Monty Python's Eric Idle - London 2012 Performance | Music Monday

Monty Python's Eric Idle performs 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' at the London 2012 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony.

Every two years, the world's finest athletes gather at the Olympic Games - a spectacular celebration of sporting excellence that captures the attention of billions of people around the world. However, the Games are about much more than just sport. They bring the Olympic values to life and provide a global arena for a unique combination of sport, culture, education and ceremonies.

At the Olympic Games in London 2012, about 10,500 athletes from 204 countries compete in 26 different sports, comprising 302 medal events. Whether athletes win a medal or not, they can forever call themselves Olympians. The sporting competitions are undoubtedly the central focus of the Olympic Games and participating in the Games is the ultimate goal for most athletes.

Every edition has its own story to tell and will be remembered for some truly remarkable performances from sporting legends such as Jesse Owens, Abebe Bikila, Jean-Claude Killy, Nadia Comaneci, Katarina Witt, Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt, to name just a few.
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[Baphelon]

Trademark Monty Python humor - Humiliate yourself, sing about it, confuse everyone, humiliate yourself again, resume singing.  Spectacular, I can't get enough of these guys.

[XrGrimreaprX]

I can imagine someone who's never seen Monty Python before watching this thinking wtf is going on

[DivineFalcon]

Only the Pythons could turn a song about death into the happiest and most optimistic song of all time.

[stevewinnard-brewer]

I remember this being described in one of the papers the following day as 'the most British thing that has ever happened'. Between this, Rowan Atkinson and simulating the Queen parachuting out of a helicopter, we really NAILED the Opening and Closing Ceremonies - Rio have a hell of a lot to live up to.

[keobeo]

The fact that the entire stadium, hell probably most of the whole world, was singing this all together at once brings me hope for humanity

[endergamer]

Eric Idle getting accosted with colored dust from traditional Indian dancers, with nuns, an opera singer with a trident, and Roman Legions doing the Can Can is the type of weirdness my humor has devolved into and I’m okay with it.

[alhillx]

The London Olympic show was the best. Instead of crazy pyrotechnics, they confidently showcased amazing British culture.

[JKentF]

You really gotta hand it to the organizers. There was never an opening ceremony or a closing ceremony as good as London 2012.

[deniseboldea]

When Eric Idle wrote that little ditty back in 1979, little did he suspect that it would become a timeless anthem for the ages, and a song recognized by nearly every nation on the planet.

[cainster]

That cheer from the audience when they realize it's the real deal Eric Idle and not a recording or an impersonator. Love it.

[juno]

The Electric Light Orchestra and Eric Idle from Monty Python. It doesn't get much more British than that.

[martluca_]

In very late retrospect, I feel like the Indian dancers should've been replaced with Spanish dancers in red outfits with big round hats.



*because nobody expects the Spanish inquisition*

[JuicedLeaf]

"When you're stuck on the world stage, with a bunch of loonies half your age and everything is starting to go wrong.

it's too late to run away, you might as well just stay, especially when they play your silly song"

A nice little addition to the song to fit the occasion xD

[thelonesculler]

Possibly one of the most uplifting songs ever

[rickyvictor]

I am Swedish but I must say I LOVE British humor and Monty Python are up on the top.

[techgeekout]

Interrupting Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life should be punishable by death.
But death's a joke, so it doesn't matter.

[TaipeDiep]

Im very impressed how the brits respect their culture tradition. It all was there, from Shakespeare and Stones, to Prodigy, Monty Python and Paul McCartney. Fantastic show, no one else is even close to compare. And a reminder of what a massive cultural heritage you brits have. Respect from Sweden.

[PavlicekPek]

Incredible, the best ceremony in the history of the world

[ianisme]

I can confidently predict there will never be another closing number in an Olympics to match that!

[rocket]

On second thought let’s not go to London; it is a silly place.