Memorable Musical SNL moments

[William]

SNL, say what you want about the quality of the comedy over the years, but they almost always were able to garner some good musical talent to play on the show.


Off the top of my head:

Beck: Clap Hands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhpfsaJaxVc

The Clash: Straight to Heck & Should I stay or should I go?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3wxL96Qgds


I know there are many others, but that's what comes into my head off the bat.


What do you remember?



William

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . "King Tut" . . . "He's got a condo made a' stone-ah!"

BBD

[Russell]

Fear, when SNL brought up the DC punks who trashed to place.

[whitecda]

Back in probably the mid 70's. Was babysitting for some friends and channel surfing. Missed the first song. This was the second: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0eoAkbXH7Y (this is not the SNL performance). I like some other songs better, but this was what she performed that night.

Not everyones taste. When I put Kate on once in a while these days, my wife asks to be let out of the car.

[BumbleBeeDave]

Back in probably the mid 70's. Was babysitting for some friends and channel surfing. Missed the first song. This was the second: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0eoAkbXH7Y (this is not the SNL performance). I like some other songs better, but this was what she performed that night.

Not everyones taste. When I put Kate on once in a while these days, my wife asks to be let out of the car.

. . . She had a big rubber ball and did a song with the lyrics "Rolling the ball, rolling the ball to me . . . " I have that album somewhere here in the house. She took something like 20 years off and just released a new double album last winter. Got it and it's OK, but nothing genius . . .

BBD

[merckx]

schwetty balls.

not sure if it was musical in the classic definition, but it struck a chord with my wife.

[Ahneida Ride]

One fine evening, just before Christmas, Garret Morris sang Ave Marie.

Most memorial rendition I ever heard. I'll never forget his performance.

I am still in awe.

[bocarider]

These were two of the more out there SNL music moments:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDpkw2iTAOQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv0ERKFZwuQ

[Erik.Lazdins]

Michael Brecker was the saxophonist during that time. Arguably the most in demand tenor man of the day played the show! What a coup for SNL! Living in NY helped make the gig convenient no doubt. After he left the show he began work on his first recording as a headliner and added to the legend.

So when you watched Eddie Murphy impersonate James Brown's Celebrity Hot Tub - look closely - It's Brecker on the Guardala equipped Mark VI.

[Len J]

Paul Simon in a turkey outfit singing "still crazy"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxe8vlhdKYM

Len

[William]

Here's a fun one (for Dr. Doof). 1980, Rocklobster by the B52's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJqp3B_oPSE



William

[old_school]

Elvis Costello after being told he could not play the media bashing "radio radio," opens with "less than zero" only to abruptly stop and break out with radio. In response, he ended up being banned until SNL's 25th reunion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F2euKX0u5Y

[paczki]

Beasties doing "Sabotage" in front of a NYC audience.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/beastie-boys-sabotage-live-on-snl/3145874857

I loved the Garrett Morris song too.

[ergott]

"Star Wars, nothing but Star Wars..."

[ti_boi]

James Taylor..."Up on the Roof".....Saturday May 12, 1979

[jemoryl]

Elvis Costello after being told he could not play the media bashing "radio radio," opens with "less than zero" only to abruptly stop and break out with radio. In response, he ended up being banned until SNL's 25th reunion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F2euKX0u5Y

This would be my pick. A great moment in live TV - I heard this was one of the contributing factors to a delay being put on the broadcasts.

[1centaur]

Discovering Keith Jarrett on SNL in 1978 was my greatest musical memory.

I also remember a season when every single week the band was a bunch of screaming off-key louts I had never heard of before and never heard again. I wondered who was booking them. There have been scores of those bands over the years - all attitude, youth and energy but very little real talent.

In many ways that stage is a fascinating venue because it equalizes all the elements but the talent and hems the singer into a tight space with a close camera so it's easy to place the output on a continuum from greatness to fraud.

[William]

Elvis Costello after being told he could not play the media bashing "radio radio," opens with "less than zero" only to abruptly stop and break out with radio. In response, he ended up being banned until SNL's 25th reunion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F2euKX0u5Y

I didn't know that. I always liked Elvis Costello.....and I like him even more now. :cool:




William

[giordana93]

how bout DEVO in their jumpsuits and quirky dancing?

[ti_boi]

Discovering Keith Jarrett on SNL in 1978 was my greatest musical memory.

I also remember a season when every single week the band was a bunch of screaming off-key louts I had never heard of before and never heard again. I wondered who was booking them. There have been scores of those bands over the years - all attitude, youth and energy but very little real talent.

In many ways that stage is a fascinating venue because it equalizes all the elements but the talent and hems the singer into a tight space with a close camera so it's easy to place the output on a continuum from greatness to fraud.


Two that come to mind....Smashing Pumpkins were horrible.....Jessica "I've no real talent" Simpson's Little sister (don't remember her name, but she lip synced and danced off stage when the recording hung... :banana: )

[davids]

Elvis Costello after being told he could not play the media bashing "radio radio," opens with "less than zero" only to abruptly stop and break out with radio. In response, he ended up being banned until SNL's 25th reunion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F2euKX0u5Y
Yep. That's the one. Spontaneous, commanding, ferocious. There's a story (apocryphal?) that Lorne Michaels was standing behind the camera, giving him the finger, through the entire song.

I still remember watching this unfold. I was transfixed, almost giddy. My dad, across the room, simply looked confused.

[MarleyMon]

Sinead O'Conner's a capela version of Bob Marley's "War".
At the end she ripped a picture of Pope John Paul II in half.

Blues Brothers

[William]

Two that come to mind....Smashing Pumpkins were horrible.....Jessica "I've no real talent" Simpson's Little sister (don't remember her name, but she lip synced and danced off stage when the recording hung... :banana: )


That would be young Ashlee "even-less talent" Simpson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raiQeKJvMJw&feature=related




William

[William]

....Blues Brothers

Word!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwva0w6TJm4&feature=related

William

[onekgguy]

More Cowbell please... (http://www.metacafe.com/watch/954664/more_cowbell_from_snl/)

Kevin g

[davids]

More:

The Mats (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83E8H7mLxXs), January '86. (note the sophisticated costume change.)

...The Clash segment doesn't do it for me. They were clearly near the breaking point by that time. Topper's already gone... Take a look at this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijiazWlawUY), atmo.

[Kahuna]

Some folks suggested his ban wasn't over the content of the Radio Radio so much as switching songs without prior approval of producer Lorne Michaels. He is after all, in charge of a live television broadcast and may not have taken kindly to the sudden change of plans.

Elvis Costello after being told he could not play the media bashing "radio radio," opens with "less than zero" only to abruptly stop and break out with radio. In response, he ended up being banned until SNL's 25th reunion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F2euKX0u5Y

[BumbleBeeDave]

how bout DEVO in their jumpsuits and quirky dancing?

. . . where they were wearing the plastic plant pots on their heads?

BTW, this reminds me . . . Wasn't there some effort afoot to organize a Serotta Forum cycling team? Great kit . . . ;)

BBD

[William]

. . . where they were wearing the plastic plant pots on their heads?

BTW, this reminds me . . . Wasn't there some effort afoot to organize a Serotta Forum cycling team? Great kit . . . ;)

BBD


Devo punkin' out on David Letterman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkZwHVM64qg



William

[Steelhead]

Pearl Jam.

[ti_boi]

Pearl Jam.

They were great....Nirvana was the bomb too.....I saw Kurt and the gang right after that show...or was it right before...thanksgiving in Miami.

Pearl Jam is the best 'living' rock band imho....but that is another thread. :cool:

[jbrainin]

12/15/79

Doing "Boys Keep Swinging" with Klaus Nomi as a backup singer.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2339483

[Bob Ross]

These were two of the more out there SNL music moments:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDpkw2iTAOQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv0ERKFZwuQ


My absolute favorite SNL Musical Moment was also a Zappa performance, albeit a few years after those two videos (& for all I know this one is up on YouTube also, haven't had time to check)...

Circa 1979 or '80, Frank Zappa plays "The Purple Lagoon" with his band (including a mustachioed Vinne Coliuta on drums) augmented by the SNL horn section (Lou Marini, Tom Malone, etc.) and towards the end John Belushi comes out as "Samuri Saxophone Player".

Band stops, Belushi proceeds to blow solo cacaphony through a tenor sax, then Zappa conducts a downbeat and the entire band emulates Belushi's extemporized outburst verbatim! The band & Belushi trade improvised mayhem for several minutes.

Freakin' brilliant!

[Acotts]

These were two of the more out there SNL music moments:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDpkw2iTAOQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv0ERKFZwuQ


+1 for Zappa.

[Acotts]

Kinda getting off topic, I love the famous clip of Zappa versus some crazy fundamentalist debating censorship.

Crazy Republican: F*ck is an expression of hate (all red in the face)
Zappa: F*ck is a word. Your demeanor and your tone are expressions of hate. (cool as cucomber.)

[cmg]

Fishbone performing sunless saturday. excellent

Same season as sinead o'connor rips photo of the pope. Maddonna while performing a few saturdays later ends her song then says "fight the real enemy" and rips a photo of Joey Buttafuoco. funny as heck.

[ti_boi]

Fishbone performing sunless saturday. excellent

Same season as sinead o'connor rips photo of the pope. Maddonna while performing a few saturdays later ends her song then says "fight the real enemy" and rips a photo of Joey Buttafuoco. funny as heck.


"Madge" is going to be inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame.....a sure sign of the apocalypse..............And WHY hasn't SNL been funny....for like....years now????? Ever since Will Ferrell left it has sucked @ss.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . last year (?) and I was ashamed. My daughter was watching with me and after about 40 minutes she turns to me and just says, "Dad, this just isn't funny." I had to agree. The writing was awful. So much of it was just lame or not funny--or seemed to depend you living in NYC to understand it. The actors were obviously trying, but I felt sorry for them trying to make it work when the material was just obviously so bad.

BBD

[Waldo]

And WHY hasn't SNL been funny....for like....years now????? Ever since Will Ferrell left it has sucked @ss.

You mean SNL is still on TV?

[Grant McLean]

You mean SNL is still on TV?

It moved to prime time: it's now called 30 Rock
Alec Baldwin hosts it everyweek!

-g

[1centaur]

For 20 years people have been wondering why SNL is not funny. What factor has been constant? Lorne Michaels. (Yes I know that he had a replacement briefly who was even worse.)

I think it's better lately.

[Viper]

U2 saying eff it, we're not done! Bono gives a lap/face dance...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPl_BIAk7Gg

[mjb266]

Didn't counting crows do quite a live number and launch their career on SNL?

[William]

A friend tells me these guys did SNL. I never saw it and up until a day ago, can't say I've ever heard of them. But it's a catchy tune.

Feel Good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01C4RPEinM4




William

[Steelhead]

SNL Music: Lazy Sunday and D#@* in a Box.

[Acotts]

I love SNL. I think it is much funnier now than during the 90's heyday. (And yes, they have had more than one.) But it is a peculiar brand of comedy. You just have to take the good with the bad. You also have to understand, they are writing for two unique groups, the 25 year old who isn't cool enough to be drunk or at a party, and the 12 year old is isn't going anywhere.

I catch about 15 episodes a year, and I am rarely dissapointed. But I know that i am one of the few people who loves the show and can alwayse fine something funny.

Seriously, did anyone catch the housebots skit. One of the funniest things I have ever seen.

-A

[kerrycycle]

Any of the Pearl Jam performances.

Their shows are alway just pure emotion.

[BumbleBeeDave]

I think it is much funnier now than during the 90's heyday. (And yes, they have had more than one.) But it is a peculiar brand of comedy. You just have to take the good with the bad.-A

. . . well, good luck with that! :rolleyes:

BBD

[jmg1949]

with an unannounced appearance by Mick Jagger. Late 70s or early 80s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUZNymIvEoQ&feature=related

[chuckroast]

You know, I've been reading through this thread and watching the great videos and the whole time I was thinking to myself "I wonder if I can find that old Peter Tosh/ Mick Jagger appearance?" And I get to the end and there it is! Nice work man.

I also remember that a couple of weeks before this appearance, Jagger and the Stones played SNL and sounded awful, Jagger with a hoarse voice. I always wondered if this appearance was an effort to make it up.

[Dr. Doofus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7bFtvsYcnQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctf3TtTO-sU

[jerk]

replacements

fear

nirvana

-jerk

[amper]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTVEW1nz8gc

[Dr. Doofus]

better than any band on SNL that year

show gets name-checked

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI3aklwU35A&feature=related

[taz-t]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1-mk7jcvVk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqqFBsFrVeA&feature=related


- taz

[Elefantino]

When Belushi and Joe Cocker sang, side-by-side.

Side splitting.

Also, The Blues Brothers, live at Winterland, Dec. 31, 1979. Classic.

[bironi]

Thanks for the Eddie Murphy videos. The James Brown was great, a good morning laugh. :beer:

[Dr. Doofus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE14Xn3RjFQ&feature=related

genius

[William]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cINjzu5773M&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcIeo3nRT7Q&feature=related




William

[MilanoTom]

Yep. That's the one. Spontaneous, commanding, ferocious. There's a story (apocryphal?) that Lorne Michaels was standing behind the camera, giving him the finger, through the entire song.

I still remember watching this unfold. I was transfixed, almost giddy. My dad, across the room, simply looked confused.

Seeing Costello on SNL was amazing. Two months later I got to see him do two shows in one night in a small hall at Brown University. He never let up.

... hard to believe it's been almost 30 years.

Tom

[Vancouverdave]

Seeing Costello on SNL was amazing. Two months later I got to see him do two shows in one night in a small hall at Brown University. He never let up.

... hard to believe it's been almost 30 years.

Tom
And biting the hand that was feeding him paid off--30 years later he can be called "respected musician" instead of "70's has-been." I have heard about that SNL performance for years--never saw it. He won in the long run; gets to keep making fine music.

[davids]

Seeing Costello on SNL was amazing. Two months later I got to see him do two shows in one night in a small hall at Brown University. He never let up.

... hard to believe it's been almost 30 years.

Tom
It has been 30 years! I was planning to sneak into the Cleveland Agora to see him in Dec '77. I ended up shoveling 2' of snow off my parents' driveway that night. Two years later, I bought a bootleg that had the show on it. I missed a good one, atmo...

A few years later, I was home from college and, having seen EC and the Attractions the previous night, was hanging out in a downtown bar with a friend, listing to some poor local band. Three people took the table in front of us. I noticed the statuesque blond first (duh) and then the greasy, overweight guy.

And then Elvis.

It was one of those utterly riveting moments. I was paralyzed. My friend (who is still (http://www.suntimes.com/news/steinberg/index.html) never at loss for words) managed to drag himself out of his seat and say, "Mr. Costello? Great show last night!" He only knew because I'd been raving about it...

[goonster]

The Pogues, St. Patrick's Day '90.

Probably not a great performance for them. Shane gurgled the vocals and it seemed like the band rushed through the songs. I didn't get it, and had a big "woah, what the heck is that" moment. It was so weird that it piqued my curiosity, and I got it shortly thereafter.

[William]

SNL related...

The Great Ray Charles and the Blues Brothers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imXMX5AMXLI




William