Justin Bieber left mixed impressions on his fans during his big comeback.
By focusing on recent tracks rather than his hits, Justin Bieber sparked a wave of criticism after his grand comeback on stage as the headliner at Coachella.
He’s back. And is it a real flop? After several years off, Justin Bieber returns, headlining Coachella on Saturday.
But his performance, eagerly anticipated by fans and scrutinized by commentators, has elicited a wave of rather… contrasting reactions, as reported by 20 minutes.
Indeed, the Canadian singer defied expectations. Instead of playing his greatest hits, he favored recent and lesser-known tracks, confusing part of the audience.
Appearing on stage at 11:25 p.m. (8:25 a.m. in Switzerland), right on time despite rumors of delays, he sported a very casual outfit – shorts, hoodie, and sunglasses.
Networks ablaze
Quickly, the critics flocked to social media. Many viewers lamented a setlist dominated by recent tracks like “All I Can Take,” “Speed Demon,” or “Walking Away,” while iconic hits like “Baby” or “Beauty and a Beat” were only briefly mentioned.
If a few hits like “Stay” or “Sorry” were well interpreted, it was not enough to convince part of the audience, who also criticized a visually weak show.
Some comments were particularly harsh, denouncing a performance unworthy of a headliner and calling it “an insult” to fans who paid dearly. Others even called it the “worst Coachella performance.”
Despite these criticisms, the concert also had more emotional and widely appreciated moments. Justin Bieber dedicated several songs to his wife Hailey, like “Go Baby,” and directly addressed the audience, even asking for song suggestions via livestream – an unusual initiative for an event of this scale.
He also revisited his journey by showing old YouTube videos from his beginnings.
Ultimately, opinions remain divided. Some praise a sincere and daring performance, seeing it as a well-assumed artistic approach, while others would like a refund. It now remains to be seen if this appearance marks a true musical comeback for the artist.
(dag)
