It’s been almost 25 years since Chris Farley’s untimely death, but his friend and fellow “Saturday Night Live” star Adam Sandler still gets emotional while performing a tribute song about him.
The 56-year-old comedian discussed his feelings during a recent episode of the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, telling the audience how he still reacts strongly while performing his “Chris Farley Song” during live appearances. Sandler said he’s been playing it at the end of each set on his current comedy tour.
“The first few times we played that song, I would tear up, and I couldn’t really sing it well because I get so emotional,” he said during the interview, per Entertainment Weekly. “And then I got kind of like, I felt it and was able to get it out there.”
“It’s weird, but when that song starts, I go, ‘Oh f***, alright, don’t cry, and don’t do that.’ Still. I’ve sung it maybe a hundred times already, but it rocks me,” Sandler continued. “I think it’s because we show video of Chris, and I see his face, and I remember his dad, and I remember I’m friends with his brothers and his mom and everybody, and they still miss him a lot. So, yeah, it gets me.”
Farley and Sandler performed on “SNL” before both left the sketch comedy show in 1995. They also worked together on several films and remained close friends until Farley died from a drug overdose in 1997 when he was 33.
Sandler started performing the tribute song in 2019 and said it was always well-received. “I love hearing the crowd go nuts for Farley. Every show I do, by far the biggest applause of the night is talking about Farley,” he said. “Every time I mention his name here and the audience goes nuts, it feels great.”
The “Happy Gilmore” actor said he’s not the only one who gets choked up hearing the song. Their other friend and “SNL” co-star David Spade, who Sandler also mentions in the song, gets emotional whenever it’s being performed.
“David came out and did five shows, and he’s like, ‘Man, sometimes I can’t listen, I’ve gotta walk away because I get so upset,” Sandler said. “We loved him. We loved him so much. He was as cool as it gets.”
“Hey buddy, life’s moved on, but you still bring us so much joy / Make my kids laugh with your YouTube clips or Tommy Boy,” the lyrics say in part. “And when they ask me who’s the funniest guy I ever knew / I tell ’em hands down without a doubt it’s you.”