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   From: desert@queers.com   
      
   It took until Sunday, but Coachella 2025 found its first disastrous set   
   with Rema. The Nigerian Afrobeats superstar did not take the stage at the   
   festival’s Mojave Tent until nearly 30 minutes into his 45-minute set, and   
   lip-synched badly for a couple of songs. But then the backing track was   
   dropped and he delivered a solid performance for a few songs, including   
   his global smash “Calm Down,” before another delay at his scheduled end   
   time. The set continued for three more songs, but ended on a note of some   
   confusion and widespread grumbling from the audience.   
      
   It seems obvious that something was wrong, as the next set in the Mojave   
   Tent, by British dance-music vets Basement Jaxx, was delayed for half an   
   hour and initially suffered from technical difficulties.   
      
   According to his label Mavin Records, Rema arrived at the venue two hours   
   before set time, and soundcheck had gone smoothly. But 30 minutes before   
   his set began, his in-ears were not fitting as they were different than   
   the ones from soundcheck, and his mic was not working. After he got on   
   stage, the technical issues with his in-ears persisted and the band   
   couldn’t hear one another, leaving the backing track to take prominence.   
   Because of this, his rep states, the set was cut short.   
      
   Rema’s set actually began a few minutes before its scheduled 5 p.m. PT   
   start time, with the DJ and several musicians took the stage to Afrobeats   
   hits. After a couple of minutes, the DJ shouted, “Rema’s about to take the   
   stage!,” but kept playing music and hyping … and hyping… and hyping while   
   the musicians fiddled with their equipment and looked at each other with   
   increasing confusion and concern.   
      
   After several minutes, the DJ tried to keep the mood afloat by cuing up   
   Tyla’s international smash “Water,” which got a big cheer from the crowd.   
      
   “This Rema’s DJ Afrobeat set is fire,” one fan posted on Twitter. “But   
   this is not why we are here,” adding a crying emoji. The Coachella   
   livestream camera crews faced increasing challenges finding fans to put on   
   camera who didn’t look annoyed.   
      
   “Nahh Rema pulling up late while the DJ & guitarist look around wondering   
   where he’s at is wild,” wrote another fan.   
      
   Finally, after nearly half an hour, the music stopped abruptly and the DJ   
   yelled: “Are you ready? If you’re ready for Rema, make some motherfuckin’   
   noise!”   
      
   The crowd cheered, but Rema was clearly lip-synching and not trying hard   
   to pretend otherwise, pulling the mic away from his mouth while the   
   recording of his voice continued.   
      
   He spoke enthusiastically to the crowd between songs though, saying he   
   “loved the energy” and asking if they wanted “anudda banga!” But suddenly,   
   he wasn’t lip-synching anymore and the band appeared relieved and played   
   enthusiastically.   
      
   “If you don’t know the song word for word, I just want to see you dance   
   and enjoy yourself,” he told the suddenly energized crowd. “Afrobeats is   
   about the vibes, you only live once.”   
      
   But after about a dozen minutes that included a rousing version of his   
   global hit “Calm Down” (minus Selena Gomez, who guests on the remix) and   
   “Favourite Girl,” there was a long pause and darkness on the stage — it   
   seems the organizers were trying to end his set, but he pushed back.   
      
   “They sayin’ it’s time for Rema to go home,” he told the crowd.   
      
   After another couple of minutes, the guitar lick for his just-released   
   single “Bout U” began but he said “Hold up!” and it stopped — and a   
   different song began. He followed with “Bout U,” then played “Baby (Is It   
   a Crime),” and the set ended amid a confused reaction from the crowd.   
      
   “Okay I’m guessing Rema had a wardrobe malfunction,” one fan posted.   
      
   “You can see in his face and body language he is slightly annoyed and   
   defeated,” another wrote after the set ended. “I’m so hurt for him cause   
   knowing Rema he wanted to give it his all.”   
      
   Another fan was less charitable. “The reviews about this Rema coachella   
   set in the morning is not gonna be nice. He feels a bit out of breath,   
   drank water like twice, the dj had to restart DND after playing Bout You   
   instead. The set is ending early or what? Something is off.”   
      
   Whether the problems were due to technical or human issues, it was a rough   
   day for Rema. Many eyes will be on his set or livestream during   
   Coachella’s second weekend at 5 p.m. PT next Sunday.   
      
   https://variety.com/2025/music/news/rema-coachella-disaster-what-happened-   
   1236368603/   
      
   --- SoupGate-DOS v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)