
After sending up Super Bowl performers M.I.A. and LMFAO in last week’s episode, “Saturday Night Live” skewered artists like Taylor Swift, Bon Iver and Prince in a skit last night (Feb. 18) in which a handful of celebrities dropped by to visit Jay-Z and Beyonce’s new baby, Blue Ivy Carter. Justin Timberlake was on hand to impersonate Justin Vernon, and the results were magical.
Among the sketch’s highlights: Prince offering Blue Ivy “a smirk” as his present to her; Angelina Jolie subtly trying to snatch his infant for her own; Nicki Minaj showing up to offer a nightmarish lullaby; and Taylor Swift not being able to say anything, because she was so darn surprised. Timberlake capped the skit off with his take on the Best New Artist winner — “I was just wandering barefoot in the woods of Wisconsin, and fashioned this guitar out of a canoe,” he told the proud parents.
The real Bon Iver, Justin Vernon, professed his delight with the parody on Twitter: “Holy shit, i was just watching SNL and JT did a Bon Iver hilarious thing! Also, Maya Rudolph saying “bon iver” is enough. I can die now!!!” he wrote on Saturday night.
Along with the appearances by host Maya Rudolph and Timberlake, Sleigh Bells performed a pair of tracks from their forthcoming sophomore effort, “Reign of Terror.” Watch “Comeback Kid” and “End of the Line” below.