Coachella Weekend 2 recap: Harry Styles and Lizzo light up the desert like nobody else
Throwback jams and power duets set the tone for the second weekend of this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, featuring surprise appearances from Lizzo, J Balvin, Hayley Williams and Kendrick Lamar.
On Friday, headliner Styles and Lizzo joined forces for some disco-boyband fun. And rapper Baby Keem sent hip-hop fans into a frenzy by bringing out Lamar, his cousin, for a live performance of their Grammy-winning collab.
Headliner Billie Eilish sprinkled some pop-punk magic into her set with a little help from Paramore frontwoman Williams on Saturday. And on Sunday, Karol G welcomed Balvin to the Coachella stage for a reggaeton spectacular.
Here’s a sampling of highlights from Coachella Weekend 2.
Fans and artists were thrilled to be back at the nation’s preeminent music festival, despite (or because of) the lack of COVID safety protocols.
Styles and Lizzo channel One Direction
Pop peers and besties Styles and Lizzo journeyed into the past for a fabulous duet of Gloria Gaynor’s disco classic “I Will Survive,” followed by a nostalgic rendition of the One Direction anthem “What Makes You Beautiful.”
(Former One Direction heartthrob Styles has repeatedly returned to his boy band roots in concert despite launching a wildly successful solo career five years ago.)
Draped in vibrant feather coats, the pair of hitmakers smiled, danced and harmonized, much to the glee of the lively audience. The musicians previously united onstage for a dynamic performance of Lizzo’s hit “Juice” after Styles’ cover of the track went viral in 2019.
“Last night was amazing,” Lizzo wrote Saturday on Instagram.
“[Styles] is a treasure, gods gift to rock n roll, the light that comes from him is real and infinite.. he makes being on stage in front of hundreds n thousands easy, cus it’s w a friend. His team is incredible— and baby them Gucci coats….?!?? Thank you H, like u said ‘until next time.’”
Lamar and Keem are cousin goals
It’s only fitting that Lamar stepped out to perform his verse from Keem’s “Family Ties,” which won the Grammy for rap performance earlier this month.
“Oh, s—,” Keem exclaimed as Lamar made his grand entrance and cheers erupted from the crowd. Feeding off the thundering bass and each other’s energy, the cousins bounced and rapped in unison as neon pyrotechnics lighted up the stage.
The Times’ Mikael Wood and Suzy Exposito report live from the 2022 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio.
Lamar also contributed to Keem’s performance of “Vent” from the latter’s 2021 album, “The Melodic Blue.” The Pulitzer Prize-winning artist’s Coachella cameo came days after he announced that his long-anticipated new album, “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers,” is set to arrive May 13.
Coachella marks Lamar’s second major California concert performance this year after the hip-hop superstar joined forces with Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent and Dr. Dre for the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium.
Eilish and Williams go full Paramore
Eilish and Williams threw it back to the early 2000s for an acoustic duet of Paramore’s pop-punk anthem “Misery Business.”
It’s worth noting that Paramore made a conscious decision in 2018 to stop performing “Misery Business” for “a really long time” after some deemed the song about two women competing for the same guy anti-feminist.
“Wow ... my first Coachella,” Williams said after embracing Eilish onstage. “Thanks for sharing this with me. This is sick.”
Williams later returned to the stage during the climactic second half of Eilish’s hit single “Happier Than Ever.”
Paris Hilton attended Weekend 2 of the Coachella festival and video of her frolicking there has gone viral on TikTok. She’s ‘sliving,’ she says.
Karol G and Balvin do it for la gente
After electrifying the desert last weekend by inviting pop star Becky G to the Coachella stage for an empowering performance of their hit collab “MAMIII,” Karol G floored the festival crowd again this weekend with yet another special guest: Balvin.
The Colombian superstars were a match made in reggaeton heaven while performing Balvin’s chart-topping 2017 track “Mi Gente.”
“Give it up for J Balvin,” Karol G shouted as the “La Canción” artist rose dramatically from the floor and the audience began to scream.
“Coachella, let me see you all put your hands up in the air,” Balvin shouted. “¡Arriba, arriba!”
Reggaeton star Karol G just turned 30, released her much-anticipated new album “KG0516” and parried rumors of a breakup with rapper Anuel AA.
On Instagram, the pair of musicians from Medellín shared images and video footage from the show and fondly reminisced about their epic Coachella moment.
“Made in Medellin,” Balvin captioned photos of himself embracing and tipping his hat to Karol G onstage.
“Queen @karolg,” he added in Spanish. “I love you. Latino Gang COACHELLA.”
In Spanish on her Instagram story, Karol G thanked Balvin for representing, for his vision, for teaching her to dream, for giving her opportunities and for accompanying her “on this special day.”
“My gratitude to you is infinite,” she wrote.
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