John Legend as Jesus for NBC's Superstar Live — Page 2

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#26

John Legend as Jesus for NBC's Superstar Live

Posted: 12/20/17 at 10:43pm

Is being surprised and bored at the same time a thing? Because that's literally my reaction.

I will admit I'm curious to see him act against Alice Cooper. I'm also relieved he'll be singing something besides that All Of Me song.

"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008

#27

John Legend as Jesus for NBC's Superstar Live

Posted: 12/20/17 at 11:59pm

CurtisTaylorJr2 said: "He doesn't have the range for that score, but the casting was more about name than anything else.I imagine the score will be tinkered with the way Evita's was to make it work for Madonna."

I'm not sure how familiar you are with the history of the show and it's recordings. There have been all kinds of voices in the role. Take a listen to Paul Nicholas in the role on the 20th anniversary recording. It is a very spirited performance, but he certainly doesn't hit that high G, nor does he even attempt to hit any of those big notes. There is no reason Legend cannot perform the role, and at this point there is not really any reason to doubt his voice.

#28

John Legend as Jesus for NBC's Superstar Live

Posted: 12/21/17 at 12:57am

I'll give NBC credit for picking a black man as Jesus, because the controversy this will generate should not be underestimated. This is network television, folks. I'll give Legend credit for taking the role, because all sorts of things could go awry and it's a risk for him.

I admit to being biased in favor of a Jesus who can really belt out "Gesthemane," and I have my doubts there, even though he's obviously a very talented singer.

#29

John Legend as Jesus for NBC's Superstar Live

Posted: 12/21/17 at 8:26am

bear88 said: "I admit to being biased in favor of a Jesus who can really belt out "Gesthemane," and I have my doubts there, even though he's obviously a very talented singer."

I've never really understood why people who cannot sing a part as written are cast in those parts. It's like taking your car to Jiffy Lube to have the transmission rebuilt.

==> this board is a nest of vipers <==
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage

#30

John Legend as Jesus for NBC's Superstar Live

Posted: 12/21/17 at 9:13am

Lot666 said: "bear88 said: "I admit to being biased in favor of a Jesus who can really belt out "Gesthemane," and I have my doubts there, even though he's obviously a very talented singer."

I've never really understood why people who cannot sing a part as written are cast in those parts. It's like taking your car to Jiffy Lube to have the transmission rebuilt."

Didn't you love Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard? (To be clear, I thought she sounded perfection in the revival but did not have the voice during the original Broadway run)

Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.

#31

John Legend as Jesus for NBC's Superstar Live

Posted: 12/21/17 at 9:42am

This isn't the first time a smoother, soulful Jesus has been chosen instead of a bluesy hard rocker: look at Tony Hadley on the BBC Concert Cast Recording.

#32

John Legend as Jesus for NBC's Superstar Live

Posted: 12/21/17 at 9:55am

Valentina3 said: "Didn't you love Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard? (To be clear, I thought she sounded perfection in the revival but did not have the voice during the original Broadway run)"

I loved her from an acting perspective, but I believe they had to perform some technological wizardry in order to make her voice "rise to the occasion".

==> this board is a nest of vipers <==
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage

#33

John Legend as Jesus for NBC's Superstar Live

Posted: 12/21/17 at 2:28pm

darquegk said: "This isn't the first time a smoother, soulful Jesus has been chosen instead of a bluesy hard rocker: look at Tony Hadley on the BBC Concert Cast Recording."

If you can find it; it's technically a bootleg.

Formerly gvendo2005
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05

Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28

#34

John Legend as Jesus for NBC's Superstar Live

Posted: 12/21/17 at 3:05pm

Isn't it more a semi-official recording, as it was never commercially issued but broadcast professionally and archived? Seems kind of like calling a Live from Lincoln Center broadcast a bootleg after it's shown.

#35

John Legend as Jesus for NBC's Superstar Live

Posted: 12/21/17 at 6:25pm

It was never officially released following the broadcast, and the extant copy we have is taped from the radio. I'd say it's a bootleg.

Formerly gvendo2005
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05

Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28

#36

John Legend as Jesus for NBC's Superstar Live

Posted: 12/21/17 at 11:31pm

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "It was never officially released following the broadcast, and the extant copy we have is taped from the radio. I'd say it's a bootleg."

I would also count it as a bootleg. In any case, the point still stands; there is no single right way to sing the role. It has been done by many different performers, and in many different styles.

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