Top 20 Best SNL Music Videos of All Time

After taking their bows on the final night of the school play, the cast prepares to [“rip it up all night until 11:45 pm”.] There’s a lot of hormones spilling everywhere, but no one really knows how to act upon their urges. Instead what we get is a delightful list of stereotypes that will make any theater kid watching feel extremely seen. Everyone gets a chance to shine in this highly entertaining skit, but Lin-Manuel Miranda rapping as “experienced” senior, Cody Shuck, is a particular highlight. However, it’s the spot-on references that speak to any theater kid’s soul that makes this sketch so memorable.

In this smooth R&B jam, three guys played by Kenan Thompson, Chris Redd, and musical guest, The Weeknd, lament over the minor indiscretions that landed them in hot water with their partners. They really do an excellent job of painting themselves as the victims, which is why the subsequent revelations are so hilarious. Turns out that their misdemeanors are much bigger than they initially let on. Kenan is a serial cheater, Chris committed financial fraud, and The Weeknd? Well, we’ll let his ex and her new husband played by Daniel Craig explain that one. It’s the unexpected twists that make this song so unforgettable.

Who knew that Timothée Chalamet would bring us the musical saga we never even knew we wanted? This song chronicles a guy who’s gutted when his family is forced to sell their farm and he has to part ways with his animal bestie. At first, Tiny Horse doesn’t want to leave but Chalamet has us in stitches as he yells for him to “git”. This is only paralleled by his epiphany that he’s been holding Tiny Horse back. Chalamet’s dedication to the sketch is Oscar-worthy. It’s a happy ending though, as we watch Tiny Horse gallop away on a regular-sized horse.

Together with The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas, The Lonely Island offers a cautionary tale about the power of the boombox. They take us to three relatively mundane settings where Andy Samberg unleashes utter chaos as he raises the boombox above his head. This includes a totally random running gag about a boiled goose, everyone wearing fingerless gloves and [“a Spanish guy doing the Bartman”]. As with many Lonely Island songs, you’ll find yourself wondering what on earth you just watched, while still enjoying every moment and laughing out loud. We guess that’s the power of the boombox. Just don’t forget that a boombox is not a toy.

Ever spent hours scrolling online in an attempt to understand NFTs? Well, look no further because SNL has your back. This parody of Eminem’s “Without Me” sees Pete Davidson excellently parodying The Real Slim Shady to ask the question on everyone’s mind. Chris Redd responds with an admittedly entertaining verse explaining cryptocurrency. However, if you’re anything like us, you’re probably left just as confused as before. Don’t worry though, because the janitor, played by Jack Harlow, saves the day with his verse, which is both rather catchy and genuinely informative. Turns out this sketch isn’t just funny, but it’s educational too.

Almost a year after their first home-for-the holidays music video, the ladies of SNL were back. This time, joined by host Cameron Diaz, they rap about being treated like royalty when they go home for the holidays. They enjoy perks such as a fully stocked fridge, vegging out whilst watching TV, and not lifting a finger. And who can’t relate to a 30-character long WiFi password? However, nothing makes us laugh harder than Leslie Jones rapping about infinite amounts of bowls. This sketch only reminds us just how talented these women are. These kinds of skits should become a SNL holiday tradition.

Popular culture has introduced multiple Christmas saviors over the years. But now, Emma Stone, Kate McKinnon, and Aidy Bryant have one more to add. They sing this ode to “more powerful Christmas saviour” in a vaguely nineties-esque power ballad. Their commitment to the sketch is what makes it so memorable and their sincerity only makes it funnier, especially when Aidy delivers her warning. Ultimately there’s nothing more amusing than the chorus of women uniting to give thanks to the ultimate present, “the gift of having a gift to give away”. After this, you’ll never see the Christmas candle in the same way again.

If “self-care” to you means unwinding in front of the television and watching a true crime series, this is the sketch for you. After all, there’s nothing quite like descending down the rabbit hole of shows about murder, right? And don’t forget those podcasts, either. It's all sung to a peppy tune that is guaranteed to get stuck in your head. Perhaps, you agree with Nick Jonas though and think it doesn’t get much better than cult shows. Or maybe you identify more with Melissa Villaseñor and baking shows are your jam. Is it possible to be a fan of all three?

During the Covid-19 pandemic, no part of the anatomy was more mysterious than the part hidden behind the mask. In this hip-hop parody, featuring musical guest Megan Thee Stallion, three guys rap about their desire to see the bottom half of their date’s face. However, the women clapback with why going maskless is a stupid idea. They even manage to throw in a WAP reference for good measure. Chris Rock then enters the scene with his own hilarious take on the subject as well. It’s incredibly catchy and kinda relatable for anyone trying to navigate the dating world during the pandemic.

Quarantine fatigue hit us all, but if you’re single and living alone, it hit particularly hard. Ego Nwodim arrives at the club looking hot and starts chatting up a guy, played by host, Regé-Jean Page. That’s where things take a sharp turn as we discover the havoc that a year in quarantine can play on the brain. We’re then introduced to her best friend, Reggie, a tenacious snake plant that urges her to keep going. According to costume designer, Jill Bream, snake plants share humans’ determination to survive under pressure. At least this song was so catchy that it kept us company through our quarantine fatigue.

Back in the early 2010s, Drake released “The Motto” and suddenly everyone was saying “YOLO”. But it seems like The Lonely Island, joined by Adam Levine and Kendrick Lamar, interpreted the acronym a little differently than the rest of us. This rap is a caution about living life carefully and being hyper-aware of any potential hazards. They even reference some real examples of newsworthy recklessness. What’s hard to believe about this 2013 song is how some of its lyrics about isolation, quarantining and never having too much Purell, rang especially true in 2020. Ultimately, the moral of this rap is: “You Oughta Look Out”. Or, “YOLO” for short.

Ariana Grande and the insanely talented ladies of SNL tried to address the complexity of intersectional feminism with this incredibly catchy song. However, when that proved to be too challenging and time-consuming, they bailed. So instead they show footage of them frolicking on the beach, basking in lens flares, and a montage of other feminist icons. However, contrary to the song’s title they soon realize that maybe it is a feminist song after all! And like all good social movements, it even comes with its own hashtag. It’s witty, utterly charming, and the feminist anthem we never even knew we needed.

Channeling a nineties R&B boy band, De-Von-Tré sing this tribute to former President Barack Obama. Although, when it first aired it was only called “Come Back” and they surprised us with this hilarious reveal. The trio fondly reminisces about the good ol’ days and throws out some suggestions for more suitable successors. Heck, they’ll even vote for Joe Biden in 2020. This wasn’t the first time Chance the Rapper and Kenan collaborated on an Obama-themed musical sketch either. “Jingle Barack” was even nominated for an Emmy. However, “Come Back, Barack” went viral on YouTube and won an Emmy for Outstanding Music and Lyrics.

If you ever thought that Santa was a little judgmental, Sump’n Claus has you covered. Played by SNL treasure Kenan Thompson, this former North Pole employee hands out envelopes of cash to those who’ve made Santa’s naughty list. Just don’t ask him where he got the money. The concept is hilarious and we couldn’t imagine a better actor to pull it off either. We also love Cecily Strong and Sasheer Zamata giving it their all as his backing singers as well. Sump’ n Claus is such a brilliantly bizarre sketch and, like many fans of the show, we’d love to revisit this character again.

Yeah, physical intimacy is great and all, but have you ever sung about doing it from the rooftops with Grammy-nominated artist, Akon? The Lonely Island guys sing about a great night of intercourse with their girlfriends, played by Blake Lively and Jessica Alba respectively, here. We also get a cameo from former tennis pro, John McEnroe. The guys are pretty pleased with themselves but the ladies are… not so satisfied. The song is such a banger though that even their dissatisfied partners can’t help but join in. It’s no surprise really that the track entered multiple charts around the world and even went Platinum in the U.S. and Australia.

Until this number it was the guys who dominated the musical Digital Short sketches. However, after this unforgettable music video, all that was about to change. Giving us some real Pussycat Dolls vibes, this sketch addresses the awkwardness of getting it on at your parent’s house over the holidays. There is a lot to enjoy about this Emmy-nominated sketch, from its catchy tune, hilarious and somewhat relatable lyrics, and - for some at least, Jimmy’s rap, However, the throwback photos of the cast are an absolute highlight. This is one of our favorite holiday-themed musical sketches and we can’t wait until next Christmas to watch it again.

This satirical 90s hip-hop style music video takes aim at the Boomer generation, who were at the head of the queue to receive Covid-19 vaccinations. The song mocks how many of the same people who downplayed the severity of the virus ended up being the first to get immunized. It also underlines the other advantages that Boomers have enjoyed over the decades too. Each moment of this sketch is pure genius and everyone’s performance is sensational. We guess there may be some begrudging millennials in SNL’s writers’ room. Well, it gave us this sketch, which is comedy gold!

Writers Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone were struggling to get their sketches to air. However, after “Lazy Sunday'' everything changed. This hardcore rap performed by Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell chronicles some pretty mundane activities like, hitting up Magnolia Bakery and buying snacks to sneak into a matinee viewing of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”. Not only did it put Lonely Island on the map but it also brought attention to a little-known site called YouTube. Hitting 2 million views in just one week, it became one of the first viral videos on the platform. Who knew that a song about a lazy Sunday would be totally groundbreaking?

Arguably, this seductive nineties R&B style holiday tune is the most famous and successful SNL musical Digital Short. Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg sing about their wildly inappropriate Christmas gifts to their girlfriends. Although it initially aired uncensored, it was later replaced with a censored version that was bleeped over 16 times. By 2011, they completed the trilogy with follow-up songs, “Motherlover” and “3-Way” (The Golden Rule)”. However, nothing has seen quite the same level of success as the original. Not only did it become a viral hit but it also won the Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Jack Sparrow”
Why Wouldn’t You Sing an Ode to the Captain of the Black Pearl?

“Natalie’s Rap”
If You Enjoyed It the First Time, You Probably Loved “Natalie’s Rap 2.0” As Well.

“Kellyanne Conway”
The Name On Everybody’s Lips Was McKinnon After This Killer Impression

“Welcome to Hell”
Saorise Ronan & the Ladies of SNL Are Here to Show You Around a Woman’s World

“The Creep”
We Think We’ll Leave These Moves to The Lonely Island

In a parody of clichés often seen in rap videos, Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and T-Pain aggressively rap about being on a boat. Samberg won the boat trip for three in a cereal box, sadly leaving The Lonely Island’s Jorma Taccone out of the fun. On the boat, however, we enjoy tropes like lavish luxury, constant drinking, and excessive use of expletives. It’s no wonder T-Pain was so confused by the premise when he was first approached. Still, the video peaked at number one on the U.S. iTunes chart, was nominated for a Grammy, and also went Platinum. In February 2009, it was even the number one video on YouTube.