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Amidst the ongoing debates surrounding LE SSERAFIM's recent Coachella performance, BLACKPINK's last appearance at the renowned music festival has once again taken centre stage.
On April 13, 2024, the K-pop group LE SSERAFIM graced the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in the U.S., with their performance streamed live on YouTube.
Online reactions were divided. Some praised LE SSERAFIM for their preparation and diligence for the Coachella stage, citing their young age as a factor. However, the opposing viewpoint subjected the quintet to severe scrutiny.
They faced accusations of subpar vocals, with some netizens noting breathlessness even during less demanding choreography and suggesting that their label, HYBE, should provide vocal training. Others asserted that the group wasn't adequately prepared for such a significant stage as Coachella at the current juncture.
Many users compared LE SSERAFIM's stage presence to that of BLACKPINK, expressing awe at the latter's legendary status. Consequently, BLACKPINK's iconic performances from Coachella 2023 have resurfaced on social media, drawing comparisons and admiration from netizens.
According to the latest Viral Takes report on X, BLACKPINK's Coachella performances are commanding YouTube in South Korea, with Pretty Savage and Shut Down securing the top two spots on the Daily chart.
Additionally, three of the group's tracks, As If It's Your Last, Pink Venom, and Shut Down, have reappeared in the top 200 on the MelOn daily chart post-Coachella 2024.
BLACKPINK Coachella 2023 performance videos resurface online after LE SSERAFIM took over the stage in 2024
In the previous year, when BLACKPINK graced and headlined the Coachella stage, they faced criticism for their heavy reliance on backtracks and accusations of lip-syncing. However, following LE SSERAFIM's recent performance, netizens have lauded the former's stage presence, now considering it the benchmark for excellence.
The quartet delivered an electrifying performance at Coachella while amidst their world tour, on their hit tracks Shut Down, Typa Girl, and Pink Venom.
Several of their performances, uploaded on the group's official YouTube channel, have already garnered millions of views. As of the time of writing, the top three performances from the group at Coachella 2023 include:
- 'Typa Girl' with 86 million views
- 'Pretty Savage' with 60 million views
- 'Shut Down' with 38 million views
Their impact was such that the event was affectionately dubbed "PINKCHELLA" by K-pop fans and enthusiasts.
In contrast, LE SSERAFIM's Coachella debut was met with mixed reactions. Despite the controversy, the members remain determined to grow and evolve as artists.
Sakura, a member of the group, addressed the criticism, emphasizing their commitment to improvement and their pride in performing at Coachella. Her post, however, brought even more criticism.
"From preparing for Coachella to the day of the performance, we learned a lot. Despite debuting less than two years ago and having only toured once, we stood proudly on the Coachella stage, pouring all our strength into it. That alone, was satisfying, a day when I truly felt like Le Sserafim," she wrote on Weverse.
She continued—
"The performance may have looked immature to some. However, nobody is perfect, and it is an undisputed fact that it was the best set among those we have shown. It was a platform fueled by our aspiration to evolve as a team in the future and our unwavering commitment to strive harder."
The juxtaposition between LE SSERAFIM's performance and BLACKPINK's historic appearances underscores the high standards set by the latter at Coachella.
Taking the Coachella stage as the fourth K-pop girl group after 2NE1, aespa, and BLACKPINK, LE SSERAFIM faced high expectations, particularly following the quartet's headline performance at the festival the previous year.
As Coachella concluded for the year, BLACKPINK fans reflected on their achievements, having made a significant impact with their performances on the festival's prestigious stages.
