By the point Cher sang “If I Could Turn Back Time,” it appeared as if time had certainly been turned again, and each single “Saturday Night Live” musical visitor of fifty years had magically discovered their method to Radio Metropolis Music Corridor.
In fact, it was solely a smattering. However “SNL50: The Homecoming Concert” boasted an epic lineup. It was a night of memorable solo performances and sometimes fascinating, one-time-only collaborations: Bonnie Raitt and Chris Martin. Arcade Hearth, David Byrne, St. Vincent and the Preservation Corridor Jazz Band. Put up Malone and Nirvana.
The live performance, hosted by Jimmy Fallon, was just one ingredient of what has change into an infinite celebration of the present’s 50 years in existence, main as much as Sunday’s “SNL50: The Anniversary Particular,” stay from Studio 8H.
However Friday evening was all about music.
Getty
Pictured: (l-r) Andy Samberg, Girl Gaga carry out on Friday, February 14, 2025 — (Picture by: Theo Wargo/Peacock through Getty Photos)
Some highlights:
Return of the Nineties
If a decade can win the evening, let’s hear it for the Nineties. A basic efficiency from that decade was probably to get the Radio Metropolis viewers on its toes, singing alongside and pulling out their telephones to report.
The Backstreet Boys proved irresistible once they broke into “I Want it That Way.” Snoop Dogg might have sung “Gin and Juice,” however he was trailed by sufficient smoke to provide close by viewers members a contact excessive.
Carrying a big coat befitting a winter evening, Lauryn Hill commanded the stage with Wyclef Jean and the gang melted on the first notes of “Killing Me Softly.”
Sure, (some) comics can do music
Naturally, some former “SNL” solid members reprised previous characters, with various ranges of success.
The Culps, the stuffy music lecturers performed by Will Ferrell and Ana Gastayer, hit tougher and funnier than they ever did on the present. Their makes an attempt at being present had been hilarious and so they even labored in a couple of verses of “Not Like Us,” with a plea for concord between Kendrick Lamar and Drake.
Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell’s “Lazy Sunday” was welcome, however too quick. Girl Gaga was a superb sport, changing Justin Timberlake to sing a couple of Christmas present whose title cannot be repeated right here. However Invoice Murray’s lounge singer “foursome” routine with Gastayer, Maya Rudolph and Cecily Sturdy fell a bit flat.
They love Lorne
“SNL” creator Lorne Michaels didn’t carry out, however he was referred to all evening lengthy.
“I love you, Lorne Michaels,” declared Miley Cyrus, dedicating her hit tune “Flowers” to the present’s founder.
Raitt, ending “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” thanked Michaels for having her on the present so many instances.
“Let’s give it up for Lorne,” mentioned former solid member Adam Sandler, introducing a collaboration between Put up Malone and Nirvana. “We love you buddy.”
And Marcus Mumford, lead singer of the British folks band Mumford & Sons, mentioned he was there to signify Michaels’ admirers from throughout the pond.
Artistic collabs
The evening featured fascinating collaborations that introduced collectively musicians of all types.
Cyrus teamed with Brittany Howard to sing Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.”
Arcade Hearth joined with David Byrne, St. Vincent and the Preservation Corridor Jazz Band to carry out David Bowie’s “Heroes.” Byrne later additionally collaborated with Robyn, in matching khaki fits, for “Dancing On My Own” and “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody).”
And for Raitt’s second tune, she sat down with Chris Martin, the Coldplay frontman who turned her pianist for “I Can’t Make You Love Me.”
In one other collab of kinds, the B-52s had been joined on “Love Shack” by former and present SNL solid members Fred Armisen, Bowen Yang and Sarah Sherman, singing the “bang bang” lyrics.
Girl Gaga collaborated with herself, singing each elements of “Shallow” and bringing down the home.
Most dear participant
Questlove is extra related to the “Tonight” present, however he’s proving to be the MVP of those “Saturday Night Live” anniversary festivities.
Not solely did the drummer produce the sumptuous documentary on the “SNL” musical legacy, however he effortlessly saved the beat with The Roots, his legendary hip-hop group and “Tonight” present home band, as they lined each type conceivable, from Snoop to Eddie Vedder to Brandi Carlile. Byrne bowed in appreciation.
No ‘Joke’
Carlile has change into recognized these days for her collaborations, most notably coaxing Joni Mitchell again to the stage.
Friday evening offered a reminder of her personal artistry with the political local weather including a particular urgency to her impassioned model of “The Joke.”
A second Nirvana reunion
For the second time in as many weeks, the surviving members of Nirvana reunited.
Somewhat than the quartet of girls who fronted the band for the Hearth Help live performance, Malone took Kurt Cobain’s place on Friday.
Their model of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was fierce, a reminder of why the tune packed such a wallop when it was first heard.
