We love Frank Ocean for his unique musical style that blends elements of R&B, soul, hip-hop, and pop. His introspective and emotionally honest lyrics have always won our hearts and pulled a lot of us through hard times. Frank Ocean’s incredible ability to create deeply personal and vulnerable songs and productions that touch on themes such as love, loss, and identity is something fans have been CRAVING for years! Our man, Frank Ocean went into hiatus after the launch of his notorious album Blonde, and he returned after a whopping six years.
Last Sunday he performed at Coachella but surprisingly enough, fans left the venue deeply, deeply disappointed. How could Frank freaking Ocean possibly disappoint his die hard fans? Keep reading to find out what exactly went that that weekend that caused the Frank Ocean Coachella Disaster
Why Fans Left Coachella Disappointed After Frank Ocean’s Performance?
I’m disappointed as well, not gonna lie. After six damn years of being in Hiatus when the news broke out about Frank Ocean headlining Coachella, no one could shut up about it. Everyone needed a ticket, and wanted to be there watching Frank perform. And Frank Ocean fans did not disappoint. Some got to the venue as early as eight in the morning to get a nice spot, and camped out the whole day in blazing Californian heat. Coachella was buzzing with Frank Ocean fans and they couldn’t have made the environment more supportive for him to come and perform like it was the biggest night of his life.
However, we all have read the headlines…
Frank Ocean showed up very late to the stage. Almost by an hour. Whilst Frank Ocean fans waited and waited, confused and frustrated. When he finally got to the stage, and the performance began, the crowd was initially very confused with the production. They saw people just walking around the stage, and on the screen while the artist was nowhere to be seen. Moments later fans could see him but only on the screen. His performance was really low key and lacked energy to a highly disappointing level. All the hype, all that build up was not worth this performance.
To sprinkle salt on Frank Ocean fans, they had to end the 30 minutes prior due to Coachella noise control curfews. Many, many fans left the valley deeply disappointed, and many feeling as though they have been scammed. And in a way, they were, all of them were indeed robbed of a beautiful night and moving performance.
In Frank Ocean’s Defence…
Despite the horrendous reviews that Frank Ocean’s performance at Coachella received, some fans and publications defended his performance. They argued that it was fitting with his elusive image and personal style. Some Frank Ocean fans speculated and pointed out that the performance may have been difficult for Ocean, as he dedicated it to his late brother.
Los Angeles Times praised Frank Ocean’s singing as “magnificent” and noted that his set was “willfully enigmatic.” They also reaffirmed his “talents as a vocalist and a teller of complicated stories.” This suggests that, while some fans may have been disappointed with his performance, others appreciated the unique and complex nature of his artistry.
GQ also defended Frank Ocean’s performance, describing it as “special” and a “form of mourning” that was informed by his personal experiences. They speculated that this may have influenced some of his choices, including a last-minute redesign of the stage. The GQ review argued that fans of Frank Ocean’s insular music should not necessarily have expected a high-energy performance, but instead appreciated the emotional depth and complexity of his art.
In an Instagram post, Justin Bieber also praised Frank Ocean’s performance, stating that he was “blown away” by his artistry and voice, and was “deeply moved” by his performance. This suggests that even some high-profile musicians were able to appreciate the unique and emotional nature of Frank Ocean’s performance.
It seems that Frank Ocean’s performance at the music festival was a complex and divisive experience for many fans and critics. While some appreciated his unique and emotional approach to live performance, others were left feeling disappointed and underwhelmed.
What Caused The Frank Ocean Coachella Disaster?
According to sources, an elaborate stage production was indeed planned for Frank Ocean’s Coachella performance, which would have involved an ice rink and a group of skaters who were meant to skate around Ocean and his band during their set. The stage had been rehearsed for several days and was ready to go. However, the production was abruptly cancelled on Sunday afternoon, after the festival had already begun. There are two different explanations for why this happened.
One explanation, according to the Festive Owl, is that Frank Ocean made a last-minute decision to cancel the production altogether. The people who were seen walking around Ocean at the start of the performance were actually ice skaters who had been practicing for weeks and were supposed to be a part of the production. Coachella had to deconstruct the approved stage, which had been planned and signed off on for months in advance, and melt the entire ice rink before setting it up in a different configuration that Frank had decided on that day.
This caused an hour-long delay and happened after doors had already opened for Sunday, leaving festival goers who had been waiting to see Frank Ocean unsure of what was happening.
The second explanation is that the ice rink was cancelled due to safety concerns. According to Rolling Stone, the ice rink had become slushy and dangerous during rehearsals, leading to concerns that the skaters could be injured during the performance. As a result, Ocean decided to cancel the production and opt for a simpler stage setup instead.
Regardless of the reason for the Frank Ocean Coachella Disaster, the last-minute changes caused confusion and disappointment for some fans who rightfully were expecting to see the elaborate stage production. However, others defended Frank Ocean’s decision and saw it as fitting with his unpredictable and enigmatic persona.
FAQs
Why were Frank Ocean fans disappointed after his Coachella performance?
Fans were disappointed after Frank Ocean’s Coachella performance because he showed up very late to the stage, and the production lacked energy and was not worth the hype that had been built up around it. The performance was also cut short due to Coachella noise control curfews, leaving fans feeling cheated.
What are some arguments in defense of Frank Ocean’s performance at Coachella?
Fans and some publications defended Frank Ocean’s performance, stating that it was fitting with his elusive image and personal style. Some fans pointed out that the performance may have been difficult for Ocean as he dedicated it to his late brother. LA Times praised his singing as “magnificent” and noted that his set was “willfully enigmatic,” while GQ described it as “special” and a “form of mourning” that was informed by his personal experiences.
What caused the Frank Ocean Coachella disaster?
According to sources, an elaborate stage production involving an ice rink and skaters was planned for Frank Ocean’s Coachella performance. The production was cancelled abruptly on Sunday afternoon due to Frank Ocean’s last-minute decision to change the stage setup, causing an hour-long delay and leaving festival goers confused. Another reason given was the ice rink had become slushy and dangerous during rehearsals, leading to safety concerns.
How did high-profile musicians react to Frank Ocean’s Coachella performance?
Justin Bieber praised Frank Ocean’s performance on Instagram, stating that he was “blown away” by his artistry and voice and was “deeply moved” by his performance.
How was Frank Ocean’s performance at Coachella 2023?
Frank Ocean’s performance at the music festival was a complex and divisive experience for many fans and critics. While some appreciated his unique and emotional approach to live performance, others were left feeling disappointed and underwhelmed. His performance lacked energy and was a “form of mourning” informed by his personal experiences, according to GQ.
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