LE SSERAFIM has recently come under renewed scrutiny following their participation at the prestigious Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 13. Having previously faced criticism for their less-than-stellar encore stage of “Easy” on Mnet’s M! Countdown, which many felt showcased a lack of vocal prowess, expectations were particularly high for their Coachella appearance.
At the festival, LE SSERAFIM performed 10 songs, including a yet-to-be-released song “1-800-hot-n-fun” and “UNFORGIVEN” with Nile Rodgers. Despite their extensive preparations and innovative collaborations, the group once again faced critiques over their vocal performance.
In an evocative response to the ongoing criticism, Kim Chaewon posted a clip of Doja Cat’s performance at Coachella, where Doja Cat shows her middle finger. This post sparked further discussion online, some arguing that Chaewon was responding to the latest criticism, while others believe it was just her admiration for the artist. Though the clip was later deleted, people left remarks like, “Doja Cat is really good at singing, though,” and “Flipping people off who tell you the truth will get tiring.”
Adding to the narrative, Sakura addressed the critiques in a heartfelt Weverse post, discussing the pressures and expectations they faced. “Having debuted less than two years ago and only having toured once, we approached the Coachella stage with full hearts and dedication,” Sakura wrote. “Some might see our performance as naive or immature. However, no one is perfect, and I am resolute in believing that it was our best performance to date.”
“Several people approached me to say that our performance was the best they saw that day, which was incredibly touching,” she continued. “Regardless of others’ opinions, I trust my own feelings. I will not betray myself and will continue to believe in my path.”
Despite the self-praise, her comments were met with skepticism and disappointment from some quarters of the audience, with responses such as, “She better be joking” and “If that was their best, then I’m sad for them.” Some even pointed out that her perspective might clash with the South Korean pop culture expectation, which traditionally emphasizes vocal prowess and live performance skills over the type of audience engagement prioritized in Japan.
As LE SSERAFIM prepares for another performance at Coachella on April 21, attention is now on whether Sakura and Kim Chaewon can quell the critiques about their skills.
>> LE SSERAFIM Faces Mixed Reactions After Coachella Performance: Kim Chaewon’s Voice Crack?
