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When the stage lights hit, anything can happen on Saturday Night Live. Join us as we spotlight the most jaw-dropping surprise appearances during musical guest performances, from legendary rockers to unexpected rappers and comedy icons. From Elvis Costello and Will Ferrell to Jay-Z, Dave Grohl, H.E.R., Hozier and more, these moments turned live TV into pure magic.
Transcript
00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the greatest and most unexpected
00:12cameos in musical guest performances on Saturday Night Live.
00:24Number 10, Danny Elfman and Thundercat, A$AP Rocky.
00:29Rather than take the stage solo, rapper A$AP Rocky assembled his own star-studded punk band
00:35for his first ever SNL guest spot.
00:45Not only was he backed up by Thundercat on bass, but he also tapped Danny Elfman to be
00:50his drummer.
00:51The esteemed composer had previously worked with the hip-hop artist on his new album, and
00:56he even took up the drums for this incredible punk-rocky performance.
01:08The moment was a milestone for all of the musicians involved, and the group of legends put on
01:14a next-level show.
01:23Number 9, Kendrick Lamar, Imagine Dragons.
01:27This partnership might seem unexpected, but back in 2014, both Kendrick Lamar and Imagine
01:34Dragons shared that they were big fans of each other's work.
01:37We had been playing his album for quite a while before that point, so it was cool because
01:41we got in a room with each other and we were both mutual fans, which is a great way to
01:44start
01:45a collaboration.
01:46The artists made waves with their show-stopping mashup performance at the Grammys, and the
01:51rapper even hopped on a radioactive remix.
01:54The weekend after their award show collaboration, they joined together once again for a standout SNL
02:05appearance.
02:06In this arrangement, a drum break transitions into Lamar emerging from the shadows, as he
02:11raps on top of the strings and percussion in a genre-colliding display.
02:22Number 8, Hosier, Mumford & Sons.
02:25Fourteen years after their SNL debut, Mumford & Sons returned to 30 Rock for a fourth time
02:32to promote their latest album, Prizefighter.
02:41Not only did their performance feature a surprise introduction by heated rivalry co-stars Connor
02:46Story and Hudson Williams, but the band also had another card up their sleeve.
02:51After beginning the song with an empty mic on the stage, Hosier stepped forward into the
02:56light, prompting a cheer from the delighted crowd.
03:10Performing his verse on their song, Rubberband Man, the collaboration between the two folk stars
03:16earned high praise online.
03:26Number 7, Her, Foo Fighters.
03:29The Five Timers Club is an SNL tradition that honors hosts or musical guests after their fifth
03:35appearance on the show.
03:44Not only did the Foo Fighters achieve this status in 2007, but they've since soared past
03:49the milestone.
03:50The group has had many memorable performances over the years, like when Jim Carrey joined
03:55in with his own instrument.
03:56In 2023, they returned to SNL for the ninth time with R&B star Her, who both sang and played
04:03electric guitar.
04:11The surprise feature took the act to the next level, giving the band's iconic sound a fresh
04:16new feel.
04:27Number 6, John Mayer, Frank Ocean.
04:31You don't often see a multi-Grammy award-winning artist take on a supporting role, but when
04:36John Mayer returned to SNL in 2012, he was backing up Frank Ocean.
04:47The singers first started collaborating when the musician played guitar for a couple of
04:52Channel Orange tracks, and they turned out to be an unexpected power duo.
05:06In Pyramids, Ocean flexes his vocals before fully stepping away as Mayer goes off on a solo.
05:13Both performances from that night have become fan favorites, and the guitar riffs with the
05:18unique production are a match made in heaven.
05:29Number 5, Dave Grohl, Tom Petty, and the Heartbreakers.
05:34On top of appearing nine times with the Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl has an impressive total
05:39of 15 SNL appearances on his resume.
05:42Foo Fighters have been on Saturday Night Live seven times.
05:44First record, third record, fourth record.
05:47I can't count that high.
05:49But a lot.
05:49Actually, we played Kristen Wiig's first show and her last show.
05:53In one of these features, he and his fellow Nirvana members were fronted by none other than
05:58the Beatles' Sir Paul McCartney.
06:00He's also known for another star-studded collaboration, only this time, Grohl was the
06:05one hopping into another legendary band.
06:14His drumming gave the Heartbreakers' performance a unique edge, and in the wake of Kurt Cobain's
06:20death, the musical moment was just as meaningful as it was memorable.
06:31Number 4, Jay-Z, Beyoncé.
06:35It's 2002, Jay-Z has just released O3 Bonnie and Clyde with Beyoncé, and rumors are swirling
06:42of a budding romance between the rapper and the Destiny's Child member.
06:46She makes a cameo in his SNL appearance, and the chemistry is undeniable.
06:56Then, the following year, they swap roles for the first-ever performance of Crazy in Love.
07:06As Jay-Z enters, he wraps his verse on the soon-to-be Grammy-winning hit, alongside his
07:11future wife.
07:12But at this point, the artist's relationship was still a secret.
07:15Now, these collaborations are music and pop culture time capsules, offering a unique
07:20glimpse into the early days of both their partnership and careers.
07:35In what is now considered one of SNL's all-time greatest musical moments, David Bowie brought
07:41the house down with his performances of Boys Keep Swinging, TVC 15, and The Man Who Sold
07:47the World.
07:55Sporting Dada-inspired costuming, he was joined by artists Klaus Nomi and Joey Arias, who he
08:02had previously met at a New York nightclub.
08:04Bringing his avant-garde vision to life, they each wore matching makeup and bold ensembles.
08:16All together, the unique choreography and rich background vocals were the cherry on top of
08:22the iconic 1979 display.
08:33Number 2.
08:35Will Ferrell, Queens of the Stone Age
08:37When Will Ferrell's Moore Cowbell sketch birthed one of the most well-known SNL quotes of all
08:42time, his performance as an overzealous musician in clothing a few sizes too small became iconic.
08:48I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell.
08:54In 2005, the comic returned to host after having left the cast a few years earlier, and he had
09:01a special request for musical guests Queens of the Stone Age.
09:04My management came to me in a very serious tone, and was like, Will wants to play Cowbell.
09:12My response was, are you kidding me?
09:14Of course.
09:15After introducing the band in his casual attire, a familiar character comes out halfway through
09:20the song to try and steal the show.
09:22As he thrusts and gyrates across the stage, it's all singer Josh Homme can do to keep it
09:28together.
09:37Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
09:41Tamar Davis, Prince.
09:43Prince returned to SNL and shared the spotlight with his talented protégé.
09:47Oh, beautiful, loves and grace, I'm better than the day before.
09:55Charlie XCX, Role Model.
09:57Role Model tapped the Brat Pop icon to be his Sally.
10:00Here we go again, I'm falling head first, and go sit, two steps, Sally makes my hand.
10:09Dakota Johnson, Lily Allen.
10:11As Allen sings, Dakota is revealed as the voice of Madeline.
10:15If you need more details, or even if you just need to vent or anything, love and light, Madeline.
10:26Sharon Stone and Kim Petras.
10:28Sam Smith.
10:29Smith created memorable visuals with the iconic actress and a surprise Kim Petras reveal.
10:35Daddy, daddy, if you wanna drop the addy, give me love, give me Fendi, my Balenciaga daddy.
10:50Before we continue, check out this single from Sound Mojo's album, Balance.
10:55Classical music reimagined as rock, hard rock, and metal.
10:58Check out the full track and album below.
11:00Born in the sunlight, born in the rain, life is a rhythm, running through veins.
11:15Number 1.
11:16Elvis Costello, Beastie Boys.
11:19In 1977, Elvis Costello and The Attractions interrupted their own performance to start playing an unplanned song.
11:26And the rule-breaking SNL moment became somewhat of a legendary tale.
11:33I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen, there's no reason to do this song here.
11:37Radio, radio.
11:381, 2, 3, 4.
11:42Over the years, rumors claimed that the stunt earned the singer a television ban.
11:47But he's since cleared up that the live TV mishap was made out to seem much more dramatic than it
11:52actually was.
11:53Years later, the Beastie Boys were performing on the 25th anniversary show when Costello suddenly burst onto the scene.
12:01I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen, but there's just really no reason to do this song here tonight.
12:041, 2, 3, 4.
12:09Referencing the controversial 70s moment, the two acts performed a new rendition of Radio, radio together.
12:27Which musical guest cameos would you put in your SNL Hall of Fame?
12:31Let us know in the comments.
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