Sunday night, Coachella goers and viewers watching the YouTube stream, were shocked when Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg seemingly brought Tupac Shakur back to life.
The many people tripping on acid at the event may have thought Shakur had risen from the dead. But, the sober fan knew Shakur was just a hologram.
Even though he’s been dead for 15 years, zombie Shakur brought the first week of Coachella to an unforgettable conclusion when he teamed up with Snoop for “Ain’t Nothin’ Like a Gangsta Party” and an eerie solo of “Hail Mary.”
The Tupac appearance quickly became the biggest buzz of the weekend as fans and celebrities took to social media to give their opinion of the performance.
Many were excited to see a resurrected Tupac. Shakur’s demise became one of the most controversial celebrity deaths after he was murdered while still in his prime. There is a good chance that Shakur would have been headlining the concert with his fellow rappers if he were still alive. Instead he was just a mirage of smoke and mirrors.
This wasn’t the first time a deceased star was brought back for a beyond the grave performance.
On American Idol, Elvis Presley was resurrected to perform a duet of the classic “If I Can Dream” with Celine Dion. This was one of the first times technology was used to bring back a dead celebrity and it was met with mixed reactions.
Some felt it was disrespectful to the deceased. You might as well tie strings to Shakur’s dead corpse and flail him around like a marionette onstage.
Others see it as a tribute. Presley and Shakur were two of the most popular artists of all-time. Their music has inspired millions. Bringing them back from the dead is a sentimental way for them to reconnect with their fans.
With this technology available, it begs the question whether it will be used for future concerts and performances. There’s a possibility fans could go see Frank Sinatra sing in a piano lounge in Las Vegas. Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic could resurrect Kurt Cobain for a comeback tour. We might even see Michael Jackson’s final performance someday.
This technology is certainly going to impact the future of concerts and shows. If there is a way to profit from a dead musician’s music, then dead musicians’ concerts should make money too. Maybe one day we will get to see The Beatles live onstage again – if we keep Yoko Ono away.
Chase Doerr is a senior journalism major and assistant opinions editor for the Daily 49er.