The iconic comedy show Saturday Night Live, also known as SNL, released its first episode on Oct. 11, 1975, featuring musical guests Billy Preston and Janis Ian. Since the debut of musical acts in the series, SNL would soon feature many artists over it’s multi-decade lifespan.
Fast forward to the present day, the guest musical performances on SNL have become a benchmark for live music on television. Making the gig very important for musicians as their careers can either be progressed beyond their wildest dreams, or ruined all in one episode if their performance isn’t up to par.
Performers are shown on two separate occasions throughout the episode with one of them being around 12 p.m. after a few sketches have been carried out. The other time being just before the final sketch of the night, giving musicians enough time to perform a few of their songs for the world.
With well over 600 musical guests in the show’s history, there have been dozens of memorable performances that warrant recognition from fans for their unique talents.
However, due to the plethora of shows, it can be difficult to narrow down the very best performances. To make the choice easier, here is a list of some of SNL’s greatest performances.
David Bowie (1979)
Aired on Dec. 15, David Bowie sang renditions of his classic songs like “The Man Who Sold The World” and “Boys Keep Swinging.” He also performed his song “TVC15” with artists Joey Arias and Klaus Nomi throughout the show.
Bowie did not abide by any customary artistic standards for this futuristic performance as he mixed his signature sounds of pop with unisex clothing and the punk rock genre, all while challenging gender roles in a weirdly choreographed performance that only Ziggy Stardust himself could pull off.
The experimental vocals, strange visuals and stimulating guitar hooks make it very hard to turn away from the screen.
Neil Young (1989)
This rock n’ roll hall of famer displayed a strong performance with songs like “Rockin’ In The Free World,” “The Needle And The Damage Done” and “No More” that captivated the audience from start to finish.
However, it was the song “Rockin’ In The Free World” that cemented this performance among the very best. He was extremely active on stage, which contrasted from his usual onstage persona — making him an overall great showman during the song.
Young stated that he had done calisthenics with his trainer backstage prior to his performance in order to get to the level physically that is needed while performing for a concert, making it one of the most intense live music performances in live television’s history.
Performed on Sept. 30 for the season 15 premiere, Young was able to turn the cloak around and set the bar extremely high for musicians that would follow.
Sinead O'Connor (1992)
In this staggering acapella rendition of Bob Marley’s “War,” this Irish singer took it upon herself to stand up against child sexual abuse by pulling out a photograph of Pope John Paul II and ripping it to pieces, shocking millions across the world. O’Connor would also state, “fight the real enemy,” shortly before blowing out the candles in front of her, ending her performance in front of a dead quiet crowd.
Broadcasted on Oct. 3, 1992, this was stunning in every sense of the word and her performance triggered over 4,000 calls to NBC headquarters, making it the most controversial moment in SNL’s history — no other performance had this kind of effect.
O’Connor understood the public outcry from Americans due to the fact that this was related to sexual abuse incidents that took place overseas involving the Irish church, making it hard to hear about in the United States.
Her message was simple and brief, but it packed a serious punch as it terrified its viewers while advocating for serious change on a nationally televised show.
Kanye West (2013)
Speaking of terrifying viewers, Kanye West was able to do that and more when he performed the songs “Black Skinhead” and “New Slaves” off his then unreleased album Yeezus.
Aired on May 18, 2013, West showcased his alter ego Yeezus to the nation for the first time and he presented an entirely different persona from his previous solo album, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.” He was as fierce as ever, delivering each song with an incredible amount of intensity never seen before by fans.
Yeezus was backed by a live band, as well as visuals of vicious dogs barking and a barrage of flashing price tags in his songs, matching his lyrics that focused on commercialism, materialism and anti-rasict themes among other subjects — everyone but West was swallowed in the darkness of the stage.
Not only would West begin his infamous Yeezus era after this appearance, he would add yet another memorable SNL performance under his belt.
Prince (1981)
SNL was struggling in its sixth season due to their cultural relevance drastically declining and in an attempt to save the show, executives decided to expand its musical reach to the funk and R&B genres. This move would be vital to the show.
Although Prince was not the main musical guest for this episode, which was Todd Rundgren, the then 22-year-old managed to make his presence felt immediately with just one song, “Party Up.” He displayed such an eccentric act that still remains timeless.
Prince displayed his full artistic repertoire as he bounced around the stage, wildly playing his guitar as he sang in his unique high-pitched voice that would later become known to millions.
Unfortunately, this set would be expunged from the SNL archives due to former cast member Charles Rocket cursing live on air.
