Natalie's Rap

Album: Incredibad (2006)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this Saturday Night Live skit, the Natalie Portman sits for one of those anodyne celebrity interviews, but gives a surprising answer to the first question: "what it's like to be you?"

    Her answer is in the form of a rap video where she explains how she likes to get high, smack guys around and kill their dogs for fun. Portman, a Harvard graduate who starred as Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars movies, was known for being hyper-talented and focused. She was also the crush of many a fan-boy, especially among the Comic-Con crowd. Here, she proves that she has a sense of humor as well.
  • This was one of the first SNL "Digital Shorts," and the first to feature a celebrity. These Shorts were the work of The Lonely Island, the team of Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone. All three had recently joined Saturday Night Live, Samberg as a cast member and Schaffer and Taccone as writers. In late 2005, their bit "Lazy Sunday" went viral on the nascent streaming service YouTube, injecting new life into the show. Portman's appearance led the way for more celebrity showings, most famously Justin Timberlake, who starred in "Dick In A Box" the next season.
  • SNL cast member Chris Parnell plays the host who interviews Portman and gets beaten with a chair when he asks one too many questions. Parnell also starred in "Lazy Sunday."
  • "Natalie's Rap" aired on the March 4, 2006 episode of Saturday Night Live. By this time, NBC was making YouTube remove any clips from the show in an effort to direct traffic to nbc.com, where they hosted this and the other Digital Shorts. In 2013, they posted most of these shorts on their own YouTube channel.
  • The Lonely Island included this on their first album, Incredibad, in 2009. They were still working for Saturday Night Live at the time.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

George Harrison

George HarrisonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really steal George's wife? What's the George Harrison-Monty Python connection? Set the record straight with our Fact or Fiction quiz.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."