Saturday Night Live

>> Prince has been a special presence here at "Saturday Night Live" for the

presence here at "Saturday Night Live" for the last four decades.

"Saturday Night Live" for the last four decades. From his debut on the show as a

last four decades. From his debut on the show as a 22-year-old in 1981 to his

From his debut on the show as a 22-year-old in 1981 to his surprise performance at the

22-year-old in 1981 to his surprise performance at the after party for the "SNL" 40th

surprise performance at the after party for the "SNL" 40th anniversary, which I'll talk

after party for the "SNL" 40th anniversary, which I'll talk more about later, tonight we

anniversary, which I'll talk more about later, tonight we wanted to pay tribute to him by

more about later, tonight we wanted to pay tribute to him by looking back at his performances

wanted to pay tribute to him by looking back at his performances on the show over the years and

looking back at his performances on the show over the years and by remembering what he meant to

on the show over the years and by remembering what he meant to us.

by remembering what he meant to us. It was a lot.

us. It was a lot. Other people may have been on

It was a lot. Other people may have been on the show more times or performed

Other people may have been on the show more times or performed more frequently, but there was

the show more times or performed more frequently, but there was always something different about

more frequently, but there was always something different about a Prince performance.

always something different about a Prince performance. It was special.

a Prince performance. It was special. It was an event.

It was special. It was an event. It was Prince.

It was an event. It was Prince. Times have changed.

It was Prince. Times have changed. Styles have come and gone.

Times have changed. Styles have come and gone. But no matter what, Prince has

Styles have come and gone. But no matter what, Prince has never not been cool.

But no matter what, Prince has never not been cool. I mean, from my generation and

never not been cool. I mean, from my generation and our generation, he was -- It was

I mean, from my generation and our generation, he was -- It was Prince and Madonna,

our generation, he was -- It was Prince and Madonna, Michael Jackson -- They were the

Prince and Madonna, Michael Jackson -- They were the Elvis and Beatles, the

Michael Jackson -- They were the Elvis and Beatles, the Marilyn Monroe, the James Dean.

Elvis and Beatles, the Marilyn Monroe, the James Dean. They were icons -- bigger,

Marilyn Monroe, the James Dean. They were icons -- bigger, larger than life.

They were icons -- bigger, larger than life. Fashion, music, every single

larger than life. Fashion, music, every single thing.

Fashion, music, every single thing. You couldn't take your eyes off

thing. You couldn't take your eyes off of them.

You couldn't take your eyes off of them. I mean, he had his own color.

of them. I mean, he had his own color. Who has their own color?

I mean, he had his own color. Who has their own color? He owns purple.

Who has their own color? He owns purple. Who -- No one -- You can't just

He owns purple. Who -- No one -- You can't just pick a color and go, "That's my

Who -- No one -- You can't just pick a color and go, "That's my thing."

pick a color and go, "That's my thing." The guy was just amazing.

thing." The guy was just amazing. When you see these performances,

The guy was just amazing. When you see these performances, every single one of them, it's

When you see these performances, every single one of them, it's just electric.

every single one of them, it's just electric. He lived his music and played --

just electric. He lived his music and played -- It just came through him.

He lived his music and played -- It just came through him. And if you don't know all of his

It just came through him. And if you don't know all of his work, tonight is just gonna be a

And if you don't know all of his work, tonight is just gonna be a treat for you guys.

work, tonight is just gonna be a treat for you guys. And we have an exclusive video

treat for you guys. And we have an exclusive video from the after party that's

And we have an exclusive video from the after party that's never been shown anywhere.

from the after party that's never been shown anywhere. We'd like to show that to you,

never been shown anywhere. We'd like to show that to you, too just to see how much he

We'd like to show that to you, too just to see how much he just -- he just...

too just to see how much he just -- he just... He's Prince.

just -- he just... He's Prince. Ladies and gentlemen, Prince.

>> And now, here's Prince!

>> Down with war! Party up! 1, 2, 3!

Party up! 1, 2, 3!

>> In 1989, Prince performed on the "SNL" 15th anniversary special.

the "SNL" 15th anniversary special. He'd just done the music for the

special. He'd just done the music for the movie "Batman."

He'd just done the music for the movie "Batman." So when you see this clip,

movie "Batman." So when you see this clip, you'll realize why there's a

So when you see this clip, you'll realize why there's a Batman logo behind him.

you'll realize why there's a Batman logo behind him. Here again with "Electric Chair"

Batman logo behind him. Here again with "Electric Chair" is Prince.

>> Usually "Saturday Night Live" has musical guests long before you've heard of them...or long

has musical guests long before you've heard of them...or long after you've heard of them.

you've heard of them...or long after you've heard of them. But tonight we have someone at

after you've heard of them. But tonight we have someone at exactly the right time.

But tonight we have someone at exactly the right time. Ladies and gentlemen -- Prince.

exactly the right time. Ladies and gentlemen -- Prince.

Ladies and gentlemen -- Prince. >> Yow!

>> Yow! What we like to do is get

>> Yow! What we like to do is get everybody in here clapping their

What we like to do is get everybody in here clapping their hands, if you don't mind.

Yow! [ Intro to "Electric Chair" playing ]

Yow!

Boom!

>> Ladies and gentlemen -- Prince.

Prince.