A Full Season Of 'SNL' Musical Guests, Ranked

Plus, 'World Cafe' talks to Branford Marsalis and The Black Keys

View this email online by Lars Gotrich, Marissa Lorusso, Lyndsey McKenna and Daoud Tyler-Ameen Will Heath/NBC It’s a time-honored tradition for up-and-coming and veteran artists alike: getting the rare booking to perform from Studio 8H at Rockefeller Center as the Saturday Night Live musical guest. And for our own Stephen Thompson, it’s become an annual rite of spring: cruelly ranking the season’s acts from first to worst (recommended reading: his 2018 list, featuring U2, Cardi B and Childish Gambino; the 2019 ranking, featuring Anderson .Paak, BTS and, sigh, Greta Van Fleet; and the shortened/home season that was 2020, featuring Chance the Rapper, Lizzo and Taylor Swift).  “This season marked a bit of a shift in SNL's musical direction, most notably in favor of rock acts with guitars, while still bringing back a few mainstays to perform in consecutive seasons,” Stephen writes. “But this season's batch still added up to a robust assortment of fresh talent, fresh conversation-starters and, yes, the occasional cinder of fresh hell.”  We won’t spoil the list; it’s best consumed with a bowl of popcorn, and you’re guaranteed a laugh along the way. And if you’re a devoted viewer, we want to hear from you: Did you have a favorite SNL performance this year? Any thoughts on who should get a shot next season? Use the email option at the bottom of this message and share your thoughts with us. “Live from New York,” Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna Newsletter continues after sponsor message New Music Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen, two All Songs Considered favorites, surprised everyone recently with a stunning collaborative single. This week’s show features their team-up, “Like I Used To,” plus new music from Angélique Kidjo and Red Baraat’s Sunny Jain. As a member of Our Native Daughters and Birds of Chicago, Allison Russell has spent her career collaborating – but for Outside Child, her first solo record, she is stepping boldly out in front, sharing her tales of healing.  Tasha Cobbs Leonard, one of the most celebrated gospel singers of her generation, has had as tough a pandemic year as anyone. Her contribution to the Morning Edition Song Project is all about helping people like her find hope again.  Featuring After The Linda Linda’s performance of “Racist, Sexist Boy” from the Los Angeles Public Library went viral last week, the quartet of tweens and teens has officially signed to the longstanding L.A. punk label Epitaph Records.  Can’t get enough BTS? Wondering where to start with Blackpink? This week, our friends at Pop Culture Happy Hour shared an audio guide to K-Pop featuring journalist Haeryun Kang that explores the history of idol music, the legacy of “Gangnam Style” and the future stars of the Korean Wave.  In his score for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, saxophonist and bandleader Branford Marsalis recreates the blues of 100 years ago for modern audiences. Hear World Cafe’s New Orleans correspondent Gwen Thompkins discuss the project with Marsalis, and watch an exclusive two-song set featuring the film’s opening number. Also this week on World Cafe: The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney discuss Delta Kream, the duo’s new album of hill country blues covers, and how they first got into those records in the first place. Tiny Desk NPR Deep Sea Diver’s Jessica Dobson is a big Tiny Desk fan — so when we invited the indie rock singer and guitarist to perform a Tiny Desk (home) concert, she didn’t neglect the details. Sporting a homemade NPR bolo tie and performing from a room decorated in homage to Twin Peaks, she and her band played a trio of terrific songs from last year’s Impossible Weight, plus a single that made our list of the best songs of 2020. Also this week: fiery desert guitar-shredding, Saharan style, from Mdou Moctar; an incendiary and intimate performance from country duo Brothers Osborne and the effortless confidence and smooth Spanish bars of reggaeton superstar Karol G. Incoming Next Tuesday, June 1, Alt.Latino will be hosting an Instagram Live conversation with Mexican singer-songwriter Natalia Lafourcade to discuss her new album, Un Canto por México, Vol. 2. You can RSVP to get an email reminder shortly before the conversation begins, and revisit her marvelous Tiny Desk concert from 2017 in the meantime. One More Thing A Fungus Is Pushing Cicada Sex Into Hyperdrive And Leaving Them Dismembered Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WUFT 89.1 (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprmusic@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Books, Pop Culture, Health and more! Need a new playlist? Follow NPR Music on Spotify and Apple Music! You received this message because you're subscribed to NPR Music emails. 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