'Saturday Night Live' #TBT: The 7 Best Lonely Island Deep Cuts
Everyone can quote “Lazy Sunday” chapter and verse. And “D*** In a Box” practically became America’s national anthem when it first dropped, back in 2006. But the Lonely Island’s Saturday Night Live catalogue is much deeper than those twin hits. During their tenure at the late-night institution, the trio consisting of childhood pals Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone laid down over 20 tracks that were broadcast under the “SNL Digital Short” banner.
On June 3, the reunited Lonely Island is dropping an all-new visual album in the form of the feature film Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, starring Samberg as the Bieber-esque singer Conner4Real and Taccone and Schaffer as the two bandmates he ditched to become a big-time solo act. (One of Conner’s tunes, “Finest Girl,” premiered on the SNL season finale.) As you prepare to add new Popstar songs like “Equal Rights,” “Karate Guy,” and “2 Banditos” to your Lonely Island playlist, we revisit some of the group’s best SNL tunes that are all too often overshadowed.
“Natalie’s Rap” (Season 31, March 4, 2006)
Natalie Portman had already proven she was ready to move away from her child actress days, appearing in sexually charged movies like Closer and shaving her head for V for Vendetta. But Lonely Island, which had only just dropped “Lazy Sunday” three months earlier, allowed her to make a break from her refined image, courtesy of a hilariously profane rap. Even though she’s got a kid and an Oscar now, we like to think that all she really wants to do is drink and fight.
“Harpoon Man” (Season 32, Oct. 21, 2006)
Two months before Samberg and Justin Timberlake first put their d***s in boxes, he and his Lonely Island buddies gave character actor John C. Reilly one of his definitive screen roles: Harpoon Man. While Samberg does his best worst “Isaac Hayes singing Shaft” impression, Reilly wanders around New York clad in a yellow slicker and carrying a giant harpoon, his bravado vanishing with each freshly sung insult.
“Daiquiri Girl” (Season 33, April 12, 2008)
It’s a special skill to be able to write songs this earwormy when you’re totally, utterly drunk. After Gnarls Barkley bailed on a planned sketch, Samberg and Schaffer hurriedly (and drunkenly) created this tossed-off riff about a daiquiri-addicted lass. It’s the song that should be playing at the after-after-after party at any wedding.
“Space Olympics” (Season 34, Sept. 13 2008)
If you were a fan of Laser Cats! (and who wasn’t?) you know that the only thing the Lonely Island guys love more than ’80s and ’90s pop and hip-hop music is bad ’70s and ’80s science fiction. Both of those passions are fused together in “Space Olympics,” an out-of-this-world Flash Gordon-on-synth-flavored-Ecstasy concoction. Admit it: Space Swords sounds like a much cooler Olympic event than fencing.
“Threw It on the Ground” (Season 35, Oct. 3, 2009)
Samberg’s misguided rage monster litters the floor with an energy drink, a hot dog, a cell phone, and an entire chocolate cake, until he’s taught the error of his ways by a Taser-happy Elijah Wood and Ryan Reynolds. This one will have you rolling… on the ground.
“Jack Sparrow” (Season 36, May 7, 2011)
Soul singer Michael Bolton (another Popstar guest star) became relevant to a whole new generation by repeatedly interrupting the Lonely Island’s club-centric rap song with his own cinephile obsessions, ranging from the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy to Erin Brockovich. We’re desperate to see his version of The Revenant.
“Wish It Would Rain” (Season 37, Nov. 12, 2012)
Samberg’s jilted singer/lover waits in vain for rain to act as a visual metaphor for his deep sadness over his girlfriend’s betrayal. With his self-obsession and self-delusion, this guy could easily be Conner4Real’s dad. There’s the perfect plot twist for Popstar 2.
