SNL is a hot ticket item in the current climate of pop culture. The late-night live sketch comedy celebrated 50 years in 2025 has seen many fans looking back at their favorite moments. Musical guests are always a highlight of the show, and in 1981, Prince would grace Rockefeller Center with his outrageous fashions and kick performance.
His purplness made his SNL debut on Feb. 21, 1981, and this would be one of his first live TV performances. Prince wasn't the musical guest but instead a special guest. He performed the single "Partyup" from his third studio album, Dirty Mind. The performance raised some questions as to whether or not he sang the original lyrics "Fightin' war is such a f*ckin' bore, party up," or if, as suggested by Prince and censor William Clotworthy, that he actually said "freakin" or "friggin."
Regardless, Prince made a statement when he and the band took the stage in matching trench coats, with Price only wearing a bandana, bikini bottoms, and thigh-high stockings, mimicking the album cover. The Dirty Mind album was the first to see Prince use rock elements, suggestive lyrics, and embrace an androgynous image.
The episode of SNL was the eleventh in its sixth season, hosted by actress Charlene Tilton, best known for her role on the CBS series Dallas. The show would be Rundgren's first and only appearance and mark Prince's first of four. While the question of what word Prince used while singing was a hot topic, the fact that cast member Charles Rocket actually used an F-bomb. During the farewell, portraying JR from Dallas, Rocket looked at the camera and said “Oh man, it’s the first time I’ve ever been shot in my life. I’d like to know who f*ckin’ did it.” Lorne Michael promptly fired Rocket.
It is difficult to locate Prince's entire performance but check out this clip below.
Prince would perform during three other SNL episodes, in 1989 for the 15th Anniversary, in Feb. 2006, and Nov. 2104. He has been impersonated numerous times throughout SNL's run, beginning in 1985 when Billy Crystal impersonated him. In 1999, Chris Kattan portrayed the musician, but Fred Armisen holds the record for most Prince impersonations with eleven.
The week Prince died, NBC aired a retrospective dedicated to the artist just two days after his death titled SNL Goodnight Sweet Prince. Hosted by Jimmy Fallon, speaking to the empty studio, and the special featured Prince's four SNL performances and Armisen's Prince Talk Show.