OPINION — On Sunday, I planned my whole day around ensuring I was home and settled on the couch by the time 4:25pm rolled around.
I woke up ridiculously early for a Sunday to walk the dog, and I very annoyingly rushed my roommate through the supermarket, all in the name of not missing a single second of Justin Bieber’s Coachella set.
And thank god I made it home in time, because despite the negative commentary online, I thought what Bieber delivered was the perfect performance. This is why.
Watch the video above.
Bieber hasn’t really performed since having to cancel his Justice world tour in 2022 due to Ramsay Hunt syndrome, and in those few years it seems many people have forgotten what the star is all about.
He walked out on stage in a baggy hoodie, long shorts, and a pair of boots – a classic Bieber look, and basically exactly what we expected from him.
The set kicked off with Bieber solo on stage, casually bopping around while singing some of his newer hits, including All I Can Take, Speed Demon, Go Baby and Everything Hallelujah – which included an on-screen cameo from none other than Hailey Bieber, a feature that sent the crowd into hysterics.
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There was no production aside from the lighting design, which was the perfect combination of trippy and subtle for Bieber’s vibe, and his vocals were flawless – some might even argue better than ever.
If you’re not a hardcore fan of the pop star, I can see how you would find it boring.
But here’s the thing about 2026 Bieber: he’s no longer trying to impress people, he’s simply performing for the fans. And the fans (myself included) were eating it up.
“This was never meant to be a performance to please the masses … he’s doing it solely for himself and the fans.”
While he drew the biggest crowd in Coachella history, one of the most thoughtful parts of Bieber’s set was his understanding some of his biggest fans weren’t able to make the trip to the desert to see him, so he tailored the production in a way that made those watching at home felt just as involved as those in the crowd.
This was never meant to be a performance to please the masses. What Bieber took to the stage to do was connect with the fans who have stuck by him for a tumultuous 16 or so years, and that’s exactly what he did.
Potentially the most talked-about part of Bieber’s set was when he sang his hit 2010 track Baby and the crowd, and myself at home on the couch, screamed every lyric.
This was the beginning of what has since become the most controversial part of the performance.
Essentially, rather than performing full versions of his throwback hits, Bieber sat down in front of a laptop on the stage, connecting with fans at home through the live chat and playing clips of his music videos and performances while he basically performed karaoke.
While many have dubbed the section “lazy,” I would argue it was the perfect creative way to deliver the nostalgic hits fans wanted to see.
I’ve seen so much commentary from people wanting him to go full 2013 with backup dancers and all, but let’s be so for real: you have to be living in an alternate universe to think 2026 Bieber would have ever done something like that.
He cycled through his biggest hits, including Favourite Girl, That Should Be Me, Never Say Never, Sorry, and Where Are ϋ Now.
He delivered layered vocals as he harmonised with his younger self, seemingly healing something within himself and the fans watching along.
YouTube was how the Beliebers originally found and connected with the star, so it only felt right that he brought it all back to the beginning, surfing YouTube with the fans like we were all back in our childhood bedrooms in 2009.
The one thing I never expected when I tuned into the livestream was to find myself crying on the couch, but that’s exactly what happened when Bieber hit play on his cover of Chris Brown’s With You, the clip that got him discovered at just 13 years old.
It was a full-circle moment for Bieber as he turned his back on the fans to face the screen, harmonising with 13-year-old Justin and seemingly unable to wipe the smile off his face.
What we saw on stage was a new dad who’s triumphed over literally everything Hollywood could throw at a person – finding fame at a young age, health issues, paparazzi chaos and media backlash.
This was the first time we’ve seen Bieber perform some of these songs since 2012, and while some people think the YouTube bit was lazy, fans like myself understand the deeper meaning behind it.
He proved he doesn’t care about public opinion anymore. From now on, when he takes to the stage, he’s doing it solely for himself and the fans.
I do think there is a glaring issue in the fact a female star of a similar stance – Miley Cyrus, for example – could never get away with what Bieber did because we expect much more of our female pop stars.
But I also don’t think it’s fair we let that fact take away from what Bieber delivered. There are two separate conversations to be had.
Bieber took us right back to the beginning with a smile on his face, something Beliebers weren’t sure we would ever see.
He’s the highest-paid performer in Coachella history. While some are arguing he doesn’t deserve it with the lack of production value in his performance, I think it’s important to note that in recent years Coachella has struggled to sell tickets – yet this year, every ticket was gone within three days.
He’s being compared to the night one headliner, Sabrina Carpenter, who went all out on her production and delivered another flawless performance.
And while I agree Carpenter’s performance was bigger and better, there isn’t a doubt in my mind Bieber’s had the bigger cultural impact – and that’s what sells tickets.
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If you find yourself saying Bieber’s performance was boring or lazy, my guess is you probably were never a Belieber.
The set was designed for those who have stuck with the star since the beginning, and if nothing else, it proved there’s no cure for Bieber Fever; once you’ve got it, you’re in for life.
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