Frank Ocean headlined Coachella this past weekend, performing live for the first time in six years to both fanfare and criticism from attendees.
The uproar began with the announcement that Frank Ocean’s closing set would not be live-streamed on their YouTube channel, disappointing many fans at home.
Furthermore, once it came time for Frank Ocean’s highly-anticipated set, he came on almost an hour after he was scheduled to perform. A giant screen dropped over the stage, shrouding most of it and displaying Ocean and the surrounding band as if from a film documenting a recording session.
He played out several fan-favorite tracks including “Pink + White,” “Solo,” and “Chanel,” including a live-vocal rendition of “Godspeed“ that left many breathless. There was also a full DJ section highlighting DJ Crystalmess who played out reworks of “Slide” and “Pyramids.”
A twerking security guard then appeared on screen to keep the energy up and had the whole audience cheering.
But Frank Ocean did not sing live many of his most popular songs and attendees complained he danced around to his own music remixed by someone else rather than performing. At the end of the set, Frank Ocean then abruptly stopped playing, claimed he had to be done due to curfew, and left.
The Festive Owl claimed that the seemingly unrehearsed set was supposed to contain an ice rink that Ocean decided he did not want last minute. The late start was due to Coachella having to deconstruct the stage for his newly stripped-down performance, that Billboard said felt like an intimate view into Ocean’s recording and creativity process.
But Frank Ocean fans also got word that his first album since 2016 is coming during his tribute to his brother, who unfortunately passed away in 2020 after a car accident. Frank Ocean said, “I want to talk about why I’m here, because it’s not because of the new album. Not that there’s not a new album, but there’s not right now.”
Listen to Frank Ocean’s most recent album Blonde below:
Featured image from the Los Angeles Times, photo credit AFP Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
