Justin Bieber made his Coachella debut on Saturday, April 11, marking the singer’s first major return to performing after a years-long hiatus. Showcasing a stripped-down set design and performing songs that walked the audience through his journey from the beginning, Bieber’s Coachella set sparked a flood of reactions online– and both fans and critics had lots to say about it. Critics call Bieber’s set design lazy, but what some called lazy, fans called intimate, intentional and healing.
One of the biggest critiques I saw online was a comparison between Sabrina Carpenter’s extravagant, theatrical Coachella set this year and Justin Bieber’s simple MacBook, table and chair. Many saw this and were quick to call it low-effort, but Justin Bieber doesn’t need a spectacle. And that was the whole point.
Bieber understands what his fans want, and he delivered. The OG “beliebers” have been around for it all and nostalgia engulfs the fan base. All they dream of is hearing the Justin Bieber pop hits that characterized their childhood live all these years later. However, what many don’t know is that Bieber sold 100% of the music rights to his songs. While Bieber’s karaoke-style performance of his old songs with the help of his laptop seemed odd at first, this was actually a clever loophole for him to still be able to sing the songs from his younger years that he has no ownership of anymore.
Though he was only able to play around one minute of each old song he selected, his speedrun walk down memory lane meant everything to his fans. Much of Bieber’s fanbase grew up alongside him, so having the privilege of reliving their childhood with Justin Bieber at the same time was a moment of healing for everyone. This could not have been portrayed better than by Bieber looking up iconic internet memes that him and his fans grew up laughing at. Such a simple moment, but a huge reminder of the history him and his fans share together and that they are all just the same kids they were.
Justin Bieber has always been just a kid who loved to sing, but the music industry took advantage of that, leading down a troubling road that took great strength to change around. His bare set design was a reminder that he doesn’t need flashy props or eye-catching visuals, choreographed numbers or costume changes and backup dancers to go with every song. Just him in his rainboots, accompanied by a couple guests and good friends, Bieber drew in one of the largest crowds in Coachella history and left everyone watching in the desert and at home with an overwhelming feeling of love, appreciation and community.
Bieber ended his set by singing his song “daisies”, crouching down and getting up close and personal with the camera. He used that moment to share the genuine love he has for his fans, using this intimate moment with the camera as a way to look his fans in the eye. Watching Bieberchella at home on my couch, my heart was full of gratitude, love and adoration. Bieberchella was more than I could have asked for and everything I didn’t know I needed.
