This Jesus Must Die

Last updated
"This Jesus Must Die"
Song by Victor Brox and Brian Keith
from the album Jesus Christ Superstar
ReleasedSeptember 1970
Recorded1970
Genre Art rock
Length5:11
Label Decca Records/MCA Records
Composer(s) Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyricist(s) Tim Rice
Producer(s) Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice

"This Jesus Must Die" is a song from the 1970 album and 1971 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, which also appears in the film version of Jesus Christ Superstar , and on the album of the musical. In the 1973 film, it is sung primarily by Bob Bingham as Caiaphas and Kurt Yaghjian as Annas; and on the 1970 album, by Victor Brox as Caiaphas and Brian Keith as Annas, with Paul Raven and Tim Rice providing the voices of the priests. In the 2000 film it is sung by Frederick B. Owens as Caiaphas and Michael Shaeffer as Annas.

Contents

Theme

According to the official Jesus Christ Superstar website, in the song:

Caiaphas and the Priests discuss the problems caused by the mob following Jesus. They don't understand how he has managed to inspire people and believe that Jesus poses a very serious threat to their authority and the fragile relationship they have with the occupying force from Rome. [1]

The song is noted for, after a slow beginning, launching into more of a "rock and roll" feel than many other songs in the musical, and being sung by a "growling bass-voiced Caiaphas and his screechy tenor minions". [2] The song has also been described as "a throwback to pre-Second World War depictions" of "threatening Jews", although "their evil is somewhat modified". [3] The priests sing a melody that comes from J. S. Bach's Bourrée in E minor. [4]

Rather than the self-interested, conspiratorial priests of the Gospel of Mark or DeMille's The King of Kings , Superstar's priests decide that "this Jesus must die ...for the sake of the nation". Their intention to avert a murderous crackdown on the Jewish people reflects the representation of the high priest in the last canonical gospel—John. [3]

Indeed, the song begins with the Jewish priests fretting over the influence of the "rabble-rousing" Jesus, but merely plotting to have him arrested. [5] It is Caiaphas who insists that the threat posed by a Roman crackdown, "our elimination, because of one man", can only be averted by the death of Jesus, which would deliver a demoralizing blow to the mob of mindless followers. The appearance of the song in the musical and in the film version of Jesus Christ Superstar is highlighted by an "emphasis on style". [3] The film uses "low camera angles which give a distorted view of the priests", [6] and "gives the priests extraordinary costumes", which includes "enormous, bizarrely shaped hats", [3] black flowing robes, [6] and "bare chests crossed by leather straps and chains". [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Jesus Christ Superstar</i> Rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice

Jesus Christ Superstar is a sung-through rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Loosely based on the Gospels' accounts of the Passion, the work interprets the psychology of Jesus and other characters, with much of the plot centered on Judas, who is dissatisfied with the direction in which Jesus is steering his disciples. Contemporary attitudes, sensibilities and slang pervade the rock opera's lyrics, and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout the depiction of political events. Stage and film productions accordingly contain many intentional anachronisms.

Annas was appointed by the Roman legate Quirinius as the first High Priest of the newly formed Roman province of Judaea in AD 6 – just after the Romans had deposed Archelaus, Ethnarch of Judaea, thereby putting Judaea directly under Roman rule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Passion of Jesus</span> Final period in the life of Jesus, before his crucifixion

The Passion is the short final period before the death of Jesus, described in the four canonical gospels. It is commemorated in Christianity every year during Holy Week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Rice</span> English lyricist and author (born 1944)

Sir Timothy Miles Bindon Rice is an English lyricist and author. He is best known for his collaborations with Disney on Aladdin, The Lion King, the stage adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, and the original Broadway musical Aida; with Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA, with whom he wrote Chess; and with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote, among other shows, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Evita. He also wrote lyrics for the Alan Menken musical King David, and for DreamWorks Animation's The Road to El Dorado.

<i>The Passion of the Christ</i> 2004 film by Mel Gibson

The Passion of the Christ is a 2004 American epic biblical drama film produced, directed, and co-written by Mel Gibson. It stars Jim Caviezel as Jesus of Nazareth, Maia Morgenstern as Mary, mother of Jesus, and Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene. It depicts the Passion of Jesus largely according to the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It also draws on pious accounts such as the Friday of Sorrows, along with other devotional writings, such as the reputed visions attributed to Anne Catherine Emmerich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caiaphas</span> Jewish high priest (c. 14 BC – c. 46 AD)

Joseph ben Caiaphas, known simply as Caiaphas in the New Testament, was the Jewish high priest during the years of Jesus' ministry, according to Josephus. The Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John indicate he was an organizer of the plot to kill Jesus. He famously presided over the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus. The primary sources for Caiaphas' life are the New Testament, and the writings of Josephus. The latter records he was made high priest by the Roman procurator Valerius Gratus after Simon ben Camithus had been deposed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Neeley</span> American singer, actor, musician, composer, and record producer

Teddie Joe "Ted" Neeley is an American singer, actor, musician, composer, and record producer. He is known for portraying the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), a role for which he was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and has reprised numerous times.

Hosanna is a liturgical word in Judaism and Christianity. In Judaism it refers to a cry expressing an appeal for divine help. In Christianity it is used as a cry of praise.

<i>The Miracle Maker</i> (1999 film) 1999 British film

The Miracle Maker sometimes subtitled The Story of Jesus, is a 1999 Welsh-Russian stop motion-animated film directed by Derek Hayes and Stanislav Sokolov of the life of Jesus Christ, voiced by Ralph Fiennes. Hand-drawn animated cartoons are used to distinguish flashbacks, parables, stories, spiritual encounters and visions from the main plot, which is all in stop motion.

"Everything's Alright" is a song from the 1970 album and 1971 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. It is about the anointing of Jesus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanhedrin trial of Jesus</span> Trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin, a Jewish judicial body

In the New Testament, the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus refers to the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin following his arrest in Jerusalem and prior to the trial before Pontius Pilate. It is an incident reported by all three Synoptic Gospels of the New Testament, while the Gospel of John refers to a preliminary inquiry before Annas. The gospel accounts vary on a number of details.

<i>Jesus Christ Superstar</i> (album) 1970 rock opera album

Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1970 album musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, on which the 1971 rock opera of the same name was based. Initially unable to get backing for a stage production, the composers released it as an album, the success of which led to stage productions. The album musical is a musical dramatisation of the last week of the life of Jesus Christ, beginning with his entry into Jerusalem and ending with the Crucifixion. It was originally banned by the BBC on grounds of being "sacrilegious". By 1983, the album had sold over seven million copies worldwide.

<i>Jesus Christ Superstar</i> (film) 1973 film adaptation by Norman Jewison

Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1973 American musical drama film directed by Norman Jewison and jointly written for the screen by Jewison and Melvyn Bragg; they based their screenplay on the 1970 rock opera of the same name, the libretto of which was written by Tim Rice and whose music was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The film, featuring a cast of Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman, Barry Dennen, Bob Bingham, Larry Marshall, Josh Mostel, Kurt Yaghjian and Philip Toubus, centers on the conflict between Judas and Jesus during the week of the crucifixion of Jesus.

Superstar (<i>Jesus Christ Superstar</i> song) 1969 single by Murray Head and ensemble

"Superstar" is the title song from the 1970 album and 1971 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Bingham</span> American actor

Robert Franklin Bingham is a retired American actor and singer. Bingham is best known for playing the role of Caiaphas in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar in the first USA concert tour, original Broadway cast, original French cast, and in the 1973 film version.

<i>Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Australian Cast Recording)</i> 1972 album

Jesus Christ Superstar or Jesus Christ Superstar – Original Australian Cast Recording is an album released in late 1972 on MCA Records. Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera created by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber in 1970. The earliest Australian version was staged from May 1972 to February 1974. This album features Trevor White, Jon English and Michele Fawdon. Together with other cast members, they performed vocals for a studio recording. It was produced by Patrick Flynn, the show's musical director and a conductor for Opera Australia. The album peaked at No. 17 on the Go-Set Albums Chart in June 1973, while it reached No. 13 on the Kent Music Report and remained on its charts for 54 weeks. It appeared in the top 100 on the 1974 End of Year Albums Chart. In May 1973, the album was awarded a gold record for sales of 50,000 albums.

Jesus Christ Superstar is a musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, the title may also refer to:

<i>Jesus Christ Superstar</i> (1996 London Cast) 1996 cast recording by 1996 Cast

Jesus Christ Superstar is a soundtrack album released in 1996. Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera created by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber in 1970. This is the 1996 revival version supervised by Lloyd Webber himself.

<i>Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert</i> NBC television live broadcast Easter 2018, rebroadcast 2020

Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert is an American musical television special that was broadcast live on NBC on April 1, 2018 and rebroadcast on Easter Sunday 2020, April 12, 2020. Executively produced by Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, and Marc Platt, it was a staged concert performance of the 1970 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. It received positive reviews from critics but had a smaller viewership than earlier musical specials.

The Monastery (Convent) of Saint Saviour is a monastery of the Armenian Church in Jerusalem on Mount Zion. Outside of the Armenian Quarter, Old City, it is south of the Zion Gate. It includes two church buildings, the newer of which is unfinished.

References

  1. ↑ Synopsis Archived 2012-10-15 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ Jessica Sternfeld, The Megamusical (2006), p. 48.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Pamela Grace, The Religious Film: Christianity and the Hagiopic (2009), p. 95.
  4. ↑ "Jesus Christ Superstar – songs, lyrics, themes and references"
  5. ↑ Joseph Peter Swain, The Broadway Musical: A Critical and Musical Survey (2002), p. 320.
  6. 1 2 Frank Northen Magill, Stephen L. Hanson, Patricia King Hanson, Magill's American Film Guide (1983), Vol. 3, p. 1690.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.