Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say) | John Legend | Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert 

This song without the high notes is like a cloudy day on the beach

It’s still Ted Neeley for me

Each to their own, but Steve Balsamo has the vocal range and emotional expression that’s the best of anyone. All the layers and colours that JL lacks.

I have watched all the versions and each one is unique and JL brings his wonderful voice. I just love JC Superstar with all its high and lower notes! xx

I LOVE the fact that he is holding a wine bottle, sounds reasonable, IT'S JUST SO MUCH TO ACCEPT... I love it. I applaude the bravery of the singer because he could've done something similiar to his pairs and he didn't

I really like this version, although sometimes I miss the emotion other versions bring.

Finally, the proshot for this song is posted on this account! I know it doesn’t have the crazy high notes but I’ve grown to appreciate this version. John has a great, rich voice, even if the role is a little out of his range. Side note: I love how he sings the “cup of poison” and “nail me to your cross” part, just the right amount of rasp in that belt

He has brought another angle to the song and I think he did a great job with a different voice type

Fantastic musical and amazing singer !

What an excuisite performance! Genius! ❤❤❤ Prayers.

The 1st time I EVER saw JCS or even heard any of it's songs was this LIVE production on Easter 2018 and it, literally, was life-changing. And I don't think I will ever think any other production and any other artists than these have ever or will ever be any better than these! Love this! Love Legend in this! Love his voice.

Honestly I don’t think John Legend does a bad job; sure, he can’t hit those high notes like Gillan or Balsamo, but I feel like he still conveys the emotion very well and kinda makes his own take on the song. Personally I’m fine with Jesus actors not going for that high note but you gotta be able to compensate for it somehow and I think John Legend does this very well

Omg what a voice and interpretation 😢

This is my third favourite film of Jesus Christ Superstar and John Legend is my third favourite Jesus

A tune which touches my soul...helps that Jesus is singing it ❤

The fact he was sick during this performance is just a testament to his talent!! Bravo John Legend!! 👏👏

Magnificent! Captivating!

Outstanding voice!

He's brilliant

seeing this after becoming so familiar with ben forster's version is difficult LOL I love john but this wasn't a good show for his voice type, bc he's got such a beautiful voice and I feel like this is just too gritty for him haha

very beautiful version!

Great performance. Well done John.

I saw the original on a school trip to London in the 70s....but this production is the BEST! ❤

Excelente

Its the gospel interpretation for me!

this is my favourtire musical. i love the 2000 version. but this actor is crushing it! amazing!

Honestly, I feel like this is a great version and it does not deserve the hate it gets. I personally feel that it is perfect vocally but lacks a more theatric feel (Ben Forster's version is a great example of that theatric feel), which may not be everyone's cup of tea. I personally feel that JL is too gentle - whether that be due to his vocal range, acting abilities, or what-have-you. I really like Ben Forster's version because it is raw, it really brings out the anguish of the scene.

i will never ever get over this performance

I see why some people would not appreciate this but I really enjoyed it. Emotions, vocals, and all. Not so much about how he shrugs, moves around, and the way he shifts from one emotion to another (with his face). But overall, it's up there with other actors. Really really good!

Crazy ......OMG

I will always love this version

Hallelujah amen

He adds a lot of raw unfiltered emotion into this interpretation,with a more soulful and introspective apriach to where the high notes are that the fans will know. And the bottle maybe its. His emotional support bottle who knows?

Nope! There's only one version that affects me and makes me cry every time I watch it, and that is Dan Vasc's. All the other covers I've listened to fall flat and don't affect me at all. Dan sings with such credibility and feeling that you believe every word he sings. It's as if he really feels what he's singing (fear, regret, anger, sadness, acceptans etc) and he manages to convey those feelings to me, which all the other singers fail to do.

I know that John caught a lot of flack by JCS purists for not having the "ideal" rock voice....but damned if the man didn't get up there and absolutely kill that performance. The sheer emotion and grief in his voice and his movements are chill inducing. Well done sir!

This is the one

That's a hell no for me not even close to the master ..ted ❤️

I LOVED this performance. Even though I’ve listened to the original cast recording (on 8 track!) and have seen other versions, this production blew me away. I watched it live on television and cried at the final number. Loved the staging, too.

Ben Forster did it best • 2012 area tour always • x

I saw Jesus Christ Superstar live on Broadway when I was a teenager. I loved the original pre-production recording and listened to it a million times. I scratched my head at the 1973 movie but enjoyed it anyway. But this is the performance that I am drawn to. John Legend's performance of this song is so, so compelling and powerful that it brings tears to my eyes every time. An incredible, passionate performance. Wow.

Ik people go after this version because he doesn’t do the note but come on guys are you hearing THE REST? Dude has the voice of an angel.

Never though I'll like someone after Steve or Ben, but this was great

Nobody is better of walking on this earth.

Love his "constipated baby" style of acting. Very brilliant, much performer.

Such a difficult song to do well really good effort considering this is so different from what he usually does

Не ожидала, честно...Мне очень понравилось,видела очень много разных исполнений,но Джон Легенд понравился❤❤❤

And i don't feel the emotions and feelings at John Legend how he sing this.

John Legend is a great artist but this song without the painful "why?!" feels incomplete

I don't know why everything has to be a competition. This is clearly a different take on JCSS. If we are going to make comparisons, look at Alice Cooper. He is nothing like any of the Harods before him. Instead of singing, He just talks practically , even though he is from that era of rockers and high note belters. It's clear this was meant to be a new version. It's nice simply to enjoy an artist's interpretation of this character. The old way has been done over and over and over. It's refreshing to see this production evolve just a bit .

Beautiful and amazing - personally I would have transposed it up for him; I'm not certain if it's more to do with his tessitura or the sound mixing, but the lower portion of the song sitting more in the baritone range generally doesn't carry as well...

This was not for him to do.. All fan love aside.. This is a song in which one must know WHY the notes must be sung a certain way, not (how)… My barometer (from childhood) is, if I shed a tear when i hear “before I Chang my mind” it’s done correctly.. I felt nothing but “please stop” in this performance.. And I’ve listened since the broadway cast of “71”…. Ouch for this.. But crazy respect for his music and talent. This is a fish out of water scenario.. 🙏

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

OMG amazing. I never knew he had it in him.

Love when Ted Neely and John legend both sing this song

Ted Neely brought tears to my eyes every time I listened to the soundtrack and would watch the film. His rang isn’t there and it lacks the anguished tones.

I like that `tobacco` in your voice, Sir :) Thanks a lot !

John did good but just watched Dan Vasc virsion ...incredible. He does Amazing Grace best i ever heard also!!

I love his version the others stream. John sings it.

So good.

Beautiful performance. I still like Camilo Sesto's better but dang this is good.

Superfans are always miserable 😊 This is the first version I ever heard and because I grew up in the church this feels very natural heartfelt prayer song. I would encourage people to check out "I need you now" by Smokie Norful "Give me a Clean Heart" by Fred Hammond and "We must praise" by J Moss to better be able to appreciate this version. (I had to watch all the other performances of this song to understand what all the hate in the comments was about. I think this version brings out the melody in a way i prefer but I can see how the high notes are make or break for rockers or fans of other versions). Rock is kinda the secular mainstream cousin of Gospel music. In a way a rock prayer is back at home in gospel 😊

Molto bella.

Has anyone seen Camilo Sesto’s spanish live version??? Best ever

Ich muss weinen - so viel Gefühl

NO, NO, NO !!

Interesting they're using the music rewrite ALW did for Michael Crawford. And changed the wording at the end a bit too. Legend does it justice and he's a great singer but no one sings it like Michael does.

Bro he anticipated my opinion on the high note

You either nail this, such as Steve Balsamo, or you act it, such as Ted Neeley. Or else you struggle with it, such as John Legend! 🤔

He did a good job and I liked the rock element of his interpretation, but I’m afraid that Steve Balsamo has spoiled me and I don’t think this holds a candle to it. And, it was so quick, he didn’t have the pauses to really dig into the performance and so it felt a bit like a regular pop/rock song. It’s the drama of the performance that just blows it out of the water, as he goes from arguing, questioning to that gut wrenching grief and acceptance that he’s going to die.

And there is c5???

notable version

So now... after all those years... the inner child is coming to the surface.

With all the fantastic singers in the world, this was the wrong choice for this song. John is great with his music. But this was underwhelming.

My dad played JCS a lot growing up, the film soundtrack. I never cared much for it. But then I saw this show live on Easter and it BLEW. ME. AWAY. John Legend and this cast may very well be the definitive Jesus Christ Superstar for me now. It’s all so so good. The staging is… unique, but not bad, and my GOD, Judas! Can you please post The Last Supper if possible? It’s my favorite

Great performance

HOW COME HE HAS A BOTTLE OF BOOZE?? What for that was added? 😢

my biggest problem with this is the bottle he's holding. he literally doesn't do anything with it, which leads me to believe that someone didn't strike it, and so he just kinda grabbed it

The SOUL version. I love it

I disagree John kills it!

Lord thy will is hard and you hold every card. That’s the correct lyrics. And much more powerful to me in my opinion

Not even the top 3 versions i heard of this song. For me Dan Vasc’s is far away the best!

We can all agree that John Legend, a beautiful singer was simply miscast for this role; it was clearly out of his voice range. Still a beautiful song! It’s unfortunate he couldn’t hit the high notes! We’ve become spoiled by Ted Neeley!

I only want to say If there is a way Take this cup away from me For I don't want to taste its poison Feel it burn me I have changed I'm not as sure, as when we started Then, I was inspired Now, I'm sad and tired Listen, surely I've exceeded expectations Tried for three years, seems like thirty Could you ask as much from any other man? But if I die See the saga through and do the things you ask of me, Let them hate me, hit me, hurt me, nail me to their tree I'd want to know, I'd want to know, my God I'd want to know, I'd want to know, my God Want to see, I'd want to see, my God Want to see, I'd want to see, my God Why I should die Would I be more noticed than I ever was before? Would the things I've said and done matter any more? I'd have to know, I'd have to know, my Lord Have to know, I'd have to know, my Lord Have to see, I'd have to see, my Lord Have to see, I'd have to see, my Lord If I die what will be my reward? If I die what will be my reward? Have to know, I'd have to know, my Lord I'd have to know, I'd have to know, my Lord Why should I die? Oh why should I die? 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 to keen and where and how, but not so hot on why Alright, I'll die! Just watch me die! See how I die! Then I was inspired Now, I'm sad and tired After all, I've tried for three years, seems like ninety Why then am I scared to finish what I started What you started, I didn't start it God, thy will is hard But you hold every card I will drink your cup of poison Nail me to your cross and break me Bleed me, beat me Kill me Take me, now! Before I change my mind

The guy is a legend in his own mind. He does not have the vocal range for the songs. He should just be a background singer in JCS.

This guy hasn’t got the falsetto of Ted Neeley and the brilliant Steve Balsamo

I watched this after seeing Michael Ball. Painful to watch.

……. I didn’t know he sang so well my God bring this energy to Rnb

Great efffort but i always feel that everyone is trying to imitate ted neely

He is no Ted neeley

John has a great voice when he's singing stuff that suits his vocal style and range. It's not really his fault, as someone thought it would be a good casting. Sadly, he doesn't have the vocal strength to play this part, and hit those notes. Heard lots of cracks and breaks that weren't intentional for stylistic reasons. The falsetto is really thin. It was also either rewritten with bits down the octave, or he ad libbed it away from those big, high, powerhouse notes. Vocals aside, I also felt nothing watching this. Compare him to Steve Balsamo. His version gives me goose bumps and tears every single time, and by god, he's got a set of pipes on him! By far the best version, and I had the pleasure of seeing him live.

I think John’s voice is pure and I enjoyed his version.

Kinda hard to listen to this after hearing Ben Forster's multiple times. But yeah, every singer has their range and John tried his very best to bring out his inner Christ in this performance.

This is not a baritone song

I love that musical, its a part of my life. I had heard and see in a lot of version. John has a good voice, but i have to say that its one of the worst ghetsemane that i have ever listen

Oh my god I feel robbed

What I really don't like about this performance/version is that it feels waay to made for profit, like John didn't understand the meaning of the song or couldn't put his soul into the performance.

Hes good but no Ted Neeley...

Looks like I'm not with the popular vote here, but i didn't like this at all!! I am a huge fan of JCS and this is my favourite song in the movie version. The most iconic part of the song is where Ted Neeley hits those high notes and that wasn't even attempted here so that alone was a major letdown! In fairness, I'm guessing that John Legend can't hit those notes (I'm sure not many people can) but to me, that just shows even more as to why he was a poor choice for this role.

It needs with Barney the dinosaur

Legend sounds like he's singing Karaoke. What a mess.