Jesus Christ Superstar

Well what more fitting day to create a thread about the Passion of Christ as a rock opera than Easter?

"Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ / Who are you? What have you sacrificed? / Jesus Christ Superstar, / Do you think you're what they say you are?"

I have not actually seen the play live, but I have seen many of its filmed versions. This Easter I rewatched both the '73 version and the '00 version back-to-back to compare and contrast and it was a pretty fascinating experience. My general take was that I preferred the Jesus and Apostles of the '73 version and the Romans and Pharisees of the '00 version. '73 has probably the better music on the whole and '00 the better aesthetic.

Edited by Gaon on Apr 4th 2021 at 8:34:18 AM

I am such a huge fan of this show (and Andrew Lloyd Webber in general, but that's beside the point). The best version for me will always be the OG Concept Album, even if it did set some freaky high bars (pun intended). Those Metal Scream highs Ian Gillan pulled off are insane.

I actually do have to check out the original album some day of those. My familiarity is more thorough with its adaptations. My favorite song is "This Jesus Must Die" and the roles surrounding it (Caiaphas in particular, love that sweet baritone).

You mean bass (and a lower than average one at that; he bottoms out at the second C sharp below middle C). That's not to say his range is any more crazy than the other roles (he has to yell some high Fs as well).

I always have a hard time distinguinshing baritone and bass, admittedly. My own vocal range is in that ballpark but I've never bothered to really find out which one of them. This is part of why I enjoy his lines, they're the ones I can more easily sing along to, particularly in the '00 film:

For some reason, this and Les Mis get all the Youtube comparison video love.

Edited by lavendermintrose on Jun 30th 2021 at 2:43:25 AM

Okay what idiot director thought setting JCS in NAZI GERMANY was a good idea?! Is this that Wesleyan College production with Lin Manuel Miranda as Jesus?

Literally every play that doesn't have Cameron Mackintosh levels of production control has gotten that treatment though.

Especially in colleges.

I find it interesting that this has been done in so many different ways, in a way that's unusual for musicals. Non-musical plays get that treatment more...

I have... production ideas that I want to draw sometime.

Though honestly recently I can't help but picture Jamil from Twisted Wonderland as Judas.

I'm honestly sometimes afraid to talk about this musical and compare it to other things because people will be like, "wait, you're comparing that character to Jesus?" but I ... am... writing a fanfic of a book... and the title is going to be "my mind is clearer now".

No but honestly. The book has a theme of betrayals, and there are two betrayals that define Western culture and civilization: Judas to Jesus and Brutus to Caesar. I don't... think... it's... that... odd to compare them.

... I really want to do a thing with Superstar and Shakespeare's Julius Caesar though. I don't know what, but I just love those two plays and like...

I've seen both the movie and the stage recording. They are both good, though I think I prefer the movie version.

Which movie? There's about 3.

Oh, there's even more? I should have guessed.

According to Wikipedia, there are three cast recordings, the movie and a remake of the movie, and a live television adaptation.

Lets see... I have the 1996 Andrew Lloyd Webber revival version (cast recording), and the 1973 film by Norman Jewison.

Edited by Redmess on Jul 9th 2022 at 12:45:21 PM

There's also the 2012 UK Arena Tour, which was also filmed and put on DVD.

Are the other ones good?

If you're a completionist and like 90s alt/folk rock there's the 1994 (albeit shot-on-shiteo quality)JCS concert put out by Daemon Records featuring a bunch of their signed acts as the cast. Notable for having the Indigo Girls as Jesus and Mary Magdalene:

Edited by Sisi on Aug 14th 2022 at 11:57:03 AM

Oh shit, didn't even realize this had a thread.

I've only listened to the original album version of the musical, but it's a hell of a thing. It's ridiculous, it's over the top, it's cheesy...but it's kinda fun.

Though, I suppose my favorite factoid about the album is that none other than Ian Gillan from Deep Purple is the one performing the role of Jesus. Here's some old footage of him singing (well, lip-synching) Gethsemane, actually. I don't know where it's from, but I'm kind of grateful somebody archived it...or part of it. It's visibly missing a bit.

Edited by Diana1969 on Sep 7th 2022 at 10:00:00 PM

Gillan still has my favorite WHYYYYYYYY ever. Probably because of the vibrato he does.

So then there's this musical with Dante as a character, and I just need that Superstar-esque version of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar even more now.

And actually the actor that played Dante was Herod in the JCS production with Ramin Karimloo as Judas, and he's been singing "Heaven on their Minds" in a lot of concerts, and he really should play Judas sometime—