SNL's Tom Petty tribute -why it sucked and why SNL sucks too

The tribute by Jason Aldean was fitting except that he sang every other note flat... I guess he didn't have time to rehearse?

I wonder if almost being killed onstage would affect your breath control while singing days later?

It's like when Leonard Cohen died and they had that person dressed like Hillary Clinton singing "Hallelujah".

except that person wasn't on stage a week before during the worst mass shooting in US history.

It was politicizing a great artist's death, which is kind of weird. But SNL has to politicize EVERYTHING.

how exactly was it politicizing tom petty's death? I think the words "you can stand me up at the gates of hell but I won't back down" speak pretty clearly to what that dude went through when he was ON STAGE when the bullets started flying.

I'm sure that when Jason Aldean took the stage in Las Vegas last Sunday night he never thought he'd be opening up SNL the following Saturday singing a Tom Petty song.

It was fitting for Jason Aldean to sing it. However, the weak link was Aldean's performance, which was horrible. I don't understand his popularity.

Still , I have no reason to doubt Aldean's sincerity. He was there that night and will carry the memory around for the rest of his life.

I'm not usually bothered too much by live off key vocals, but this had me cringing and wanting it to end.

Could not agree more. Totally pedestrian performance. That song is hard to **** up.

If you are going to do a live tribute to someone of Petty's stature, then you make sure to get one of his peers (such as Bob Dylan), and have them backed up by either the original lineup of The Heartbreakers, or a supergroup of fellow luminaries whom Petty respected and worked with during his lifetime. Anything less is unacceptable.

Now I'm not a fan of modern country, but you can't tell me there isn't some overlap with rock fans, and I'm sure that many who were killed at the Aldean show were also Tom Petty fans.

Strange people on here today. Dude watched 58 of his fans die and 100s injured so he wants to sing a tribute and picks a song Petty himself used after a mass killing (9/11) and people criticize him.

My tribute to Tom Petty is not watching Aldean/SNL.

It's only been a week folks. Try and look at it from Aldean's perspective-he will forever know that a lot of people died simply because they were there to see him. Even though there shouldn't be the slightest inference of guilt on his part for what took place, he has to live with this for the rest of his life.

The most country thing about him is his hat. And look how the band itself was dressed. For Pete's sake, no self respecting country musician would be caught dead in a Van Halen shirt!

I thought he had a lot of nerve to show up there and sing that song considering his actions.

Whose "actions?" Aldean's? What am I missing?

it's there for all to see and interpret.

I'm guessing he thinks Aldean should have somehow stayed on stage and saved everyone's life in some movie script type of way that has no basis in reality.

or maybe just issue a warning over the PA system from a safe space or offer your resources to help the wounded.... I saw then being transported in ordinary pickups. How many could a tour bus hold?

to criticize anybody for not knowing how to act when hundreds of bullets are raining down per minute is ridiculous...he is not superman he is a guy with a guitar

It's not a question of bravery. He ran that's understandable but those were HIS fans. I've seen the footage lots of people were helping with the wounded. His first tweet was Don't worry ME and MY crew are ok.....since deleted btw. What about those other families?

........did he do anything to help his fans? If so please tell me.

Recently, I began a thread about what unreleased Petty there might be, for which I was summarily threadcrapped and pitchforked.

I'm pretty sure any course of action would be an improvement upon merely standing there.

I'm not getting the hate for Aldean.

I am. Its politically motivated. If it was Bruce Springsteen, the other side would be outraged.

It's not political. I just don't feel he did the right thing. If anything it's an authenticity question.

The assertion that he should have stayed on stage and warned/directed people is absolutely ridiculous. Possibly the most outlandish statement I've ever seen on this forum. It's beyond me how anyone can come to that conclusion.

Nothing wrong with singing flat if that's what your intending. Seems pretty clear to me he was trying to sing in tune and failing.

Less than a week before, he was shot at and numerous fans died *at his concert.*
So not even a week later, at the last minute, he does a cold *live* open on a show he wouldn't have otherwise been on, and performs a beloved song in tribute to those who lost their lives. And "oh, he sang flat?"

For those thinking that SNL is purely a skit show,know that it is entertainment,first and foremost,and usually features two musical segments per show. As early as the shows' second episode in 1975 featured host Paul Simon ,Randy Newman, Phoebe Snow and a surprise visit form Art Garfunkel. That show had ten songs with limited comedy bits(remember the troupe was called The Not Ready For Prime Time Players for good reason). One gets the feeling that Lorne Michaels was experimenting with what the format could be.The first episode,hosted by George Carlin,was stand up heavy. Not only were Carlin's bits isolated from the flow of the show,there was also another stand-up on the bill. That one had two musical acts. Trial and error. Today,two songs from one act and stand-up usually limited to the guest host's opening monologue. The cold open has been one spot to try and experiment,at least from the post 9/11/01 episode. It seems like sometimes the week's events overcome the ability for silliness at the open. Many of the nightly talk shows currently use this as well.

How come these country musicians all look the same? I had to laugh. Nice that he visited the Vegas area hospitals to give support

to the victims. Wonder if there will be any more concerts at that venue.

I'm sure Jason Aldean had some idea of the direction of the gunfire because he sure managed to run in the opposite direction as fast as his boots would carry him.

None of us were there. But the last thing I'd ever suggest is "gee, Aldean should have been out there doing something." Considering his pregnant wife was there, ducking for cover, I would imagine it was imperative to make sure she was okay.

Maybe it's just me, but I can't imagine performing in front of a televised audience a mere 5 days after being involved in such a catastrophic event.

He's a pro, and clearly sees the performance "opportunities".

that show hasnt been funny in decades. Every time I turn it on now, its about politics, and always from the same ridiculously biased agenda-driven point of view.

I've seen some crazy threads here before but this one has turned into one nutter of a direction. Incredible.

It's always been political. Remember when Aykroyd and Belushi did the "Nixon resignation eve" sketch? I wasn't even born yet, and I remember.

SNL had a political viewpoint pretty early on and it alays veered left. Chevy Chase's first Ford impersonation-episode 4,11/8/75. Ford as a Bumbling Bozo,with no attempt for Chase to resemble Ford at all-and that was part of the joke. Ford and press secretary Ron Nessen even showed up on the show a few months later;an attempt,during the election year,to be seen going along with the joke. This kind of thing might have helped Nixon when he showed up on Laugh-In in 1968,but this backfired and may have been a component for Ford losing. At least the line had been drawn for SNL viewers:many may not have been able to vote in '68,but this new bunch of voters would have nothing but scorn for Ford. It was mean spirited but effective.

Moderators, can you please remove this thread from my Forum? Thanks.