Chappell Roan dazzles the audience on the third day of Primavera Sound

Today was the turn of the third of the pop superhero gang: Chappell Roan, perhaps the most interesting of all for her artistic approach on all levels. Without disrespecting Charlie xcx and Sabrina Carpenter, she has managed to climb to the top of the charts despite her work challenging mainstream norms. Her rise to success hasn't exactly been a bed of roses, but at least it's given her juicy material should she one day decide to publish her biography. After years of trying in the music world, when she was about to give up, fed up with disappointment, the world took her side and succeeded. Now they pay homage to her, and rightly so.

Currently, he performs on stages around the world in front of crowds like the one that gathered at the Fòrum this Saturday, eager to enjoy a good show. Roan has become a queer icon thanks to his lyrics, his public stances, and his excessive, even theatrical, aesthetic. In fact, the stage where his show took place was transformed into a sort of castle with a Gothic spirit that contrasted with the rhythm of his songs. With the exception of two ballads like "Coffee" and " Picture You," most of his other songs were the ingredients of a real dance party. " Hot To Go," which has its own viral choreography, "Red Wine Supernova," "California," and, of course, "Pink Pony Club" lifted the spirits of a crowd that was already showing signs of fatigue but managed to hold its own.

Although her wardrobe included a colorful sequined bodysuit, her look doesn't quite fit the typical diva look. The excessive makeup is reminiscent of other artists who, in the past, walked the walk so she could fly, like David Bowie himself or, why not, Freddie Mercury. Each in their own field and at different levels, but united by a lack of fear of provocation and criticism. The breaking of norms in music as a way of contributing a grain of sand to the change they desire for the world . Even if it's with songs, stage performances, eyeshadow, and glitter.

The strategy of featuring a female pop megastar as the headliner each day was a complete success for the organizers. For the first time, the attendance was similar on each day: approximately 71,000 people, or 293,000 for the entire festival. Traditionally, the Fòrum would be slightly less crowded on Thursday than on Friday and Saturday, but Charlie xcx and her colleague Troye Sivan were so popular that they broke that trend. The average age of attendees at this edition was 29, a fact possibly influenced by fans of the Powerpuff Girls, as everyone ended up calling them.

But it wasn't all catchy pop and glitter, because on Saturday, guitars took center stage. Kim Deal was in charge of opening the evening with songs from her solo repertoire, such as "Coast" and " Nobody Loves You More," as well as classic songs by The Breeders like "Drivin' On 9," "Gigantic" by the Pixies , and even a cover of "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" by The Beatles. The sound may have been a bit uneven—a very large stage for an overly acoustic performance, perhaps—but there are few voices as welcoming and enjoyable as hers on the rock spectrum.

Their performance was a boat ride on a tranquil lake alongside Irish band Fontaines DC, who took the stage ready to give the audience the thrills they were waiting for. The band had already performed at the festival three years ago, and those who saw them then had high expectations. They didn't disappoint. The show had two clear objectives: On the one hand, to present their new album, Romance, which went on sale last April. And on the other, to please their most loyal fans, so their selection of songs included some almost-fresh hits like Romance, Bug, Death Kink , and Sundowner , as well as other classics like I Love You, Nabokov , and Boys in the Better Land.

After Chappell's hurricane, a tornado shook the foundations of his stage . Central Cee arrived with a good string of drill songs for all audiences, with Doja as the main hook for those not too familiar with his music. He went viral on TikTok three years ago, and while some festivalgoers may not have that app (due to their age, probably) , it's hard to escape those hits. Following him were LCD Soundsystem, who never fail to provide musical medicine to keep the adrenaline pumping thanks to hits like Oh Baby, Someone Great , and All My Friends. Better than a solo coffee or a taurine drink.

Around three in the morning, it was Turnstile 's turn, one of the gems on the bill, which they inexplicably decided to schedule in the wee hours. The Baltimore band's new album, Never Enough, has a new set, and their fans—and there are plenty of them—were eager to see what the small changes they've made to their music, which isn't quite hardcore but still remains hardcore, sounded like live. There was also room for their classics, because that late night deserved a prize. And, without further ado, until next year, Primavera Sound.