I tuned in to this past weekend’s Saturday Night Live because Tina Fey was hosting and Ellie Goulding was the musical guest, but the real highlight of the episode was a new SNL Digital Short featuring soft-rock schlockmeister, Michael Bolton.

Much to the frustration of The Lonely Island guys (Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone), who’d invited him to contribute a “big, sexy hook” to their club track, Bolton was singularly focused on singing about Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates Of The Caribbean.

How about Michael Bolton in drag as big-screen crusader, Erin Brockovich? In the span of five minutes, the singer zoomed from pop-culture zero to hero. Bolton wrote about the experience on his website:

“Working with Andy, Akiva and Jorma on the ‘Jack Sparrow’ digital short was one of the highlights of my career and most memorable experiences of my life. For the few people on the planet who might not know, these guys are brilliant, funny and beyond super talented. They made me do things I never would have expected to be comfortable with and I’m so glad I did. Truly grateful to be a part of this project and CANNOT WAIT for the chance to work with the guys again.”

“Jack Sparrow” is taken from The Lonely Island’s new album, Turtleneck & Chain, out tomorrow.

And though I couldn’t resist a bit of snark about Michael Bolton, I do, in fact, have a favorite song of his. This one, co-written and produced with Robert “Mutt” Lange (most famous at the moment for being Shania Twain’s ex-husband).

Purchase The Lonely Island feat. Michael Bolton – “Jack Sparrow” via iTunes. Another new track, “Mama,” is available as a free download via Amazon MP3.