Monty Python's Eric Idle - London 2012 Performance | Music Monday
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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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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.
That's the sentiment I live life by
"Humiliate yourself, sing about it, confuse everyone, humiliate yourself again, resume singing." My life in 12 words.
And suddenly my cat move and behave normally. Thank you Monty Python!
When your a Legend, like the Monty Python Cast is.... you can easily get away with it....
Eric Idle was surprised about how popular this was when he first released it in Monty Python. Bet if you had told him thirty years later it would be played at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games he'd have laughed in your face. God, this man is amazing.
I can imagine someone who's never seen Monty Python before watching this thinking wtf is going on
...I was one of them until relatively recently, I have to say.
people like that will get more than a scratch
omg! right!
@Matheus Filipe Sadly there are, especially in my generation... (I'm 18 now and nearly nobody knows Monty Python at all... I love them since I watched Life of Brian for the first time... I was 6)
@@SuzieNerds Have you been living by the mighty rivers of British Columbia?
Only the Pythons could turn a song about death into the happiest and most optimistic song of all time.
axe angels :3
because he already know where he is going to after dead..............burning forever
I wouldn't say the lyrics are optimistic.. it's nihilistic if anything.. "just remember that the last laugh on you"
@@kingdom1682 someone smokes reefer madness and over analyses lol - nah its ok mate
@@MARSBELLA1 🤣 how did you know
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.
Rio already has a string of tourist murders and thousands of pickpockets performing gymnastic routines planned for their opening ceremonies. Should be interesting.
Steve Brewer I want to see how Tokyo, Japan nails their Opening and Closing Ceremonies in 2020!
Gotta say, London had one of the best showcases of the olympics I’ve ever seen. Fantastic job!!
@@Alpha0727 Probably the most otaku things that most of the West are not going to get.
Spice girls?
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
Yis I was waiting for it when he paused like "Okay not everyone in the audience is British but if not every single person starts singing that I am going to lose it" xD
Easy to sing a song then go back to abusing your children afterward.
just as easy as not doing it
even I stopped raping and pillaging for a moment to sing along
It's the power of art
You really gotta hand it to the organizers. There was never an opening ceremony or a closing ceremony as good as London 2012.
+JKentF 2012 rly ruled...these brits know about music and stuff^^
+JKentF that's your opinion I liked the one in Beijing more
+JKentF are you from london
+SA-X No, I'm from Denmark. Why do you ask?
+Panos Chaidos Athens, was the worse one ever.
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.
I grew up through the 60s, 70s, and 80s with the Addams Family, Laugh In, MASH, the original SNL Players and a similar sketch comedy type show called Fridays. And all the great Mel Brooks and Peter Sellers movies. And MAD Magazine. If my sense of humor wasn't completely twisted from all that, Monty Python's Flying Circus, The Benny Hill Show, Are You Being Served, Fawlty Towers, and Black Adder certainly bent it totally the rest of the way!!! Love that British humor!!!
The singer with the trident is dressed as Brittania... the personification of britain
@@annabelthegreat Do we have to explain everything to the rest of the world? (rhetorical question) 🤭😊😎
evolved*
It's not 'weird' just British. If other countries did it they may be called loonies Britain does it, we just get called eccentric.
The London Olympic show was the best. Instead of crazy pyrotechnics, they confidently showcased amazing British culture.
Truly a spectacular display of British culture. It's set the bar so high for the Olympics that I doubt we'll see it topped any time soon
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.
Nor did he likely predict it would eventually be the number one requested song at British funerals.
@@tejaswoman Not just British Funerals, I want that song played at my Memorial Service when I go. If expenses permit, I want the Epitaph on my grave marker to have a pair of angry eyes staring back at the reader with the saying "What are you looking at?"
That cheer from the audience when they realize it's the real deal Eric Idle and not a recording or an impersonator. Love it.
The Electric Light Orchestra and Eric Idle from Monty Python. It doesn't get much more British than that.
David bowie
76 juno And literally, only Britain would swear in the middle of the opening ceremony of an international event being televised around the world.
@@jzneter736 Who spent the last 20 years of his life living in the USA.
@@desperatemohammedantheworl5833 So has Eric Idle
"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
Random Gentleman High school in a nutshell.
LOVE that Eric wrote a verse for THIS appearance............
To be fair: the atletes are loonies
@@jws1272 Or improvised :)
@@SStupendous No his changes to the song are planned, The Prince Charles 60th Birthday show change was the best!!!
Interrupting Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life should be punishable by death. But death's a joke, so it doesn't matter.
Matt S HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Matt Scammell just not crucifixion, thats a doddle
Had he sung _Every Sperm is Sacred_ this would've been more epic!
You do have 666 likes after all.
This program has been canceled and is now replaced by indian music videos.
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.
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*
Well I didn't expect this comment!
OMG THIS IS PERFECT YES
This made me laugh
Well certainly no one would have expected it
@baggins 2234 no their chief weapons are surprise and fear
I am Swedish but I must say I LOVE British humor and Monty Python are up on the top.
Who doesn't? Especially Rowan Atkinson's performance, one of the highlights of the ceremony.
CaptainBubblebath Rowan Atkinson is the worst part of British humor, John Cleese is much, much better. Biggus Dickus.
Ricky Victor Everyone loves Swedish people.
Ricky Victor Do you have loveli lakes and many interesting furry animals? Like the majestic moose!
Ricky Victor if the shtf i hope in with a bunch of Swedish
Possibly one of the most uplifting songs ever
Shadowwolf TD5000 I think you spelled "The most uplifting song ever" wrong :)
+ThatRandomDude No he didn't...
Jack Gardel It was a joke...
ThatRandomDude Lol that wasn't a very good joke
Yes, a song about the futility of life and how nothing really matters. How encouraging
This is Monty Python at their best. "Failed" cannon jump followed by an iconic song that then gets interrupted by a collage of random moments and finished with a proper cannon jump. God dammit guys xD
Where's Colonel silly when you need him? "Stop that! This is silly!"
I can confidently predict there will never be another closing number in an Olympics to match that!
ianisme yes ... until London gets the olympics again, then maybe!
This is scary 😂😂
I am from 2022 i can confirm this.
Is sad how accurate this comment is
Maybe for brits
Not sure what broadcast caught it...but one of them caught prince harry whistling to the song...a cool human moment!!!
I remember that it was adorable
Kylo Ren .i
Source please. I want to see this
Because he is a human
I watched that one 😄
I just expected Graham to pop up any second during the Indian part in his Colonel uniform to say "right right stop that! This is all getting rather silly" or at least a recording of him saying it :(
For example on the screen👍
May graham rest in peace, with the other amazing people who have also left this world.
Graham was in an Iron Maiden video, he can do what he likes.
The opening and closing ceremonies were pure magic. This is the most British thing ever. And the Spice Girls slayed it (who ever persuaded Victoria Beckham to get on top of that taxi deserves an OBE). It was all just incredible! I miss Summer 2012, who would have thought we would be here 4 years later?
The lovely thing is that this ceremonies highlighted what was great about Britain. I wonder how America would go about doing such a thing..
Erratic Fanatic we’ll find out in 2028 😳
For over a decade Mel B was the hold out for a Spice Girls reunion, not Victoria.
2020 a lockdown , and im crying watching this missing my 16 .. , but alway look at the bright side of life :)
London ceremonies - Imagine by John Lennon "imagine there's no religion" and then rollerskating nuns with union flag shorts. Got to love the British sense of "up yours" to authority.
sabes que es sátira?
john lennon just wanted world peace and how the feck can roller skating nuns be offensive?? Theyre awesome!!, also since it is London 2012 its a ceremony from the british so they'll be proud to wear those shorts.
of course they are, gubvenor! never care all those posh cun*s with twist in their fannies? might've aswell got'em a penguin up in their tellies!
Wondering star
Are nuns revered in America or something?
Nobody entertains like the British. I'm so glad we get those fabulous BBC shows on PBS. They rule!!
professorpsoop I
On second thought let’s not go to London; it is a silly place.
Ryan Adams alright *trots off*
Ryan Adams it’s only a model
But ay, what do we with witches then? Throw them in the Olympic fire?
great now i have the Star Trek Version of that in my mind...
The London theatre was glorious. . "Cats" , "Noises Off" "Phantom of the Opera ", not to mention Shakespeare It would be lovely to be there once more.
Love how the British audience was a ahead of the song and Eric idle knew it
lol only the british would end the olympics with a show like this
I enjoyed it. and I'm not even british
True. The thing is, we, unlike everyone else, always look on the bright side of life. You see how it works? ;)
best olimpic show ever,but i still miss benny hill show
I have to give it to you Brits. This was an amazing show
I think its only the Brits who could get away with it as well. Something to be said for a bout of acceptable British excentricity
Can you imagine being there? That stadium had to have been shaking at every chorus lol
The planet was probably shaking
I don’t have to Imagine, i was there!
Crusifiction? Good! Out of the door, line on the left, one cross each.
Thank you. Thank you so much for that.
Life of Brian.
Actually Im free to go.......just kidding, im having a go.
Biggus Dikus
He has a wife you know.
I'm Canadian, but this makes me proud to be British.
+Kaizerzydeco1. I think the whole world felt a bit British in 2012.
Incredible, the best ceremony in the history of the world
So much better than this years Olympic Opening/Closing Ceremonies in Rio
Well that's easy for anyone British to say as they would have understood most, if not all, of the references in the ceremonies at London. For someone Brazilian, it would be exactly the same for the Rio games. With that said, still gotta love the London ones
Not really. The UK is a more "worldwide" country than Brazil is. UK TV-shows are shown all over the world, UK music is played all over the world and so on. Brazil is mostly known for Copacabana, the statue of Jesus in Rio, and samba. The point is that people around the world recognize Mr. Bean, James Bond, David Beckham, Monty Python, the Spice Girls etc. And therefore the references are known also outside of the UK. In Rio most people outside of Brazil didn´t have the slightest clue about the people performing there
Yes but you can't beat the Roman match of the Pretoria
We Mexican will always keep these olympic games in the bottom of our hearts. Thank you, British brothers for this epic ode to the very human spirit.
Great comment. Thank you to our Mexican brothers and sisters.
One of the greatest British thing in the world
You mean indians at the end? Pure britisism
We have a very large portion of the British people who are of Indian decent. Doesn't make the any less British.
+Samuel S A Walker it was just A joke
Sorry! I have got so sensitive since the whole Brexit business! I really need to cheer up, and always look on the bright side of life ;)
+Pee Lee what's the song playing at the beginning
I remember a football game years ago when after the game people just started singing 'Always Look on the Bright Side', and they did not stop. Suddenly Eric Idle showed up with his guitar singing along. Some one who knew Eric had called him and told him, you gotta came and hear this and so he did. He went out there and join in.... great fun
no288 is there a KZhead video of that? Epic moment from the sounds of it!
I have never seen it since. It was back in the early Nineties it was sung on the terraces by football fans whose team was getting a sound thrashing. Gary Lineker was Eric Idle's neighbour at the time so he called him and told him about it. So Eric went to the football stadium with his guitar, walked into the football field singing the song to everyone's surprise ; - )
That is so brilliant! I just had to explain to one of my kids that in the early '90s we didn't simply record things. We just lived them and cherished the memories. I guess that this is a memory you will cherish for life.
It brings me great joy to think that at this moment, it is likely that much of the world was either humming or singing along to this song...
Or at least doing the whistling! :)
The whole audience singing along gives me chills
Im probably biased with being a brit but honestly I have never enjoyed the opening and closing ceremony of any olympics ive seen as much as London 2012. I cried a lot watching different parts of them both, proud to be Brit watching this. Sometimes during current life events in Britain I lose my pride in being British, and then I rewatch 2012 ceremonies and I remember why I have such pride in my country
You may be biased, but you are not wrong. I just watched this for the first time ever and as soon as Eric Idle started singing I started to get choked up. I'm not British (American but born in The Netherlands) but I love British humor, especially Monty Python, and this was a wonderful showcase of what your country has given the world.
I hope Scotland's Commonwealth Games opens with a 5 minute Frankie Boyle stand-up routine.
NO SNP
Oh god thst be amazing
The London opening ceremony has always been one of my favorites of all time
But this is the closing ceremony.
This sorta stuff makes me proud to be British!
Andrew Lewis I am Spanish, and here, we are proud that gentlemen dressed as clowns torture bulls to death T_T
***** Y no solo eso, si se dedicara lo que se dedica a subvencionar actos taurinos, se usara para preservar la raza, no sería necesario hacerles pasar por torturas.
This kind of stuff makes me want to be British lol
Andrew Lewis Drunk and watching this but it is a good thing that makes me proud of the fun and music we have given the world
Lliam C. I am just happy Im not deaf and blind.... That's enough :)
Definitely my favourite bit of the 2012 Olympics. A bit silly, a bit cheesy, but something that everyone knows and loves and something that brings people together. And isn't that what the Olympics is all about?
American here, but thank you, Britain 🇬🇧, for Monty Python. Between Holy Grail and Life of Brian, I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life
So many legends of the world in these two ceromonies that I doubt any other country can compete. Spectacular.
I have to agree. :3 Even I felt proud watching both the opening and the ending... And I'm Chinese! :D
better if the spanish inquisition appeared no one would've expected that lol
It's 100% impossible to listen this song without smiling, even if it is your 10th time
Or your hundred plus …
best opening ceremony, you did well England, much love from France, your biggest frenemies. Love y'all.
Actually this was part of the closing ceremony
@@madabbafan oh my bad
@@COberstIsGod well we are rather eccentric all the time so easy to mix up the two
@@madabbafan and I love you for it ! It makes sense for this performance to be in the closing ceremony ! But you guys are so stacked on talents I thought it was the opening one
I love how you can still hear the audience singing after he gets interrupted.
Always makes me laugh, back in 1979 Malcolm Muggeridge and the Bishop of Bath and Wells were decrying the film 'The Life of Brian' as 10th rate and something the lower 6th would make up on a damp Tuesday afternoon. Now you have the whole world singing the song performed at the finale of the film, at the Olympics!
They predicted the film would soon be forgotten. Instead they are forgotten and "Life of Brian" sits comfortably in the pantheon of greatest comedies ever made.
Guess the last laugh is actually on them.
Watching this in 2021 still in the thick of a pandemic and thinking how life was much simpler in 2012...
Eric idle is a jewel to england
From New Zealand but got to hand it poms, the opening and closing where the best!!! Great sense of humour. Great olympics.
Well said, Sir.
Just puts a massive smile on your face
Probably the greatest closing to any Olympics games ever!
Mr Blue Sky and then THIS SONG! My, London sure knows how to party
The 2012 games was the BEST always 🇬🇧🏴🇬🇧🏴🇬🇧🏴
🇬🇧🏴
Can't believe it's been almost nine years! I was seven, and remember being so hyped because of Rowan Atkinson. Sadly, knew almost nothing about Monthy Python back then.
This song is still the greatest thing the UK has given the world.
I love how everyone was singing, that's truly magical.
I always come back to this video as both a pick-me-up when i'm down and a reminder that there's at least one point in this performance that the whole world just enjoyed being human
No one else has, or ever will achieve what Monty Python has achieved. They will always be the ultimate and iconic comedic legends of all time.
This year was and still is the most brilliant opening and Closing of the Olympics ever!!! 🏴🇬🇧🥰
Whenever I feel sad I watch this video for that sweet dopamine rush :)
Despite how chaotic that looked I bet the blocking was precise af
I love how you just have to hear one note, one word, or even just see Eric Idle to know what song it is. Everyone singing just made this so beautiful. And it's worldwide. When Spamalot toured Vancouver, everyone in the audience was singing full force to Bright Side of Life at the end!
I love the 2012 ceremonies so much. A gem of humanity
I stayed up ONLY to watch Eric Idle and when he came up, I literally cried of joy! No joke! And I'm pretty sure, I'm not the only one.
I had tickets for the first day, I watched the ceremony and actually cried most the time as it was perfect in showcasing the UK, I am a true brit and a patriot so watching that and wanting it to beat China was important to me so when the US stations the next day were saying "best opening ceremony ever" I was proud, by the way the Queen was expected to use an actress to speak to bond but refused , there was no way she wasn't going to be part of it, they even used the real palace staff!! (I reckon she would have jumped if they let her!!!!
Ok... hands up... who sang this at the top of their lungs?
I've got my hand up - is a classic
Allow me to introduce myself.
Can - canning centurions, rollerblading nuns, bagpipers, Bollywood dancers, a German peasant choir, a VALKYRIE, Eric Idle playing a failed human cannonball and then singing his best song. Brilliant. All of it brilliant.
Two of the most uplifting songs on the planet played at the Olympics back to back. Im happy now.
I love how the whole freaking stadium sings along :D
Awesome show!
This video encapsulates the British spirit so perfectly. Sure everything may be terrible but you just gotta smile and keep going.
The fact that the athletes were actually in the middle of it all was lovely, it made them a focal point for the opening ceremony, instead of them just sitting to the side at an empty part of the spectator stands or something.
This is the only piece of recorded history with British people being happy.
03:14, seeing "Always Look On The Bright Side of Life" on British TV considering how controversial LIFE OF BRIAN and that crucifixion scene was back in your parents and grandparents' day made me smile. Time flies past quickly in terms of how shocking something can be.
I think it was because people realised how idiotic it is. I was born in 1998; my parents are huge LoB fans, and we are always quoting it at each other. It's the sort of offensive that is so stupid and insane that it's not offensive.
Eric idel. The man steals the show in everything he's part of. Comic juggernaut
Only Eric idle could make an Olympic stadium packed with people sing.
In 1991 we used to sing this song as we were doing block jobs in Basic Training in the British Army. Not sure we would have made it through without it! Thankyou Eric!
I'm sad london 2012 is over
Same it was EPIC!!!
I'm still not over it
still miss it :(
2012 Probably one of the best years and being British everyone got together and everyone was positive with the world
There will never be a better year than 2012, it's just an amazing year
1999 was Better. Eclipse, Millennium Dome, Millennium new year celebration ect...
+Andrew Whitney but the best Olympic Ceremony is this.
I will always love Eric Idle.
I remember watching this. Gave me goosebumps. Still does. To me, this is one of the reasons why the London Olympics cerimonies are the most memorable for me
This is the most valuable piece of music in humanity, this brings us together regardless of race, creed or political views.
A CELEBRATION TO THE DEATH OF HUMANITY ...JUST WONDERFUL!
Makes me smile and be filled with joy watching this.
9 years later and i still cant think of any better Olympic opening :) Sadly I’ve forgotten about this part and it just put the biggest smile on my face
Well this was part of the closing ceremoney which may be why you don't remember it from the opening
This felt like a fever dream and I bloody loved every second of it
The Legend says I will come back here again after few years
This was my introduction to Monty Python. I have no regrets.
Remember that time when a priest went on a TV debate with John Cleese about life of Brian and said that it would be reviled and forgotten. That aged well.
the Chinese may have the budget but no money can buy these legendary British
This song was played at my dads funeral he had that monty python sense of humor from life to death god love him.
I want this song played at my funeral. We’ve all gotta go sometime, might as well go laughing. Be thankful it’s not your turn lol.
and you can hear the whole stadium singing and whistling along
This is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen.
This is happiest and exciting performance in olympics yet.
Fantastic, brilliant, wonderful, fabulous, hilarious, profound, beautiful, delightful, thank you. Now to celebrate with a nice cup of tea and a biscuit, play it again and hum along.
This comment is impossible to not to read in a British accent
I just love it how the Netherlands team (at least I thonk that it was them) was having fun during the song :)
I love how the crowd just erupted and started singing along
I'm here on january 31st 2021 just to remember what the world used to look like back when stadiums could be full of people...
I know, it doesn't seem real.. :( hopefully not much longer now)
The summer Olympics is every four years, but then there is also the winter Olympics every four years. However, since 1994 the summer and winter Olympics alternate every two years. The London summer games were in 2012. This year, 2014, had the winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The next summer games will be in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016. In 2018 PyeongChang, South Korea, will host Olympic winter games. So, in fact, every second year there is indeed either a summer or a winter Olympics.