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Monty Python & Olympics Closing Ceremony: Eric Idle Sings 'Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life'

Monty Python Takes Over Closing Ceremony
British comedian Eric Idle performs during the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
British comedian Eric Idle performs during the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Monty Python took over the 2012 London Olympics Closing Ceremony.

As had been rumored, original Monty Python comedy troupe member Eric Idle led an Olympic Stadium singalong of "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life," a song made famous in "Monty Pyton's Life of Brian."

The popular song -- which placed third on a 2005 British poll of songs people wanted to play at their respective funerals -- was sung during the finale of "Life of Brian," when the film's title character (Graham Chapman) was sentenced to death by crucifixion. When Chapman passed away in 1989, the surviving Python members sang the song together.

Idle's "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" performance ended with Chachi Valencia, a human cannonball known as "The Rocket Man," being shot out of a cannon.

As previously reported, George Michael, The Pet Shop Boys, Ray Davies of The Kinks, The Spice Girls and more classic acts from the last 50 years all appeared during the Closing Ceremony, which was dubbed "A Symphony of British Music." The icons joined the London Symphony Orchestra for the Closing Ceremony.

Idle wasn't the only funnyman to make an Olympics appearance. Russell Brand led a stadium singalong of The Beatles song "I Am The Walrus," complete with a megaphone. Brand also sang "Pure Imagination" from "Willy Wonka."

Watch the original "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" from "Life Of Brian" in the video below:

CORRECTION: The original article failed to identify Chachi Valencia as the human cannonball. That error has been corrected.

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