Desert Dreams: Lady Gaga Reigns, Benson Boone Embraces Freddie Mercury, and Lisa Dazzles at Coachella 2025
When the comprehensive oral history of Coachella is eventually compiled, the first day of the 2025 edition of this iconic festival will likely be remembered for two major highlights: the oppressive heat that surpassed 100 degrees, making it a challenging experience for even the most dedicated fans, and — more significantly — Lady Gaga’s outstanding headlining performance, which stands out as one of the most elaborate and meticulously crafted shows to ever grace the expansive stage at the Indio polo fields.
Gaga’s show, her first full-length set in support of her new album, *Mayhem*, was structured in five acts, each with dramatically themed titles such as “And She Fell Into A Gothic Dream” and “The Beautiful Nightmare that Knows Her Name.” The semi-narrative seemed to revolve around Gaga confronting and ultimately slaying her Mother Monster persona, only for it to resurrect by the show’s conclusion.
Regardless of the storyline, it became evident early on that Gaga was aiming for the extraordinary. She opened with “Bloody Mary,” emerging from a stunning multi-tiered set piece that resembled a grand dress atop a gothic stage. Inside, a group of dancers struggled through what looked like a fashion prison. The stage was adorned to evoke an ancient performance venue, complete with gargoyles and Roman columns, and was accompanied by a plethora of musicians — a hidden string section in one window, a powerhouse drummer and bassist in another, and a battalion of guitarists poised for action — all while dozens of dancers delivered breathtaking moments. This included a zombie-apocalypse-style resurrection and a life-sized chess match set to “Poker Face,” culminating in an intense battle during “Born This Way.”
At one point, the masked DJ Gesaffelstein appeared, flanked by two keyboards, to perform “Killah,” further amplifying the spectacle. If this all sounds like an extravagant film, that’s because it felt like a concert movie, with certain set pieces (notably the chess match) evidently designed for the livestream audience as well as fans in the crowded field who were directed towards the video screens.
“I decided to build you an opera house for you in the middle of the desert,” Gaga proclaimed mid-set, just before launching into her hit “Alejandro.” It’s hard to imagine how this show will translate into the arenas and stadiums she’s scheduled to perform later this year; the entire production felt tailor-made for the Coachella audience, aligning with the legacy of artists who have delivered headline sets that transcend typical tour stops (think Beyoncé and Prince). This performance contributed to the festival’s reputation as the king of music festivals for over two decades. Only time will reveal her plans, but for the 100,000 attendees at the Polo Field, it certainly felt monumental.
Of course, Gaga wasn’t the only artist to leave a mark on the crowd. Just before her set, Missy Elliott celebrated her well-deserved comeback with a space-themed party that showcased the joy of her arena tour from the previous year, demonstrating that her hits like “Work It” and “Lose Control” remain timeless and ahead of their time. Blackpink’s LISA (also known as Mook from *The White Lotus*) shone as a solo artist during the live debut of her song “Lifestyle” in the Sahara Tent, even giving a shoutout to her popular HBO show from the stage.
In a delightful surprise, Queen’s guitarist Brian May joined a gospel choir to support rising star Benson Boone during performances of Queen’s classic “Bohemian Rhapsody” and his own “Beautiful Things,” showcasing his impressive guitar skills while clearly enjoying the moment. Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, whose band was set to headline the following night, performed “Head over Heels” alongside the reunited Go-Go’s at the slightly smaller Outdoor Theater, overcoming sound issues to unite two generations of punk music.
Ireland’s Kneecap ignited a mosh pit with their high-energy Gaelic hip-hop, while newcomer Lola Young led a massive singalong of her hit “Messy,” even experiencing a bit of chaos herself — she had to dash offstage for a bucket after feeling overwhelmed by nerves and heat. On a day that felt like an intense pressure cooker, no one could blame her.
Stay tuned for more updates from HiCelebNews, your go-to source for the latest happenings in the music world.
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