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When it comes to music festivals, it doesn’t get bigger than Coachella.
This year’s lineup includes Lady Gaga’s grand return to the desert as well as highly anticipated performances from Megan Thee Stallion, Tyla, Jennie, The Marías, and more. At Coachella, one should always expect the unexpected; thank goodness the festival spans two weekends so music lovers can get their full fix.
Ahead, we’ve broken down a few of the standout moments from Coachella Weekend One including a grandiose Gaga performance, promising newcomer debuts, and cameos from a few living legends of music. Watch this space for updates from Weekend Two starting this Friday.
Lady Gaga gives a performance for the history books.
Kevin Mazur – Getty Images
Lady Gaga is no stranger to delivering memorable performances that stand the test of time, but her theatrical ode to her latest album, Mayhem, at this year’s Coachella might just be the latest career-high for the pop star. After she turned the main stage into a neoclassical opera house in the middle of the desert and performed a musical story that celebrated not only her newest album but some of the biggest hits of her career, the internet could not stop buzzing about Gaga all weekend long. Our personal highlights from the set included a chess-game inspired rendition of “Poker Face,” throwbacks to Little Monster favorites like “Bloody Mary” and “Judas,” and a killer Parris Goebel-choreographed dance break for “Garden of Eden.” Oh, and we can’t forget the dancing skeletons.
Missy Elliott’s set served nothing but the hits.
Missy Elliott came to Coachella to remind everyone what a real hitmaker looks and sounds like. Known for her over-the-top set design and costuming, the DMV legend arrived on stage dressed as a Transformer and powered through a setlist filled with hits including “Get Your Freak On,” “Hot Boyz,” and, of course, “Lose Control.” Her performance also served as a reminder of Elliott’s deep appreciation of hip-hop dancers; she often gave her crew the floor during costume changes, mesmerizing the crowd and viewers at home.
Jennie, Tyla, Ravyn Lenae, and more deliver memorable desert debuts.
Katie Flores – Getty Images
Next-Gen performers made their mark at this year’s Coachella, too. Blackpink alums Lisa and Jennie both delivered standout solo sets tied to the release of their respective solo albums while budding superstar Tyla brought her South African style and swag to the stage. R&B songstress Ravyn Lenae also drew a massive crowd to her first-ever Coachella set and had the entire sea of fest-goers singing along to her breakout hit “Love Me Not.”
Megan Thee Stallion brings out all the hot girls of hip-hop.
Megan Thee Stallion is never afraid to share the stage with those who inspire her. For the Houston rapper’s powerhouse set on Sunday night, Megan brought out back-to-back hip-hop heavyweights to join her onstage including Victoria Monet, Ciara, and the original Queen of Rap, Queen Latifah. Megan’s set served as a reminder that women have ran hip-hop for quite some time now, naysayers be damned.
The Marías prove they’re the next big rock stars.
Frazer Harrison – Getty Images
Back in 2018, a then-little-known band called The Marías performed to a sparse crowd at Coachella Music Festival. This year, they had one of the most passionate audiences of the weekend. The Los Angeles based band, led by Puerto Rican singer and songwriter María Zardoya, has managed to gain a larger following over the years thanks to high profile collaborations with the likes of Bad Bunny and Selena Gomez. Their heartbreak anthems go against the long existing boys club of rock music that makes their ascendence all the more exciting.
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