Prince On ‘SNL’: What Tracks Made The Cut? [Video]
Prince on SNL is something fans of the iconic artist haven’t seen for nearly a decade. While the musician hasn’t exactly been reclusive since the last time he was on the show, it was Prince’ longest uninterrupted set for a multi-million member audience since when he performed for the Superbowl in 2007.
Prince – Superbowl Half Time Show 2007 sur WAT.tv sélectionnée dans Musique
Although his Superbowl performances was filled to the brim with hits, that wasn’t the case when Prince was on SNL last night, where the set focused on less well-known, more recent material. That choice, however, hasn’t kept critics from praising the performance as one of the best in years. You can watch below to decide how well Prince did on SNL for yourself.
Among the those who heaped praise on Prince’s SNL performance was Rolling Stone, calling it one of the greatest SNL musical segments of all time.
“It didn’t matter: Prince, his backing band 3rdEyeGirl and guest vocalist Lianne La Havas still delivered one of the most explosive and most polished ‘SNL’ musical spots anyone has witnessed since perhaps when Chris Rock, the guest host, was still an ‘SNL’ featured player.”
Another positive review came from the New York Times, which noted Prince’s set on SNL saved the show from a few weeks of bum performances in a row.
“For all of its quick-change pacing, the performance was sharp and rousing, as much a credit to 3rdEyeGirl’s professionalism as it was to Prince’s star power. Especially considering the shaky footing of this season’s other musical guests (Iggy Azalea was the previous booking, and Hozier the one before), it was a welcome demonstration of virtuosity, or at least something a notch or two above competency. He didn’t push any boundaries, but Prince succeeded in pushing an agenda. And when his time was up, precisely, he cued a final downbeat and executed a formal bow.”
Average fans and celebrity Twitters alike also lit up with praise about Prince on SNL, among them comedians Patton Oswalt and Rashida Jones.
You THINK you’re a to-the-core fan of Prince & then he does something where you realize you need to step up your game. #PrinceOnSNL
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) November 2, 2014
Congratulations to all the women Prince impregnated last night.
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) November 2, 2014
Stop calling it a “jam session.” #PrinceOnSNL was as tight and briskly plotted as an episode of Scandal: http://t.co/KETvwEWYOV — Nate Chinen (@natechinen) November 2, 2014
8 min, many time changes, 400 guitar pedals, & 1 dude who never seems to age #princeonsnl… http://t.co/NcfZzJ1l9h — Erica Bruce (@btweenlovenlike) November 2, 2014
Mr. Rogers Nelson. Goddammit. His Royal Badness is 56 yrs old & better than most musicians half his age & younger. #PrinceOnSNL
— Jimmy Aquino (@jimmyaquino) November 2, 2014
You know you’re the coolest when you need an extra sunglass lens for your third eye #PrinceOnSNL
— Rashida Jones (@iamrashidajones) November 2, 2014
What did you think of Prince on SNL last night?
[Image via SNL]
