Ranking all 19 of Saturday Night Live’s musical guests from Season 50

Over the course of its 50th season, Saturday Night Live has hosted numerous musical acts. Some of these artists graced our screens during their 50th anniversary special, a performance that surpassed the hilarity of the skits. However, it’s worth noting that the musical guests on SNL have often been a mix of successes and failures.

This season offered some outstanding shows, yet had its share of underwhelming moments. If you’re short on time and just want to catch the best parts, here’s our recommended list. The bottom-ranked one is clearly not to miss.

Performing as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live can be quite challenging. The focus of the show isn’t primarily on them, and they usually get only eight minutes or fewer to make an impression. However, the exceptional ones manage to shine brilliantly within this limited time frame.

Ranking all of the musical performances on Saturday Night Live in season 50.

19. Morgan Wallen

Songs performed: “I’m the Problem” and “Just in Case”

It’s understood that Wallen is second only to Taylor Swift in American music, yet this doesn’t mean he should act arrogantly. His behavior on SNL seemed haughty as he performed two songs with little enthusiasm and received a muted reaction. To make matters worse, he left the stage immediately after his performance without waiting for credits, which suggests he believed himself too significant to do so. It almost seemed like he wanted to vent his frustration by breaking something, like a chair.

18. Shaboozey

Songs performed: “Good News” and “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

As a music enthusiast, I must admit that the tunes weren’t awful; they were simply moving a bit slower than I prefer. While Saturday Night Live (SNL) has proven time and again that slow jams can work, it’s during those exceptional moments when the performers engage the audience that real magic happens. After all, the crowd doesn’t flock to SNL primarily for the musical artists, so it falls upon them to deliver something extraordinary.

17. Coldplay

Songs performed: “All My Love” and “We Pray (feat. Elyanna & Tini)”

Chris Martin and his band have lost their edge of intrigue for quite some time now. Originally known as an alternative rock group with a touch of softness, they now embody a blend of softness and pop music. However, when the melodies lack depth or variation, this fusion can seem dull.

16. Tate McRae

Songs performed: “Sports Car” and “Dear God”

McRae is primarily known for her workout routines rather than her exceptional career in music. In fact, she didn’t even sing the initial chorus of one of her songs. At heart, she’s a dancer with a good, but not extraordinarily gifted, voice. This feels more like attending a professional dance competition of high caliber.

15. Stevie Nicks

Songs performed: “The Lighthouse” and “Edge of Seventeen”

One could argue that some people may find it a touch blasphemous not to adore every move Nick makes at her age, given her stature. However, her singing occasionally veers slightly off-pitch. Despite this, she remains an entertaining performer, but she’s no longer in the league of exceptional ones.

14. Elton John and Brandi Carlile

Songs performed: “Little Richard’s Bible” and “Who Believes in Angels?”

1. The tunes aren’t poor, but they lack memorability. The SNL rendition of “Little Richard’s Bible” was enjoyable, yet the tune is difficult to recall. Each artist excels musically on their own, but their collaboration on their latest work and this performance didn’t showcase each other’s strengths.

2. While the songs aren’t bad per se, they don’t stick in your mind. The SNL version of “Little Richard’s Bible” was a good time, but it’s tough to remember the tune afterwards. On their own, both artists are outstanding musicians, but their joint effort on this album and this performance didn’t highlight each other’s talents optimally.

3. The melodies aren’t poor quality, but they don’t linger in your memory. The SNL performance of “Little Richard’s Bible” was entertaining, but the tune is hard to recall. Each artist shines musically, but their collaboration on this album and this performance didn’t bring out the best in each other.

4. The tunes aren’t bad, but they don’t stand out or leave an impression. The SNL rendition of “Little Richard’s Bible” was fun, but it’s hard to remember the melody. Each artist excels individually, but their joint effort on this album and this performance didn’t showcase each other’s strengths effectively.

13. Charli xcx

Songs performed: “360” and “Sympathy Is a Knife”

Balancing the roles of both host and musical performer proved challenging, as the performances appeared lackluster and hurried. Despite Charli XCX’s strong vocals and energetic presence, the material at hand failed to provide much creative scope in this performance.

12. Jelly Roll

Songs performed: “Liar” and “Winning Streak”

There’s a good chance you feel either positive or negative about Jelly Roll. The shift from hip-hop to country in his music might give the impression of less artistic strength. Nevertheless, his personal history is authentic and engaging. However, his songs fail to reach beyond their boundaries. Additionally, his vocal abilities are merely average.

In this revised version, I aimed to maintain the original meaning while making the language more natural and conversational.

11. Hozier

Songs performed: “Too Sweet” and “Fairytale of New York”

It’s unfortunate that Hozier’s entire body of work often gets overshadowed by his massive hit from 2013, “Take Me to Church.” However, it’s important to remember that he composes many fine songs, such as “Too Sweet,” and his version of the Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” was exceptional.

10. Timothée Chalamet

Songs performed: “Outlaw Blues”/”Three Angels” and “Tomorrow Is a Long Time”

This becomes a bit peculiar as Chalamet isn’t singing his own tunes, instead interpreting Bob Dylan’s songs. We’re aware that he has an impressive voice, reminiscent of the character from ‘A Complete Unknown’. Perhaps Chalamet is merely acting in this case. Nonetheless, it’s quite enjoyable.

9. Lizzo

Songs performed: “Love in Real Life”/”Still Bad” and “Don’t Make Me Love You”

In simple terms, while Lizzo remains an engaging figure, it’s unlikely that her songs will continue to be popular twenty years from now. Instead, she is recognized more for her larger-than-life persona than her songwriting skills. However, her performances are electrifying and still somewhat controversial, yet captivating nonetheless.

8. Gracie Abrams

Songs performed: “That’s So True” and “I Love You, I’m Sorry”

In a different scenario, we might wonder where director Abrams stands without Taylor Swift’s influence. However, the answer remains a mystery. Regardless, Abrams recognizes her unique talent and doesn’t overdo it in her roles. His handling of her settings mirrors the serene, understated vibe of Swift’s music, which is more than satisfactory.

7. Mk.gee

Songs performed: “Rockman” and “Alesis”

Was anyone expecting Mk.gee on Saturday Night Live? Given the nature of the show and his performance style, it seemed an unlikely choice. However, his exceptional guitar skills and unique vocal use made him stand out, even though it might not have been a repeat appearance for him.

6. Billie Eilish

Songs performed: “Birds of a Feather” and “Wildflower”

It’s rather unwise to anticipate anything ordinary from Eilish at this stage in her career, given how she consistently excels while maintaining her signature style. The challenge lies in the fact that everything she does is so fresh and unique. It could be that we’re simply amazed, not yet bored, and may never grow tired of it.

5. Benson Boone

Songs performed: “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else” and “Mystical Magical”

Boone’s mustache gives off a vibe reminiscent of Napoleon Dynamite, yet he astonishes with an enchanting act. Not only did he perform two fresh tunes instead of relying on familiar pieces, but he also showcases intelligence and awareness of his capabilities. It’s likely that he will become a significant figure in our culture for the upcoming decade.

4. Bad Bunny

Songs performed: “NUEVAYoL” and “PERFuMITO NUEVO (feat. RaiNao)”

You might think it was a breeze to place Bad Bunny higher on this list. Given his past appearances as a musical guest and host, some SNL viewers might grow accustomed to seeing him, potentially losing its charm. But if he continues to deliver hits like “PERFuMITO NUEVO,” which is essentially a narrative within the song, we’ll definitely keep tuning in!

3. Lady Gaga

Songs performed: “Abracadabra” and “Killah”

It’s Gaga. What else would we expect but greatness?

2. Chappell Roan

Songs performed: “Pink Pony Club” and “The Giver”

For how long will Chappell Roan remain a significant figure in popular culture? It’s difficult to predict, but currently, she is highly relevant and deserving of such recognition. What makes her stand out is her self-awareness about her good fortune, which seems to have made her content with her current position. This is something we should aspire for from our beloved artists as well.

Chappell Roan is currently a big name in culture, but it’s hard to say how long this will last. However, what makes her great is that she seems happy and aware of her good luck. We want the same happiness and self-awareness from our favorite artists.

1. GloRilla

Songs performed: “Yeah Glo!” and “Whatchu Kno About Me”/”Let Her Cook”

She’s awesome.

2025-05-26 22:00