This morning, everyone is talking about Kate McKinnon’s performance of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” on last night’s Saturday Night Live. The stirring rendition, featuring the actress in her usual Hillary Clinton character complete with cream pantsuit and on-point hair styling, arrived right at the start of the show, for SNL’s cold open.
It was a night where Dave Chappelle returned to television for the first time in years to host the show, and just days after Donald Trump’s victory in the United States presidential election, so it was obvious that many eyes would be on NBC to see just how they’d portray things.
Instead of “I’m Rick James, Bitch,” or even Alec Baldwin comping out as Trump to offer insults, an explanation, or assurance by way of humor, SNL offered a solemn tone.
In a bold, and passionate move, they skipped the mud-slinging and leaned simply on a piano and McKinnon, juxtaposing Clinton’s loss in the election with the loss of legendary poet and songwriter Cohen, who died on Thursday at the age of 82.
It was a touching tribute that had different aspects of pain and grief.
McKinnon ended the segment by offering the following: “I’m not giving up, and neither should you.” Watch it below; it should go down as one of SNL’s more poignant moments.