'SNL' does a tribute to Hugo Chavez with Justin Timberlake as Elton John (Video)

On Saturday, according to NBC television, famed-pop singer and all-around entertainer Justin Timberlake was the featured host on the network’s popular comedy show “Saturday Night Live.” As is typical of featured guests on the show, Timberlake did what is referred to as the “cold open” to start the week’s show with a topical routine. Logically, the “cold open” this week was in reference to this past week’s death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

In the Timberlake routine, the singer did a humorous Elton John-esque performance of John’s famous “Candle in the Wind” tribute song – which John wrote and performed as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe in the 1973 and revived as a tribute to Princess Diana in the 1997. The second version of the song - honoring Princess Diana - is still considered the best selling song of all-time.

Justin Timberlake as Elton John: "Candle in the Wind" (Tribute to Hugo Chavez)Justin Timberlake as Elton John: "Candle in the Wind" (Tribute to Hugo Chavez)

Sitting at a baby grand piano with microphone, Timberlake was adorned in an Elton John-styled dark blue glittering jacket with teal collar - and trademark glasses - as he sang his humorous tribute, in somewhat of an Elton John style, to the now-deceased former president of Venezuela – Hugo Chavez.

During the piano introduction to the song, Timberlake explained:

I should confess I didn’t know Hugo Chavez very well. I did a bit of research, and it turns out President Chavez was quite a complex man. So, here it goes, everything in this song is true.

The altered song lyric by the “SNL” writers follows:

Goodbye, Hugo C. You had such great style and panache
You were a man of the people and you liked to wear a sash
You called George Bush the devil when you spoke at the U.N.
You said it smelled like sulfur and you called him Mr. Danger

It seems to me you lived your life like a candle in the wind
If a candle could pull out two pistols at a press conference
You said the U.S. caused earthquakes and you outlawed Coke Zero
And on your shoulder stood your parrot with a matching red beret

You had your own TV show, it was called ‘Hello President’ (spoken: Great name)
It wasn’t about politics, you sometimes danced and made up raps
You helped to make a country the kidnapping capital of the world
But you also increased milk production by almost 50 percent

And it seems to me like you once gave a speech where you encouraged shorter showers
And another thing you said was capitalism killed Mars
Yes you believed in a civilization that existed on the surface of Mars
But capitalism killed it off, when it was introduced to Mars (spoken: He actually said that)

You were a hero to your people and you never gave up the fight
We’ll miss you, Hugo Chavez, because — (spoken: live from New York, it’s Saturday night!)

Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela since 1999, died on March 5, 2013.