Saturday Night Live has been a popular show for 50 years. With its comedic skits, celebrity guests delivering creative monologues and the talented performers it hosts, it is a major entertainment source. SNL has welcomed many talented musical guests of varying genres throughout its run, making live music a key aspect of its appeal. The musical performances on SNL are a huge part of what makes the show special.
The first musical performers on SNL were Billy Preston and Janis Ian. Since then, live music guests have been a refreshing glimpse of music between comedy in almost every episode.
Starting with the more recent performers, Chappell Roan, Tate McRae and Lady Gaga showed why they deserve to be stars. Roan debuted her first country single on the show and McRae danced around stacked chairs. Gaga used costumes and incredible dancing to once again show the performer she is. Both McRae and Gaga also sang from their new albums. Each of these women didn’t just sing, they reinforced the original images and personas they had created. Roan’s was a newer image, McRae built from her original alter ego of intense confidence and femininity and Gaga further developed how she brings visual art into her songs.
Looking further back in time to the early 2000s, alternative bands such as Radiohead and powerful vocalists such Beyoncé have seen the SNL stage and they stuck in the minds of viewers. SNL is the stage where completely different musicians can perform on the same stage and capture similar crowds.
Rolling Stone named David Bowie number one of the top 50 SNL performances for his performance in 1979. He performed “The Man Who Sold The World,” “TVC15,” and “Boys Keep Swinging.” Bowie only performed once on SNL but did leave an impact with his stage presence and creative costumes.
There have also been performers who doubled as incredible hosts. A few of these include Gaga, The Rolling Stones, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish. These are only a few of the many celebrities to complete the task. Hosting and performing demonstrates a person’s talent with comedy and musical abilities. They are the people that viewers wait weeks to see on screen.
In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the show, an SNL special aired Feb. 16, and many guests were welcomed to honor the show. Sabrina Carpenter sang alongside Paul Simon to kick off the evening. The rest of the musical guests included Brittany Howard, Miley Cyrus, Lil Wayne, Paul McCartney and The Roots. Each performance brought a different form of celebration to the special, whether it was emotional or exciting. This was an example of how impactful music can be, especially on a special occasion.
With 50 years under its belt, SNL has seen major successes. Lorne Michaels knew how to create a heartfelt show for Saturday nights that makes people smile. SNL has had many incredible performances between its skits and they have a positive effect on the show. Performances on SNL have the potential to bring viewers to the show and listeners to the artist.
Kyra Dapore is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Kyra know by emailing her at kd364521@ohio.edu.
