Fresh Air Questlove Digs Into 50 years Of 'SNL' Musical Hits (And Misses)
Jan 27, 2025
Questlove, the Grammy-winning musician and co-founder of The Roots, discusses his new documentary, highlighting 50 years of iconic musical moments from 'Saturday Night Live.' David Bianculli, a TV critic and professor, joins to reflect on SNL's influence in promoting groundbreaking artists and moments like the Ashley Simpson incident. They dive into the chaos of live TV, the pressures faced by artists, and Questlove's insights on the cultural significance of these performances. Plus, a brief look at Ringo Starr's latest country album adds a musical touch!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Questlove's SNL and Soul Train Connection
- Questlove's SNL obsession began with Soul Train airing after SNL.
- His parents would wake him up at 12:30 AM to watch SNL musical guests, then Soul Train.
SNL Theme Song's Unique Quality
- The SNL theme song is iconic yet nondescript, lacking a clear melody.
- It evokes a feeling without melodic evidence, a unique characteristic.
Deborah Harry Breaks Hip-Hop on SNL
- Deborah Harry introduced hip-hop to a wider audience by featuring The Funky Four Plus One More on SNL in 1981.
- This exemplifies SNL's history of showcasing emerging artists and cultures.
