What Songs Did Rachel Chinouriri Perform on SNL UK? Episode 3 Performances Explained

Saturday Night Live UK Season 2 brought Rachel Chinouriri to the studio as the musical guest for Episode 3, joining host Amelia Dimoldenberg for the September 26 broadcast. Sky had announced the pairing ahead of the episode, continuing the show’s format of combining a different celebrity host with a live musical act each week.

Chinouriri performed two songs during the episode: “One Song Away From Crying” and “Never Need Me.” The choices connected her current era with one of the best-known songs from her debut album.

Related: Saturday Night Live UK Season 2 Episode 3: Amelia Dimoldenberg’s Best Sketches Explained

Rachel Chinouriri Performed “One Song Away From Crying”

Chinouriri’s first SNL UK selection was “One Song Away From Crying,” a song released on July 29, 2026. The track introduced her second studio album, I Think I Spoke Too Soon, which is scheduled for release on October 16, 2026. Chinouriri has described the song as being about reaching the point during a night out when staying or leaving becomes connected to something much deeper about self-worth.

Musically, it also represents a noticeable change in direction. While Chinouriri’s earlier work often leaned toward guitar-driven indie pop, material from I Think I Spoke Too Soon draws more heavily on dance and synth-pop influences.

That made “One Song Away From Crying” an obvious SNL UK choice. The appearance gave the new single a major television showcase only weeks before the album’s release.

Her Second Song Was “Never Need Me”

For her other performance, Chinouriri went back to “Never Need Me,” from her 2024 debut album What A Devastating Turn of Events. Released in January 2024, “Never Need Me” deals with recognizing when constantly trying to help another person is beginning to hurt you instead. Chinouriri explained around its release that the song came from the realization that supporting someone who refuses to change can turn into enabling them, making walking away an act of self-preservation rather than indifference.

The song’s original music video also attracted attention because Florence Pugh appeared as Chinouriri’s supportive friend. Warner Music’s announcement for the single confirmed Pugh’s appearance alongside the launch of Chinouriri’s debut album campaign.

Why Did Rachel Chinouriri Choose These Two Songs?

Together, the two performances offered a neat snapshot of where Chinouriri is in her career. “Never Need Me” represented the What A Devastating Turn of Events period that helped establish her identity as an emotionally direct British alternative-pop songwriter. “One Song Away From Crying,” meanwhile, looked forward to I Think I Spoke Too Soon and its more dance-oriented sound.

Reaction during the broadcast was largely positive toward Chinouriri’s energy, although several viewers commenting live felt the television audio mix did not always showcase the vocals and band as clearly as it could have. That criticism was directed at the broadcast sound rather than the song choices themselves.

With a new album arriving in October, the SNL UK appearance effectively gave Chinouriri room to introduce her next chapter without abandoning the music that brought many listeners to her in the first place.