Luke Kennedy singing Gethsemane during his performance of Jesus Christ Superstar at The Playhouse, QPAC in August 2010. This is not a concert. This is from the actual show. So. Much. Emotion.
I was in this production with Luke and can tell you that the direction was to underplay the emotion so as to show of Luke's exceptional vocal ability and not create an over the top depiction of Jesus. In the theatre this was an incredibly good choice. Every audience silently sobbed through Lukes performance. Perhaps it doesn't translate quite as well on camera but I can assure you that Luke was a devastatingly good Jesus.
But I do believe that since this is a musical you need to act and sing and that is why I love musical. Though I have to agree with other...amazing voice but probably be best at sticking to plain singing. Not musicals
Lachie Geraghty these comments are blind. Jesus is speaking to his FATHER. he is SAD and TIRED. He doesn't want to drink the poison, he is UNSURE. he has to convince himself in his faith in his own death even with no answer from his own Father and Lord. Luke played this beautifully. Bravo. The arc is tremendous.
Thank you for saying this. I absolutley love this take on it. Everyone wants the same big over the top freak out and a "rock" voice. This gives the song and character a lot of depth
@@ShortKid226 - The arrangement has changed a lot since the original album voiced by Ian Gillan - (you don't get a much bigger rock voice than his at that time!!); the original stage production (Broadway, NY) featured a rock singer - Jeff Fenholt; the original film featured Ted Neely - who started out as a rock singer but the original London production featured Paul Nicholas - a pop singer and actor. Various revivals over the years seem to have swapped between rock singers and musical theatre actors. As someone who was lucky enough to spend 15 years working in musical theatre and who would have killed to play the role of Jesus, I have to say that my interpretation (director willing of course) would have probably have been closer to Neely's than Kennedy's - both portray emotion but in very different ways. I love both versions - along with the aforementioned Gillan original and equally worth a mention is Steve Balsamo. The bottom line is that is a wonderful song - both from a performer's and listener's point of view - so long as the emotion of the moment - i.e. Jesus' insecurity that his intended path and the inevitable end result will mean anything, along with his fear that the courage needed may falter before reaching his 'goal' - is achieved does it really matter if that is via a big 'rock' voice or more classical 'singers' voice? I think not!! Ian Gillan - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Azawb907Bjg.html Jeff Fenholt - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sRvpNa4ROkM.html Paul Nicholas - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ztw9RqZDFBY.html Ted Neely - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2QW2Wh1OZBA.html Steve Balsamo - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-eVpq9yW9HS8.html
I love Luke Kennedy's voice, so beautiful and in tune, without unnecessary embellishments, and his interpretation without playacting. Of all the ones I've had the opportunity to listen to, this is the one I like. He was not the one who decided on the costumes or the staging. His interpretation, for me, is perfect. Thanks to aussietheatrelover for introducing me to Gethsemane almost 10 years ago and thanks to Luke Kennedy.
LUKE KENNEDY...YOU ARE A SUPER SINGER...YOU ARE A DEITY...AN ANGEL...OR A NEFILHIN..WHEREVER YOU ARE YOU ARE FANTASTIC...JESUCHRIST BLESSED YOU..!!..NOW YOU KNOW..!!
I’ve seen this play numerous times and this is the most phenomenal performance. Luke’s incredible voice and understated perfection makes this moving song even more effective.
This is truly one of the best performances of Gethsemane I have every heard/seen. This touched me more than some of the overwrought gut-wrenching wailing of some other magnificent performers.
I don't know much about music or singing. But I truly love this performance. Words clearly enunciated, and I've watched it a few times and it really moves me.
I love how this is acted. Truly questioning, trying to sort through his thoughts and fears. I love this conversational tone in his discussion with God. You see as the song goes on his acceptance and steeling himself for what is to come. I haven't seen it this delineated in any other performance. And what he does vocally with the song is just insane!
Luke, dude. I have done a few of my dream roles. Jesus is one them, you have done a fabulous job man. Beautiful rendition, I like how you included a lot of riffs. You were still in tune man. Forget the haters, they're just jealous. Job well done.
Love how he stays with the flow of the music. So many role players try to put their personal spin on it and it usually fails since it is out of sync with the instrumentation. I am in a community theatre production of Superstar as Pontius Pilate on April 9th, 2017 (5th year in a row now) in Allentown, Pennsylvania. I'm pretty passionate about it having rehearsed it in the shower for the last 37 years. :-) Love to All, Allen Howells
People who say he was emotionless clearly don't understand what this song is about. And they don't catch the subtle shifts in Luke. My heart was breaking while he was singing the last part after his C6...there was PLENTY of emotion in him. Not everything has to be a hurricane. You could see the defeat, the fear, and the resolve in him. Beautifully done!
Gorgeous voice. Has a beautiful spin and warmth. I personally don't mind a Jesus that's more legit than rock--gives him a warm, vulnerable feeling. Nice job
I've read some of the critics on here and surely the Internet is rife with critics. I will put my two cents in as someone who has worked in New York theater and worked on an Academy Award-winning film, Luke is brilliant in this performance. It's a completely committed performance and the technical ability here is awe-striking. His high notes and how long he holds them is beyond imaginable. Bravo Luke, you didn't just do good, you did brilliant. You're a superstar. Love from Los Angeles. (Oh and for the critics, please post your own performance of this song, I should like to see if you can come close to this).
FYI, Hgood, Luke went on The Voice two years after this was posted and came runner up. I stopped watching it for years, as I was certain he should have won. He's absolutely brilliant!
The problem is that we are only seeing one song. If he plays Jesus less physically the rest of the show and plays him with less emotion then this works. Its only if he gives big emotion the whole show except this that it would be bad. Totally love this. Everyone plays Jesus the same. Its nice seeing something different.
Steve Balsamo's version - I'm having it played at my burial. Might sound morbid, but this was my answer when recently asked just that question - and after listening to many JCSstar performances since a child of eleven years, in the 70's you just can't beat it... strength, control, power, range and told the story. Wow.
for not being able to show anger he did an amazing job of portraying the emotions in the song. The movements were lacking but I feel that lends well to the fact that this song is essentially a prayer. I think it was beautiful!
I haven't heard this song since the 70's. He performs it as well as the original performance on the "Jesus Christ Superstar Record". He is brilliant and the raw emotion that he puts into his songs makes him an outstanding singer. Surely he will be one of Australia's leading vocalists in the futire..
First time watching this in May, at 3:45, I was like, "Dang!!!! Did I hear right?!" So I rewinded and definitely was blown away! Wow! Luke should've won the voice in Australia but...oh well.
What a Voice. amazing artist as he proved last night on the VOICE when he performed A Time for us..... a sure winer for sure.. so glad that i saw him in Concert wih the 10 Tenors in Perh WA. a Star for sure.
I was lucky enough to see him in Adelaide a little later - perhaps 2011? His voice is good recorded; coupled with his live performance though - magical.
There's just no other performance of this song more powerful han Ian Gillian's original of the "Brown Album" His anger, his confusion about why he has to die. And come on, those Deep Purple pipes. He was the front man of the world's top grossing rock band in '71-'73
These comments are disappointing. Trolls hiding behind keyboards. This guy sang his face off, incredibly well. Acted well. And you are sitting there comparing him to other artists, appreciate the performance for what he presents AND GET OUT THERE AND MAKE ART before you criticize others.
To those who reckon his acting wasn't there, I saw this live twice and BAWLED. Definitely doesn't act the sh*t out of it like some of the other greats, but his voice is one of the BEST and he was terrific.
J'aime la voix si belle et juste sans fioritures de Luke Kennedy et son interprétation sans simagrées. Parmi toutes celles que j'ai eu l'occasion d'écouter, c'est celle que j'aime. Ce n'est pas lui qui a décidé des costumes ou de la mise en scène. Son interprétation, pour moi, est parfaite. Merci à aussietheatrelover de m'avoir permis de découvrir Gethsemane il y a presque 10 ans et merci à Luke Kennedy.
Luv the man!!! its a pity I wont be here on the Final next Monday,, but I will vote many many times before I fly out! He is a winner! I I hope you will be humbled by your win! more luck!!
Sick of comparisons of all the great versions of this piece. They are all awesome, just different. Seems to be a lot of stress on the big high notes and if this lad is an indicator, soon only dogs will be able to appreciate it.
Luke's moving version of the song Gethsemane from Jesus Christ Superstar gives such insight into the raw emotions of Jesus' struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane as he petition's his father God to understand why he must die & being faced with willingly giving himself up to knowingly being put to death by being hung on a cross. Luke is a real example of going through his own struggle with depression & coming out of it & facing his demons,going on the Voice in Aus trying, giving his all.God Bless
Considering this is (or supposes to be) a son-to-father conversation I can image how this slightly modest version adds to the musicals reality factor. Of course, as a separate song one can put more 'emotion' in it, but remember who you are 'talking' to...
No pun intended, but Jesus Christ! Is that even humanly possible to hit those notes? Is he part dolphin? I watched ever version on RU-vid and I think his is the most impressive although i am partial to Ted Neely's original film version. But as far as skill goes, I think Luke won it!!!
Thanks for sharing this on RU-vid, Luke has a very good voice. However check out Miquel Fernandez performance from 2007 in Spanish. You see, feel, hear the anguish deep from the very depths within....THAT IS A PERFORMANCE!!!
Yep... only in the last part some emotion, but for the rest of the song almost devoid from any passion, which quite defeats the idea of the story of the Passion. Can't fault the technical quality of his voice though, which is quite good, but this song isn't about hitting each note right.
VERY Good job. Without a more traditional robe costume, beard and acting and some more inflection this still is a VERY good performance. And much closer to the reality of the role. Bravo.
That is crazy. Not human. Beyond all understanding. My god that was insane! He so effortlessly clubs so high with his voice. My eyebrows raised in shock. As for the dislikes of this performance on RU-vid, it boggles the mind. Let's see them attempt something half as brilliant. Awed in Lis Angeles.
Just saw him in the Canberra concert. He was amazing, really, and much improved from 5 years ago. His falsetto scream is now rougher, more passionate and more powerful. As a die-hard JCS fan I would say he was 90% as good as Ian Gillan from the original recording (and this was live). He even outdoes Gillan (sort of) by stepping up an additional tone in the final scream. The entire show was outstanding but Luke really brought it to the next level.
Joomington Totally agree! I also saw the Canberra show last week and his singing was extraordinary. He has certainly developed since this 2010 performance, though I would still like to see a little more in his acting. This number had me completely spellbound and I would gladly watch the show over and again. Bravo Luke!!!
