Questlove Embraces Filmmaking Era, Tackles Controversial SNL Music Moments in New Doc

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Growing up as a child, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson usually went to bed at 8:30 p.m. on Saturdays. However, his parents were understanding enough to rouse him from sleep so he could watch the musical performances on Saturday Night Live and Soul Train. Therefore, when Lorne Michaels phoned with an offer for Thompson to direct a documentary focusing on the music of the series in celebration of its 50th anniversary, he was prepared.

However, Questlove had already memorized many SNL episodes by heart, but he decided to delve deeper into research. As he received a call in 2020 for the project Ladies & Gentlemen … 50 Years of SNL Music, he realized that the show had debuted back in 1975 when he was just four years old. Pondering the dates, he calculated that the anniversary would fall in 2025 and thought, “If I work on about five to seven episodes each day, maybe I can catch up to it by then.

Ahmir “Questlove,” who took home the Best Documentary Feature Oscar in 2022 for “Summer of Soul,”, collaborated with Oz Rodriguez to co-direct “50 Years of SNL Music” – a fascinating production that includes sit-downs with musical heavyweights such as Mick Jagger, Billie Eilish, Paul Simon, Bad Bunny, and Miley Cyrus. The roster also includes current and past SNL writers and performers, including Conan O’Brien, Maya Rudolph, and Bill Hader. Mark your calendars for January 27th as this three-hour spectacle will debut on NBC!

During an interview, the six-time Grammy winner and leader of The Roots discusses thriving in his directorial phase, addressing challenging musical instances on Saturday Night Live (SNL) such as Sinead O’Connor’s and Ashlee Simpson’s performances, and how creating this new documentary has brought him comfort since other documentaries he’s working on – one about Earth, Wind & Fire and another about Sly and the Family Stone – were so emotionally charged they would make him tear up.

Kicking things off here is an extended medley of SNL music numbers – I can’t help but wonder, how many hours (or even days) did it take to produce such a masterpiece?

In approximately eleven months, an interesting incident occurred: Lorne approached me during my busy period promoting the film “Summer of Soul,” which was before the Oscars. Initially, I said I’d highlight the 50 best musical performances in Saturday Night Live history. However, upon receiving a hard drive containing all the episodes, I found over a thousand performances! So, I prepared for that introduction just as I do for DJ sets.

In my viewpoint, virtually any tune can be mixed by a DJ; I simply need to classify it in some way. To clarify, I’d say something like “This track is 82 BPMs, the initial segment is in C minor, the bridge is in G, and there’s a prolonged note that could transition smoothly.” I analyze the song’s underlying structure, essentially. In fact, I spent an entire year watching every performance on that show, jotting down the keys and BPMs for each one. That was my signature approach when preparing for a DJ set. To be honest, it was enjoyable, but looking back, I could have simply let AI handle the selection process instead.

That’s kind of like the good side of AI in a way, or the productive side.

Even if things had turned out differently, it underscores the significance of humans. To put it another way, I’m not making a comparison between quick and slow methods, like microwaving versus oven-baking, but I do think there are certain tasks that require human creativity and touch. And I don’t believe AI could have shown such cleverness in this area. You need to understand music deeply for it.

Did Lorne mention that watching Summer of Soul played a role in his decision to ask you to direct, when he contacted you?

It’s quite remarkable how the experience of working on “Summer of Soul” has generated a wave of surprise and anticipation. People would ask, “Are you really directing a movie now?” as if they needed confirmation. And I would respond with a simple, “Yes.” There must have been at least 40 people in that same position. It seemed like everyone was watching from the sidelines, waiting to see how things unfolded for “Summer of Soul.” Once the project got the green light, there was an immediate shift in their attitude: “He knows what he’s doing,” they’d say, followed by a sudden rush of requests. It felt like being the high school football quarterback who just won the championship; suddenly, every project I wanted to work on was within my reach.

While I was observing, I couldn’t help but ponder if you might delve into some contentious musical incidents, such as when Sinead O’Connor tore a picture of Pope John Paul II during her act…

In my perspective, I aim to highlight every disputable instance from the series. It’s crucial to depict the flaws and imperfections because it’s those aspects that make a narrative truly human. The audience hasn’t witnessed her tearing up that photo since the original broadcast; subsequent replays only show the dress rehearsal where it didn’t occur. Given her recent passing, it feels almost poignant to imagine if she could see this. Our friendship dates back to the early ’90s when the Roots began touring, an experience that significantly impacted her life. In contrast, today with social media, many of us openly express our beliefs, whether controversial or not, and she was subjected to intense scrutiny, whereas now such individuals are often perceived as authentic. To me, Al Franken’s statement, “You know what? She was right,” encapsulates the essence of history and human evolution.

The humorous aspect of the Kanye scenario emerged when many interviewees expressed, “I’ll discuss everything but Kanye.” I was pondering over how we could delve into a Kanye-centric angle without merely focusing on his antics. Interestingly enough, Ego Nwodim made her debut in that very episode, which I find is an ongoing gift because she was one of 40 individuals standing behind him, each with their unique story to tell, and it just so happened that her first day was about dealing with Kanye. To me, this was the ideal way to subtly highlight Kanye’s impact on the show. He revolutionized the game, as after his performance, everyone became keen on delivering presentations instead of performing in the usual background.

There’s a few that I couldn’t get to cover. I wasn’t able to get to Lana Del Rey’s performance.

I wondered about that one…

Absolutely. I attended numerous events and met Ashlee Simpson, who politely declined my invitation. As I progress further with my narrative journey, I believe my colleagues in the music industry will recognize that I’m not a tricky reporter and instead, I seek the human aspect and the educational lesson in every story, while still maintaining the ability to tell an engaging tale.

Was the first time you performed on SNL in 1999 with Busta Rhymes?

Indeed, it’s quite unusual. For years, my dream has been to appear as a musical guest on that show. During The Roots’ first three years, we resided in London, making it impossible for us to be part of the show while we were living in Europe. I’ve had numerous other opportunities on the show—backing up two artists, being a Weekend Update joke, working with Timothée Chalamet in a sketch, engaging in dialogue, and even being included in a clip that didn’t make it to air. However, I’ve yet to perform as a music guest. With a new Roots album set for release this year, I’m focusing on making my dream a reality.

I had wondered if the Roots ever got the offer to perform?

Back then, being part of “The Tonight Show” family made the situation feel incredibly close for us. If it had been in different circumstances, sure, but there was always a hint of familiarity to it. However, I firmly believe that dreams do indeed come true.

Or:

In those days, since we were connected with “The Tonight Show,” the scenario felt almost uncomfortably close. It might have been otherwise, but there was always a touch of recognition involved. Yet, I’m convinced that dreams can manifest.

In 2004, you were among those who supported Toots & the Maytals during a show where Donald Trump was the host. Could you share some memories from that performance?

People often ask me if I’ve ever appeared on the show and who the musical guests were. My response is usually something like, “Wow, you don’t even know!” It’s strange to think that my episode was the one with Donald Trump (the second time he appeared with Toots and Gwen Stefani). The first time we were on the show felt magical because if someone had told me 10 years ago that I would be working in this building, I wouldn’t have believed it.

As a huge admirer, I’d love to know about your journey stepping further into the director role and making waves in the filmmaking world. How has this new creative dimension felt for you?

Initially, the transition was challenging as stepping out of one’s comfort zone into an entirely new environment often triggers feelings of self-doubt, or what is commonly known as imposter syndrome. For me, during the first two years of assuming the director role, I frequently wondered, “Can I truly handle this responsibility?” However, I view it as a personal journey where everyone must confront the question, “Am I capable enough?” The answer lies in reversing that doubt to confidence and claiming ownership: “I am.” In addition to my new role, there are three upcoming films on the horizon: a Sly and Family Stone documentary, an SNL documentary, and I’m also working diligently on the Earth, Wind & Fire documentary.

For me as a gamer, delving into the world of Saturday Night Live felt like a much-needed break from the heavy emotional toll of the other documentaries I was working on. Just like in a game, where you take on the role of a character and experience their story, I found myself almost acting as a therapist to these individuals, shouldering their pain and darkness. There were times when I’d return home after a day’s work, feeling drained from what I’d learned about their lives during our meetings, and even shedding tears.

To cope, I reserved my Saturday Night Live research for the weekends – Fridays, Saturysdays, and Sundays. This project was more than just work; it was a labor of love that brought me joy. Working on those other documentaries could be emotionally draining at times, but diving back into SNL’s Season 17 and my favorite episodes was like escaping to another world, one filled with laughter and fun. It was my time to unwind and enjoy myself.

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Dear everyone, get ready for a special event as we celebrate 50 Years of SNL Music! This extraordinary show will debut on January 27th at 8 PM on NBC, and if you miss it, don’t worry – you can catch it the following day on Peacock by streaming it online.

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2025-01-23 22:27