Frank Ocean’s 2023 Coachella appearance. Photo via The Desert Sun
In honor of Coachella 2026 officially coming to an end, and literally everyone I know experiencing BieberFever, I can’t help but think about all the other Coachella weekends I’ve missed.
Coachella headliners are obviously the main attraction, and each year Coachella brings out artists with huge fanbases and usually year long hiatuses. This is true for Bieber’s performance this year, No Doubt in 2024, and one that I hold near and dear to my heart, Frank Ocean in 2023.
When Frank Ocean was announced to be the Sunday headliner for Coachella 2023, I probably spent a solid month figuring out how to budget a trip from Texas to Coachella Valley. I eventually accepted that it wasn't happening, but this didn’t stop the excitement – I was amped.
Ocean’s Coachella performance was believed to be his reintroduction to the public view, but in the absence of any follow-up appearances, many began seeing the performance as a heavy tribute to Ocean’s brother, Ryan. Between songs, Ocean would often reference Ryan, who tragically passed away in 2020, and even cited how they attended the festival together on multiple occasions.
Frank Ocean played through ~13 songs before leaving his set early. Among his setlist was an alternate version of “White Ferrari,” which many believe to be Ryan’s favorite version of the song.
To this day there are many mixed opinions on Frank Ocean’s Coachella performance, and with his return to privacy it is uncertain if fans will get new music or more shows from him. Either way, I think everyone can recognize the personal significance of his set that night.