TWS12: Ted Neeley — Gethsemane (I Only Wanted To Say)
One song for every week of the year, without any rules. One song that determined the week. It can be a new song, but it can also be some rediscovered “golden oldie”. Whatever the week brought. That’s The Weekly Song.
Follow my journey in The Weekly Song 2018 playlist on Spotify.
Musicals, you either love them or you hate them. And in some cases, I can't disagree if you're among the haters. Those musicals where every song tries to reach an over-the-top climax, complete with high falsetto voices and all… Yes, that's horrible. But on the other hand, there are the musicals that almost can't be categorized as such. Because they're not really musicals at all, but actually complete rock operas that even do well when performed in big-ass arenas. Well, when talking about musicals like those, you'll eventually arrive at the best musical every made: Jesus Christ Superstar.
Now, I'm not a religious person, but that doesn't really matter. This musical is so damn good, man… I'm extremely glad that I saw it live for the first time this year, with the "original Jesus" Ted Neeley taking on the main role. He's playing Jesus for almost fifty years now and is still going strong. And yes, I know that the motion picture is not the first-ever version of this musical and that not Ted Neeley but Ian Gillan is Jesus on the original recording, but to hell with that. I grew up with watching the motion picture. And an even better argument: I listened to both versions of the climax of the musical — Gethsemane — and can only conclude that the "Neeley-version" is performed with the most emotion and power. I only wanted to say.
Can you show me now that I would not be killed in vain?
Show me just a little of your omnipresent brain
Show me there’s a reason for your wanting me to die
You’re far too keen on ‘where’ and ‘how’
and not so hot on ‘why’
