Paul McCartney marked his return to Saturday Night Live on May 16, performing on the show's Season 51 finale for the first time since 2012. The 83-year-old icon shared the stage with host Will Ferrell, delivering both a new track and a classic hit.
McCartney and Ferrell Team Up
McCartney made an unexpected appearance during Ferrell’s opening monologue. The skit humorously featured Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, who bears a resemblance to Ferrell, before the real Ferrell took over. McCartney joined him, referencing his famous songs and prompting Smith with a playful "Get your ass behind the drums, Chad!"
Performances and New Releases
Smith took to the drums for McCartney’s performance of “Days We Left Behind,” a single from his upcoming album The Boys of Dungeon Lane, set for release on May 29. McCartney's set featured nostalgic visuals, including images from his childhood and time with the Quarrymen. Later, he revisited “Band on the Run,” a song he played during his 2010 SNL appearance.
Encore and More
Fans who stayed tuned were rewarded with an encore of “Coming Up,” a track McCartney first performed on SNL's fifth season. Besides his musical numbers, McCartney appeared in a sketch as an auto mechanic alongside Ferrell and Marcello Hernandez.
A Season of Star-Studded Performances
McCartney’s appearance concluded a season featuring a diverse roster of musical guests such as Geese, A$AP Rocky, Doja Cat, Brandi Carlile, Mumford & Sons, Olivia Dean, Dijon, Lily Allen, Cher, Bad Bunny, Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, and Ariana Grande. This marks McCartney’s fifth SNL musical guest spot, complementing his contribution to SNL50: The Anniversary Special last year.
Source: https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-paul-mccartney-perform-on-snls-season-51-finale/
