He was basically just the "Call Me By Your Name" guy. Then, he stepped onto the Studio 8H stage in 2020, and everything shifted. Suddenly, we weren't just talking about his cheekbones or his penchant for high-fashion harnesses. We were talking about a Timothée Chalamet SNL song that refused to leave our collective brain.
It started with a tiny horse. Then it devolved into "Yeet" and "Skrt." By the time 2025 rolled around, he was doing double duty as host and musical guest, channeling Bob Dylan while James Blake played keys. It's been a wild ride, honestly. If you've ever found yourself humming a melody about a miniature equine at 3:00 AM, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
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The "Tiny Horse" Fever Dream
Let’s be real. Nobody expected a sketch about a guy selling his miniature horse to a giant farm to become a cultural touchstone. Written by Dan Bulla and Steven Castillo, "Tiny Horse" shouldn't have worked. It’s a tragic, folk-tinged ballad about a man forced to say goodbye to a four-inch-tall stallion.
Chalamet committed. He didn't wink at the camera. He didn't play it for laughs. He played it like he was in the climax of a heartbreaking Oscar-winning drama. That’s why it went viral. The absurdity only works if the performer is 100% in.
Then came the sequel. In 2023, we got "Giant Horse." It was a sci-fi epic. A space opera. It had James Austin Johnson as a villain and a much larger, though still oddly adorable, horse. It proved that the "Chalamet song" wasn't just a fluke—it was a formula.
Why Pete Davidson Was the Secret Sauce
You can't talk about the Timothée Chalamet SNL song legacy without mentioning Pete Davidson. Their chemistry was instant. When they sat down for the "Rap Roundtable" sketch, something clicked.
Chalamet became $mokedCheddaDaAssGetta. Davidson was Guaplord.
They weren't just doing a sketch; they were parodying an entire era of SoundCloud rap with terrifying precision. The song "Yeet" (or "Yeet Skrt") became a massive TikTok sound. It was catchy in a way that felt illegal.
- The Hook: A repetitive, nonsensical "Yeet! Skrt!"
- The Vibe: Brightly colored hair, face tattoos, and a total lack of self-awareness.
- The Payoff: Getting slapped by Questlove.
Most actors are afraid to look truly stupid. Chalamet leaned into the "white boy imitation of Def Jam" energy so hard it actually became cool. It’s a niche skill. Not everyone can pull off "yeet" and still be taken seriously as Paul Atreides a month later.
From Parody to "A Complete Unknown"
Fast forward to January 2025. The joke became reality. Chalamet returned to SNL not just to host, but as the actual musical guest. This was a huge pivot. Usually, the musical guest is a chart-topping pop star or a legendary rock band. Chalamet was there as himself—but also as Bob Dylan.
Promoting the biopic A Complete Unknown, he performed:
- "Outlaw Blues" – A high-energy rendition with a full live band.
- "Three Angels" – A more soulful, atmospheric track featuring James Blake on the keyboard.
- "Tomorrow Is a Long Time" – A stripped-back, emotional moment that showed he actually has the pipes to back up the hype.
The audience reaction was mixed but mostly fascinated. Seeing the guy who did "Tiny Horse" suddenly channel the "Voice of a Generation" was a trip. It felt like the final evolution of his SNL journey. He went from singing about fake horses to singing the Dylan catalog with one of the most respected producers in modern music.
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The "Troye Sivan" Shift
We have to talk about the red underwear. In 2023, Sarah Sherman had a sketch where her sleep demon was... Troye Sivan. Specifically, Timothée Chalamet as Troye Sivan.
This wasn't a "song" in the traditional sense, but the choreography and the vibe were peak SNL Chalamet. Tiny t-shirts. Huge, baggy pants. The "Got Me Started" dance. It was "gay famous" culture meeting mainstream Saturday night television.
It reinforced the idea that Timothée is the "perpetual little brother" of the SNL cast. He’s game for anything. Whether he’s playing an AI-generated podcaster with Bowen Yang or a jumper with a terrible demo tape for the Please Don't Destroy guys, the music is always the punchline.
What This Means for SNL's Future
SNL has always loved a "musical host." Think Justin Timberlake or Bruno Mars. But Chalamet is different. He isn't a "pop star" trying to act; he's an actor who happens to be a very effective musical comedian.
The success of these songs—especially the rap parodies—shows that the "viral moment" is now more important than the live broadcast. People might not watch the full 90-minute show, but they will watch a 2-minute clip of a guy singing to a horse.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans:
- Watch the "Rap Roundtable" first: If you want to understand the hype, start here. It’s the peak of the Chalamet/Davidson era.
- Check the 2025 Dylan performances: If you want to see if he can actually sing (spoiler: he can), look for the James Blake collaboration.
- Don't skip the PDD sketch: The "Jumper" sketch with Please Don't Destroy features some of the most "intentionally bad" music ever written for the show.
The Timothée Chalamet SNL song phenomenon isn't going away. Every time he hosts, we expect a new anthem. Whether it's folk, rap, or synth-pop, he’s proven that he’s the king of the Studio 8H musical sketch. Now, go listen to "Tiny Horse" again. You know you want to.