The Best SNL Music Videos Of All Time

Airing on NBC since 1975, "Saturday Night Live" is one of the most well-known and iconic late-night shows in television history. It's also one of the most prolific programs around, with over 900 broadcasts under its belt. Every episode offers a brilliant mix of comedy and commentary, featuring some of the modern day's most popular stars and an ever-changing slate of talented cast members. While it typically offers a mix of monologues, sketches, and recurring Weekend Update segments, one of the show's go-to formats is the music video. These are typically satirical pieces, with outrageous premises. Some parody contemporary pop hits, some comment on current events, and some are just plain bizarre. 

It's safe to say that "Saturday Night Live" is a household name across the United States, and even the world. However, given the sheer amount of material the show has produced, there are still going to be sketches, segments, and moments even the most seasoned viewers don't know about. The series' music videos are especially easy to miss — and we're here to spotlight them. These are the 12 best "SNL" music videos of all time.

Featured in Season 40, Episode 7 of "SNL," "Back Home Ballers" is a hilarious rap collaboration between the female cast and episode host Cameron Diaz. Despite its swaggering delivery, at its core, "Back Home Ballers" is a love song, dedicated to the joys of returning to one's childhood home as an adult. Some of the many perks the video gives a shout-out to are endless snacks, having someone else do your laundry and cook your food, going to the theater and seeing movies on your parent's dollar, receiving constant compliments, and accessing free Wi-Fi (after typing out the disgustingly long password your parents can never seem to remember, of course).

It's the perfect celebration of everything you neglected to appreciate in your childhood, but now rightfully cherish after enduring years of grueling adulthood. "Back Home Ballers" rolls comedy, relatability, and nostalgia into one iconic music video from some of the brightest "SNL" stars. It's an easy and obvious addition to any list of all-time greatest "SNL" sketches.

You may think you know Natalie Portman. She's starred in hit movies like "V for Vendetta," "Black Swan," the "Star Wars" prequels, and Marvel's "Thor" movies. To most, she appears to be a fairly normal Hollywood actress. However, according to these "SNL" music videos, that image could not be further from the truth.

Portman hosted Season 31, Episode 13 of "SNL," and starred in an outrageous rap video that completely disrupts all notions of her character. In "Natalie's Rap," she reveals that in real life, she's a hardened, stone-cold badass who enjoys partying and fighting. While the rap might stretch the truth — we doubt she actually kills dogs for kicks — it's extremely evident that she identifies with the lyrics. What results is pure gold.

Portman connected so strongly with this rap that she returned to the "SNL" stage 12 years later to follow it up with "Natalie's Rap 2." This rap essentially reiterates everything said in the first one, and assures audiences that even though she's now a mother, she's still the wild, Tide pod-eating, Ayahuasca-loving delinquent she's always been. Actually, she may even be crazier than she was pre-motherhood. Case in point: When she delivered her kids, she didn't even push. Now that's crazy.

Season 39, Episode 10 of "SNL" features the musical masterpiece "(Do It on My) Twin Bed." It's pretty much exactly what it sounds like: A music video about the extreme difficulties of trying to get it on when your only option is a creaky, miniature bed with little to no structural integrity. This isn't exactly an everyday problem, but it's one many people will find themselves confronting at one point or another in their life — specifically, when bringing a partner back to one's childhood home for a nice visit with the family.

"SNL" shines a light on this un-sensual setting with such pinpoint accuracy, it induces full-body cringing and hysterical laughter. Not only is the bed itself problematic, so is its context. You're back in your childhood bedroom, surrounded by embarrassing school photos, stuffed animals that should have been thrown away ages ago, and posters of bands you'd never admit to anyone you once listened to. To top things off, as a snapback-wearing Jimmy Fallon points out, you also have to worry about your family catching you in the act. It's not an ideal situation for anyone — but it sure does serve as fertile ground for a little comedic relief. 

One of The Lonely Island's most recognized songs is "D*** in a Box." It originally aired on Season 32, Episode 9 of "SNL," hosted by Justin Timberlake, and quickly became a hit. The song is a '90s-esque holiday-themed work of smooth jazz, centered around two men trying to come up with the perfect gift for their significant others, portrayed by Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig. It doesn't take long for them to realize the best thing they could give their partners is — you guessed it — their private parts in a box. As they cover in the song, not only is it thoughtful and personal, procuring it is also a very simple process. There are really only three steps. First, get a box. Second, put the "gift" inside the box. Finally, make the ladies open the box.

This is a song you can comfortably set on replay and never get tired of, but it almost didn't make it to air, due to its explicit nature (via The Hollywood Reporter). In fact, the FCC was going to shut the whole thing down. But after a little negotiation and a compromise involving 16 censor bleeps, televisions around the nation were generously blessed with this iconic broadcast.

Following the success of "D*** in a Box," Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake teamed up once again to produce "Motherlover" in Season 34, Episode 21. This sultry ballad takes place five months after the events of "D*** in the Box," opening on the men's release from the Brooklyn Detention Complex, where they were incarcerated for the indecent exposure involved in the previous video. As they walk out, they realize it's Mother's Day, and they haven't gotten gifts for the wonderful women in their life yet.

The two have a lightbulb moment where they once again come up with the perfect gift idea. Their mothers, portrayed by Patricia Clarkson and Susan Sarandon, are grown women with grown women's needs. Since neither of their fathers are in the picture, there's no one to meet those needs — unless, of course, they do each other a solid by seducing each other's moms. While a ridiculous premise, it's also bizarrely heartwarming, as it showcases the love and appreciation they have for their mothers and each other as best friends. Fittingly, Timberlake's mother was actually in the "SNL" audience when "Motherlover" aired (via MTV). Thankfully, he was made aware of this beforehand, so he was able to prepare himself for the potentially embarrassing nature of it all.

Featured on Season 40, Episode 13 of "SNL," "Teacher Snow Day" is a completely off-the-wall imagining of what teachers get up to on snow days. While the reality probably lies somewhere between getting caught up on grading papers and having a relaxing day in, the "SNL" cast takes some pretty big liberties in the name of laughter. The day starts off light, with the educators getting drunk on boxed wine. But things quickly escalate to doing drugs (lines of chalk, specifically) at their desks, having raunchy sex, and cooking meth in the chemistry lab. Pete Davidson appears in the video as a student who wanders into the school, not realizing class has been cancelled. He stumbles onto a shocking display of deviance and moral depravity. Who knew his teachers were so hardcore?

This video's final offering is a cameo from J.K. Simmons, who plays the school principal. He shows up completely pantsless and ready to party. To be fair, these teachers are overworked and underpaid. They deserve to blow off a little steam here and there — especially if it's this entertaining to watch.

"I Just Had Sex" is The Lonely Island at its best. The song, which originally aired on Season 36, Episode 10 of "SNL," was released as the first single from The Lonely Island's second album, "Turtleneck & Chain." It's the perfect display of just how funny and talented this group is. The video follows Andy Sandberg and Jorma Taccone as two incredibly inexperienced young men who have just had the once-in-a-lifetime experience of losing their virginity. The R&B satire completely turns the genre on its head, embracing embarrassment and awkwardness over style and confidence.

The men sing about wearing turtlenecks while doing the deed and calling their parents afterward. It's not clear what they have to brag about, given the disappointed looks on their girlfriends' faces (who, as an extra bonus, are portrayed by Blake Lively and Jessica Alba). Yet they have no shame, boasting about lasting a whole 30 seconds atop their paramours. While this isn't exactly smooth, this music video is a more truthful depiction of the deed than the embellished tales usually told in these sorts of songs. You have to admire their confidence, if nothing else. All in all, the video is a delightfully ridiculous take on enjoying the good things in life — even if only for 30 seconds.

Featured on Season 41, Episode 15 of "SNL" and starring the female cast members alongside Ariana Grande, "This is Not a Feminist Song" is perhaps the most genuinely intellectual "SNL" music video ever made.  That it holds this title while also maintaining the show's classic brand of humor makes it especially impressive. It's basically the best feminist anthem of all time ... because it's also the worst.

At first glance, this video appears to be an inspirational female fight song. Stylistic shots of sun flares, strong women looking off into the distance, and archival footage of important female historical figures abound. However, it quickly becomes apparent that this is all done in parody, as the ladies of the video realize that writing one universal anthem to sum up the myriad struggles of womankind is an exhausting and near-impossible task.

"This is Not a Feminist Song" doesn't shy away from voicing the doubt that plagues so many women: "This is not a feminist song," the cast members sing, "because we were scared we would do it wrong." So, instead of trying and failing, they decide to shrug off the responsibility entirely. As the song puts it, "Women need an anthem ... but we didn't write that anthem, we went home." It's a hilarious satire of both third-wave feminism and the unrealistic expectations applied to women attempting to live up to those politics.

"Pride Month Song" was featured in Season 46, Episode 20 of "SNL." It's a satirical bop that critiques, in a loving way, the absolutely chaotic nature of Pride Month. Everything is touched upon: Wearing head-to-toe rainbow attire, being ignored by your crush at the club, breaking up with your U-Haul girlfriend one hour into Pride, paying inflated prices for terrible drinks, and accidentally repping one of the many corporate sponsors that tries to capitalize on the celebration. With all the free merchandise and floats going around, it's basically impossible not to — every Pride-goer has been there at least once.

In short, the song is a scathingly accurate summation of what the annual event is like. You either love it or you hate it — usually, a bit of both. Regardless, you'll be back next year. Not only are these jokes relatable, they're delivered by a trio of LGBTQIA+ legends: Out-and-proud "SNL" cast member Bowen Yang, gay rapper and musical guest Lil Nas X, and episode host Anya Taylor-Joy, who just so happens to be a gay icon. The "SNL" team really knew their target audience with this one.

Season 41, Episode 5 of "SNL" debuted "First Got Horny 2 U." An R&B coming-of-age throwback, it sees the female cast members of "SNL" and Elizabeth Banks sing about the real and fictional figures who first lit the internal fires of puberty. What results is a hilariously uncomfortable yet weirdly empowering embrace of awkward adolescence and inappropriate crushes. For Cecily Strong, it was Carson Daly — specifically when he wore his black jeans and nail polish. For Banks, it was Maxwell Sheffield, Charles Shaughnessy's character on the '90s sitcom "The Nanny." For Kate McKinnon, it was Taylor Hanson, whose feminine features made her realize she was a lesbian. For Aidy Bryant, it was Robbie Sinclair, the teenage son from "Dinosaurs."

That last answer becomes a mite disturbing once the aging actor who brings Robbie to life takes off his rubber mask. But it's nothing compared to Vanessa Bayer's answer. Her sexual awakening was the Menendez brothers, who infamously killed their parents in 1989. Bayer notes that she found Erik Menendez particularly hot, but when Banks reminds her that this is a television broadcast, she changes her answer to Jonathan Taylor Thomas.

"Best Friends" hit the airwaves as part of Season 37, Episode 9 of "SNL." It's one of their sillier and less structured music videos, which makes it great for a quick laugh. The bizarre number features Andy Sandberg and Katy Perry as two best friends spending the holidays together, who happen to stumble upon a homeless man and a mad scientist, portrayed by Matt Damon and Val Kilmer, respectively.

There's no real premise to the video, other than watching a gang of buddies get up to random hijinks. But these hijinks grow steadily more and more strange. They play Russian roulette, bring a sketchy puppet to life, and mess around with a time machine. Eventually, the gang grows to include Abraham Lincoln, Amelia Earhart, Marilyn Monroe, and a few other notable figures from history. There's no cultural commentary at work, and it's not exactly relatable. But if random, off-the-wall comedy is your thing, you'll definitely get a kick out of this one.

Featured on Season 45, episode 15 of "SNL," "On the Couch" is a tribute to those long nights spent slumming it on the sofa after your partner has had enough of you. Not only can this experience be extremely uncomfortable, it's also confusing. This is definitely the case for Kenan Thompson, The Weeknd and Chris Redd, who sing about how unfair it is that they've been exiled to the living room, and how they have no idea what they've done to land themselves there.

Viewers might initially guess they've been condemned to the couch for forgetting to do household chores, or abandoning their partner when the in-laws come to visit. However, this is "SNL," and they never fail to exceed expectations. As it turns out, their problems are a lot bigger than that. These men have been cheating, signing up for credit cards in their partners' names, and taking out suspicious life insurance policies. The transgressions don't stop there, either. The reason The Weeknd finds himself on the couch? It's not even his home anymore. As his ex explains to him, they broke up a decade ago, and he really shouldn't be coming around anymore. The bed is for her and her new husband (who, by the way, just so happens to be episode host Daniel Craig). They have kids and everything! The video is a hilarious twist on a relatable nuisance, complete with perfect celebrity cameos.