Got a double dose of JCS for this Easter Weekend. Not only did I watch my favorite 1973 version, but Sunday night Donna and I watched the 2018 John Legend live version on NBC, actually enjoyed both.
The 1973 one will always be my “go to” version for holiday watching, because it comes with the voices I am most familiar with. Probably because several of the movie cast reprise their roles from the 1971 concept album that was my first exposure to the work. But the 2018 one was actually pretty good, the single stage with simple sets reminded me more of the stage play I saw in high school and have to admit that as much as I liked Josh Mostel’s King Herrod in the movie, Alice Cooper’s version was kick-ass.
Oh what a pity if it’s all a lie.
Still, I’m sure that you can rock the cynics if you tried.
So, you are the Christ, you’re the great Jesus Christ.
Prove to me that you’re no fool; walk across my swimming pool.
If you do that for me, then I’ll let you go free.
I wonder if NBC will re-run the live version next Easter?