Pitchfork praises Gaga and absolutely reads Benson Boone’s Coachella sets

[MountainMonster 330]

The good note about Gaga: “On Friday night, Lady Gaga was significantly more effective. Her high-camp opera, which leaned heavily on last month’s Mayhem, was well considered and consistently amusing; two friends who were watching the YouTube livestream texted me separately to say that they were enamored. But, while Gaga is a seasoned arena performer, there is truly no way to account for the angles and sightlines of the surely more than 50,000 people who sprawled across a flat field. At times, from a distance, it felt like watching through a window as your neighbor assembles a ship in a bottle.”

The obliteration of Benson Boone’s set: “I say all that to say that Benson Boone is horrible, just godawful, the kind of act that makes you wonder if this whole medium has been worth it. His main stage set, at 7 p.m. on Friday—a preposterous slot for him—was nine absolutely insipid originals that seem designed to soundtrack tearful front-facing confession videos followed by a galling (and inexplicably Brian May-assisted) cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” I didn’t love it.”

Full article: https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/the-best-and-worst-of-coachella-2025/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=null

[Ivy 12,191]

I feel like this is a praise, but like sounds kind of condescending? It was "amusing"?

Maybe it's just me but seems like they hate to praise her even now 

Also why does everyone hate Benson Boone  

[Ziggy 11,398]

2 minutes ago, Ivy said:

I feel like this is a praise, but like sounds kind of condescending? It was "amusing"?

Maybe it's just me but seems like they hate to praise her even now 

Also why does everyone hate Benson Boone  

well some of the bits were high camp so i think that's the vibe they're trying to articulate but they're a bit up their ass and not very humorous so their criticality comes off as condescending. but lbr the skeletons in the sand pit? the dance off on a chess board? so many elements are both incredible theatrics and deeply fun and silly. that's just gaga but a publication like pitchfork, while thinking that, doesn't know how to say it well

[Ziggy 11,398]

ill be honest. im no fan of his but this is just mean and not even in a deliciously fun way. it's just bland which is ironic since that's what they're charging him with. if you're going to do critique i think there *needs* to be at least some element of humor otherwise it's just a slog of negativity. 

[Nagini 1,404]

6 minutes ago, Ivy said:

I feel like this is a praise, but like sounds kind of condescending? It was "amusing"?

Maybe it's just me but seems like they hate to praise her even now 

Also why does everyone hate Benson Boone  

Amusing also means delighted, entertained. This is the definition the author is using within the context of the sentence and how I read it. By no means is the author saying it was laughable or funny. 

Edited April 16 by Nagini

[He8MyHeart 9,716]

I don't think the criticism of the "angles" and "sightlines" was necessary. It's like they just had to add something negative.

[Nagini 1,404]

3 minutes ago, He8MyHeart said:

I don't think the criticism of the "angles" and "sightlines" was necessary. It's like they just had to add something negative.

Yeah, it's not a slight against Gaga so much as it is how festivals are orgnaized in the first place. Feels like Coachella commentary nested in a paragraph about Gaga. I wouldn't read into it too much, let's take the W with the continued critical praise for Mayhem.

[Brazilwood 4,110]

17 minutes ago, Ziggy said:

well some of the bits were high camp so i think that's the vibe they're trying to articulate but they're a bit up their ass and not very humorous so their criticality comes off as condescending. but lbr the skeletons in the sand pit? the dance off on a chess board? so many elements are both incredible theatrics and deeply fun and silly. that's just gaga but a publication like pitchfork, while thinking that, doesn't know how to say it well

You encapsulated my feelings about Pitchfork exactly. And I have been trying for ages to properly describe how they always feel to me. They take music too seriously, they think they're curing cancer AND they always sound like they got a 30inch dildo up their ass coming out their mouth. They hate on anything camp or that is not indie coded. They are that one friend that hates to share their music cause they feel jealous of it and only listens to deep cut artists that have a nonchalant, mysterious vibe, you know? Whenever Pitchfork is mentioned I visualize a gradient color album cover with something written by hand that you press play and it's just instrumental post-rock drums and guitar going crazy for 40 minutes as the only thing perfect for them.

Edited April 16 by Brazilwood

[Gagaism 11,204]

I don’t get certain American taste sometimes… looking at the charts except for a very few songs most of them are bland, uninspiring but somehow they’re up there making residence at the BB100 for months. Then when it comes for its performers so critics decide to drag them to the pits like, really bad. Math isn’t mathing, it’s so confusing to me. 

[27monster27 12,548]

Let's not take the publication that attacked Halsey for sharing her personal health story seriously please, even in moments of praise.

[Bobina 2,023]

1 hour ago, Ivy said:

I feel like this is a praise, but like sounds kind of condescending? It was "amusing"?

Maybe it's just me but seems like they hate to praise her even now 

Also why does everyone hate Benson Boone  

Hating on Benson Boone just seems to be the trendy thing to do. As far as I know, he hasn't said or done anything problematic? From what I've seen of his performances, he's talented and good-looking. Sure, his outfits are a choice. But other than that, I really don't get what's to hate about him. 

[MACATL 1,318]

1 hour ago, Ziggy said:

well some of the bits were high camp so i think that's the vibe they're trying to articulate but they're a bit up their ass and not very humorous so their criticality comes off as condescending. but lbr the skeletons in the sand pit? the dance off on a chess board? so many elements are both incredible theatrics and deeply fun and silly. that's just gaga but a publication like pitchfork, while thinking that, doesn't know how to say it well

The chess board for Poker Face was my favorite part of the entire night.  So damn cool.  

[NemoMyName 507]

I wondered why Benson Boone was getting hate, but first I had to find out who Benson Boone is. Then I find out he's just a tik tok one hit wonder with that cheap Nirvana's Heart Shaped Box chorus clone. Get him.

[OliviaRodrigoStan 5,788]

I'm sorry but that review is so embarrassing, imagine writing that . That website continues to be a joke.

[Nagini 1,404]

1 hour ago, Gagaism said:

I don’t get certain American taste sometimes… looking at the charts except for a very few songs most of them are bland, uninspiring but somehow they’re up there making residence at the BB100 for months. Then when it comes for its performers so critics decide to drag them to the pits like, really bad. Math isn’t mathing, it’s so confusing to me. 

Because America has zero vibe. If I were president, I would mandate Mayhem listening in all classrooms, colleges, and workplaces. And this is not a joke. I will sign that executive order.