There’s no denying K-pop’s global influence, but for those listeners who haven’t been paying attention during its rise as the world’s dominant genre, Coachella may have given it a lap. BLACKPINK’s headlining set got me from K-Pop curious about one of many, many new BLINKS.
BLINK, a condensed version of the band’s name, is what the group’s loyal fanbase calls themselves, and I now count myself among their ranks. They generously welcomed me with open arms on social media, with over 200 comments on a tweet professing my allegiance to Jennie, whose solo part of the set was an engrossing mix of pop-EDM bombast and hip-hop syncopation of the wee hours, delivered by live drummer Bennie Rodgers II, who smuggled squid-armed fills into almost every bar.
I’m a huge Blackpink fan now and definitely on team Jennie (second favorite is Lisa)
— Dan Gentile (@Dannosphere) April 16, 2023
The set was preceded by a mesmerizing aerial drone show that referenced iconic installations from Coachella history, from the massive caterpillar that transformed into a butterfly in 2015 to the astronaut that emerged in 2014 and 2019.
There was a 10-minute pause between the drone show and the start of Blackpink’s set, which at the moment felt like a missed opportunity to continue the momentum, but as the video monitors were flooded with bubbling pink waves, the pause was forgotten. The legion of BLINKS were ubiquitous on the polo fields, sporting more merch than any other artist I saw that weekend. They burst into chants of “Blacccckpink” on opener “Pink Venom,” which began with a slinky melody plucked on the strings of a traditional Korean instrument called a geomungo.
BLACKPINK’s Jennie, Jisoo, Rose and Lisa perform on the Coachella Stage during the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 15, 2023.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella
Larger than life, the four members of BLACKPINK – Jennie Kim, Jisoo, Lisa, Rosé – exuded infinite pop star charisma and proved without a doubt that they deserved the highest recognition; They are the first Korean band to headline Coachella. Unlike Bad Bunny’s set, which was plagued by technical difficulties, BLACKPINK’s was flawless. Every choreographed dance move landed effortlessly, and her backing band was a highlight, too. The band barely appeared on the video screens, save for a glowing confirmation towards the end of the set, but their presence gave the set the energy of a live wire rock show. Rodgers, who has also played with Childish Gambino and Mariah Carey, almost seemed like BLACKPINK’s fifth member, delivering a virtuoso backbone I could have listened to myself.
Following hits “Kill This Love,” “How You Like That,” “Pretty Savage,” “Kick It,” and “Whistle,” the show entered a second act, with each of the four members performing a solo track.
BLACKPINK’s Jennie performs on the Coachella Stage during the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 15, 2023.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella
It was hard to deny Lisa on “Money,” which veered from Missy Elliott-style club banger into dark techno territory, but something about Jennie’s “You & Me” made me a Jensetter (the official term for Team Jennie). Jennie emerged in 2012 and was introduced simply as the “Mystery Girl” by K-pop powerhouse YG Entertainment, and in 2016 she was named BLACKPINK’s first member. As a fan of syrupy pop production and retro hip-hop drums, she stood out to me, partly due to the clear Neptune influence, with Rodgers dancing over his kit like Pharrell and Chad Hugo pounding a beat on her ASR 10 samplers banging .
Not to underestimate the power of the group as a whole, but for the uninitiated, the set’s solo segment was a move by pure pop-marketing genius. It showcased each singer’s personality and left every person on the polo field who wasn’t already a BLINK with a favorite member (or two).