This one’s gonna be a lazy effort for me. Inspired by the recent thread about the SNL Social Distancing episodes, and by random finds on Youtube, I thought I’d post this segment on the SNL music department. I was surprised to learn that Kenan and some of the women cast members (it varies, it seems) go out to warm up the audience with a song. Other cast members have done this as a regular gig, such as Jimmy Fallon, Maya Rudolph (always thought she had a lovely voice, and yeah, I know who her mother was) and Fred Armisen, and others.
I’d like to open this thread up to musical performances, stories of musical performances, and any general SNL behind-the-scenes stuff. I know there are many SNL fans here that have their own favorites. Actual SNL musical performances are sometimes difficult to find, but we’ll have to muddle through as best we can.
I’ll add these two performances, then let you guys post some. Here’s part of Elvis Costello’s infamous, “Radio Radio” performance from 1977 that got him banned from the show for ~12 years, and him performing it with the Beastie Boys in 1999 for the 25th anniversary special.
This is a bit of a behind-the-scenes thing, and I don’t even know how true it is, as it may have just been Pete Davidson’s act and not a true thing that happened.
Anyway, Pete was doing a Weekend Update bit, and he was telling Colin Jost that he prefers to poop in the women’s restroom because NBC’s wifi doesn’t reach the men’s. Another perk, he said, is that Cecily Strong likes to sing when she’s doing her own business in there, and she has a pretty singing voice.
I don’t have any stories but I do want to mention something I’ve noticed. I think in the past couple years some of the musical performance staging and visual effects have been out of this world! I don’t know if it’s 100% the SNL set designers who are doing it or if artists bring in some of their own folks but there have been some really spectacular ones.
I can’t think of any specific ones off the top of my head, other than Nicki Minaj’s from 2018. There have been a lot more lately, though.
I’ll always appreciate the simplicity of playing on the bare-bones SNL stage. But the fancy productions in the same small space are impressive!
Does anyone else remember a skit where Sinead was supposedly trying to reclaim her reputation by starring in a variety show, something like “The Sinead Irish Smile-Time Variety Hour”?
“Oh, I’m a bonnie lassie and you’re a blarney beau! So pick up your shillelagh and sing a too-ra-loo-ra…”
Here’s that performance on Youtube. The lyrics are typical of Sandler, but it’s undeniably heartfelt. I think he was worried about being able to get through it.
It’s a pity SNL hasn’t uploaded more musical performances. I would have liked to see this one.
And as an aside to Jost, he said, “that was my favorite line.” I doubt Pete poops in the woman’s bathroom, BUT, he does have Crohn’s (as do I) and it is SNL, so far crazier things have happened. I saw someone (I think it was Spade) recount a story of Chris Farley sticking his ass out the window and dropping a #2 at 30 Rock. Funny, if you don’t think about the poor ppl below.
Cecily does have a great singing voice, but doesn’t get to showcase it often.
That was a great production. Here’s a little behind the scenes about that. A classic gag.
I’d LOVE to post Fishbone’s, “Sunless Saturday” performance, but it’s been taken down. The energy really got to me, made me a fan. I’ve got rid of almost all my CD’s (moved across country too many times) but I still have their first EP. There’s a performance from Arsenio Hall on Youtube, from around the same time. Not as good musically, I think, but has the same crazed, joyfully frenetic energy they put into everything.
I love Diner Lobster so much. Here’s Demi Lovato destroying the entire known universe. One of my favorite SNL performances ever, and I’m hardly the target demo for her.
I doubt Pete poops in the woman’s bathroom, BUT, he does have Crohn’s (as do I) and it is SNL, so far crazier things have happened. I saw someone (I think it was Spade) recount a story of Chris Farley sticking his ass out the window and dropping a