"Is Justin Bieber’s Coachella Performance a Bold Statement or Just a Viral Video Gone Wrong?"
Added on April 13, 2026 inFree Music News
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As the cosmic alignments hinted at new beginnings, Justin Bieber took the stage for his first major concert in years at Coachella on April 11th. With only a MacBook in hand, he delivered a mix of tracks from his latest album, SWAG, and fondly revisited fan favorites like “Baby.” For his devoted followers—affectionately known as Beliebers—this performance was not just another set but a dream made tangible. However, not everyone was swept away by the vibes; some critics dismissed his performance as “lazy,” pointing to a stripped-back show that featured old music videos played on his laptop. But perhaps, much like the astrological shifts urging us to embrace our true selves, what some perceived as minimalism was actually a strategic choice. After all, nostalgia drenched in authenticity might just be what the universe ordered. So, what if his approach wasn’t the glitzy spectacle some expected? Is it possible that those labeling it “underwhelming” are missing the magic in the moment? Curious minds can LEARN MORE here.
Marking his first full public concert in years, Justin Bieber headlined Coachella on Saturday (11 April).
Armed with his MacBook and a dream, he performed tracks from his latest album SWAG as well as revisiting bangers like ‘Baby’.
But while it might have been a dream come true for Beliebers, not everyone was totally impressed with the singer’s set as some slammed it as ‘lazy’.
Bieber’s set was pretty stripped back compared to Sabrina Carpenter’s the night before, as he sat at a laptop for roughly half an hour midway through to play his old music videos as well as some viral moments. Even Katy Perry got in with the fun of his use of YouTube as some critics found it underwhelming.
However, it’s suggested that those slamming the ‘Daisies’ singer’s set are missing ‘the entire point’.
Justin Bieber is one of this year’s Coachella headliners. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella)
Back in 2023, Bieber sold the rights to all of the 291 songs he had released to Hipgnosis Songs Capital. It’s said the deal was reportedly worth $200 million (roughly £162 million at the time), making it one of the biggest deals ever made for an artist under the age of 70.
And former Universal Music Group (UMG) exec and Team 10 COO Nick Crompton laid out the apparent relevance of this in Bieber’s Coachella set.
He explained why anyone calling the performance lazy is ‘missing the business’ as he pointed out the Hipgnosis owns the publishing and artist royalties while UMG ‘owns the master recordings’.
“Every minute he spends performing the old catalogue is a minute he’s putting in work for other people’s royalty checks,” Crompton wrote on X.
“Playing the YouTube videos costs him nothing. No band, no backup singers, little production. Fans still get records like ‘Baby’, ‘Sorry’, ‘Beauty and a Beat’, and ‘Never Say Never’. All the nostalgia, none of the overhead. He saved his actual performance for Swag, which is the era he owns.”
Bieber played his old music videos on YouTube. (Coachella/YouTube)
He also commented on the nostalgia of the Coachella set as he reminded people that Bieber was first discovered by ‘uploading videos to YouTube’ when he was a kid.
“A laptop on the main stage is the most intimate, on-brand, and authentic thing he could’ve done,” Crompton continued.
“And he’s in a completely new chapter doing it the way he wants. No Scooter, new team, new business structure. Full control for the first time in his career.
“If you didn’t like it, you’re just not a Belieber.”
And of course, plenty of fans did love Bieber’s set, swarming social media to say they were ‘screaming, crying, throwing up’ and calling it a ‘dream come true’.
Others even said it was ‘absolutely masterful’, with one writing: “I actually loved it more than I ever thought I would. He made sure to interact with the audience at home. He actually loves his fans.”
Coachella festivalgoers who paused for a soft drink or some fried chicken inbetween watching Justin Bieber, Karol G and Sabrina Carpenter ended up paying excruciating prices for it last weekend.
“Prices looking like it’s a nice day to fast,” wrote one music lover. “I’ll just eat thoughts and prayers,” said another.
Here’s what anyone entitled enough to want to eat and drink at Coachella ended up paying, thanks to screenshots posted by Californian estate agent James Suer on Instagram.
Chicken burger with chips – $30 (£22)
Chicken tender with chips – $26 (£19)
Coca Cola/Coke Zero/Sprite – $7 (£5)
Gyro – $20 (£15)
Carne asada chips – $20 (£15)
Greek salad – $15 (£11)
Cheesy chips – $16 (£12)
Lemonade – $10 (£7)
Fried chicken wings and chips – $25 (£19)
Chicken strips and chips – $17.50 (£13)
Cajun french fries – $10 (£7)
Spicy tuna bowl – $23 (£17)
Yuzu salmon bowl – $23 (£17)
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