Top 10 SNL Musical Performances That Were a Cultural Reset

Season 21

In April 1996, Rage Against the Machine made their “SNL” debut on an episode hosted by multimillionaire and Republican presidential candidate Steve Forbes[a]. As a protest against Forbes’ politics, the band hung two upside-down American flags from their amplifiers, a symbol of America’s inverted democracy. The plan was for this imagery to loom in the background as Forbes introduced them, but “SNL” stagehands managed to yank the flags down at the last second. Nevertheless, Rage delivered a blistering version of “Bulls on Parade,” which itself is a scathing critique of the U.S. military. Although they were scheduled to perform two songs, their second performance was canceled due to the protest, and they were escorted from the building.

Season 17

January 11th 1992 was the day Nirvana shook up the music world, dethroning Michael Jackson to claim the No. 1 position on the U.S. album charts. That same night, they crashed America’s living rooms with the debut “SNL” performance of their breakout single “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” While the band had already been building a following, this was the moment many first encountered their raw, unfiltered punk-grunge sound, ripped from Seattle’s underground and thrown onto the global stage. This performance was nerve-wracking for the young trio, but that only heightened the intensity of their delivery. Even when drummer Dave Grohl[b]’s stick snapped mid-song, they powered through with a feral, electrifying set that many still regard highly.

Season 47

On “Saturday Night Live,” musical guests typically perform twice, with their sets sandwiched between the comedy sketches. However, in the 47th season, Taylor Swift broke with tradition when she delivered one of longest performances in the show’s history: a 10-minute version of her song “All Too Well.” Armed with just her guitar and her voice, Swift gave a riveting set, as the stage itself mirrored the song’s emotional arc, transitioning from fall to winter. As she performed, the accompanying short film, which had premiered just the day before, played on behind her. The ten minutes flew by in an instant, and through it all, Swift never once lost the audience. If anything, she pulled them in even closer.

Season 3

Elvis Costello only got to perform on “SNL’s” third season after the original musical guest, the Sex Pistols, were denied visas. Costello’s record label had insisted he play “Less Than Zero,” a song about British fascism that he knew would fly over most American heads. Instead, in one of the boldest live TV rebellions, Costello played only a few seconds of the track before abruptly stopping and launching into “Radio Radio,” a sharp critique of radio broadcasters and the media. His defiant act angered Lorne Michaels[c] and reportedly led to a decade-long ban from the show. However, in 1999, Costello returned for “SNL’s” 25th anniversary, referencing the moment by interrupting the Beastie Boys’ set and once again playing “Radio Radio.”

Season 50

Just one day after the release of her highly acclaimed seventh album “Mayhem,” Lady Gaga pulled double duty on “SNL,” serving as both host and musical guest. While her first performance of the night, “Abracadabra,” was magical enough, it was the second song, “Killah,” which had debuted the previous day, that truly stole the show. Gaga kicked things off backstage at Studio 8H, weaving through the hallways with her backup dancers and even dropping low for some intricate floor work. The performance then erupted onto the main stage for an electrifying finale, complete with an intense drumming duet, a piercing scream and a dramatic costume change. It was pure, unfiltered chaos, the kind that only Lady Gaga can orchestrate.

Season 5

For one of their final shows of the 1970s, “SNL” recruited the one artist who had arguably defined the decade: David Bowie. Bowie transformed Studio 8H into his own avant-garde playground, bringing performance artists Klaus Nomi[d] and Joey Arias[e] to join him onstage. Right from the moment he appeared, trapped in a plastic tuxedo that was so stiff he had to be physically carried to the microphone, it was clear this was no ordinary show. This was Bowie doing what he did best: closing one era while anticipating the artistic direction of the future. And it proved to be an accurate prediction, as the surreal, theatrical style has since echoed through artists like St. Vincent and Lady Gaga.

Season 30

Some “SNL” performances launch careers, while others, like Ashlee Simpson’s, seemingly end them. In October 2004, Simpson had just released her debut album when she appeared as the musical guest to perform “Pieces of Me” and “Autobiography.” While the first performance went smoothly, the second would become the defining moment of her career. As the band began to play, the vocal track from “Pieces of Me” unexpectedly came on again, throwing Simpson into a state of panic. This little hitch revealed that she had lip-synced the first song and planned to do the same for the second. The panic flooded her body and the only response she could muster was an awkward dance, before abandoning her band on the stage.

Season 6

Hip-hop has given us many iconic live TV performances, but none would’ve been possible without this one. Back in 1981, Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry hosted “SNL” and insisted on booking Funky Four Plus One as the second musical guest of the night. This made them the first rap act to perform on national television. Their performance of “That’s the Joint” was groundbreaking not just for its historical significance, but also for its content. For many in Middle America, it was their first taste of a DJ-run show, record scratching and rap group chants. This was hip-hop in its rawest form, something that many had never seen before, and it kicked open the door for countless artists to follow.

Season 7

In the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, Fear was just another scrappy punk rock band tearing up the Los Angeles scene. They eventually rose to national prominence in 1981 after they found a hardcore fan in “SNL” alum John Belushi, who pulled some strings to land them a spot as the musical guest. It didn’t take long for “SNL” producers to regret that decision. Fear had bused in dozens of fans to form a makeshift mosh pit, and things quickly devolved into chaos. Bodies flew across the stage, bringing slam dancing from grimy dive bars right onto national television. The performance reportedly got Fear banned from the show, but it also inspired a generation of punk rockers.

Season 18

Sinéad O'Connor’s “SNL” performance became iconic not for what she did while singing, but what came immediately after. During dress rehearsals, O’Connor ended her rendition of Bob Marley’s “War” by solemnly holding up the picture of a refugee child. However, during the live show, she replaced that photograph with one of Pope John Paul II, tearing it into pieces and calling him “the real enemy.” This bold move was a protest against the Catholic Church’s handling of misconduct cases by its clergy which, at the time, hadn’t gained widespread attention. As a result, O’Connor’s protest was seen as disrespectful and it cost her her career. However, as the truth emerged, public opinion of the singer changed, and she is now celebrated for her extraordinary bravery.