art Gail Ordiales
