The songs of Sir Elton John served both as last week’s American Idol theme and one-two whammy (buh-bye Naima Adepapo and Thia Megia!). And last night, the proud new papa pulled double duty as both host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live, declaring “The bitch is back!” during his monologue.

Elton performed two tunes with Leon Russell from their recent team-up The Union, plus a couple of snippets of his more famous songs during the show, helping to erasing any linger memory of what wrongs Idol had wrought upon his discography earlier in the week. You know, like Naima’s reggae arrangement of “I’m Still Standing” that proved prophetically ironic. (Sidebar: Did she really sing “Feeling like a liquor kid?”)

While Naima took a risky twist on Wednesday night that didn’t pay off, Thia played it safe with “Daniel,” delivering a performance that never quite took flight. Instead in my head the entire time Thia was singing was Wilson Phillips’ cover of “Daniel” from the 1991’s Two Rooms: Celebrating The Songs Of Elton John and Bernie Taupin, an association that probably blocked me from making a clear-headed assessment (sorry, big brother!).

I was somewhat disappointed and yet immensely relieved that no Idol-er dared touch “Sacrifice,” memorably covered by Sinead O’Connor on the same tribute set. I never much cared for the original 1990 single, but Sinead works some “Nothing Compares 2 U” magic on “Sacrifice,” claiming the Elton John/Bernie Taupin composition as hers in perpetuity.

“I figured I’d sort of pare it down a bit, and make it sound a bit emptier, the way I figured the words suggested,” Sinead said in a Two Rooms promo interview. Accompanied by a harp-sounding keyboard, her vocal performance on “Sacrifice” is by turns hushed and achingly soul-searing.

Purchase Sinead O’Connor – “Sacrifice” (Elton John cover) on CD via Amazon (amazingly, none of Two Rooms is available for digital download).