Judas’ reprise of I Don’t Know How To Love Him is the greatest use of reprise in all of music history. So much meaning and depth there, comparable to the greatest opera composers of history, if not better.
I was a pre-teen hearing Jesus Christ Superstar for the first time in 2006, right around Easter time because my Mama had a wicked sense of humor. My family was pretty non-religious but FUCK did this blow my mind apart. Hearing Judas sing I Don't Know How to Love Him brought tears to my eyes then and it still gets me today
“Gethsemane” is such a good fucking song. One of my favorites of musical theatre. The “God, thy will is hard/But you hold every card” section gives me chills every time.
FINALLY someone has given this the credit it deserves. Not into musicals but I love this one. People always forget it was an album first and so it's brushed off in the canon of rock music. I genuinely think it's one of the greatest rock operas I've ever heard.
Exactly. I usually can't stand all the musicals that my family point me to because "musical" does not seem to apply, for me. I loved this album to death & played it like I did any album I loved. Often. Not pnly were the voices amazing but some incredible driving, evolving rock sequences
Not that there are many rock operas out there (JCSS, Tommy, Quadrophenia all equally brilliant IMO). Godspell pales in comparison. Never even watched Rocky Horror or Little Shop of Horrors for that matter. Grease had its moments for what it was, maybe Rock and Roll High School also comes to mind? Anything else?
No mention of the odd meters throughout surprises me - not only was the subject matter, point of view, and instrumentation revolutionary, the extensive use of five and seven based meters was equally remarkable.
To be fair it's such a dense musical that it's hard to go beyond a surface level summary of the musical. This was a pretty damn ambitious video and he could probably do an hour length video on it.
I had the pleasure of being in 2 productions of JCSS. In the first one, I played Judas. In the second, 22 years later, I played Pilate. Both roles offered a level of emotion, through music, that I had never experienced before on stage. These are sweet memories for me.
Pilate is my dream role. That being said, Judas is a great part. Sadly, I don't know that I have the musical chops. And vocally, Caiaphas is more my range.
I have to disagree with the conventional wisdom shown here. Gethsemane requires that I go for the gold in this performance. But I deeply bow in your direction for being a part of any JCSS production.
Good analogy. It garnered a lot of publicity due to it's 'controversial' rock n roll take on such a 'sacred' subject, plus it was (is) great. Didn't quite reach the phenomenal multimedia frenzy that Alex is still enjoying, though, for obvious reasons. The brown double album can stand alone, c'mon.
Jesus and Mario - two of the most influential fictional characters today, both with recognizable facial hair, both sharing the same music. Coincidence?
What JSSS did for Christianity was to make the religion more enticing to the youth of the day. Because of JCSS, more young people were discovering the bible and church in a way that wasn't being seen by the youth beforehand. This soundtrack/play/movie has helped spread the gospel more than Billy Graham could ever have. I remember my dad forbade me to see it which made it so attractive to me. Its a theme that has and will continue to stand the test of time,even to non believers.
I first heard Jesus Christ Superstar, when I was 6 years old. As a teenager, I used to play the entire album almost every day. I still have a deep love for it.
@@michaelchester5618 I relive it with the haunting melodies during Holy Week, just before Easter. The story is real for me and Rice and Webber's research well done!
Lisa Heisey I hope you will reply to this I love ❤️ Jesus Christ Superstar my Aunt Bee turned me on to it she had the original album on cassette l….I’d like to get the original album on vinyl on the original Decca label I have the film on VHS and DVD and the film soundtrack album on cassette
It's easy for a lot of us who are "cradle Christians" to take Jesus for granted, I think, because we're so familiar with the general story of His life that it fails to shock us. JCS is hardly an orthodox take, but at it's best it forces you to think about how utterly bewildering Jesus was to those around Him, whether you take Him as liar, lunatic, or Lord (to echo CS Lewis). Not to mention you get some pretty sweet rock music. Thanks for making this video, and Happy Good Friday/Easter!
In the mid 90s I played guitar in the orchestra pit for 'Superstar' for a local theater group. Quite challenging, especially 'Pilate's Song.' But did have a lot of fun. The last performance the stage hands decked out the table for the Last Supper with empty McDonald boxes and a rubber chicken.
Jesus Christ superstar was is and will always be my favorite musical of all time! Lloyd Webber and Rice persisted getting it done no matter what people said about it and wanted to tell a great story in a new way
I've always felt a genius of Jesus Christ Superstar lay in the identification of the audience with Judas by virtue of our modernity. Judas reappears as one of us, a post enlightenment person who finds Jesus' mission and death inscrutable. So, after all, it is we who have betrayed Jesus by our inability to believe in him.
Deep Purple’s In Rock is from 1970, and when comparing when this and JCS were originally released, Webber might have heard Ian Gillan from the live Concerto for Group and Orchestra album from Deep Purple, but not from In Rock. Also, the first lyrics you show in Everything’s Alright as being sung by Jesus are actually sung by Judas.
Deep Purple performed Child in Time at the Concerto for Group and Orchestra concert in 1969, before the release of In Rock, so maybe Rice and Lloyd Webber became aware of his vocal capabilities then.
Im one of the few that likes the early 2000s version the best. The guy who played judas just had the best way of interjecting the emotions into his voice
Absolutely loved this. Thank you so much for posting. Although I love the studio version, it is the movie soundtrack with Carl Anderson and Ted Neeley that I identify with most. They were the definitive Judas and Jesus for me.
@@michaelbaughman8910 in the early 70s we were taken from a long island Catholic Elementary School into New York City to see the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. The Herod character was fat he reminds me now of Harvey Weinstein
We all know She on TV. In Baton Rouge La But They is getting ready to fake my return you know me by the the hidden messages in the famous art work hidden messages my medical records true show the rest
I saw the original London cast version in the '70s. It was incredible. I must have been 10 or 11 years old and now at almost 60 I still remember it as a highlight of my youth. I revisit it every couple of years and I still find things I haven't noticed before. By the way, Ian GILLAN has no second 'I' in his surname! As a "proper" Rock Star he fits this role perfectly. Sadly he was too busy being the best rock singer of his generation in one of the best bands to ever grace a stage (Deep Purple) to tour JCSS, but I would love to have seen that!
This was the quintessential album of my generation in the 70's. We acted it out on the beach... it was our anthem. Loved it... the first one and the second blue one.
I love the sneer in the tone of Alice Cooper's take on Herod's Song; it's the one track that I prefer the newer televised version to the original recording or the 70s movie.
This and Evita are Webber & Rice's great masterpieces. Hell, do one of these videos on Evita. Do videos on musicals in general once in awhile. How about a video about Mel Brooks use of humour to reduce Hitler to a figure of ridicule in The Producers?
I don't consider myself religious' at all, but when this record came out I played it constantly, it just knocked me out. Great way to tell the story without all trappings of mainstream interpretations of the bible, and I found it very interesting, when generally I sort of tune out any sort of preaching. I also wrote a report on it starting with the Broadway premiere in high school such was my admiration for this groundbreaking classic. Haven't heard it in years, then came across it here. Say hi to everybody, OK? 🐟
I am not sure who to praise for this channel but it is is brilliant. I am wishing that there will be a podcast. Seriously thank you for a brilliant review on not only this musical but Bowie's Think White Duke. Please never stop. I'm sure you can make a Blink 182 album interesting. Well maybe not but be awesome to see.
He had originally written the song [I Don't Know How To Love HIm] about *his home State of Kansas*. Say what? Tim Rice rewrote the lyrics to their failed '67 song, "Kansas Morning." Which was about as "Home Statey" as The Beatles "Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!" They don't come any more English than Lloyd Webber. No more smoking ganja when making these videos, dude.
Another excellent piece. The narration sums the topic up nicely, with some interesting background facts, and the visuals and editing are absolutely perfect. You know it's perfect when you don't even notice how smoothly and effortlessly it all passes before your eyes. You don't even realise it is all a film put together by someone intentionally.
A few corrections: You attributed lyrics sung by Judas in Everything's Alright to Jesus. Ian Gillan's name is pronounced wrong throughout as "Gillian." Gethsemane is spelled and pronounced wrong. A lyric from Heaven on Their Minds (No talk of God then, we called you a man) adds a small g and an s to the word God. The melody of I Don't Know How to Love Him is from a Webber/Rice song called Kansas Morning, but Webber is from England, not Kansas.
@@70snostalgia Are you calling him pedantic? LOL. The video saying "Lloyd Webber's home state of Kansas" is as wrong as can be! And "Gethsemane" pronounced and oncreen as "Gesthamane"? The video is riddled with errors!
Some people are critics and some people are doers. Instead of nitpicking this guy's video, why don't you make your own better mistake free video on the same topic?
@@gotham61 That's a non-argument. First off you can be a critic and a doer. Secondly, just because you haven't done something yourself doesn't mean you can't criticise. Thirdly there is nothing wrong with constructive criticism. If the purpose of the video is to inform yet some of the information is wrong, it should be pointed out, that's not a nit pick.
Jesus Christ Superstar is my mom’s favorite musical and my all time favorite as well. It’s even in my top 10 favorite musicals list. The whole history lesson behind it was really awesome. Thank you for giving it the appreciation it deserves with this video!
4:39 Thats Judas Buddy, He's the one obsessed with the poor. Jesus says in response to that "Surely you're not saying we have the resources To save the poor from their lot?"
Jesus said you will have the poor wife you always but I am here only for a short while in defense of the woman who poured out the nard. It was Judas who griped that it could have been sold with the proceeds given to the poor with the side comment being added that he was a thief and wanted the money for himself. That last part is a later insertion by a commentator bent on demonizing Judas at a later time in my opinion. Jesus on the other hand appears to take Judas’ concern at face value but explains the matter of prioritizing his situation for better or worse.
I hope you're only referring to Jesus Christ Superstar here. ------------------------------------------------------------ Luke 6:20 King James Version (KJV) 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. ------------------------------------------------------------ Luke 6:20 New International Version (NIV) 20 Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. ----------------------------------------------------------- Luke 6:20 New English Translation (NET Bible) 20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God belongs to you. ------------------------------------------------------------ Luke 6:20 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Blessings and Woes 20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. ------------------------------------------------------------ Luke 6:20 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) The Beatitudes 20 Then looking up at his disciples, he said: Blessed are you who are poor, because the kingdom of God is yours. ------------------------------------------------------------ www.biblegateway.com/
@@cincilitigator5108 Where is your evidence that this was not written by the gospel writer? Also, the Bible says in more places than just one that Judas was a thief. Read the Bible and see for yourself. This was not an edit by a commentator.
Mike Bennett it is self evident for any critical reader or perhaps it is the spirit that I am following as Jesus would have it. Being fraught with errors,bigotry and contradictions there is no license required to reasonably interpret the “New Testament”. Just read it with consciousness instead of religious stricture and you will easily see what I mean.
@@cincilitigator5108 I read your comment 3 or 4 times, and I say this with sincerity, not as a criticism...I am not sure just what it is you are trying to communicate. Can you clarify?
@Jeff Marquis I agree. I was listening to the twangy guitar in Poor Jerusalem (6:14) and was thinking, “Gosh, that sounds like Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds,” just as I read this comment.
Point of interest: all "chaotic" numbers (the Temple, the Lepers, What's that buzz etc.are in odd-time, 5 or 7) - and it's "Gethsemane" (pronounced "Get sem ah neh" :-) Keep up the good work
Every time I go thrift shopping or record shopping, I see this record. I always glance and say nah but now that I have seen this video I feel like I should buy a copy.
You will not be disappointed. It really is a gift of a musical. I'm of the age I was a late teen when it came out. Bought a copy, was gifted two other copies. Wore two of them out.
Though there are slight errors in this video (Jesus’s solo is Gethsemane rather than “Gesthamane”, Ian’s last name is Gillan not Gillian, and Judas was the singer of the “woman your fine ointments” line), this is a really insightful look into my favorite musical of all time, and despite the above mentioned mistakes is really well researched and puts into words everything great about this story
I love this musical forever and have watched it about 50 times. I was 7 when I first saw the movie and it had such a big impact for me. Thank you for making this movie.
Agreed. The movie version is burned into my brain so much, other versions just seem like strange, lesser covers. Still, it’s interesting to review the deep purple album, and other versions with other players. I respect every attempt to cover this amazing music… But the movie version lives in the mitochondria of my brain forever…
I am new to the world of working in theater, but recently had the pleasure of working on this show. I knew nothing about the tone of this show, or what to expect. It changed my idea of what musical theater can be. A very powerful experience and all the performers, costumes, sets, lighting and imagery were so stylistic and breathtaking. I highly recommend seeing it in its current form
Fantastic job on this! I'm glad you pointed out the reusing of the different themes in the show. This was paced just right and spot-on each of the points you made.
Polyphonic always makes me have a different perspective on thing i enjoy, or makes me discover new things that i couldnt even bother about. So thankful for this channel.
I would say that Hair is the most important piece of theatre to introduce rock into the musical art form; Jesus Christ Superstar only helped that. Hair was way more controversial and cutting edge as a musical piece. I do prefer Jesus Christ Superstar, but Hair was way more important.
I suspect you are not from the south or mid-west. Superstar was the ground breaking work around here, both for the subject matter and the quality and tone of the music. Hair raised some eye brows, and attracted some attention, but it wasn't THAT ground breaking.
Bravo ! Great job ! I got the album as a 10 year old as a Chanukah gift in 1970 from a Christian family who were neighbors of my family in the apartment building that both families lived in. I still have the album and I've loved it ever since I received it. It was a wonderful gift.😊
I have been involved in two different productions of JCS, every time you feel a different interpretation of the songs by those playing the characters (each was double cast). Great video, keep up the great work 👍🏻✌🏻
Fantastic video! JCS is so meaningful to me, hard to put into words. Absolutely brilliant piece of inspired art, thank you to Weber and Rice. Thanks to u for this video essay.
Thanks for posting this. I loved this record. I played 'Superstar' at a piano recital when 12 years old. Only kid to do a contemporary song. Not a fan of ALW other works though. Lot of parallels between this and the movie "The Last Temptation" That film painted Judas as a sympathetic figure too. He was shown as Jesus's best friend. He was disappointed because he thought Jesus was there to lead a rebellion agains Roman rule, but then he came to realize that in order to help his friend achieve his true destiny, he had to do the 'betrayal'. It was an act of friendship more than betrayal. And like "Superstar' there was a lot of backlash. I am not a religious person, but I thought both of these works of art were highly spiritual.
I love love this musical! I had the original album but somebody threw it away. I used to walk around the house singing it to myself even years later. It really inspired me to spend a lot of time studying religion. Thank you for giving it such a loving review!
John 19:41 was a must have on your depressing 80's-90's mix tapes you gave to your friends. Same mix tape as Barber's Adagio, but not same side or pure teenage sadness would be overwhelming.
nicely done. It's been a favorite of mine since I discovered it in my parents record collection 30 years ago. The new televised version was really well done too.
Jeff Fenholt was the original Jesus on Broadway and was awesome. He later actually became a Christian evangelist. The original show was so low budget that they had limited microphones & they were corded. So they hid the cords in vines and ropes etc and arranged the choreography so the soloist could share the microphones. The great Ben Vareen originally played Judas & Yvonne Elliman played Mary in both the Broadway & movie productions. 😊
never understood why people did not think they touched on the resurrection. The end sequence you can decipher for yourself what some actors turned around and looked at while loading up in the bus. The silhouette of resurrected Jesus with a herd of lambs, walking along the crosses. The actor for jesus was not shown getting off the bus, or getting into the bus. As if he was never apart of their time.
First time i heard this album was the week before easter just this year on KSHE 95. I sat in my car and listened to them play through the entire album. Definitely going to be an annual tradition from now on!
Have always thought if I could only have one album to play the rest of my life, JCSS would be it. Nostalgia plays an important part of it having grown up listening to it as a kid.
No, that's *Judas* singing "Woman your fine ointment brand new and expensive could have been saved for the poor." Jesus then rebukes him with "...There will be poor always pathetically struggling, look at the good things you've got."
The song called "The Crucifixion", at the end uses the avant garde classical music that was happening at the time to get us into the head of Jesus as he is being crucified. We are experiencing the crucifixion from his perspective
THANKS FOR BRINGING, TO THE "LIGHT", THE CREATION OF THE ORIGINAL "JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR!!! NOT MANY AT ALL, HAVE KNOWN THIS, PROBABLY TO THIS DAY>>> THE "MUSIC" BROUGHT 'LIFE' TO THIS HEAVENLY ALW CREATION (I am 62 & and a Gal & I from school, Joann Watkins Would, & Could Sing EVERY SONG - no Fail- to it's Entirety, Perfectly! I Thank the Lord for That memory, and of His (Jesus), that in those Lyrics & Tunes, after that album, I Looked Deeper into His Life! ...'Sorry @ (4:33) it was JUDAS, not JESUS Singing..
Jesus Christ superstar is the best musical I have ever seen. I was forced to watch it at a Christian camp and it turned out to be a hella good. idk where I can see it now tho cus I don't think it's on Netflix
Someone else may have pointed this out already, but you referenced Jesus during a song portion that is actually not Jesus. "Woman this fine ointment..." is Judas.
The account of this meeting can be found in chapter 11 of John's gospel. In response to Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life, the Pharisees plot Christ's murder.
I never knew that was Murray Head! Absolutely brilliant. These songs have become part of our culture, I think it’s fantastic no matter what your beliefs. And it’s launched the careers of soooo many performers through its stage productions. Thank you for this!❤️
Just wanted to say that I just discovered your channel, and I love it! Thank you for all the great educational content. I love art and pop culture history, but I don't know very much about music, and I've learned a lot from your videos.
@@blaineishere3851 Andrew Lloyd Webber is from the UK, where does the Kansas bit come from? And yes, I know who wrote the music and who wrote the words.
@@blaineishere3851 Hence my surprise and confusion. Btw, do you have a reference for him living there? I googled him +Kansas and got nothing except School Of Rock pages. Since he & Tim were still unknown at the time I'd be surprised if he was living in the US - least of all Kansas! 😃
Rob Burgess I’m a Kansan myself and I’m pretty sure I’ve heard people mention that he lived around here at one point. I’ll look around and see if I can find anything!
It was no mental breakdown. Judas betrayed Jesus because he was not a true follower of Christ. He was motivated by his own self interests in that he saw Jesus as a means to an end. The occupation of Israel by the Romans was an affront to the Jews. Judas desired their overthrow and saw Jesus as the one who would lead the rebellion to overthrow Rome. However, when Jesus began saying that it was God's will that Jesus be handed over to Rome for crucifixion, Judas sought to force Jesus into rebellion by turning him in. Ironically, this action instead became the catalyst that lead to Jesus's arrest by the Sanhedrin. After which they turned him over to Rome for crucifixion.
Mike Bennett I’m not talking about biblical canon. In the album, Judas’s constant flying off the handle causes Jesus to essentially have a panic attack a couple times, Judas sees the last panic attack and turns Jesus in saying that he can’t control the crowds anymore, thus has become too dangerous to live.
@@blaineishere3851 My apologies Blaine. It was not apparent to me from your writing that you were referring to the fictional, JCS version of Judas rather than the actual Judas of the Bible. Thank you for your clarification. 😊
Judas’ reprise of I Don’t Know How To Love Him is the greatest use of reprise in all of music history. So much meaning and depth there, comparable to the greatest opera composers of history, if not better.
Agreed, and another tip of the hat to Townshend for inspiration I should think.
💯💯💯
I literally almost cried hearing the reprise for the first time
I was a pre-teen hearing Jesus Christ Superstar for the first time in 2006, right around Easter time because my Mama had a wicked sense of humor. My family was pretty non-religious but FUCK did this blow my mind apart. Hearing Judas sing I Don't Know How to Love Him brought tears to my eyes then and it still gets me today
“Gethsemane” is such a good fucking song. One of my favorites of musical theatre. The “God, thy will is hard/But you hold every card” section gives me chills every time.
Same!!...
Same, it is one of most magnificent songs ever written in music history
FINALLY someone has given this the credit it deserves. Not into musicals but I love this one. People always forget it was an album first and so it's brushed off in the canon of rock music. I genuinely think it's one of the greatest rock operas I've ever heard.
Exactly. I usually can't stand all the musicals that my family point me to because "musical" does not seem to apply, for me. I loved this album to death & played it like I did any album I loved. Often. Not pnly were the voices amazing but some incredible driving, evolving rock sequences
Oh didn't know that was the case. Always thought it was a broadway musical first then made into a movie. Thanks for the new info.
Not that there are many rock operas out there (JCSS, Tommy, Quadrophenia all equally brilliant IMO). Godspell pales in comparison. Never even watched Rocky Horror or Little Shop of Horrors for that matter. Grease had its moments for what it was, maybe Rock and Roll High School also comes to mind? Anything else?
Seriously. Finally someone did. This is a great tribute video and I'm saving this video forever. Great job to the the Creator
@@seangrexa4707 HAIR?
No mention of the odd meters throughout surprises me - not only was the subject matter, point of view, and instrumentation revolutionary, the extensive use of five and seven based meters was equally remarkable.
To be fair it's such a dense musical that it's hard to go beyond a surface level summary of the musical. This was a pretty damn ambitious video and he could probably do an hour length video on it.
Agreed... This was a big part of why I love this music.
I had the pleasure of being in 2 productions of JCSS. In the first one, I played Judas. In the second, 22 years later, I played Pilate. Both roles offered a level of emotion, through music, that I had never experienced before on stage. These are sweet memories for me.
Pilate is my dream role. That being said, Judas is a great part. Sadly, I don't know that I have the musical chops. And vocally, Caiaphas is more my range.
The two best roles in the play. Judas would be my go to, but it's out of my range now so Pilate is the next best
I have to disagree with the conventional wisdom shown here. Gethsemane requires that I go for the gold in this performance.
But I deeply bow in your direction for being a part of any JCSS production.
My mom said that Jesus Christ Superstar was the Hamilton of the 70s.
Pretty much
Can’t argue with that
Good analogy. It garnered a lot of publicity due to it's 'controversial' rock n roll take on such a 'sacred' subject, plus it was (is) great. Didn't quite reach the phenomenal multimedia frenzy that Alex is still enjoying, though, for obvious reasons. The brown double album can stand alone, c'mon.
She was right.
my all favorite musical
Small correction: 4:33 was one of Judas' lines not Jesus'
I also noticed that lol
Just came to see if anyone else had noticed.
Glad I was not alone there...
Immediately went down here to correct that but i see others noticed it too
caught this too
Sidenote. What's the buzz at 1.25 x speed is Mario invincibility theme.
wow, u right man
Jesus and Mario - two of the most influential fictional characters today, both with recognizable facial hair, both sharing the same music.
Coincidence?
@@SmithMrCorona I think NOT
Daplin1 I found this amusing. Thank you
@@SmithMrCorona Well, Jesus DID exist, but however he did the things that are written in the bible, that's another question.
What JSSS did for Christianity was to make the religion more enticing to the youth of the day. Because of JCSS, more young people were discovering the bible and church in a way that wasn't being seen by the youth beforehand. This soundtrack/play/movie has helped spread the gospel more than Billy Graham could ever have. I remember my dad forbade me to see it which made it so attractive to me. Its a theme that has and will continue to stand the test of time,even to non believers.
As a non-believer who grew up in a non-Christian state, I can confirm that is true as I just can't stop listening to this show.
I first heard Jesus Christ Superstar, when I was 6 years old. As a teenager, I used to play the entire album almost every day. I still have a deep love for it.
Ha, I learned how to read around 3-4 hears old while reading the included lyrics with the original album.
Me too, but i was11..
And love it more and more the closer i get to the day we meet in heaven.
@@michaelchester5618 I relive it with the haunting melodies during Holy Week, just before Easter. The story is real for me and Rice and Webber's research well done!
Lisa Heisey I hope you will reply to this I love ❤️ Jesus Christ Superstar my Aunt Bee turned me on to it she had the original album on cassette l….I’d like to get the original album on vinyl on the original Decca label I have the film on VHS and DVD and the film soundtrack album on cassette
4:32 that line is sung by Judas, since it's the feet and hair line is directed at Jesus
It's easy for a lot of us who are "cradle Christians" to take Jesus for granted, I think, because we're so familiar with the general story of His life that it fails to shock us. JCS is hardly an orthodox take, but at it's best it forces you to think about how utterly bewildering Jesus was to those around Him, whether you take Him as liar, lunatic, or Lord (to echo CS Lewis). Not to mention you get some pretty sweet rock music. Thanks for making this video, and Happy Good Friday/Easter!
I love the film version, Carl Anderson and Ted Neeley have such good voices
Carl Anderson is very awesome at portraying Judas. Ted is more of a Theatrical version of Ian
@@jessepinkeye2339 yeah
I prefer Carl over Murray but I think Ian was a better kinda raw and passionate Jesus than the very tired Ted interpretation
Neeley was good, Ian Gillan was chilling, especially "Gethsemane".
Carl Anderson blows it out of the park!! seriously i never understood how people could NOT love the film version.
The pope at the time even said that he approved of the musical, as I recall reading.
Actually I believe that he didn't approve of the musical but thought that I dont know how to love him was a beautiful song and listened to it often.
I went to a very conservative Catholic Elementary School and they took us to see the musical in New York City and it was approved by the Pope.
That's because the pope is Evil!
@@Krullmatic you're either a troll or an idiot. Neither alternative is particularly appealing.
In the mid 90s I played guitar in the orchestra pit for 'Superstar' for a local theater group. Quite challenging, especially 'Pilate's Song.' But did have a lot of fun. The last performance the stage hands decked out the table for the Last Supper with empty McDonald boxes and a rubber chicken.
A polyphonic video on my favourite musical? Yes please!
Exactly what went through my head
Jesus Christ superstar was is and will always be my favorite musical of all time! Lloyd Webber and Rice persisted getting it done no matter what people said about it and wanted to tell a great story in a new way
Amazing. I love the 2012 Arena tour with Tim Minchin as Judas Iscariot myself....most underrated musical of our times...
I've always felt a genius of Jesus Christ Superstar lay in the identification of the audience with Judas by virtue of our modernity. Judas reappears as one of us, a post enlightenment person who finds Jesus' mission and death inscrutable. So, after all, it is we who have betrayed Jesus by our inability to believe in him.
Lloyd Webber’s home state of Kansas? Kensington England
Yeah, neither Webb nor Rice were American
Has the maker never heard either of Rice or Lloyd Webber speak??
He lived in Kansas at the time.
Yeah. This is fake news. I shut the video down after I heard that.
The original song was called “Kansas Morning” but you’re correct, he’s English.
Already love this. JCS is my favorite musical.
Deep Purple’s In Rock is from 1970, and when comparing when this and JCS were originally released, Webber might have heard Ian Gillan from the live Concerto for Group and Orchestra album from Deep Purple, but not from In Rock. Also, the first lyrics you show in Everything’s Alright as being sung by Jesus are actually sung by Judas.
And it's Ian Gillan, not Ian Gillian, as the narrator pronounces it
Ian Gillan doesn't sing on the album Deep Purple. Concerto was his debut.
Deep Purple performed Child in Time at the Concerto for Group and Orchestra concert in 1969, before the release of In Rock, so maybe Rice and Lloyd Webber became aware of his vocal capabilities then.
Child in time was written and recorded in 1969.
Still getting over ALW being from Kansas.
Im one of the few that likes the early 2000s version the best. The guy who played judas just had the best way of interjecting the emotions into his voice
The 2000 film?
Absolutely loved this. Thank you so much for posting. Although I love the studio version, it is the movie soundtrack with Carl Anderson and Ted Neeley that I identify with most. They were the definitive Judas and Jesus for me.
I saw the performance starring Ted Neeley here in Halifax back in 95. Was one of the most amazing live shows I have ever seen even to this date.
One of the greatest rock musicals ever written. Gethsemane is a truly epic vocal tour de force.
My favourite bit from Herod's Song ..
So if you are the Christ
Yes the great Jesus Christ
Prove to me that you're no fool
Walk across my swimming pool
Pipe2DevNull with the voice from the movie. He sounds so slisky
I once played Herod on Superstar a long tome ago
I absolutely LOVED Alice Cooper's version of Herod. I think he did it perfectly.
@@michaelbaughman8910 in the early 70s we were taken from a long island Catholic Elementary School into New York City to see the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. The Herod character was fat he reminds me now of Harvey Weinstein
We all know She on TV. In Baton Rouge La
But They is getting ready to fake my return you know me by the the hidden messages in the famous art work hidden messages my medical records true show the rest
Every Easter we watch this. 30 year tradition 🙌🏾
I saw the original London cast version in the '70s. It was incredible. I must have been 10 or 11 years old and now at almost 60 I still remember it as a highlight of my youth. I revisit it every couple of years and I still find things I haven't noticed before.
By the way, Ian GILLAN has no second 'I' in his surname! As a "proper" Rock Star he fits this role perfectly. Sadly he was too busy being the best rock singer of his generation in one of the best bands to ever grace a stage (Deep Purple) to tour JCSS, but I would love to have seen that!
This was the quintessential album of my generation in the 70's. We acted it out on the beach... it was our anthem. Loved it... the first one and the second blue one.
who knew we would get this genre on polyphonic. v exciting
I love the sneer in the tone of Alice Cooper's take on Herod's Song; it's the one track that I prefer the newer televised version to the original recording or the 70s movie.
This and Evita are Webber & Rice's great masterpieces.
Hell, do one of these videos on Evita.
Do videos on musicals in general once in awhile. How about a video about Mel Brooks use of humour to reduce Hitler to a figure of ridicule in The Producers?
Evita is brilliant.
I don't consider myself religious' at all, but when this record came out I played it constantly, it just knocked me out. Great way to tell the story without all trappings of mainstream interpretations of the bible, and I found it very interesting, when generally I sort of tune out any sort of preaching. I also wrote a report on it starting with the Broadway premiere in high school such was my admiration for this groundbreaking classic. Haven't heard it in years, then came across it here. Say hi to everybody, OK? 🐟
I am not sure who to praise for this channel but it is is brilliant. I am wishing that there will be a podcast. Seriously thank you for a brilliant review on not only this musical but Bowie's Think White Duke. Please never stop. I'm sure you can make a Blink 182 album interesting. Well maybe not but be awesome to see.
My fav is “Everything’s Alright.”
We grew up singing songs from this show at Mass in convent school.
He had originally written the song [I Don't Know How To Love HIm] about *his home State of Kansas*.
Say what?
Tim Rice rewrote the lyrics to their failed '67 song, "Kansas Morning." Which was about as "Home Statey" as The Beatles "Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!"
They don't come any more English than Lloyd Webber.
No more smoking ganja when making these videos, dude.
My thoughts exactly
That "home state of Kansas" comment jumped out at me as well. Wrong!!!!
Yes, this was an obvious error but the rest of the video was fabulous!
I have a friend who really loves musicals, I'mma send this to him. Thanks for making this!!!
Another excellent piece. The narration sums the topic up nicely, with some interesting background facts, and the visuals and editing are absolutely perfect. You know it's perfect when you don't even notice how smoothly and effortlessly it all passes before your eyes. You don't even realise it is all a film put together by someone intentionally.
Dude finally I love Jesus Christ Superstar
A few corrections: You attributed lyrics sung by Judas in Everything's Alright to Jesus. Ian Gillan's name is pronounced wrong throughout as "Gillian." Gethsemane is spelled and pronounced wrong. A lyric from Heaven on Their Minds (No talk of God then, we called you a man) adds a small g and an s to the word God. The melody of I Don't Know How to Love Him is from a Webber/Rice song called Kansas Morning, but Webber is from England, not Kansas.
Do you seperate your peas and carrots, Brent?
@@70snostalgia Are you calling him pedantic? LOL. The video saying "Lloyd Webber's home state of Kansas" is as wrong as can be! And "Gethsemane" pronounced and oncreen as "Gesthamane"? The video is riddled with errors!
@@_misnoma_ I know, but come on, give the dude some credit, he made a really good vid.
Some people are critics and some people are doers. Instead of nitpicking this guy's video, why don't you make your own better mistake free video on the same topic?
@@gotham61 That's a non-argument. First off you can be a critic and a doer. Secondly, just because you haven't done something yourself doesn't mean you can't criticise. Thirdly there is nothing wrong with constructive criticism. If the purpose of the video is to inform yet some of the information is wrong, it should be pointed out, that's not a nit pick.
Those years were experimental; that's what we had, and did some progressive thinking. We had nothing but creativity.
Jesus Christ Superstar is my mom’s favorite musical and my all time favorite as well. It’s even in my top 10 favorite musicals list. The whole history lesson behind it was really awesome. Thank you for giving it the appreciation it deserves with this video!
When I think this channel can’t get better, I find this gem on Jesus Christ Superstar. Thank you Polyphonic
My favorite album ever!!!
4:39 Thats Judas Buddy, He's the one obsessed with the poor. Jesus says in response to that "Surely you're not saying we have the resources
To save the poor from their lot?"
Jesus said you will have the poor wife you always but I am here only for a short while in defense of the woman who poured out the nard. It was Judas who griped that it could have been sold with the proceeds given to the poor with the side comment being added that he was a thief and wanted the money for himself. That last part is a later insertion by a commentator bent on demonizing Judas at a later time in my opinion. Jesus on the other hand appears to take Judas’ concern at face value but explains the matter of prioritizing his situation for better or worse.
I hope you're only referring to Jesus Christ Superstar here.
------------------------------------------------------------
Luke 6:20 King James Version (KJV)
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
------------------------------------------------------------
Luke 6:20 New International Version (NIV)
20 Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Luke 6:20 New English Translation (NET Bible)
20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God belongs to you.
------------------------------------------------------------
Luke 6:20 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Blessings and Woes
20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
------------------------------------------------------------
Luke 6:20 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Beatitudes
20 Then looking up at his disciples, he said:
Blessed are you who are poor,
because the kingdom of God is yours.
------------------------------------------------------------
www.biblegateway.com/
@@cincilitigator5108
Where is your evidence that this was not written by the gospel writer?
Also, the Bible says in more places than just one that Judas was a thief. Read the Bible and see for yourself.
This was not an edit by a commentator.
Mike Bennett it is self evident for any critical reader or perhaps it is the spirit that I am following as Jesus would have it. Being fraught with errors,bigotry and contradictions there is no license required to reasonably interpret the “New Testament”. Just read it with consciousness instead of religious stricture and you will easily see what I mean.
@@cincilitigator5108
I read your comment 3 or 4 times, and I say this with sincerity, not as a criticism...I am not sure just what it is you are trying to communicate. Can you clarify?
I'd love to see an episode on Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds
That would be amazing.
Do it
@Jeff Marquis
I agree. I was listening to the twangy guitar in Poor Jerusalem (6:14) and was thinking, “Gosh, that sounds like Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds,” just as I read this comment.
Point of interest: all "chaotic" numbers (the Temple, the Lepers, What's that buzz etc.are in odd-time, 5 or 7) - and it's "Gethsemane" (pronounced "Get sem ah neh" :-) Keep up the good work
Every time I go thrift shopping or record shopping, I see this record. I always glance and say nah but now that I have seen this video I feel like I should buy a copy.
You will not be disappointed. It really is a gift of a musical. I'm of the age I was a late teen when it came out. Bought a copy, was gifted two other copies. Wore two of them out.
Though there are slight errors in this video (Jesus’s solo is Gethsemane rather than “Gesthamane”, Ian’s last name is Gillan not Gillian, and Judas was the singer of the “woman your fine ointments” line), this is a really insightful look into my favorite musical of all time, and despite the above mentioned mistakes is really well researched and puts into words everything great about this story
You left out the most prominent error: He keeps on referring to “Webber” The family surname is Lloyd Webber. Lloyd is not a middle name.
@@schrire39 or the fact his home state was definitely not Kansas!
Everyone is a critic, but you've done the job and the work. Appreciate your effort and the result of each one of your videos. Thanks.
I've got the original record. And yes, it's my favorite masterpiece. Great vid, I was hoping you'd cover this album sometime. :)
I love this musical forever and have watched it about 50 times. I was 7 when I first saw the movie and it had such a big impact for me. Thank you for making this movie.
Oh dear, I had forgotten about this, I used to listen to the LP's when I was about... when they came out! Brilliant analysis, thanks a million.
Me too. Blew my mind.
I’m so happy you mentioned SF Sorrow! The Pretty Things are so important and among history’s most overlooked figures in rock
Ngl, the movie version being my standard makes this really weird to listen to
Agreed. The movie version is burned into my brain so much, other versions just seem like strange, lesser covers. Still, it’s interesting to review the deep purple album, and other versions with other players. I respect every attempt to cover this amazing music… But the movie version lives in the mitochondria of my brain forever…
Same
I saw the original cast in London before I saw the movie and was equally surprised and, honestly, a bit disappointed about the singers in the film.
Some errors in this very well-put-together video, but let those who have never made a mistake cast the first stone... :)
How fitting this has been Released in Australia on Good Friday 😂
This was such an incredible video. Thanks so much for this, because JCS is simply amazing
I am new to the world of working in theater, but recently had the pleasure of working on this show. I knew nothing about the tone of this show, or what to expect. It changed my idea of what musical theater can be. A very powerful experience and all the performers, costumes, sets, lighting and imagery were so stylistic and breathtaking.
I highly recommend seeing it in its current form
Fantastic job on this! I'm glad you pointed out the reusing of the different themes in the show. This was paced just right and spot-on each of the points you made.
Polyphonic always makes me have a different perspective on thing i enjoy, or makes me discover new things that i couldnt even bother about. So thankful for this channel.
I would say that Hair is the most important piece of theatre to introduce rock into the musical art form; Jesus Christ Superstar only helped that. Hair was way more controversial and cutting edge as a musical piece. I do prefer Jesus Christ Superstar, but Hair was way more important.
I suspect you are not from the south or mid-west. Superstar was the ground breaking work around here, both for the subject matter and the quality and tone of the music. Hair raised some eye brows, and attracted some attention, but it wasn't THAT ground breaking.
10:15As a man from Serbia,
The text on the disk says:
Radio-Television ,,Belgrade"
(Belgrade is capital of Serbia)
JCS hit Broadway in the early 70’s & Life of Brian slapped us in the late 70’s. What a brilliant decade!
kerryn67 not to mention Rocky Horror
It's a family tradition of ours to watch JCS every Good Friday. Mine is to watch Life of Brian.
ChainsGoldMask
The best of them all!
Fascinating!
I’ve been studying Leonard Bernstein’s “Mass,” and several sources cite “Superstar” as an influence. Thank you for sharing this.
Bravo ! Great job ! I got the album as a 10 year old as a Chanukah gift in 1970 from a Christian family who were neighbors of my family in the apartment building that both families lived in. I still have the album and I've loved it ever since I received it. It was a wonderful gift.😊
I was literally just relistening to the album, then you post this. You never cease to be on time, Poly!
I have been involved in two different productions of JCS, every time you feel a different interpretation of the songs by those playing the characters (each was double cast). Great video, keep up the great work 👍🏻✌🏻
Fantastic video! JCS is so meaningful to me, hard to put into words. Absolutely brilliant piece of inspired art, thank you to Weber and Rice. Thanks to u for this video essay.
Thanks for posting this. I loved this record. I played 'Superstar' at a piano recital when 12 years old. Only kid to do a contemporary song. Not a fan of ALW other works though. Lot of parallels between this and the movie "The Last Temptation" That film painted Judas as a sympathetic figure too. He was shown as Jesus's best friend. He was disappointed because he thought Jesus was there to lead a rebellion agains Roman rule, but then he came to realize that in order to help his friend achieve his true destiny, he had to do the 'betrayal'. It was an act of friendship more than betrayal. And like "Superstar' there was a lot of backlash. I am not a religious person, but I thought both of these works of art were highly spiritual.
And of course, Maunday Thursday is the ONLY day this could be released.
Awesome video. It's one of my themes of my life. There's no time I hear Judas that it doesn't kick my senses
I love love this musical! I had the original album but somebody threw it away. I used to walk around the house singing it to myself even years later. It really inspired me to spend a lot of time studying religion. Thank you for giving it such a loving review!
John 19:41 was a must have on your depressing 80's-90's mix tapes you gave to your friends. Same mix tape as Barber's Adagio, but not same side or pure teenage sadness would be overwhelming.
It's getting late now, but tomorrow is a Good Friday... I guess a perfect day to listen to this musical
nicely done. It's been a favorite of mine since I discovered it in my parents record collection 30 years ago. The new televised version was really well done too.
I dont know how to love him is indeed Yvonnes shining moment. It alwayd gives me chills and goosebumps
Jeff Fenholt was the original Jesus on Broadway and was awesome. He later actually became a Christian evangelist. The original show was so low budget that they had limited microphones & they were corded. So they hid the cords in vines and ropes etc and arranged the choreography so the soloist could share the microphones. The great Ben Vareen originally played Judas & Yvonne Elliman played Mary in both the Broadway & movie productions. 😊
never understood why people did not think they touched on the resurrection. The end sequence you can decipher for yourself what some actors turned around and looked at while loading up in the bus. The silhouette of resurrected Jesus with a herd of lambs, walking along the crosses. The actor for jesus was not shown getting off the bus, or getting into the bus. As if he was never apart of their time.
The best musical ever!
First time i heard this album was the week before easter just this year on KSHE 95. I sat in my car and listened to them play through the entire album. Definitely going to be an annual tradition from now on!
Have always thought if I could only have one album to play the rest of my life, JCSS would be it. Nostalgia plays an important part of it having grown up listening to it as a kid.
No, that's *Judas* singing "Woman your fine ointment brand new and expensive could have been saved for the poor." Jesus then rebukes him with "...There will be poor always pathetically struggling, look at the good things you've got."
sorry if this has been mentioned before but at 4:30 is a judas quote, not jesus quote from jesus christ superstar
The song called "The Crucifixion", at the end uses the avant garde classical music that was happening at the time to get us into the head of Jesus as he is being crucified. We are experiencing the crucifixion from his perspective
THANKS FOR BRINGING, TO THE "LIGHT", THE CREATION OF THE ORIGINAL "JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR!!! NOT MANY AT ALL, HAVE KNOWN THIS, PROBABLY TO THIS DAY>>> THE "MUSIC" BROUGHT 'LIFE' TO THIS HEAVENLY ALW CREATION (I am 62 & and a Gal & I from school, Joann Watkins Would, & Could Sing EVERY SONG - no Fail- to it's Entirety, Perfectly! I Thank the Lord for That memory, and of His (Jesus), that in those Lyrics & Tunes, after that album, I Looked Deeper into His Life! ...'Sorry @ (4:33) it was JUDAS, not JESUS Singing..
Jesus Christ superstar is the best musical I have ever seen. I was forced to watch it at a Christian camp and it turned out to be a hella good. idk where I can see it now tho cus I don't think it's on Netflix
Great analysis. I love musicals and I think Jesus Christ Superstar is Weber and Rice's work.
Someone else may have pointed this out already, but you referenced Jesus during a song portion that is actually not Jesus. "Woman this fine ointment..." is Judas.
I suppose you had to use the original album version, but Carl Anderson’s Judas from the movie is even more amazing.
We need a more permanent solution to our problem
What then to do about Jesus of Nazareth?
What problem?
How do we deal with a carpenter king? What do we do with a man who is bigger than John was when John did his baptism thing?
The account of this meeting can be found in chapter 11 of John's gospel. In response to Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life, the Pharisees plot Christ's murder.
Fools! You have no PERCEPTION. The Stakes we are Gambling are Frightingly High. We must crush him completely.
Rip Barry Denman, the original Pilate
Dennen, not Denman.
I never knew that was Murray Head! Absolutely brilliant. These songs have become part of our culture, I think it’s fantastic no matter what your beliefs. And it’s launched the careers of soooo many performers through its stage productions. Thank you for this!❤️
I love the tambourine on Damned For All time....so rhythmically chaotic
Did you say Tim Rice's home state was Kansas? Er... no. He was born in Buckingahmshire, England.
Just wanted to say that I just discovered your channel, and I love it! Thank you for all the great educational content. I love art and pop culture history, but I don't know very much about music, and I've learned a lot from your videos.
Webber wrote "I Don't Know How To Love Him" about his home state of Kansas? Dude, lay off the drugs 😂
Rob Burgess
The music. Not the lyrics.
@@blaineishere3851 Andrew Lloyd Webber is from the UK, where does the Kansas bit come from?
And yes, I know who wrote the music and who wrote the words.
Rob Burgess ah my bad. It’s where he lived at the time. “Home state” was a weird way of putting it.
@@blaineishere3851 Hence my surprise and confusion. Btw, do you have a reference for him living there? I googled him +Kansas and got nothing except School Of Rock pages. Since he & Tim were still unknown at the time I'd be surprised if he was living in the US - least of all Kansas! 😃
Rob Burgess I’m a Kansan myself and I’m pretty sure I’ve heard people mention that he lived around here at one point. I’ll look around and see if I can find anything!
I’ve always loved how Judas not only played a role in Jesus’s arrest, but also the mental breakdown that convinced him to turn Jesus in.
It was no mental breakdown. Judas betrayed Jesus because he was not a true follower of Christ. He was motivated by his own self interests in that he saw Jesus as a means to an end. The occupation of Israel by the Romans was an affront to the Jews. Judas desired their overthrow and saw Jesus as the one who would lead the rebellion to overthrow Rome. However, when Jesus began saying that it was God's will that Jesus be handed over to Rome for crucifixion, Judas sought to force Jesus into rebellion by turning him in. Ironically, this action instead became the catalyst that lead to Jesus's arrest by the Sanhedrin. After which they turned him over to Rome for crucifixion.
Mike Bennett I’m not talking about biblical canon. In the album, Judas’s constant flying off the handle causes Jesus to essentially have a panic attack a couple times, Judas sees the last panic attack and turns Jesus in saying that he can’t control the crowds anymore, thus has become too dangerous to live.
@@blaineishere3851
My apologies Blaine. It was not apparent to me from your writing that you were referring to the fictional, JCS version of Judas rather than the actual Judas of the Bible. Thank you for your clarification. 😊
Mike Bennett happy Easter!
@@blaineishere3851
...and to you as well Blaine! 😊
omg this video was so well done, really helped me to better understand the meaning behind jcss