• Music Times 25 Best Songs of 2014: Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Hozier, St. Vincent & More

    2014 was the year of a thousand controversies: Taylor Swift pulled all of her music from Spotify, Sun Kil Moon started a feud with The War On Drugs, Jack White accused The Black Keys of ripping him off (again), and almost nobody went platinum. When you put all of that aside, however, what you're left with is a bunch of incredible songs, which is really what it's all about. Here are the 25 best songs from 2014, as determined by Music Times writers Ryan Book, Caitlin Carter, Joey DeGroot, Kyle Dowling, and Carolyn Menyes.

  • Thanksgiving Parody: Elementary Students Sing Garth Brooks's 'I Got Friends in Low Places' as 'I Hate Yams in All Places' [LISTEN]

    There is nothing like a good, old-fashioned Thanksgiving parody. DJ Richie Philips at WGNA in Albany, New York, got some elementary school students to sing about their least favorite holiday dish: yams. The kicker? The song is titled "I Hate Yams in All Places" and it is set to the tune of a little ditty made famous by Garth Brooks called "I've Got Friends in Low Places," Taste of Country notes."It's Thanksgiving Day, there's food that we hate / There's also some foods that we like," the children sing, trying to nail down the melody. "When it's all on my dish, and they serve me fish / I'd rather be out on my bike."The students really give it their all in the video below, and it all comes to a climax at the reworked chorus."I hate yams in all places / I'd rather chew on my shoelaces / But it's only right to be polite / It's only right to tell my mother / Feed those yams to my brother," they sing.

  • One Direction, Nicki Minaj, Charli XCX Will Be Final Musical Guests on 'Saturday Night Live' for 2014

    "Saturday Night Live" has some big things planned for the end of 2014. Not only will James Franco, Martin Freeman and Amy Adams be hosting the final three episodes of the year, but they will be joined by Nicki Minaj, Charli XCX and One Direction. Fans can expect holiday hijinks the entire month of December, especially the Dec. 20 episode with Adams and "Story of My Life" singers 1D.The group performed on the show last December, joining host Paul Rudd (below), "Billboard" noted. Minaj made her last SNL appearance in 2011, when she guested on The Lonely Island's song "The Creep." Dec. 13 will mark XCX's first time on the show.December 20, Amy Adams returns to host #SNL for the 2nd time, and is joined by musical guest @onedirection! #SNL40 pic.twitter.com/x6lbCsFVJl — Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) November 20, 2014

  • 'The Hunger Games' Cast Sings Taylor Swift On 'Saturday Night Live' [WATCH]

    Woody Harrelson hosted "Saturday Night Live" this weekend and decided to give a national TV audience a 1989 education.Upset that Taylor Swift does not know anything about '89 — she named her newest album after her birth year — Harrelson attempted to provide some context but soon realized he had participated in too many ... er ... "recreational activities" to remember things clearly."It was 25 years almost to the day since the first time I hosted "Saturday Night Live" in 1989," Harrelson said. "But with all due respect to Ms. Swift, I think I know a little bit more about 1989 than she does — even if the memories are a little fuzzy, because of the drugs."After someone handed him an acoustic guitar, Harrelson began a choppy parody of "Blank Space." Soon, he was joined onstage by fellow "Hunger Games" stars Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Jennifer Lawrence.

  • Kendrick Lamar Performs 'i' and 'Pay for It' with Jay Rock on 'Saturday Night Live' [WATCH]

    A sweaty Kendrick Lamar was the musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" last night, with Woody Harrelson of "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1" hosting. After a hilarious promo video with Harrelson and Lamar during the week, it was time to get on with the show. K.Dot performed his new single "i" and also brought out surprise guests Jay Rock and Chantal to perform their collaboration "Pay for It."Lamar delivers a captivating performance with a backup band and backup singers. His on-stage persona is intense and captivating as you hang on to his every lyric, delivered with the poise and precision that Kendrick is known for. He wore black sclera contacts to show the haunting duality of "i," much like what we saw in the music video.On such a big occasion, Kendrick wanted to make the most of it and came out for a second performance. He brought out fellow Los Angeles rapper Jay Rock and featured singer Chantal to perform their collaboration "Pay for It." Chantal opens things up on the keys and showing off her vocal prowess before turning things over to Jay Rock and Kendrick Lamar, who trade verses under a shining spotlight and occasional strobing white light.

  • 'SNL' Spoofs Loving Taylor Swift in Hilarious 'Swiftamine' Sketch [WATCH]

    "Saturday Night Live" took aim at Taylor Swift last night, Nov. 1, but it was all in good fun.The comedy sketch show aired a segment that was set up like most commercials for over-the-counter medicines, "MTV News" noted. Cast members began to describe their history with vertigo and how, just recently, their affliction resurfaced.This time around, however, their symptoms were brought on by a surprise love affair with Taylor Swift's music. After hearing one of her new songs, the actors said they began to get dizzy, knowing all too well that they do not actually enjoy her music."Yes you do, you friggin' love her," Dr. David Doctor says in the video below. "Over the last month, realizing that you love Taylor Swift has been the leading cause of vertigo in adults. That's why now, there's Swiftamine — a fast-acting antihistamine tablet that's pink and bubbly, just like Taylor herself."

  • Chris Rock's Jokes About ISIS, 9/11 and Boston Marathon Bombing While Hosting 'Saturday Night Live' Leave Many Outraged

    The only thing worse than knowing in advance that an episode of Saturday Night Live might be a bit lackluster is putting tons of faith in a host only for them to miss the mark. Chris Rock did the honors last night and while some were entertained, it seems that his jokes about terrorism hit a little too close to home for some. Rock spoke of the irony of those who had trained to run the 26 mile Boston Marathon only to be told to run because there's a bomb. While Rock repeatedly expressed his love for NYC his comments connected to 9/11 were a bit too much for some.

  • Watch Prince Play Eight-Minute Jam on 'Saturday Night Live' [VIDEO]

    "Saturday Night Live" used to run a sketch called "Prince Show," and the audience at Rockefeller Plaza basically got a real life version last night, Nov. 1.The Purple One supplied an eight-minute jam that included pieces of new tracks "Clouds," "Marz" and "Anotherlove."

  • Prince on 'Saturday Night Live': Pop Icon Will Play Uninterrupted Eight-Minute Jam

    Prince does not care about the rules. We have known this for a long time, so it is no surprise that he has requested to shake up "Saturday Night Live's" longstanding two-song format. Instead of prepping and performing two four-minute songs, The Purple One has decided to play one eight-minute jam this Saturday on national television with help from his backing band 3rdEyeGirl.

  • Prince Will Appear on 'Saturday Night Live' as Musical Guest on Nov. 1 with Host Chris Rock

    On his Facebook account, Prince announced he will be the musical guest on the Nov. 1 episode of "Saturday Night Live," which will be hosted by comedian Chris Rock. Included in the post is a photo of Prince with his band 3rdeyegirl alongside a photo of Rock dressed as the legendary musician — which is not the first time he has used an image of a comedian dressed like him. You can check out the Facebook post below:
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