Geese Bring Unexpected Energy to Coachella with Justin Bieber Cover
A Surprise Coachella Moment
Hours before Justin Bieber took the stage for his highly anticipated headlining performance at Coachella, the Brooklyn-based band Geese provided an unexpected highlight during their own set on Saturday. Making their festival debut on the Gobi Stage, the group delivered a spirited, genre-bending take on the 2010 pop smash “Baby.”
The performance was not merely a straightforward cover; rather, it served as a creative bridge within their set. Cameron Winter and his bandmates seamlessly wove the iconic chorus of the Bieber hit into their own track, “2122,” which appears on their acclaimed album 3D Country. The juxtaposition of Geese’s gritty, alternative rock sensibilities with the polished pop production of the original created a memorable moment for the early-evening crowd.
A History of Reimagining Pop
While the Coachella performance caught many off guard, it was not the first time Geese had tackled the My World 2.0 track. The band had previously recorded a studio version of “Baby” in 2024. Although that rendition was uploaded to their official YouTube channel, it remained an unreleased curiosity until now.
The Headliner’s Own Take
Interestingly, Justin Bieber himself revisited the song during his own headlining set later that night. In a move that drew mixed reactions from the audience, Bieber opted to sing along to the original music video projected on the big screens rather than performing a live arrangement. His set, which featured guest appearances from The Kid Laroi and Dijon, was described by critics as a polarizing experience that leaned heavily into nostalgia and viral moments.
For Geese, the decision to incorporate the song into their set served as a testament to their willingness to subvert expectations. By embracing a track often dismissed by indie purists, the band demonstrated a playful approach to their live shows, proving that even the most ubiquitous pop hits can be transformed through the lens of modern brooklyn bands.
