Memorable TV Performances: Adam Sandler- The Thanksgiving Song

The date is November 21, 1992 and during the Weekend Update segment on Saturday Night Live, anchor Kevin Nealon brings out Adam Sandler to perform a song. This was originally intended to be a recurring Thanksgiving tradition with other cast members debuting their own original songs, but the next year, it was again Sandler, doing another version of the same song in the style of Bruce Springsteen. Adam’s “Thanksgiving Song” was written by Adam Sandler along with SNL writers Robert Smigel and Ian Maxtone-Graham. Interestingly (as always there is something interesting about these performances/songs), this song was the predecessor to “The Chanukkah Song.” When that song became a hit, “The Thanksgiving Song” was then released as a follow-up the next year; it too became a hit, charting at #40 on the Adult Top 40 chart and #29 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1997. The song continues to receive extensive radio airplay around Thanksgiving. So, now that we know all that, Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Adam Sandler- The Thanksgiving Song:

The Thanksgiving Song (Live):

Memorable TV Performances: The Replacements on SNL 1986

Back in 1986, The Replacements performed on Saturday Night Live and it didn’t go well at all! There’s a really intersting story behind it all and I’ll tell you part of it. It all started when the bands label was trying to get The Replacements to shoot a music video. The band though had a hard stance of NO about making videos. So, the powers that be came up with a solution, one that would be beneficial for the band as well as fans. The idea was to get them to perform on live TV. So a letter was then sent to Saturday Night Live music booker Michele Galfas touting the group. Then the ‘Mats’ product manager, Steven Baker, and Warner A&R head Lenny Waronker pressed label chairman Mo Ostin to put in a call to the show’s creator/producer, Lorne Michaels. Based on Warner Bros.’s faith, Galfas put The Replacements on a shortlist of acts for the show — without having seen the band play live. See where this is going… Fast forward a few months and out of the blue, the bands gets the call that they will be appearing on SNL. Originally The Pointer Sisters were to perform on this night. Actor Harry Dean Stanton would be the host for the show on the now infamous January 18th airing. The episode would also feature controversial stand-up comic Sam Kinison as a special guest. The rest of the story is just as crazy as you think it is. From being drunk on stage, spouting “FUCK” on live TV, out of control antics and more. To say the people running SNL were pissed is an understatement. I highly recommend you taking some time and reading more about it this story.

The Replacements- Bastards Of Young:

Memorable TV Performances: Queens of the Stone Age on SNL 2005

Back in 2005, when Will Ferrell hosted Saturday Night Live, Queens of the Stone Age made their SNL debut. They were promoting their album Lullabies To Paralyze at this time. Their SNL set consisted of “Little Sister” and “In My Head” both from that record. The reason why this performance is quite memorable is because of the special guest who comes out during the performance of “Little Sister.”

Queens Of The Stone Age on SNL 2005:

Memorable TV Performances: Faith No More on Saturday Night Live

Let’s take a trip back to 1990, when John Goodman was hosting Saturday Night Live for his second time and the musical guest for the evening was Faith No More. The band played two songs from The Real Thing, “Epic” and “From Out Of Nowhere.” Their performance on SNL is one of my all time favorites. Mike Patton really went off that night too, as you’ll see when you watch the below clips.

 

Faith No More- Epic:

Faith No More- From Out Of Nowhere:

Memorable TV Performances: Rollins Band on Saturday Night Live

The other day I was thinking about all the great live performances I’ve seen on TV. There were so many awesome moments on shows like Saturday Night Live, MTV, scattered awards shows like the Grammy’s, MTV Awards, American Music Awards, etc. The list goes on. I thought this category would be really fun to look back on these great performances and go back to a time when rock music was at the forefront of the world.

Let’s start this off with something out of left field. Back in 1997 on Saturday Night Live when Pamela Anderson was hosting, I believe it was to promote the movie Barb Wire, Rollins Band was the music guest. They performed “Starve” off the very underrated album Come In and Burn. The entire band absolutely crushed their performance and I’m sure left those in the audience a little scared.

 

Rollins Band- Starve (on Saturday Night Live):