Any update involving Frank Ocean is front-page news. The golden child of R&B, aside from being one of the most prized singers of the 21st century, is also known for the restraint with which he offers himself and his art to the public. His stock has skyrocketed as his fanbase becomes more desperate for him to show up in any shape or form, which is why the reveal of Coachella’s 2023 lineup was monumental.
Ocean was originally scheduled to headline the festival in 2020, but the event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. That was also the same year that his brother tragically passed away, so it was perhaps best that he wasn’t forced into the public eye and instead had that time to himself. Fast-forward three years and he has been scheduled to take the stage for the first time in six years for two headlining performances at the Coachella Arts & Music Festival.
Frank Ocean as seen from the crowd at the first weekend of Coachella 2023 (Credit: Andy Abeyta)
This past weekend, Ocean finally got behind the mic in front of a large audience after a lengthy absence from the public domain. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the heroic return everyone had anticipated. Fans had been camped out in front of the main stage since the festival gates opened, yet, the Southern California native was an hour late to his performance. This rubbed a lot of attendees the wrong way, especially because Coachella is strict about its curfew, meaning that the thousands who paid thousands to watch him live would get one hour less of what they were promised.
For several songs, Ocean sang from backstage and out of sight. He only performed a handful of hits in their original form and the bulk of his set comprised stripped-down versions of his compositions, reimagined and remixed beyond recognition. This had the crowd split — a lot of fans were disappointed that his setlist didn’t consist of his greatest hits whereas others praised it for being intimate, personal and courageous. Yet, spectators pointed out that something was off about the artist.
He clearly stated that he wasn’t a fan of Coachella but felt obligated to perform there because it was his late brother’s favorite event of the year. Ocean sat while singing through most of his show, which was attributed to a recent bike injury. All in all, it was underwhelming for those who have been waiting years for the recluse to finally make an appearance. And to make things worse, Ocean’s set wasn’t even live-streamed like the rest of the festival, so everyone waiting at home had to bounce around social media to find clips of the set, the majority of which have negative commentary attached to them.
Though Ocean did subtly hint at dropping new music (but not anytime soon), his return to the stage was a disappointing reminder that it’s best we just leave him alone. He is an artist who flourishes in the studio, but only on his own terms. This is something we’re going to have to accept as fans of his music. Of course, we have another show from him scheduled to take place this Sunday for the second weekend of Coachella, so let’s hope for the best.
