Frank Ocean at Coachella 2023: The Good, The Bad, and The Drama

Frank Ocean's highly-anticipated Coachella 2023 performance left critics, fans and festival-goers with mixed feelings. While some were in awe, others were disappointed by his pitchy vocals.

The Good: New Album Announcement, Unreleased Music and Tribute to Brother Ryan

Frank Ocean performing “Come On World, You Cant Go” for the first time ever at Coachella pic.twitter.com/cFdwMrxinf

— Frank Ocean Updates (@blahnded) April 18, 2023

One of the highlights of the show was Frank Ocean previewing unreleased music and paying a touching tribute to his deceased younger brother Ryan, who passed away in 2020 in a car accident. This tribute was followed by the debut performance of the song "Come On World, You Can't Go!" - a song that had been previously previewed on Frank's radio show "Blonded Radio."

The Bad: Lip-Syncing and Absence of Fan-Favorite Tracks

Despite the anticipation and hype leading up to Frank's performance, many fans were left disappointed. It was reported that Frank lip-synced the songs "Nikes" and most of the song "Nights" from his album "Blonde." Furthermore, the absence of fan-favorite tracks like "Pyramids" and "Thinkin' Bout You" had many disappointed.

After lipped closing numbers, Coachella cut the show abruptly after the curfew hit, in which Frank suddenly disappeared in typical Frank Ocean fashion. The crowd let out cries of shock as the messy but magical set finished.

The Drama: Backstage Changes and Tensions with Coachella

The drama behind the scenes of Frank Ocean's Coachella 2023 set was unexpected. Sources close to the situation reported that tensions arose between Frank and Coachella due to last-minute changes and issues with the stage production. Photographers were also not allowed at the set, and a sign donned 'No Frank Ocean Merchandise'.

According to insiders, the stage production was supposed to have an ice rink that had been constructed and was ready to go. However, at the last minute, Frank decided that he no longer wanted any of it. 

Frank was said to have been angry about the costumes given to the dancers - all of the people walking around him at the start of the performance were actually ice skaters who had been practicing for weeks and were supposed to be skating as part of the production.

Staff had to deconstruct the approved stage, melt the entire ice rink, and set it up according to Frank's wishes with no warning. This caused an hour-long delay, which happened when doors had already opened for Sunday, and people were securing their spots to see him.

If the last-minute changes weren't made, Frank wouldn't have performed at all, leaving the festival without a closing headliner. The relationship between Frank and Coachella is alleged to have soured, leaving a dent in the working relationship between him and the festival.

The Fallout: Frank Ocean Reportedly Affected by Criticism

Since the performance, Frank is reported to have been affected by the response and criticism from the public, according to sources close to him. It remains to be seen how this will affect his future performances and relationship with Coachella.

The Question: Is Frank's Laziness under the Guise of Mystique?

This performance has also raised questions about Frank Ocean's work ethic and whether his reluctance to engage with fans and the media is a result of his mystique or just pure laziness. Fans and critics alike are waiting to see if Frank can redeem himself in his future performances.

In conclusion, Frank Ocean's 2023 Coachella set was one for the books, but not in the way anyone expected. As Frank moves forward with his career, it remains to be seen how he will address the criticism and move past the fallout from this performance.