Ariana Grande Returns to SNL, What You Need to Know about the Latest Episode
On March 9, Ariana Grande made her highly-anticipated return to Saturday Night Live, performing on the program for the first time since 2016.
Ariana Grande returned to Saturday Night Live, following the release of her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine. Grande performed her latest single “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” and album track “imperfect for you.” She last appeared on the program in 2016 to promote new songs from her Dangerous Woman album.
The “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” performance presented the two-time Grammy winner in a living room with a small television that played clips from the song’s accompanying video starring herself and Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe recipient Evan Peters. Moreover, the music video and album Eternal Sunshine draws inspiration from the 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, starring Jim Carey and Kate Winslet.
The living room takes many forms during the performance—overflown with water, enthralled in flowers and vines, then laden with snow. Grande even transported viewers into space, matching her effortlessly ethereal vocals. The songstress donned a dark blue maxi dress, a brown coat, and graphic eyeliner on her left eye.
Then, Grande stunned in a tulle dress for her performance of “imperfect for you,” where her mother, Joan Grande, introduced her. The stage appeared as an open, grassy field with an open sky behind it. As the song progressed, the sun began to set, and the evening sky took its place. The hue of her dress corresponded with the time of day presented onstage. When the sun shined, the tulle glowed in a golden hue. When night fell, the singer’s dress was illuminated by blue. Christian Breslauer, who directed the music videos for “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” and “yes, and?” served as creative director for the performances.
The Wicked actress also participated in two skits. She first made an appearance in a skit titled “People Pleaser Support Group,” where she briefly portrayed a young woman named Seraphina who joined a meeting of overly apologetic individuals.
Grande flexed her acting and vocal chops in another skit parodying jukebox musical Moulin Rouge, portraying Nicole Kidman’s character, Satine, alongside Wicked cast member Bowen Yang. Grande wore a red wig, reminding fans of her character in the Nickelodeon sitcom Victorious. In the “Sandwich King” segment starring the episode’s host, Josh Brolin, Grande provided off-screen vocals of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie.
cat valentine is all grown now pic.twitter.com/rnb0qYzgcJ
— d ☀️ (@daydreamrem) March 10, 2024
Grande’s performances and skits from Saturday Night Live can be viewed on the SNL’s YouTube account. Her Latest album, Eternal Sunshine, is now available for digital and physical purchase.
Isaiah is an entertainment writer for Glitter Magazine with a focus on music and film stories. He enjoys the aforementioned topics as well as performing, yoga, and fashion.
