Pop
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Charli XCX hosted SNL for the first time and starred in nine sketches Saturday night (Nov. 16) in an episode that indulged in the pop star’s brat vibes.
Pulling double duty Saturday night as host and musical guest, Charli got things going with a monologue that explained how her career started (“I played at my first rave when I was 15 years old — my parents actually drove me there”), how she’s gotten to where she is (“Today, I consider myself to be a triple threat, which in England means I sing, I drink and I smoke”) and what it truly means to be “brat.”
“So many people have asked me, ‘What is ‘brat’?’ And honestly, it’s just, like, an attitude. It’s a vibe. For example, the new Martha Stewart documentary: When Martha gets mad about an old magazine article and she says that she’s glad the journalist who wrote it is dead, that is brat. And on Friday, when that exact journalist responded and said, ‘Hey, I’m alive, b—-!’ — that is extremely brat,” Charli said in front of the live audience at Studio 8H.
Besides bringing a dose of dry wit, the three-time musical guest brought her late-night party to the stage Saturday with Brat tracks “360” and “Sympathy Is a Knife” (the original album versions, not her Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat collabs).
The episode had an SNL cast member playing Charli in one sketch — so that Charli could star opposite, as her tourmate Troye Sivan. (Sivan’s response: changing his profile pic to Charli’s version of him.)
Charli’s impersonation skills were also put to the test in portrayals of Adele and Victoria Beckham, and she was part of a group cover of Chappell Roan’s “Hot to Go!” that welcomed the now-recurring character Domingo, the guy who crashed a wedding reception in Ariana Grande’s episode last month.
The best sketch, which had Charli’s humor matching a certain SNL trio’s comedy, was actually cut for time during the live broadcast. Thankfully we’ve got the internet and SNL uploaded this one online.
Here’s a ranking of every sketch Charli XCX was in Saturday night, when SNL‘s Nov. 16 episode aired. Watch all nine sketches below.
“Banger Boyz”
Charli XCX delivered some Wicked impressions during her hosting debut on Saturday Night Live.
On Saturday (Nov. 16), the 32-year-old British pop star pulled double duty as both host and musical guest. She showcased her comedic chops in a standout sketch about auditions for the upcoming live-action adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked.
The sketch begins with a voiceover for the movie: “Audiences can’t wait to see the star-studded cast of Wicked,” as clips from the Jon M. Chu-directed film, featuring Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, play on screen. “But before production starts, actors across Hollywood audition to step foot in Oz. Here are their never-before-seen screen tests.”
The sketch features a series of hilarious fake auditions from various celebrities, including JoJo Siwa (Chloe Fineman), Bernie Sanders (Sarah Sherman), Sydney Sweeney (Fineman), Al Pacino (Dana Carvey), Martha Stewart (Fineman), and Bad Bunny (Marcello Hernandez).
Charli kicks things off with a spot-on impression of Adele. Dressed in an elegant black dress and sporting long, wavy hair reminiscent of the British singer’s look during her Weekends With Adele residency in Las Vegas, Charli’s Adele exclaims, “Oh, hello, can I take me shoes off? OK, wicked!” as she flings off her heels and struts down a yellow brick road. “Oh my God! I said the name of the bloody movie! That’s f—ing funny!” she adds, laughing with exaggerated flair.
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Later in the sketch, SNL‘s Bowen Yang, who famously impersonated Charli during the show’s Season 50 premiere, returns to play Charli once again — this time while standing next to Charli herself, who appears as her Sweat tour mate Troye Sivan.
“Can I call you Elphie?” Bowen’s Charli asks, prompting Troye (played by Charli) to respond, “No.” Bowen continues, “I only bullied you because I’m a b—- and you’re a witch. And you’re a witch, I’m confused.” Charli’s Sivan clarifies, “I’m not a witch. I’m a top.”
Yang also plays Pfannee in Wicked, which hits theaters on Nov. 22.
Elsewhere in the episode, Charli electrified the crowd with performances of “360” and “Sympathy Is a Knife,” both tracks from her sixth album, Brat. Released in June, the set debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and earned widespread acclaim, including a 2025 Grammy nomination for album of the year.
Saturday’s appearance marked Charli’s third time on SNL, following previous musical guest spots in 2014 and 2022.
Watch SNL‘s “Wicked Auditions” sketch below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.
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Charli XCX brought songs from her Grammy-nominated Brat album to Saturday Night Live on Nov. 16. The 32-year-old British pop star pulled double duty as both host and musical guest on the iconic NBC sketch comedy show. Between cracking jokes in sketches, Charli delivered electrifying performances of “360” and “Sympathy Is a Knife,” both from […]
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11/15/2024
See how we broke down every song from the BTS superstar’s long-awaited solo album.
11/15/2024
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With a simple but hearty title, Happy is not just Jin‘s debut album — the seventh and final member of BTS to release a full-fledged solo project — but a statement on his creative journey and his fans’ significance throughout it.
While the 31-year-old is known to keep BTS’ ARMY at the forefront of his work, mind and in interviews, making his first public appearance after completing his mandatory military service at an event to hug 1,000 fans this past summer, Jin shares his love of rock music in hopes to inspire joy within listeners further. Described as an “organic and seamless” process, Jin tapped a range of international collaborators to complete his musical vision on Happy: New York City singer-songwriter and past BTS collaborator Max co-wrote the buzzy single “I’ll Be There,” Gary Barlow of British boy band Take That worked on the focus track “Running Wild,” Taka and Toru of Japan’s ONE OK ROCK co-produced and played instruments on “Falling,” while “Heart on the Window” is a duet with K-pop girl group member Wendy of Red Velvet, who grew up in South Korea, Canada and the States.
“Putting the album together has allowed me to pause and reflect on just how much ARMY means to me,” Jin tells Billboard. “As I worked on each track, I thought about what I wanted to convey to them, how I want to bring joy and happiness to them, while also expressing how much I missed them during our time apart.”
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With Happy, Jin proves his capacity to creatively grow and explore fresh musical landscapes while still staying deeply connected to the roots of his BTS journey. With warmth, optimism and universal messages, Happy has the qualities to not only enchant loyal fans, but entertain entirely new audiences — and does so while conveying his most authentic self.
Read on to see what the “Worldwide Handsome” superstar tells Billboard about Happy‘s sounds, timing and meaning, and much more.
How are you doing at this exciting time? Was making your comeback to music after a break difficult, or was it a natural return?
JIN: I’m happy to be back with my first solo album, Happy. Making this comeback, my first thought was to reconnect with ARMY. Creating the album was a way for me to share something with them, and the whole process just felt like a return to something natural.
With the release of Happy, all of BTS’ members will have officially released a full solo project! While we’ve got a lot of great solo singles from you, can you share insight as to why we are getting your first solo album now?
Before enlisting, I was focused mainly on our group activities, so a solo album didn’t feel right at the time. But with all the members now taking turns serving, it felt like the right time to share something personal with ARMY who have supported us all along. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I’ve enjoyed making it.
I know you’re a big fan of and emotionally connected to BTS’ 2016 single “Spring Day.” Was finding music that resonated with you like “Spring Day,” whether emotionally or with rock influences, an inspiration?
“Spring Day” has always had a special place in my heart, but for this album, I wanted to explore something a little different. I set out to create a more vibrant, upbeat atmosphere, so the overall feel of the album is more lively and energetic. I’d probably consider exploring the emotional tone of “Spring Day” in the future.
Happy is described as “Jin’s journey to true happiness” and “an authentic portrayal of Jin as a solo artist.” What did that journey entail?
The journey behind revolved heavily around my connection with ARMY. As I worked on each track, I thought about what I wanted to convey to them, how I want to bring joy and happiness to them, while also expressing how much I missed them during our time apart. Putting the album together has allowed me to pause and reflect on just how much ARMY means to me.
You introduced the LP with “I’ll Be There,” which has a rockabilly and rock n’ roll sound. Why was this the song to reintroduce yourself?
I just really connected to the track and felt it was the right one to share with ARMY first. The fun, catchy vibe of the track felt like a good way to start things off. I wanted to bring joy and comfort to those who might be feeling down, and it’s my way of offering a little cheer before the full album comes out — sharing a song I like.
“Running Wild” has a lot of energy and universal themes that will appeal to so many people. What are your goals or hopes for Happy‘s main single?
With “Running Wild,” I wanted to create a track full of energy. I hope it inspires people to keep moving forward — whether that means running, working out or just pushing themselves to overcome a challenge.
You brought a range of international collaborators on Happy. What were you looking for in your collaborators?
That’s a tough question since I simply wanted to work with people whose music and talents I admired. Each collaborator brought something unique to the table, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have worked together with such talented artists to bring Happy to life.
As I listened, I wondered if you had ever considered creating your own band in the past or teaming up with a rock act as a side project.
The only band I, now and forever, will be part of is BTS. Band music is a genre I’m personally interested in, and I enjoy exploring different styles as a solo artist. But at the end of the day, my roots and connection to music will always be with BTS.
Thinking about your solo songs — including four No. 1s on Billboard‘s World Digital Song Sales chart with “Astronaut,” “Super Tuna,” “Yours” and, last week’s chart-topper “I’ll Be There” — are you able to pick a favorite?
All of my solo projects are meaningful, but if I had to choose a favorite, it would be “The Astronaut.” It is especially close to my heart, thanks to the incredible opportunity I had to collaborate with Coldplay, whom I deeply admire. I’ll never forget the moment when I first heard the song, the things I felt when Chris [Martin] first played the song.
Anything else to share with international ARMY at this time?
I’ll keep giving my all so that I can connect with all of you in person soon!