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It's time to take a trip back to the era of low-rise jeans and frosted tips! Join us as we count down our picks for the most unforgettable Y2K musical performances on Saturday Night Live! Our list features iconic artists like Alicia Keys, Britney Spears, Eminem, and more delivering some of their most legendary live moments on the 30 Rock stage!
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00:08Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks
00:12for the most memorable SNL musical guests from 1997 to 2003
00:16that delivered classic Y2K performances.
00:25Number 10. All the Small Things, Blink-182.
00:29After writing All the Small Things, Blink-182 knew they had found something special.
00:40However, the hit single that was originally titled Baby Cake's Butter Muffin
00:45gave the trio much more than just a charting success.
00:47The band went from couch surfing to featuring as musical guests on Saturday Night Live,
00:52where they were given the honor of playing the first show in the new millennium.
00:55Always, I know, you'll be at my show, watching, waiting, commemorating.
01:07The performance helped introduce pop punk to a brand new mainstream audience,
01:11and even though it was their only time on SNL,
01:14the appearance perfectly captures a pivotal point in the group's career.
01:24Number 9. O3 Bonnie & Clyde. Jay-Z featuring Beyoncé Knowles.
01:40Well known for his popular collaborations over the years,
01:43Jay-Z's first musical guest spot on SNL was no exception.
01:47Featuring Memphis Bleak and Beanie Siegel,
01:49the rappers joined together to close out the year 2000.
02:02His fame only continued to grow throughout the early aughts,
02:05and after the success of his album The Blueprint,
02:07he returned to the 30 Rock stage in 2002 to promote its sequel.
02:11This time around, not only did he perform with Lenny Kravitz,
02:14but he was also joined by his future wife Beyoncé
02:17for a memorable duet overflowing with chemistry.
02:19That's right. All I need in this life to send
02:22It's me and my girlfriend, me and my girlfriend.
02:26Down the ride to the very end
02:28It's me and my boyfriend, me and my boyfriend.
02:31Number 8. Miss Jackson. Outkast.
02:34Let everybody play, oh, oh.
02:37Say, oh, oh.
02:39Say, oh, oh.
02:42Oh, oh.
02:44When Andre 3000 and Big Boy released Miss Jackson in 2000,
02:47the single's success took their career to the next level.
02:51Not only did it top charts and win awards,
02:53but the catchy hook was so beloved that even Erykah Badu's mom,
02:57who the song is allegedly about, joined in the fun.
02:59Well, she thinks it was better.
03:01Well, then that's...
03:01She got the bumper sticker and the airbrush t-shirt.
03:04What does the bumper sticker say?
03:06Miss Jackson.
03:08In 2002, the duo was featured as musical guests on SNL,
03:12and they brought their A-game with two Grammy-winning tracks.
03:15Grooving along to their well-known hit
03:17with a group of background vocalists,
03:19their unique energy and charisma
03:21made the performance a standout.
03:22I'm sorry, Miss Jackson did.
03:25I am for real.
03:27Everybody did.
03:28Never meant to make your daughter cry.
03:30I apologize.
03:32It's making time.
03:33Number seven, Bye Bye Bye, NSYNC.
03:36I don't know that I can't take no one.
03:39It ain't no lie.
03:41I don't want to see you out at your baby.
03:45Bye bye bye.
03:46You cannot talk about Y2K music
03:48without mentioning the boy band phenomenon.
03:50And this performance is classic NSYNC.
03:53Leading up to the release of the album No Strings Attached,
03:56the group made their SNL debut
03:57around the height of their popularity.
04:10While dedicated fans might remember
04:12some of the catchy moves or lyrics
04:14from their sketch Supersize It,
04:15the real showstopper was their performance of Bye Bye Bye.
04:30The band lived up to their name
04:32with synchronized choreography
04:33and impressive live vocals,
04:35and they delivered a high-energy show
04:37complete with their signature charm.
04:39Number six, Survivor, Destiny's Child.
04:42You thought it couldn't be without you,
04:44perfect vision.
04:45You thought it couldn't last without you,
04:47but I liked it.
04:48With several hit songs already under their belts,
04:51Destiny's Child did not have anything to prove
04:53going into their first SNL appearance.
04:55However, they didn't pull any punches
04:57with their performance of Survivor.
04:59I'm a survivor.
05:00I'm gonna make it.
05:02I will survive.
05:03Now keep on surviving.
05:05Complete with camo crop tops and low-rise jeans,
05:08the singers delivered the early 2000s anthem
05:10with incredible vocal riffs
05:11and high-tempo choreography.
05:13A young Beyoncé's star power shines in particular,
05:16and this was just the beginning
05:17of her memorable 30-rock appearances from this era.
05:29Together, the girl group delivered
05:31with unmatched stage presence,
05:33reminding the world why they'd earned
05:35their Y2K icon status.
05:37Number five, Doo-Wop, That Thing, Lauryn Hill.
05:40Girls, you know you better watch out.
05:44You better watch out.
05:45Some guys, some guys are on me.
05:47What? What?
05:48Leading up to the turn of the century,
05:50Lauryn Hill was breaking records
05:52and making waves with the success
05:53of her 1998 solo album.
05:55Her lead single, Doo-Wop, That Thing,
05:57topped the charts,
05:58and the song has earned so many awards
06:00and accolades over the years
06:01that it has created a legacy of its own.
06:04Guys, you know you better watch out.
06:12In this performance,
06:14Hill and her band recreate a scene
06:15from the popular music video,
06:17bringing a lively block party
06:18to the SNL stage.
06:20The energy is infectious,
06:21and the singer's talent feels effortless
06:23as she lets the music and lyrics
06:25speak for themselves.
06:26Watch out, watch out.
06:29Look out, look out.
06:31You go watch out, watch out.
06:33Look out, look out.
06:35Number four, Stan, Eminem featuring Dido.
06:39Yes, Slim, I wrote you,
06:41but you still ain't calling.
06:42I left my cell, my pager,
06:43and my home phone at the bottom.
06:45I sent two letters back in autumn.
06:47You must not have got them.
06:48There probably was a problem
06:49at the post office or something.
06:51Eminem has been featured on Saturday Night Live
06:53many times over the years,
06:54from his debut appearance
06:56alongside Dr. Dre
06:57to a more recent cameo
06:58in a Pete Davidson parody of his song.
07:00What's this?
07:01To Shady from Santa.
07:04That's crazy.
07:05A PS5?
07:06I didn't even ask for this.
07:07I guess Shady must have been
07:08a good boy this year.
07:09Taking it back to the year 2000,
07:11he had just shaken up the rap scene
07:13with his record-breaking album
07:14The Marshall Mathers LP.
07:16Returning as a musical guest,
07:18he performed his popular singles,
07:19with Dido joining him
07:20to sing the melodies on Stan.
07:22Well, gotta go.
07:23I'm almost at the bridge now.
07:25Oh, shoot.
07:25I forgot.
07:26I'm not supposed to send this tape out.
07:28My feet's gone cold.
07:29I'm wondering why.
07:31Hey, boy.
07:32His storytelling, lyricism,
07:33and magnetic stage presence
07:35showed audiences
07:35why the unique rapper
07:36had become such an early-aughts phenomenon.
07:39Number 3.
07:40The National Anthem, Radiohead.
07:43Everyone.
07:47Everyone.
07:48Everyone.
07:49Yeah.
07:51After nearly a decade
07:52of making a name for themselves
07:53with hit singles
07:54and their one-of-a-kind music,
07:56Radiohead didn't play it safe
07:58with their album Kid A.
07:59The band did very minimal promotions
08:01for the 2000 release,
08:02so this SNL appearance
08:04was a standout.
08:13Playing their song
08:14the National Anthem,
08:15the unique performance
08:16featured live radio samples
08:18and a jazzy horn section.
08:20Meant to feel like,
08:21quote,
08:21a traffic jam,
08:22the layered and chaotic arrangement
08:24is a perfect example
08:25of their alternative Y2K take
08:27on a classic rock sound.
08:37Number 2.
08:38Oops, I did it again.
08:39Britney Spears.
08:40It isn't very common
08:41for celebrities to appear
08:43as both host and musical guest,
08:44but Britney Spears
08:45took on the challenge
08:46at just 18 years old
08:47in her first ever SNL appearance.
08:52You know,
08:52it is so cool
08:53to be hosting
08:54Saturday Night Live
08:55because I happen to be
08:56a very big fan
08:57of this show.
08:58Hot off the heels
08:59of her latest release's
09:00chart-topping success,
09:02the talented young performer
09:03had established herself
09:04as Y2K royalty.
09:14The Princess of Pop
09:15took to the stage
09:16with backup dancers
09:17and her signature
09:18wraparound mic
09:19and delivered
09:19one of her best live renditions
09:21of Oops, I Did It Again.
09:23With both impressive choreography
09:24and live vocals,
09:26Spears proved her talent
09:27as a natural performer.
09:38Before we unveil our top pick,
09:41here are some honorable mentions.
09:43Party Up,
09:43Up In Here,
09:44DMX.
09:45The rapper hyped up the crowd
09:47with his hit single.
09:48Y'all gonna make me
09:49lose my mind
09:50Up in here,
09:51Up in here,
09:52Y'all gonna make me
09:54go all out
09:55Up in here,
09:56Up in here,
09:57Up in here,
09:58Work It,
09:58Missy Elliott.
09:59The hip-hop star
10:00brought her signature energy
10:01to the stage.
10:02Work it,
10:03I need a glass of water.
10:05Boy, yo, boy,
10:06it's good to know y'all.
10:07Is it worth it?
10:08Let me work it.
10:09I put my thing down,
10:10slip it in reverse.
10:11Yellow,
10:12Coldplay.
10:13The band played
10:14their debut hit
10:15for their first ever
10:16SNL appearance.
10:26Complicated,
10:27Avril Lavigne.
10:28The rising star
10:29rocked the stage
10:30with her successful single.
10:43I Want It That Way,
10:44Backstreet Boys,
10:45The popular boy band
10:47delivered a memorable
10:48harmony-filled performance.
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11:23Number 1.
11:24Fallen,
11:24Alicia Keys.
11:26I keep on falling in.
11:37In the wake of 9-11,
11:39SNL returned to the air
11:40with a determination
11:41to help heal New York City.
11:43After opening
11:43with a special tribute
11:44and an emotional
11:45Paul Simon performance,
11:46the episode continued on
11:48with as much normalcy
11:49as possible.
11:50The show created
11:51a moment in time
11:52where people could find humor
11:53amidst tragedy
11:53and Alicia Keys
11:55became the soundtrack
11:56to that sense of hope.
11:57Never felt this way
12:00How do you give me
12:02so much pleasure
12:04It caused me
12:05so much pain
12:08Singing her breakout
12:10single Fallen,
12:11the young artist
12:11delivered above and beyond
12:13with her powerful vocals
12:14and piano playing.
12:15Rising to the occasion,
12:17she and her band
12:18put on one of
12:18Saturday Night Live's
12:19most memorable
12:20and uplifting performances.
12:32Which of these
12:33nostalgic SNL performances
12:34do you remember watching?
12:35And which is your favorite?
12:37Let us know in the comments.