One great thing about Coachella is it provides the space for artists to bring their collaborations on record onto the stage. And in some cases it allows stars to jam together since they're all the same magical fest.

If we are keeping it real - as one should always do - the number of surprise guests at this year's gathering was not as high as we were praying for.

But a few made up for the missing collabs in a big way.

Here's a rundown of the best special guests at Coachella 2025, Weekend One.

Lorde, Billie & Troye during Charli XCX

In the Good Book, the Lord rides through the east gate of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on a humble donkey. Over 2,000 years later, Lorde strolled down the catwalk of the Main Stage of Coachella on Palm Sunday sporting a common pair of gray slacks and shirt.

Both received thunderous applause as their crowds adored seeing them after long last.

The Kiwi is now 28(!) and who would have guessed that it would be Charli XCX who could get her back into the warm arms of Coachella, yet it was she indeed.

The pair brought to life the remix of Charli's "Girl, so confusing" which appears on Brat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat, to the utter delight of the fans on the polo field.

Charli also had Troye Sivan rock with her on "Talk Talk." Billie Eilish also joined her for "Guess," a number they'd done together before, but just because you've had ice cream once, is that ever enough?

After Weekend Two, Brat Summer continues around the US. Tix available on Charli's site.

Billie Joe Armstrong during Go-Gos

It's always nice when Coachella makes room for '80s groups, especially those who aren't selling out arenas. Artists like The Go-Gos were trailblazers who still miraculously, all still play together.

While it's nice that BlackPink may be in your area next year, will they still be touring, all of them, in 40 years? The history of rock says probably not.

So when Billie Joe Armstrong joined the ladies halfway through their set, it was, in part out of respect to their legacy, but also because he loves them and "Head Over Heels."

As you may be aware, when Billie Joe isn't fronting Green Day (who have stuck together since the '80s), one of his fun side projects is The Coverups, where he and others perform cover tunes.

The Coverups have played "Head Over Heels" seven times. The last was on New Years Eve in LA in 2023.

Billie Joe now joins the very small list of artists who have joined the Go-Gos on stage.

In 1978, Pat Smear joined them at The Whisky on a tune they never played again. In 2000 the B-52s' Fred Schneider played "Head Over Heels" with them.

And in 2016 OK GO mashed up "Our Lips Are Sealed" with "Here It Goes Again" with the women on the Jimmy Kimmel Show as The OK Go-Gos.

The Go-Gos are keeping it in California for their next few dates, of which tickets can be garnered on their website.

Brian May during Benson Boone

Benson Boone, who is occasionally being compared to Queen's Freddie Mercury due to their ability to hit those high notes, and most importantly being able to fit into jumpsuits, took it a step further Friday night.

That cocky son of a gun asked Queen guitarist to play guitar on "Bohemian Rhapsody" while a choir and the whole damn crowd sang along joyously.

For a song that turns 50 years old this coming Halloween it is as near and dear in the hearts of all the generations in attendance in that sweltering desert.

After Weekend Two, BB continues on the festival circuit doing flips over whatever gets in his way, so heads up. Tickets available on his site.

Laufey, Maren Morris, Becky G, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, Zedd, and LL Cool J along with the LA Phil

When manifesting a great set for outgoing conductor and musical director of the LA Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel, at Coachella, who would have expected such a diverse list of star power to accompany the world class orchestra?

While Laufey was easy to predict since she had worked recently with the maestro at the Bowl, what a pleasant surprise that she live debuted "Silver Lining" for the kids.

But who knew Dudamel was such a fan of LL Cool J. If the orchestral arrangement of "Mama Said Knock You Out" didn't bring chills, you've probably already been knocked out.

Maren Morris, Becky G, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, and Zedd also had their moment in the sun during the classiest set of the weekend and it made a strong argument for a slice of each Coachella to follow this format.

Next year, for example, how about let Madonna, then Britney, then Xtina sing a few tunes backed by the orchestra?

Catch the final season of Dudamel with the LA Phil by getting tix off the LA Phil website.

Weird Al, Bailey the Lion, Billy Bob Brockali, Bozo, Cheer Bear, Domo, Duo, H.R. Pufnstuf, Lidsville, Portugal. The Man, Thundercat, Sleestack, and Paul Williams with Yo Gabba Gabba

Weird Al couldn't have made his Coachella debut in a weirder way than by singing The Muppets' "Rainbow Connection" with a freakin Care Bear, Billy Bob Brockali from Chuck E. Cheese's Rock-afire Explosion robot band, HR Puffinstuff, a damn Sleestack, the mascot of the LA Kings - Bailey, Thundercat, and others including co-writer of the tune, Paul Williams.

The few Gen Xers in the crowd and those of us watching on Couchella, were cheering through our tears. Every aspect of our childhoods were right there in music and bizarre visuals.

Nearly choked on our Pop Rocks.

Weird Al's Bigger and Weirder 2025 Tour starts in July with a Vegas residency. Get your tickets on Al's website.