If you were doom-scrolling through TikTok, lurking on fan accounts, and watching Coachella clips at ungodly hours this past weekend, then hi twin, let’s debrief the highlights of Weekend 1 of Coachella 2025!
As someone reporting from sunny Singapore, I couldn’t help but feel like I was living through a fever dream – one filled with Gaga’s neoclassical wig-snatching drama, Charli XCX’s Brat supremacy, surprise political speeches, and a palm tree literally catching fire. It’s safe to say, fans were thoroughly entertained, surprised, and mildly overwhelmed – and not necessarily in a bad way.
Lady Gaga
Let’s get into it – starting with none other than Lady Gaga, our undisputed mother of theatrics. She headlined Friday night with a 20-song, two-hour magnum opus built around her new album Mayhem, transforming the main stage into a gothic-meets-Baroque opera house.
No joke, I gasped when she broke into Judas – and couldn’t help but feel a little jealous of the crowd. I mean, can you blame me? Her set was split into five dramatic acts with chessboard choreography for Poker Face, angel wings for the finale, and a symbolic rebirth moment that had the crowd feral. Her set took over my FYP by morning! Even online, the production quality looked insane, and watching the live choreo to her newest hit Abracadabra gave me goosebumps.
Charli XCX
On Saturday, Charli XCX gave us a dose of something a little different. While Gaga gave us opera, Charli gave us a no-frills Brat rave. And I mean that as the highest compliment. She stomped across a nearly empty stage with simply the power of her presence (save for one riser and zero backup dancers). Icon behaviour.
She brought out a full guestlist too – Troye Sivan (in a “Protect The Dolls” tee, no less), Billie Eilish, and Lorde — who all joined her for their chaotic collabs. But the biggest twist was when her set ended with her Brat album cover going up in flames and some cryptic screen messages questioning if the “Brat era” was ending. Maybe she’s playing into the drama – but either way, I doubt she’ll be irrelevant for a while.
However, as much as I love Charli to bits, the “Miss Should Be Headliner” sash she wore at the Coachella afterparty – which stirred some discourse – did rub me the wrong way. I feel like she’s had her cake and an amazing (well-deserved) run in this era – and there was no need for this seemingly subtle jab at punk rock legends Green Day, who were Saturday’s headline act.
Green Day
Speaking of Green Day, it was even more disheartening to see how many mainstream fans were salty about the rise in alternative/indie acts at this year’s Coachella lineup. I think it’s important – and long overdue! After all these years, I couldn’t believe this was the band’s first time performing at Coachella; they brought the house down.
From blasting off with American Idiot to changing a line to “I’m not a part of the MAGA-agenda”) to a palm tree fire near the artist section – don’t worry, it was quickly handled – their set was pure punk power. I wasn’t expecting Coachella to get political, but it was yet another loud reminder for us all that music and activism have long gone hand in hand.
Clairo
We even got a surprise appearance by Bernie Sanders (yes, you read that right) introducing indie darling Clairo. “This country faces some very difficult challenges… We need you to stand up,” he told the crowd. What a beautiful opener to Clairo’s dreamy set!
Clairo took to the stage in a sheer lace outfit, swaying gently under the full moon like an ethereal vision. Backed by warm, soft arrangements from her Grammy-nominated album Charm, she played fan favourites like Bags and Juna, strumming her guitar and singing into a wired mic, reinforcing her understated, authentic stage presence.
Compared to the other explosive performances of the weekend, I welcomed Clairo’s magnetic yet gentle energy with open arms. It was a refreshing change of pace, and the girl-next-door vibes were strong in this one!
ENHYPEN
Now let’s talk K-pop. Come on, you know I have to! The genre’s been really poppin’ at Coachella in recent years. A moment that had me FOMO-ridden was watching ENHYPEN’s entire set online. As an ENGENE, I’m proud to say that they became the fastest K-pop group to hit the Coachella stage post-debut!
Their vocals on Drunk-Dazed hit hard (their live singing has improved so much) – and though they didn’t do the full choreo, their energy translated through the screen. That being said, I do wish their dance partners had come out for Bite Me – I’ll never understand the hate they got for having female dancers – but Future Perfect fully revived me. They brought the heat, the vocals, and the best hype remixes I’ve heard to date. Psst HYBE, when can we get the studio versions?
Lisa (BLACKPINK)
On the flip side, I found myself kinda disappointed by Lisa’s performance. Yes, she did have a cool concept: her solo set was styled like a live-action video game with character switch-ups, White Lotus references, and video game-inspired interludes. And don’t get me wrong, her outfits were everything (especially that silver bodysuit – iconic), but I wanted more raw performance energy from the main dancer of BLACKPINK.
The vocal backtrack was doing a lot of the heavy work for her, so I was hoping for at least a fierce dance break that showcased her capabilities. I know the BLINKS will ride at dawn, but I said what I said!
Jennie (BLACKPINK)
If it’s any consolation for BLINKS, though, I think fellow BLACKPINK member Jennie showed a lot of growth at Coachella. The group’s been called out before for lackluster live vocals, but Jennie honestly held her own this time. Her singing was decent, and her stage presence was through the roof – especially during ZEN and Mantra!
It just goes to show – Coachella’s not just another stop on the tour. It’s a statement stage. Expectations are sky-high, and when artists rise to meet them, the payoff is unforgettable.
Now, all this was just the tip of the iceberg. You’ll want to follow Coachella’s socials on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to catch up on other highlights from Weekend 1!
The good news is Weekend 2 is comin’ in hot – and you don’t have to miss a beat. Head over to Coachella’s official YouTube channel to tune into the livestreams, relive your favourite sets, and maybe spot more wild surprises!
Cover Photo Courtesy Of Coachella.
