Heaven On Their Minds
July 18, 2011 10:01 PM Subscribe
The opening song from Jesus Christ Superstar has been sung by many people. Here are some of them.
Murray Head from the 1970 official soundtrack
Carl Anderson from the 1973 movie (Anderson died from leukemia at the too-young age of 58; here he is performing the song circa 2002)
Ben Vereen from the original 1971 Broadway production
Jay Laga'aia from the 1994 New Zealand production
Zubin Varla from the 1996 London revival
James Booth from Solebury School (a fantastic slow version)
A passionate performance from an unknown amateur production
Matthew G. Myers in the touring production c. 2008
Queensrÿche from their 2007 "Take Cover" album
Tenacious D, a medley with Flash and Wonderboy
American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis in 2007
Roger Daltrey in a 1996 radio production
Scotto Pesce from DJ Christ, Superstar at Burning Man 1999 (dance remix)
Feathersgirl from 2007, one of the few female versions on YouTube
Want to have a go at it yourself? Here's the Karaoke version
Want some dessert? How about Alice Cooper singing King Herod's song from 1996?
Murray Head from the 1970 official soundtrack
Carl Anderson from the 1973 movie (Anderson died from leukemia at the too-young age of 58; here he is performing the song circa 2002)
Ben Vereen from the original 1971 Broadway production
Jay Laga'aia from the 1994 New Zealand production
Zubin Varla from the 1996 London revival
James Booth from Solebury School (a fantastic slow version)
A passionate performance from an unknown amateur production
Matthew G. Myers in the touring production c. 2008
Queensrÿche from their 2007 "Take Cover" album
Tenacious D, a medley with Flash and Wonderboy
American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis in 2007
Roger Daltrey in a 1996 radio production
Scotto Pesce from DJ Christ, Superstar at Burning Man 1999 (dance remix)
Feathersgirl from 2007, one of the few female versions on YouTube
Want to have a go at it yourself? Here's the Karaoke version
Want some dessert? How about Alice Cooper singing King Herod's song from 1996?
Related: Godflesh Superstar
The synchronicity rivals anything found in "Dark Side of the Rainbow".
posted by secondhand pho at 10:06 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
The synchronicity rivals anything found in "Dark Side of the Rainbow".
posted by secondhand pho at 10:06 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
I count myself among the Andrew Lloyd Webber haters but Jesus Christ Superstar is beyond criticism. Amazing music, and the movie version has some truly incredible performances (especially Judas) and freaky cool desert chic sets.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 10:08 PM on July 18, 2011 [10 favorites]
posted by villanelles at dawn at 10:08 PM on July 18, 2011 [10 favorites]
And Murray Head still roundly kicks the ass of all comers. JCS is one of the best things ever, and thanks for reminding me that I was going to try to find another LP copy.
Related previously.
posted by FelliniBlank at 10:11 PM on July 18, 2011 [4 favorites]
Related previously.
posted by FelliniBlank at 10:11 PM on July 18, 2011 [4 favorites]
Oh, and just to be Sister Mary Elephant, the accept-no-substitutes 1970 original issue isn't a soundtrack or cast album.
posted by FelliniBlank at 10:14 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 10:14 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
FelliniBlank - my post in the previous thread sort of explains where this one came from. Carl Anderson was so gracious to me, and his talent was so abundant 30 years after his film performance, and I've been fixated on the Judas role since I was a little tyke. The song gives me goosebumps.
posted by Addlepated at 10:15 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Addlepated at 10:15 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
i could care less about andrew lloyd weber but the jcs soundtrack is one of the best records made in the 70's, not even debatable
posted by facetious at 10:25 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by facetious at 10:25 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Mea culpa, I did mistype on the 1970 album!
posted by Addlepated at 10:30 PM on July 18, 2011
posted by Addlepated at 10:30 PM on July 18, 2011
An I-was-there moment: A weirdo mishmash of artists, featuring the Indigo Girls (with Amy Ray as Jesus and Emily Saliers as Mary Magdalene). There was a 2-CD cast recording, and then there was this live performance in Austin in 1995 or '96. Yep, I was there.
posted by mudpuppie at 10:37 PM on July 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by mudpuppie at 10:37 PM on July 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
On a date. With the bad lesbian mullet!
Not on a date with the mullet. But on a date. And sporting a mullet. Bad lesbian.
posted by mudpuppie at 10:39 PM on July 18, 2011 [10 favorites]
Not on a date with the mullet. But on a date. And sporting a mullet. Bad lesbian.
posted by mudpuppie at 10:39 PM on July 18, 2011 [10 favorites]
I agree, I'll give ALW a pass for this show, if nothing else. One of my favorite memories is a version done in San Jose featuring a Jim Baker character as Herod with a series of dancing Tammy Fayes accompanying Herod's Song.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 10:40 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 10:40 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
i could care less about andrew lloyd weber
posted by facetious at 6:25 AM on July 19
No.
posted by Decani at 10:55 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by facetious at 6:25 AM on July 19
No.
posted by Decani at 10:55 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
i could care less about andrew lloyd weber
posted by facetious at 6:25 AM on July 19
No.
posted by Decani at 12:55 AM on July 19 [+] [!]
Yes!
1. "I could care less" is a contraction of "As if I could care less"!
2. "I could care less" is a conscious pedant-tweak.
Take your pick!
posted by facetious at 11:00 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by facetious at 6:25 AM on July 19
No.
posted by Decani at 12:55 AM on July 19 [+] [!]
Yes!
1. "I could care less" is a contraction of "As if I could care less"!
2. "I could care less" is a conscious pedant-tweak.
Take your pick!
posted by facetious at 11:00 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
From the Indigo Girls' album of Jesus Christ Superstar called Jesus Christ Superstar: A Resurrection: Michael Lorant, a frequent collaborator with Indigo Girls and a member of Big Fish, singing the opening song. I adore his interpretation--and he accompanies himself on guitar.
(That should be a YouTube embed that should play here on the page--I don't know why it isn't. Warning: the album is great. It was... not meant to be played out on stage with costumes and stuff. Don't know why they did it.)
This video is from a live performance, but the album was recorded in a studio. Some of the songs have been slightly reinterpreted musically; some vastly reinterpreted (Simon Zealot's song, in particular, is awesome as sung by Kelly Hogan). Basically, the Indigo Girls got a bunch of musician friends from Atlanta and said "What the hell; we all love the piece--let's do it."
Cast:
Cast (in order of appearance):
Judas Iscariot - Michael Lorant
Jesus Christ - Amy Ray
Mary Magdalene - Emily Saliers
Priests (1 And 3) - Paul Schwartz
Caiaphas, High Priest - Benjamin
Annas - Mike Mantione
Priest 2 - John Bigay
Simon Zealotes - Kelly Hogan
Pontius Pilate - Gerard McHugh
Choir, Maid By The Fire - Anne Richmond Boston
Peter - Matt Brown
Soldier 1 - Jeff Jenson
Old Man - Bill Decker
Soldier 2 - Rob Gal
King Herod - Dave Clair
Voice Of Judas - Social Insanity
The Official Website.
Buy the album (I don't know how to do the MetaFilter Amazon link.)
posted by tzikeh at 11:03 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
(That should be a YouTube embed that should play here on the page--I don't know why it isn't. Warning: the album is great. It was... not meant to be played out on stage with costumes and stuff. Don't know why they did it.)
This video is from a live performance, but the album was recorded in a studio. Some of the songs have been slightly reinterpreted musically; some vastly reinterpreted (Simon Zealot's song, in particular, is awesome as sung by Kelly Hogan). Basically, the Indigo Girls got a bunch of musician friends from Atlanta and said "What the hell; we all love the piece--let's do it."
Cast:
Cast (in order of appearance):
Judas Iscariot - Michael Lorant
Jesus Christ - Amy Ray
Mary Magdalene - Emily Saliers
Priests (1 And 3) - Paul Schwartz
Caiaphas, High Priest - Benjamin
Annas - Mike Mantione
Priest 2 - John Bigay
Simon Zealotes - Kelly Hogan
Pontius Pilate - Gerard McHugh
Choir, Maid By The Fire - Anne Richmond Boston
Peter - Matt Brown
Soldier 1 - Jeff Jenson
Old Man - Bill Decker
Soldier 2 - Rob Gal
King Herod - Dave Clair
Voice Of Judas - Social Insanity
The Official Website.
Buy the album (I don't know how to do the MetaFilter Amazon link.)
posted by tzikeh at 11:03 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
On lack of preview - what mudpuppie said.
Still - Lorant's voice and guitar work is exceptional.
posted by tzikeh at 11:04 PM on July 18, 2011
Still - Lorant's voice and guitar work is exceptional.
posted by tzikeh at 11:04 PM on July 18, 2011
And the dessert that you have after dessert: Laibach
posted by cmonkey at 11:11 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by cmonkey at 11:11 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
I've been what most people would call an atheist all my life - Jesus Christ Superstar finally made me appreciate the Jesus story, and I'm glad. If you can get away from all the crap that folks have piled on to it, it's a great story.
Plus JCS is a rocking piece of music. This is neat!
posted by freebird at 11:24 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Plus JCS is a rocking piece of music. This is neat!
posted by freebird at 11:24 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Great post! Huge JCS fan, and I haven't seen some of these.
The brothers Bob and Danny Zolli both have some of the best performances from Superstar I have ever seen or heard. I just did a quick scan on youtube looking for performances and was able to dig up a bit.
Here is Bob Zolli's version of Heaven on Their Minds. (I have no idea what that animation is that is playing under the video.) His phrasing on the last lines ("On Thursday night...") in "Damned for All Time/Blood Money" (which I can't find), is the best I have ever heard (it's this odd arabic trill vibrato riff thingy -- I don't know what the musical term is, so I'm sorry I can't find it).
His brother Danny Zolli is amazing as well -- here is Danny Zolli performing Gethsemane. After listening to the original cast recording a million times, it is always odd to hear variations in phrasing, but what he does with certain parts (and screams) is just awesome -- and he makes it looks effortless. Beyond the amazing screaming at 2:45, even if you have listened to it a million times by others, listen to what he does around 4:56 on. Even though it is far more subtle than the big screamin' awesome part, for some reason that always gets me how he drags those notes out.
posted by This_Will_Be_Good at 11:30 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
The brothers Bob and Danny Zolli both have some of the best performances from Superstar I have ever seen or heard. I just did a quick scan on youtube looking for performances and was able to dig up a bit.
Here is Bob Zolli's version of Heaven on Their Minds. (I have no idea what that animation is that is playing under the video.) His phrasing on the last lines ("On Thursday night...") in "Damned for All Time/Blood Money" (which I can't find), is the best I have ever heard (it's this odd arabic trill vibrato riff thingy -- I don't know what the musical term is, so I'm sorry I can't find it).
His brother Danny Zolli is amazing as well -- here is Danny Zolli performing Gethsemane. After listening to the original cast recording a million times, it is always odd to hear variations in phrasing, but what he does with certain parts (and screams) is just awesome -- and he makes it looks effortless. Beyond the amazing screaming at 2:45, even if you have listened to it a million times by others, listen to what he does around 4:56 on. Even though it is far more subtle than the big screamin' awesome part, for some reason that always gets me how he drags those notes out.
posted by This_Will_Be_Good at 11:30 PM on July 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Even as a lifelong atheist, I've loved this show since I was 14. (It probably doesn't hurt that I was introduced to it by my first crush.) Apparently at least some of the "Mr. Show" writers share the love.
Also: The KLF take the "Heaven" riff and run with it.
posted by Lazlo at 11:39 PM on July 18, 2011 [6 favorites]
Also: The KLF take the "Heaven" riff and run with it.
posted by Lazlo at 11:39 PM on July 18, 2011 [6 favorites]
Loved the Cooper version! :)
An ex boyfriend was obsessed with JCS the last half of our relationship.
While I agree it's great, it's difficult for me to listen to it now because it brings back memories I'd rather not dwell on. Maybe one day I'll be able to listen to it again.
posted by luckynerd at 11:59 PM on July 18, 2011
An ex boyfriend was obsessed with JCS the last half of our relationship.
While I agree it's great, it's difficult for me to listen to it now because it brings back memories I'd rather not dwell on. Maybe one day I'll be able to listen to it again.
posted by luckynerd at 11:59 PM on July 18, 2011
Loved the Cooper version! :)
Well, he is a true believer, and has been for three decades now.
He has avoided "celebrity Christianity," because "it's really easy to focus on Alice Cooper and not on Christ. I'm a rock singer. I'm nothing more than that. I'm not a philosopher. I consider myself low on the totem pole of knowledgeable Christians. So, don't look for answers from me."
posted by philip-random at 12:40 AM on July 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
Well, he is a true believer, and has been for three decades now.
He has avoided "celebrity Christianity," because "it's really easy to focus on Alice Cooper and not on Christ. I'm a rock singer. I'm nothing more than that. I'm not a philosopher. I consider myself low on the totem pole of knowledgeable Christians. So, don't look for answers from me."
posted by philip-random at 12:40 AM on July 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
> The KLF take the "Heaven" riff and run with it.
Didn't realize the "What Time is Love?" riff was stolen until now, but it makes sense. The riff so nice, they used it four times! 1988, ca. 1990, 1992, 1997.
posted by neckro23 at 12:48 AM on July 19, 2011
Didn't realize the "What Time is Love?" riff was stolen until now, but it makes sense. The riff so nice, they used it four times! 1988, ca. 1990, 1992, 1997.
posted by neckro23 at 12:48 AM on July 19, 2011
Andrew Lloyd Weber was pretty good a few weeks ago on Comedy Bang Bang. He and Weird Al traded songwriting tips.
posted by Apropos of Something at 12:51 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Apropos of Something at 12:51 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
No love for Kim Milford?
posted by readyfreddy at 12:58 AM on July 19, 2011
posted by readyfreddy at 12:58 AM on July 19, 2011
Didn't realize the "What Time is Love?" riff was stolen until now, but it makes sense.
I didn't realize it either, until Bill Drummond mentioned it when I was interviewing him around the time The White Room came out. (I think I squealed a little.)
posted by Lazlo at 1:05 AM on July 19, 2011
I didn't realize it either, until Bill Drummond mentioned it when I was interviewing him around the time The White Room came out. (I think I squealed a little.)
posted by Lazlo at 1:05 AM on July 19, 2011
Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy should I die? Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy should I diiiiiieeeeeeeeeeee? Seeeee seeee seee how, see how I diiiiiieeeeeeeee. Oh yeah, see how I diiiiieeeeee.
I like to think that's how the conversation between God and Jesus really went in the garden of Gethsemane.
posted by Summer at 1:28 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
I like to think that's how the conversation between God and Jesus really went in the garden of Gethsemane.
posted by Summer at 1:28 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
I watched the 1973 Jesus Christ Superstar when I was seven years old.
No, hell no, my parents didn't show it to me (or the rest of the 2nd-graders in the room).
The nuns at the Catholic school I went to felt that 7-year-olds needed to see that. With ZERO intellectual context, ZERO guidance, just "You're gonna watch this!"
I was seven years old.
I gotta say, I thank the OP of this post for putting this together. I always had the music stuck in my head a bit. Never could find it again until now.
I asked my parents why they were all pretty modern-looking (I was born in 1978, school showed me this show in 1983), and they said "stop asking questions"
I was seven years old.
I'm still Catholic, but not because of them.
posted by deep thought sunstar at 2:18 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
No, hell no, my parents didn't show it to me (or the rest of the 2nd-graders in the room).
The nuns at the Catholic school I went to felt that 7-year-olds needed to see that. With ZERO intellectual context, ZERO guidance, just "You're gonna watch this!"
I was seven years old.
I gotta say, I thank the OP of this post for putting this together. I always had the music stuck in my head a bit. Never could find it again until now.
I asked my parents why they were all pretty modern-looking (I was born in 1978, school showed me this show in 1983), and they said "stop asking questions"
I was seven years old.
I'm still Catholic, but not because of them.
posted by deep thought sunstar at 2:18 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
No, I was 7 in 1984! Not '83. My bad.
posted by deep thought sunstar at 2:20 AM on July 19, 2011
posted by deep thought sunstar at 2:20 AM on July 19, 2011
The only compelling reason to become an actor, in my opinion, is to get a chance at delivering that line "He'd have caused nobody harm; no one alarm" line even half as well as Head and Anderson do.
posted by Jofus at 2:22 AM on July 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Jofus at 2:22 AM on July 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
One of my first attempts at making an "electro" type song was to create a version of "The Crablouse" by Lords of Acid, but replacing the riff with the opening from Heaven On Their Minds.
That riff, plus the 7/4 bridge, and the fact that Murray "Judas" Head also sang "One Night In Bangkok" was enough to convince me to forgive A.L.W. for all his future atrocities. Great stuff.
posted by ShutterBun at 2:38 AM on July 19, 2011
That riff, plus the 7/4 bridge, and the fact that Murray "Judas" Head also sang "One Night In Bangkok" was enough to convince me to forgive A.L.W. for all his future atrocities. Great stuff.
posted by ShutterBun at 2:38 AM on July 19, 2011
(errr...7/8 bridge, now that I think about it)
posted by ShutterBun at 2:53 AM on July 19, 2011
posted by ShutterBun at 2:53 AM on July 19, 2011
Jon English performing this song in 1972. I've also been a major fan of this musical from a very young age and I'm an atheist too! I have to say, though, that I think Carl Anderson was the quintessential Judas. His voice is amazing.
posted by h00py at 3:06 AM on July 19, 2011
posted by h00py at 3:06 AM on July 19, 2011
The title version that I will forever hear in my head is the rhyme from grade school (and this is to the Jesus Christ "Superstar" theme music. . (I employ a Shatner-esque type speak-sing phrasing. You know what I mean.) The BOLD indicates the choir chiming in:
Jesus Christ, Superstar
Riding down the street...on a Yamaha
Cops are there
I don't care
I'm wearing my bullet proof...underwear.
When I die
bury me
hang my balls
on a cherry tree
When they're ripe...
take a bite
Don't blame me
IF YOU DIE THAT NIGHT.
*Takes bow, ducks avalanche of flowers and frilly undergarments *
posted by Skygazer at 3:29 AM on July 19, 2011 [6 favorites]
Jesus Christ, Superstar
Riding down the street...on a Yamaha
Cops are there
I don't care
I'm wearing my bullet proof...underwear.
When I die
bury me
hang my balls
on a cherry tree
When they're ripe...
take a bite
Don't blame me
IF YOU DIE THAT NIGHT.
*Takes bow, ducks avalanche of flowers and frilly undergarments *
posted by Skygazer at 3:29 AM on July 19, 2011 [6 favorites]
I thought about apologizing in advance to all the Andrew Lloyd Webber haters, but decided not to.
Well, in all fairness, JCS isn't really Andrew Lloyd Webber. It's Webber/Rice, and they did wonderful things together. Webber really didn't become Andrew Lloyd Webber until well after Evita (another brilliant Webber/Rice show).
During my summers at music camp, there was a group of us who used to gather during afternoon free time in the parlor-type room attached to the dining hall building and do sing-alongs. I had a piano score to JCS and we'd do it pretty regularly. It didn't have all the songs, but it had enough of them that we could easily kill an hour. Between Heaven On Their Minds and Gethsemane, we either completely entertained or utterly infuriated the kitchen staff as they worked on dinner.
posted by hippybear at 4:25 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Well, in all fairness, JCS isn't really Andrew Lloyd Webber. It's Webber/Rice, and they did wonderful things together. Webber really didn't become Andrew Lloyd Webber until well after Evita (another brilliant Webber/Rice show).
During my summers at music camp, there was a group of us who used to gather during afternoon free time in the parlor-type room attached to the dining hall building and do sing-alongs. I had a piano score to JCS and we'd do it pretty regularly. It didn't have all the songs, but it had enough of them that we could easily kill an hour. Between Heaven On Their Minds and Gethsemane, we either completely entertained or utterly infuriated the kitchen staff as they worked on dinner.
posted by hippybear at 4:25 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
I think we all know that Jesus Christ Superstar was just a cheap knock-off of the infamous 70s piece "AD/BC".
posted by I-baLL at 4:32 AM on July 19, 2011
posted by I-baLL at 4:32 AM on July 19, 2011
Simon Zealotes - Kelly Hogan
Great casting!
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:40 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Great casting!
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:40 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Jesus Christ, Superstar
Riding down the street...on a Yamaha
From the same minds that brought us:
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is driving down the alley in a black and yellow Ford
With one hand on the throttle and one hand on a bottle
Of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:42 AM on July 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
Riding down the street...on a Yamaha
From the same minds that brought us:
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is driving down the alley in a black and yellow Ford
With one hand on the throttle and one hand on a bottle
Of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:42 AM on July 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
When I saw the post, I wondered how people would sing the overture...but then realized what you meant.
posted by schyler523 at 5:13 AM on July 19, 2011
posted by schyler523 at 5:13 AM on July 19, 2011
I first encountered JCS in primary school when our music teacher made it a piece for the choir. Imagine a group of 8 year olds singing Heaven on Their Minds.
posted by Summer at 5:49 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Summer at 5:49 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Love JCS, and can't wait to listen to some of these! Thanks, Addlepated!
If anyone is near southern Ontario this summer/fall, I urge you to run to the Stratford Festival to see their production. I saw it in previews, and it was absolutely incredible.
posted by cider at 5:50 AM on July 19, 2011
If anyone is near southern Ontario this summer/fall, I urge you to run to the Stratford Festival to see their production. I saw it in previews, and it was absolutely incredible.
posted by cider at 5:50 AM on July 19, 2011
Reminded me of this: Paul Desmond and the Modern Jazz Quartet, "Jesus Christ Superstar"
posted by imposster at 6:11 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by imposster at 6:11 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Did the show myself a few years back. Wanted to be Herod, but got the role of Pilate. Bad guys are SO much more fun to portray!
posted by Yer-Ol-Pal at 6:12 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Yer-Ol-Pal at 6:12 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Went to Chicago just last year to catch Peaches Christ Superstar, which turns to the play into a one-woman musical starring raunch auteur Peaches in every role.
posted by Homeskillet Freshy Fresh at 6:12 AM on July 19, 2011
posted by Homeskillet Freshy Fresh at 6:12 AM on July 19, 2011
Well, in all fairness, JCS isn't really Andrew Lloyd Webber. It's Webber/Rice, and they did wonderful things together. Webber really didn't become Andrew Lloyd Webber until well after Evita (another brilliant Webber/Rice show).
Hippybear (and before him, villanelles at dawn) has it right. What makes Superstar so compelling is the lyrical input from Tim Rice; the music was great, but lacking the characterization that came out in the words, it is just pleasant, hummable stuff. I would run a mile in tight shoes to avoid just about anything else from Andrew Lloyd Webber, but I have seen at least a dozen different productions of JCS (including a touring one in the nineties with Neeley and Anderson). I must have seen the movie thirty times by now, most recently last week. I have been known to utter the words "Hey, cool it man," in a limpid voice when the occasion calls for it. When my friend Mary hosted a dinner party once I tried her soup and said, "Mary, mm, that is good." In short, I am a fan.
I read an interview with Rice years ago that gave us a glimpse of What Might Have Been. Rice mentions that Webber had already written some music and had the idea to do a rock opera with a biblical basis. Before they began collaborating, Webber's idea was to go Old Testament and base it on 1 Samuel. The song that we now know as "Superstar" went:
Samuel,/ Samuel,/ This is the first book of Samuel./
Ack.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:18 AM on July 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
Hippybear (and before him, villanelles at dawn) has it right. What makes Superstar so compelling is the lyrical input from Tim Rice; the music was great, but lacking the characterization that came out in the words, it is just pleasant, hummable stuff. I would run a mile in tight shoes to avoid just about anything else from Andrew Lloyd Webber, but I have seen at least a dozen different productions of JCS (including a touring one in the nineties with Neeley and Anderson). I must have seen the movie thirty times by now, most recently last week. I have been known to utter the words "Hey, cool it man," in a limpid voice when the occasion calls for it. When my friend Mary hosted a dinner party once I tried her soup and said, "Mary, mm, that is good." In short, I am a fan.
I read an interview with Rice years ago that gave us a glimpse of What Might Have Been. Rice mentions that Webber had already written some music and had the idea to do a rock opera with a biblical basis. Before they began collaborating, Webber's idea was to go Old Testament and base it on 1 Samuel. The song that we now know as "Superstar" went:
Samuel,/ Samuel,/ This is the first book of Samuel./
Ack.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:18 AM on July 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
I went to a Jewish school (and, earlier, Jewish preschools) up until grade 4 (even grades 5&6 my new school was 90%+ Jewish), and they did not do so much of the comparative religion stuff. So I knew that Christmas had a tree and Santa and presents and stuff and on Easter we had two days off and often went to Boston, but I had no idea about anything actually theologically significant. Say something like "died for our sins".
I also saw a lot of summer stock theatre then. And one summer -- I believe the summer after grade 3 -- my parents brought me to Jesus Christ Superstar. ("Don't tell the school you saw it.") And the version I saw was particularly pro-Judas, Jesus-as-asshole.
This long coloured my interpretation of Christianity.
posted by jeather at 6:23 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
I also saw a lot of summer stock theatre then. And one summer -- I believe the summer after grade 3 -- my parents brought me to Jesus Christ Superstar. ("Don't tell the school you saw it.") And the version I saw was particularly pro-Judas, Jesus-as-asshole.
This long coloured my interpretation of Christianity.
posted by jeather at 6:23 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
I was going to be upset you left out Laibach, but they didn't cover Heaven On Their Minds.
posted by edheil at 6:30 AM on July 19, 2011
posted by edheil at 6:30 AM on July 19, 2011
Scratch Acid's version of "Damned For All Time"
posted by popechunk at 6:44 AM on July 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by popechunk at 6:44 AM on July 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
Fun Fact: Murray Head from Jesus Christ Superstar is the same Murray Head who sang "One Night in Bangkok".
posted by swift at 6:45 AM on July 19, 2011
posted by swift at 6:45 AM on July 19, 2011
Thanks so much for posting this! I love everything about this show. Every time I see the movie now I notice how sunburned everyone is in the Simon Zealot dance number, and I wonder if they weren't just fainting from heat and exhaustion between takes.
This long coloured my interpretation of Christianity. Same here, jeather.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 6:53 AM on July 19, 2011
This long coloured my interpretation of Christianity. Same here, jeather.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 6:53 AM on July 19, 2011
Gary Cherone of Extreme played JCS and Judas in several Boston Rock Opera versions. I'm pretty sure Kay Hanley played Mary during at least one production. She is in the chorus in the first link.
posted by Gungho at 6:56 AM on July 19, 2011
posted by Gungho at 6:56 AM on July 19, 2011
I can't help but think of my old Chapel Hill comedy troupe friends' silly take: Jesus Christ Superstore.
posted by freecellwizard at 7:11 AM on July 19, 2011
posted by freecellwizard at 7:11 AM on July 19, 2011
Corey Glover of Living Colour playing Judas. The husband is a huge fan of JCS and of Living Colour, so when this tour happened we were there, even though we had to fly to another city to see it.
And that's Ted Neely, once again, as Jesus.
posted by cereselle at 7:29 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
And that's Ted Neely, once again, as Jesus.
posted by cereselle at 7:29 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Though from the title you'd assume it was a joke album, The Indelicates' "David Koresh Superstar" is a remarkable concept album. Yes, it's a musical based on the life of David Koresh and the siege at Waco Texas, but it's done in a respectful way, very much unexpected.
posted by Teppy at 7:51 AM on July 19, 2011
posted by Teppy at 7:51 AM on July 19, 2011
1. "I could care less" is a contraction of "As if I could care less"!
2. "I could care less" is a conscious pedant-tweak.
Take your pick!
posted by facetious at 7:00 AM on July 19
I'll go for:
3. Contractions that reverse the meaning of the contracted expression are stupid, and make those who use them sound stupid. Also, using correct as opposed to incorrect constructions is not pedantry; it's caring about language and whether or not you want to look stupid.
posted by Decani at 8:06 AM on July 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
2. "I could care less" is a conscious pedant-tweak.
Take your pick!
posted by facetious at 7:00 AM on July 19
I'll go for:
3. Contractions that reverse the meaning of the contracted expression are stupid, and make those who use them sound stupid. Also, using correct as opposed to incorrect constructions is not pedantry; it's caring about language and whether or not you want to look stupid.
posted by Decani at 8:06 AM on July 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
I can't believe no one has mentioned Ian Gillan from Deep Purple as Jesus.
posted by Liquidwolf at 8:30 AM on July 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Liquidwolf at 8:30 AM on July 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
And another King Herod dessert: Rik Mayall of "The Young Ones" and "Bottom" fame. It's creepily delicious.
posted by luminous phenomena at 8:37 AM on July 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by luminous phenomena at 8:37 AM on July 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
I think Jesus Christ Superstar is my favorite G rated movie that explicitly displays a hash pipe.
posted by Liquidwolf at 8:38 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Liquidwolf at 8:38 AM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
"Even the addicts are saying, 'It doesn't matter how many drugs I take, I'm not fulfilled. This isn't satisfying.' There's a spiritual hunger going on. Everybody feels it. If you don't feel it now, you will. Trust me. You will... Drinking beer is easy. Trashing your hotel room is easy. But being a Christian, that's a tough call. That's rebellion."
Thanks to the person who posted the Alice Cooper interview. Good stuff.
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 10:13 AM on July 19, 2011
Thanks to the person who posted the Alice Cooper interview. Good stuff.
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 10:13 AM on July 19, 2011
My favorite version (besides the untouchable original concept album version) is a concert production from Vienna, with Serkan Kaya (a Turkish-German musical actor; he plays Luigi Lucheni in the DVD of the Vienna revival cast of Elisabeth with Maya Hakvoort) as Judas. He's brilliant.
posted by lysimache at 10:40 AM on July 19, 2011
posted by lysimache at 10:40 AM on July 19, 2011
swift: Fun Fact: Murray Head from Jesus Christ Superstar is the same Murray Head who sang "One Night in Bangkok".
Funnerer fact: Murray Head is Anthony Stewart Head (Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Uther on Merlin)'s brother. ASH is also quite the singer, and took over the role of "The American" in Chess (the character who sings "One Night in Bangkok") when Murray left the show.
Anthony Stewart Head singing "Sweet Transvestite" at the 2006 Rocky Horror Tribute Show (he had played the role twice in the West End).
Anthony Stewart Head singing an acoustic version of "Behind Blue Eyes" while accompanying himself on guitar, in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Where the Wild Things Are."
You're welcome.
posted by tzikeh at 10:43 AM on July 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
Funnerer fact: Murray Head is Anthony Stewart Head (Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Uther on Merlin)'s brother. ASH is also quite the singer, and took over the role of "The American" in Chess (the character who sings "One Night in Bangkok") when Murray left the show.
Anthony Stewart Head singing "Sweet Transvestite" at the 2006 Rocky Horror Tribute Show (he had played the role twice in the West End).
Anthony Stewart Head singing an acoustic version of "Behind Blue Eyes" while accompanying himself on guitar, in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Where the Wild Things Are."
You're welcome.
posted by tzikeh at 10:43 AM on July 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
I can't believe no one has mentioned Ian Gillan from Deep Purple as Jesus.
posted by Liquidwolf at 4:30 PM on July 19
Confession time: the first long playing record I ever bought was Jesus Christ Superstar: original soundtrack featuring Ian Gillan. The "Sun sleeve" version.
I sold it during a period of financial desperation and punk puritanism. I wish I hadn't.
posted by Decani at 11:15 AM on July 19, 2011
posted by Liquidwolf at 4:30 PM on July 19
Confession time: the first long playing record I ever bought was Jesus Christ Superstar: original soundtrack featuring Ian Gillan. The "Sun sleeve" version.
I sold it during a period of financial desperation and punk puritanism. I wish I hadn't.
posted by Decani at 11:15 AM on July 19, 2011
I can't believe no one has mentioned Ian Gillan from Deep Purple as Jesus.
Well, I was planning on getting to that.
The Deep Purple song that forever convinced me that maybe Ian Gillan was Jesus. The "proof" starts kicking in around the 2 minute point but it takes better part of a minute to truly manifest.
wait for the ricochet
posted by philip-random at 11:23 AM on July 19, 2011
Well, I was planning on getting to that.
The Deep Purple song that forever convinced me that maybe Ian Gillan was Jesus. The "proof" starts kicking in around the 2 minute point but it takes better part of a minute to truly manifest.
wait for the ricochet
posted by philip-random at 11:23 AM on July 19, 2011
True story, I grew up listening to the original 1970 concept album (the "Brown Album") and used to act out the entire show with my stuffed animals. Judas has always been, far and away, my favorite character.
I saw that Indigo Girls concert in Seattle, I think. Great show, fun interpretation. Herod was awesome.
A buddy of mine played Pontius Pilate in the touring company in the mid-90s, with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson. I believe my buddy started out as Annas early in the tour and later took over for Dennis DeYoung as Pilate when DeYoung left the tour.
posted by stennieville at 1:43 PM on July 19, 2011
I saw that Indigo Girls concert in Seattle, I think. Great show, fun interpretation. Herod was awesome.
A buddy of mine played Pontius Pilate in the touring company in the mid-90s, with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson. I believe my buddy started out as Annas early in the tour and later took over for Dennis DeYoung as Pilate when DeYoung left the tour.
posted by stennieville at 1:43 PM on July 19, 2011
philip-random ,
Yes! That version of Child in Time has been viewed many times by me on Youtube. Smoking solos on that one.
posted by Liquidwolf at 1:59 PM on July 19, 2011
Yes! That version of Child in Time has been viewed many times by me on Youtube. Smoking solos on that one.
posted by Liquidwolf at 1:59 PM on July 19, 2011
We weren't an especially religious family, but we broke out the 1970's concept album every Easter. That was about as close as we ever came to doing anything church-like.
I had the pleasure of meeting Yvonne Elliman a number of years ago and she is just a lovely person. So let's love on her a little, because Everything's All Right.
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:08 PM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
I had the pleasure of meeting Yvonne Elliman a number of years ago and she is just a lovely person. So let's love on her a little, because Everything's All Right.
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:08 PM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
My father and his (Episcopal) seminary classmates used to sing this verse (refrain?) from "The Last Supper" at their parties, after they'd had a few.
Look at all my trials and tribulations
Sinking in a gentle pool of wine
Don't disturb me now I can see the answers
Till this evening is this morning life is fine
Watching a group of future priests get drunk and silly on a regular basis has left with some fondness for the church, if not anything much in the way of belief.
posted by bibliowench at 4:34 PM on July 19, 2011
Look at all my trials and tribulations
Sinking in a gentle pool of wine
Don't disturb me now I can see the answers
Till this evening is this morning life is fine
Watching a group of future priests get drunk and silly on a regular basis has left with some fondness for the church, if not anything much in the way of belief.
posted by bibliowench at 4:34 PM on July 19, 2011
Fun Fact: Murray Head from Jesus Christ Superstar is the same Murray Head who sang "One Night in Bangkok".
Related Fun Fact: Tim Rice, who was the lyricist for JCS, also wrote the lyrics for CHESS, the musical which featured One Night In Bangkok. (The two guys from ABBA did the music.)
posted by hippybear at 5:02 PM on July 19, 2011
Related Fun Fact: Tim Rice, who was the lyricist for JCS, also wrote the lyrics for CHESS, the musical which featured One Night In Bangkok. (The two guys from ABBA did the music.)
posted by hippybear at 5:02 PM on July 19, 2011
Corey Glover of Living Colour playing Judas.
Holy shit, that's up there close to the Big Two. Glover's also pretty good at his day job.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:03 PM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Holy shit, that's up there close to the Big Two. Glover's also pretty good at his day job.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:03 PM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Needs more gravelly earth-shaking bass from Caiaphas.
posted by Decimask at 6:16 PM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Decimask at 6:16 PM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Cereselle, that Corey Glover performance made tears spring up in my eyes. Amazing. The blocking was great on the bridge, too, I thought - he looked as if he were walking through something giving him resistance, like he was in a bad dream.
posted by Addlepated at 8:04 PM on July 19, 2011
posted by Addlepated at 8:04 PM on July 19, 2011
I just found this Jerome Pradon performance from a 2001 video release that I never knew about, but is the same one that the Rik Mayall Herod's Song link above came from. I'm going to have to pick it up - it looks wonderful.
posted by Addlepated at 10:39 AM on July 20, 2011
posted by Addlepated at 10:39 AM on July 20, 2011
Related: Godflesh Superstar
I haven't had a lot of sleep over the past few days, so I read this quickly as "GOLDFISH Superstar" and thought, "THAT IS AWESOME!"
Now I am sad that Goldfish Superstar does not exist.
Calling Cortex and Chococat...we have a songwriting clean-up in Aisle 5...
posted by jeanmari at 1:19 PM on July 20, 2011
I haven't had a lot of sleep over the past few days, so I read this quickly as "GOLDFISH Superstar" and thought, "THAT IS AWESOME!"
Now I am sad that Goldfish Superstar does not exist.
Calling Cortex and Chococat...we have a songwriting clean-up in Aisle 5...
posted by jeanmari at 1:19 PM on July 20, 2011
Goldfish Superstar
This is his body, which was flushed for you...
posted by hippybear at 4:40 PM on July 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
This is his body, which was flushed for you...
posted by hippybear at 4:40 PM on July 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Too bad there isn't a Shatner version! C'mon, Bill!
My grade school rendition was this:
Jesus Christ, Superstar
Who in the hell do you think you are?
People look
People stare
He's got bulletproof underwear
At least grade school children every agree ... he's got bulletproof underwear!
posted by kuppajava at 8:20 AM on July 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
My grade school rendition was this:
Jesus Christ, Superstar
Who in the hell do you think you are?
People look
People stare
He's got bulletproof underwear
At least grade school children every agree ... he's got bulletproof underwear!
posted by kuppajava at 8:20 AM on July 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
We had the brown album when I was a child back in the 70s (well, we probably still have it somewhere) and my sister and I would sing and do little performances to it. Our basically non-religious family played it every Easter, and now I play it for my kids on our long drive to my aunt's for Easter dinner.
And Gethsemane may be the thing that came to the closest in my life to tipping me into belief. It feels so real to me-Jesus not as a saintly, saccharine figure, but as an angry, agonizing man, choosing to be sacrificed anyway.
Beautiful stuff. Thanks.
posted by purenitrous at 10:18 PM on July 21, 2011
And Gethsemane may be the thing that came to the closest in my life to tipping me into belief. It feels so real to me-Jesus not as a saintly, saccharine figure, but as an angry, agonizing man, choosing to be sacrificed anyway.
Beautiful stuff. Thanks.
posted by purenitrous at 10:18 PM on July 21, 2011
Since nobody's mentioned it...
There is a Priest credited as Paul Raven on the original brown album, who sings the lines "Good Caiaphas, the council waits for you. The Pharisees and priests are here for you."
Did you know that he went on to become this guy?
posted by snottydick at 2:58 PM on July 22, 2011
There is a Priest credited as Paul Raven on the original brown album, who sings the lines "Good Caiaphas, the council waits for you. The Pharisees and priests are here for you."
Did you know that he went on to become this guy?
posted by snottydick at 2:58 PM on July 22, 2011
I got to play the part of "random Roman soldier" in a performance in LA a few years ago. I wanted to be Judas, of course. I wanted to be Peter, maybe. Or Herod! But no. I was nobody. Cursed for life because ... well ... Can't sing. Can't dance.
But fuck all if I didn't love getting to deliver the line:
Someone Christ, King of the Jews!
(I also got to deliver the 39 lashes, but that was sort of painful for me every night.)
posted by GatorDavid at 9:44 PM on August 17, 2011
But fuck all if I didn't love getting to deliver the line:
Someone Christ, King of the Jews!
(I also got to deliver the 39 lashes, but that was sort of painful for me every night.)
posted by GatorDavid at 9:44 PM on August 17, 2011
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posted by Addlepated at 10:03 PM on July 18, 2011 [7 favorites]