Idolator’s Tribute-Video Treasury Brings Sexy Back To Monty Python

Ed. note: Once again, Idolator intern Kate Richardson scours the video sites, looking for the best fan-made music videos. In this installment–reposted from yesterday, when we had a few technical difficulties from all the funny–she pits two members of Monty Python against each other in a contest to see which one most effectively brings sexy back.

There are many angles from which to approach a discussion about Monty Python. There’s the standard Holy Grail or Life of Brian debate, there’s four seasons’ worth of Flying Circus minutiae to be analyzed and quoted, there’s plenty of post-Monty Python career moves to be tracked. But when you really want to get to the heart of the matter, there is only one question that needs to be answered: which member of Monty Python most effectively brings sexy back?

Song: “SexyBack” by Justin Timberlake Concept: Michael Palin as particularly sexy lumberjack. I consulted fellow tribute-video scholar Adena Rice on this clip, and she determined that whoever made it “has a future in tribute videos.” I agree. There’s a really deft sense of rhythm in the editing, which makes this clip as easy to watch as most professionally produced music videos. And its concept shines: While not as agonizingly earnest as most tribute videos, it isn’t quite ironic, and seems to have been born from a very genuine love for Michael Palin. Which is, of course, why “SexyBack” is such an odd choice, albeit in Monty Python’s silly spirit. (I saw another Palin tribute set to The Beatles’ “In My Life,” which was definitely more appropriate for a British figure of the ’60s/’70s, but it lacked the chutzpah of this video.) Best music-to-image sync-up moment: If you pay close attention, you’ll notice that most of the clips in this video are pretty cleverly matched with the lyrics; my personal favorite is at 46 seconds, when Timberlake singing “dirty babe” is matched with a clip of Palin as a soot-covered miner. Silliest music-to-image sync-up moment: It’s all silly, but nothing tops the brilliance of the camera-lens cleaning/fellatio shot at 1:56.

Song: “SexyBack” by Justin Timberlake Concept: Eric Idle as member of Monty Python sexier than Michael Palin. In true YouTube fashion, this is a response to the Michael Palin video, and much like Palin and Idle themselves, the latter is a tad less cute than the former. Obviously all the conceptual compliments still apply here, but this video just isn’t quite as snappy; the clips are at times a bit too long and the rhythm just isn’t up to par. That being said, taking the time to put together a video to argue for the sexiness of one’s favorite member of Monty Python definitely deserves an Adorable Dork Medal of Honor. Best music-to-image sync-up moment: At 3:33 Justin Timberlake asks, “You ready?” as Eric Idle is prodded to attention at a news desk. It’s a small moment, but oddly effective. Silliest music-to-image sync-up moment: The orange crushed velvet pants at 1:59.

Verdict: An all-around better-assembled and more original video, the Michael Palin tribute is the Upper Class Twit of the Year and winner of this week’s match-up.