Fav song in the movie? - Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) Discussion

[–] Danelle-3 20 years ago

I love all the songs in the movie, but favorite standouts for me are: "Superstar" for the soaring sense of triumph and joy, "I Don't Know How To Love Him" for the awed reverence of the singer/words for the subject, and Gethsemane for the powerful range of emotion, moving from Jesus' doubt and fear and balking to finally courageous acceptance of His fate.

-- Danelle

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[–] Smoke14 20 years ago

Gethsemane, hands down. Not only my favorite in the movie, but my favorite song, period.

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[–] Purplefirenze 20 years ago

Not sure how id feel with anyone other than ted neeley singing it, im so useds to the movie version! I also love heaven on their minds

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[–] ilovepirates428 20 years ago

Heaven on their Minds
Herod's song
Damned for all time
Getshmne

"If you were me...I'd be ugly."
proud member of the JD Cult, est.2003

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[–] tugboat2030 20 years ago

That line is also in the song Superstar! Which is my favorite:

"Now why'd you choose such a backward time in such a strange land? If you had come today, you could have reached a whole nation! Israel in 4 BC had no mass communication!"

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[–] PencilNeckedGeek2 20 years ago

"Gethsemane" all the way, man. The raw emotion is in-freakin-credible, and Ted Neely nails it. No one else has done that song as well, and probably never will.

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[–] MissUse 20 years ago

My mum went to see the show in 1971 when Paul Nicholas played Christ. She bought the album there too I believe, and Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) is singing as Jesus. He is absolutely incredible. After hearing this you'll think Ted Neely sounds weak.

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[–] iadoredave 20 years ago

agree completely. I cry whenever I hear Ian Gillan sing Gethsemane.

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[–] PencilNeckedGeek2 20 years ago

I have the studio version of the album too, so I know Ian's version of the song as well. I agree it's great, but I still favor Neely's version because of the longer bridge (the musical interlude right after he sings, "Just watch me die.") and the great visuals.

No matter what the version, though, "Gethsemane" is just a wonderful song. Incredibly powerful, and reminds you that Christ had human doubts.

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[–] 20 years ago

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[–] misse1977 19 years ago

I agree. I do prefer Neeley´s version over Gillans. Simply because Gillan doesn´t move me the same way. I think the movie version had slightly more action. But none of them could compare with Neeley live, in the 92-97 tour. He is older, bigger and have more force behind his singing. Brilliant.

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[–] brendanchenowith 16 years ago

Ted Neely nails it.

Nice pun - I, myself, LOVE Could We Start Again Please, and the nice little string coda at the end of I Don't Know How to Love Him.

I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked.

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[–] Dawn-125 20 years ago

Heaven on their Minds, Superstar. Judas has all the best songs. I'd have to be Judas in this production (even though I am a woman). Carl Anderson, backstage one night in 1993, told me he'd met several women who had played Judas.

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[–] skydvr38 17 years ago

my vote, Heaven on their Minds ...sets the tone for the whole show

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[–] PencilNeckedGeek 18 years ago

I recommend checking out the original album version as well, sung by Ian Gillan (lead singer of Deep Purple). I love Ted Neely's rendition, but Ian's is at least as good.

"And in his cage, the monkey smiled with his all-knowing eyes." - Anon.

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[–] jimsband-1 14 years ago

You'll surely change your opinion once you've heard Deep Purple IAN GILLAN's version - it was in the LP long before the movie.

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[–] mrvlgrl1860 19 years ago

I like them all, too, but the three that always get stuck in my head are:

What's the Buzz, tell me what's a-happening?
Herod's Song
Could we start again please song

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[–] dramaproject 19 years ago

All incredible songs, but emotion??? What emotion??? Every actor/actress in this version had one look (very similar to the look of someone on a great range of drugs). The acting (or lack thereof) was terrible. Other versions give this one a run for its money. The songs are much more fluid and make more sense because of the ACTING.

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[–] petsisme 18 years ago

Good picks, but if I had to just pick one, it would be Gethsemane

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn"

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[–] StrandedinLaLaLand 12 years ago

I Don't Know How to Love Him
What's the Buzz?
Everything's All Right
Could We Start Again Please?
This Jesus Must Die
Superstar

These are my top songs!

I must warn you. I'm very susceptible to flattery.

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[–] hallier23 20 years ago

I get chills and nearly tear up when Superstar plays. To me, it's just a beautiful, uplifting song.

"When I left you I was but the learner. Now I am the master." - Darth Vader

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[–] Meeedith 20 years ago

I love judas' song and king herod comes in a close second.

If all else fails phone the pope for guidance, and i gather his switchboard is infallible.

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[–] dark_chyld2002 20 years ago

I like the 'whats the buzz?' song.

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[–] GeorgiaGiant 20 years ago

"Heaven on their Minds." It sets the tone for the show and conveys Judas' desperation for Christ to reveal Himself to be the leader of the Jewish people. But I love this whole show. I also love the LAst supper and the exchange between Christ and Judas. Powerful stuff.

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[–] bay-2 20 years ago

My favorite line in the entire soundtrack is
"God...Thy will is hard, but you hold every card..."
Whenever I'm having crisis in my life, that line always gets me through it.
Love, Bay

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[–] russianhomie 20 years ago

I like the song that mary sings: Everything's Alright, I thought I heard something like that before, are these songs like remakes? If so, what's the original for this one, thanks.

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[–] cwdrummer87 20 years ago

its gotta be the overture

meep squared= meep meep

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[–] Cidious 20 years ago

Overture.

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[–] Iamb_180 20 years ago

Heaven On Their Minds
Damned for All Time/Blood Money
The Last Supper
Superstar

I can't choose just one- sorry. :D

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[–] Sylvie17 20 years ago

My favorites are:

Hosanna-(Why waste your breath moaning at the crowd? Nothing can be done to stop the shouting. If every tongue were still the noise would still continue, the rocks and stones themselves, would start to sing! and then there's Hey JC,JC, would you die for me - the way they stopped the film and froze the look on Jesus' face...)

Simon Zealotes - pure joy, bordering on hysteria and ecstasy.

and Could We Start Again Please? It's so full of regret and helplessness and longing.

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[–] ortwinhuysmans 20 years ago

I love Trial Before Pilate and Jesus and Pilate

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[–] UndeadPrincess 20 years ago

Heaven On Their Minds, The Temple, and Hosanna
And I really like the movie version of "Jesus Christ Superstar." Very uplifting. I think from Pilate and Jesus all the way to the end is great, cause you've got Pilate and Jesus, Herod's Song, Judas's Death, The Trial Before Pilate, and then Jesus Christ Superstar. I'm not crazy about Could We Start Again, Please? cause they already had some sappy love song earlier that I had to shift uncomfortably through.
But, specifically, the Trial Before Pilate is #1 in my book. I like the 39 Lashes song, as Jesus is getting whipped. Clever and cool...
DON'T LET ME STOP, YOUR GREAT SELF DESTRUCTION!
DIE IF YOU WANT TO, YOU MISGUIDED MARTYR!
I WASH MY HANDS OF YOUR DEMOLITION...!
DIE IF YOU WANT TO... you... innocent puppet...
So cool.

[url="http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/hook_and_wendy/"]Hook & Wendy Group[/url]

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[–] lauchstange 19 years ago

all songs are fantastic, but i think heaven on their minds is the best one. hosanna, gethsemane, superstar and the other songs of judas are very good.

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[–] nntroela 19 years ago

Everything with Pilate and Heaven on their minds.

And of course the ouverture and the end, where you here that tingletangle sound (listen carefully there, it's wonderful)

I love the instrumental piece (great yearning quitar.. now that is rock music!) before 'damned for all time (and that one i like too, i like Judas's songs, generally)

Can't stand the 'love-song-like' songs. Dunno, used to listen those songs when i was younger, now i like everything 'the guys' sing. Also like Then we are decided (very much, it explains a lot and is very well brought (acted)) and He is Dangerous. Hm, i just seem to like the entire soundtrack (oooops!)

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[–] DACREEPER 14 years ago

One song? Are u kidding me? Gethsemane is beautiful, The Last Supper when Judas and Jesus argue ("You have managed better if you had it planned...AWWWW!"), Overture has great guitar work, Superstar's opening crash can't help but give u chills, Simon Zealotes opening horns which switch from speaker to speaker is cool then blasts into a killer piano rift, etc BUT I have to agree that Pilate's closing lines at the end of the Trial are so powerful it would have to be my pic. Overall the music is wonderful. The guitars and piano are astounding. Try listening with headphones 70's style like I did.

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[–] keithw84 13 years ago

So many great ones. These are my five favorites:

Gethsemane
Simon Zealotes/Poor Jerusalem
Hosanna
The Temple
Everything's Alright.

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[–] spingirlxoxo 19 years ago

i like the beginning when there getting off the bus.what's the buzz tell me what's happening!! hosannah hey zanna zanna zanna ho!christ you know i love you! can't you see our ways!! and jeeeesuusssss chrrristttt SSUUUPPPERRRSTAAARRRR!!! this movie is so cool!

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] jenntheangel_1 19 years ago

I'm not sure what its called... but its the one when people are popping out of no where n there r singing stuff like "See me stand, as i cannot walk... See my Eyes as I cannot see, I beleive you can make me well...." whats that song called?

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[–] jaynmo 19 years ago

The Song that you mention is the one of the leper colony, right at the end of "The Temple" song, is part of it in the movie soundtrack I have.
My Favorite song is Gethsemane, but many of them are almost up there with it, like "heaven on their minds", "Last Supper", "could we start again", and most of Judas`s songs mostly Superstar.

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[–] infiniti_monte 19 years ago

Easily Superstar for me. I get chills every time I hear it. I had the opportunity to see the stage production with Carl Anderson and Ted Neely about four years ago. They were as amazing on stage as on screen.

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[–] osid76 19 years ago

Gethsemane is my favorite, its very moving and it brings a little tear to my eye at how emotional it is sung by jesus.

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[–] CONNELLY_3 19 years ago

I shed a tear every time I hear "Could We Start Again Please".

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[–] Hiyuga 19 years ago

I think the most powerful and touching song in JCS is Gethsemane..

I love also This Jesus must die, expecially for the bass voice of Caiaphas..

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[–] wormtail_km 19 years ago

Couldn't agree more!! I love This Jesus Must Die. We're doing a broadway night at my highschool and I get to play Caiaphas in that song!!

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[–] Orpheum-3 19 years ago

"Everything's Alright" is my favorite. It's got such a lilt to it that just sticks in my mind.

When taken in context, it really is one of the sweetest songs I can name. The night before the entry into Jerusalem, when tensions were high within the ranks of Jesus' followers, there was Mary ready to calm and comfort. Just sweetness - a real delight:

Try not to get worried
Try not to turn on to
Problems that upset you
O! Don't you know
Ev'rything's alright,
yes - ev'rything's fine
And we want you to sleep well tonight
Let the world turn without you tonight
If we try, we'll get by so forget all about us tonight.

It's a song I always put on when I get home from a particularly rough day at work.

"Heaven on Their Minds" is a close second for me - it introduces the struggle that Judas is going through so well, and connects a human face to the name people have hated for milennia. I like Carl Anderson's version of this better than Murray Head's from the original MCA concept recording:

I remember when this whole thing began
No talk of God then, we called you a man
And believe me - my admiration for you hasn't died.
But every word you say today
Gets twisted round some other way
And they'll hurt you if they think you've lied...

...Listen Jesus do you care for your race?
Don't you see we must keep in our place?
We are occupied - have you forgotten how put down we are?
I am frightened by the crowd
For we are getting much too loud
And they'll crush us if we go too far.

Brilliant storytelling!

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[–] Krokodil 19 years ago

Finally! Finally someone mentions this one.
This Jesus must die is my favorite song, as well, don't know why.
Everybody loves the bad guys, I guess.

"One thing I say for him, Jesus is cool."
*g* So campy.

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[–] historygeek-2 17 years ago

I love them all! I agree Judas has the best songs, too. But I go for The Trial before Pilate as the best, with Gethsamane a close second.

Speaking of Caiaphas, here's a thought that's always struck me: He has such a deep, powerful voice, and then it's usually contrasted with Annas. Am I the only person that hears those two and visualises Annas as being a jackal to Caiaphas' lion?

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