SNL musical guest Hozier closed the season with his hit “Too Sweet” and a cover of The Pogues‘ “Fairytale of New York” on the Martin Short-hosted episode Saturday night (Dec. 21).
Introduced by Short, Hozier performed “Too Sweet,” his 2024 chart-topper that took off 10 years after his breakthrough single “Take Me to Church,” which he’d played during his SNL debut in 2014.
“Too Sweet” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this year, as well as the Pop Airplay and Rock & Alternative Airplay charts. On the Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart, it comes in at No. 10.
Later in the show, the Irish singer-songwriter, his accompanying vocalists and his band performed a spirited take on “Fairytale of New York” — the 1987 song recorded by The Pogues, where the band’s Shane MacGowan traded vocals with Kirsty MacColl for the duet that became a holiday season classic. (MacGowan sadly passed away last year of pneumonia, and MacColl passed in 2000 in a tragic boating accident.)
A small lyric change was made with a wink during Saturday night’s performance, with the ballad’s original slur being replaced with the lyric “You’re cheap and you’re haggard.”
The performance was well-placed in SNL’s holiday episode. Earlier this week in rehearsals, Hozier filmed some festive promos with Short and Keenan Thompson. Short comedically complained about the decor and the script, and in another run bonded with Hozier about holiday celebrations.
“Martin, don’t you just love Christmas?” Thompson asked in the clip. “Well, actually, I prefer to celebrate the ancient Roman holiday Saturnalia, so Christmas is just ‘Wednesday’ for me,” Short replied. “A fellow Saturnite?” Hozier quipped.
Enjoy Hozier’s SNL performances below.
