History Music / JesusChristSuperstar

* ATasteOfTheLash: The 39 lashes... ''in song''.

* HairOfGold: Jesus in the 1973 film. Also Peter, to a lesser extent.

** Caiaphas and Pilate, as well.

Depending on the production, the actors and settings in the show are portrayed with blends of modern and biblical-era clothing and motifs, running with the idea of Jesus being a rockstar-like figure (something not always appreciated by the MoralGuardians), the Apostles being [[NewAgeRetroHippie counter-cultural radicals]], and the Romans dressing in black leather and taking a {{Big Brother|IsWatching}} approach to running TheEmpire. The 2000 filmed version updates the visual metaphors... specifically, setting it in a modern-day dystopic version of the Roman Empire with Nazi-esque guards, and Jesus' followers appear to be a street gang. Who're seen toting submachine guns and assault rifles at times. The plot is pretty much the same, but with different things emphasized; Annas, for instance, appears in many more scenes than in the '73 version and in a [[EvilChancellor very different light]], the HoYay between Judas and Jesus is played up to the point of a LoveTriangle with Mary Magdalene, and some other things.

* BitingTheHandHumor: The 2012 British Arena tour version has Herod's song, performed by Chris Moyles, be a TakeThat at [[{{ITV}} ITV1]] style [[Talent Show]]s replete with showing Herod's judgement of Jesus as a false god being based on TV viewer's votes. Guess how Ben Forster this version's Jesus was selected?

* BitingTheHandHumor: The 2012 British Arena tour version has Herod's song, performed by ChrisMoyles, be a TakeThat at ITV1 style TalentShows replete with showing Herod's judgement of Jesus as a false god being based on TV viewer's votes. Guess how Ben Forster this version's Jesus was selected?

* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Depending on the production, the entire message of the play can be changed. The songs and script themselves are just general enough to paint Jesus ''or'' Judas as the protagonist to root for. Jesus can vary between being [[JesusWasWayCool well, a pretty nice guy]], to a snob who's all talk. To this day people still aren't sure whether the play was intended to give a family friendly Christian story, or whether it was made to cast a more jaded light on it.

A RockOpera and (subverted?) PassionPlay by AndrewLloydWebber and Tim Rice. Originally released as a ConceptAlbum in 1970, it made its way to the Broadway and London stage in 1971 and was filmed as a major movie in 1973. An updated version was recorded sometime around 2000 by Webber's Really Useful Group for PBS, and the show lives on in stage production and tours to this day. InspiredBy certain sections of Literature/TheBible, it chronicles the last seven days of Jesus' life, focusing mainly on the characters of Jesus, Judas and Mary Magdalene. It's regarded among Andrew Lloyd Webber's best works. It's sort of a sequel to ''JosephAndTheAmazingTechnicolorDreamcoat'', though this took a bit more liberty with the source material.

A RockOpera and (subverted?) PassionPlay by AndrewLloydWebber and Tim Rice. Originally released as a ConceptAlbum in 1970, it made its way to the Broadway and London stage in 1971 and was filmed as a major movie in 1973. An updated version was recorded sometime around 2000 by Webber's Really Useful Group for PBS, and the show lives on in stage production and tours to this day. InspiredBy certain sections of TheBible, it chronicles the last seven days of Jesus' life, focusing mainly on the characters of Jesus, Judas and Mary Magdalene. It's regarded among Andrew Lloyd Webber's best works. It's sort of a sequel to ''JosephAndTheAmazingTechnicolorDreamcoat'', though this took a bit more liberty with the source material.

* AngryBlackMan: Simon and Judas in the 1973 version. They have {{no indoor voice}}.

** The 1973 version also has a rare occurrence of male [[AbsoluteCleavage Absolute Cleavage]], in the form of Judas' shirt.

* TheMessiah / MessianicArchetype: {{Self explanatory}}.

* ScrewDestiny: Both Judas and Jesus are sorely tempted to try this, but both succumb to YouCantFightFate for different reasons.
--> '''Judas''': You want me to do it! What if I just stayed here and ruined your ambition? Christ, you deserve it!
* ShamingTheMob: Pilate ''lambasts'' the mob screaming for Jesus to be crucified, since he sees Jesus as a harmless crazy man being used as a scapegoat by the mob for the revolutionary rumblings his presence set off. Nearly half of Pilate's final song is calling the crowd hypocrites and pointing out the DisproportionateRetribution they're forcing him to deal to Jesus.

* ShoutOut: In the 1973 film, when Jesus and the twelve apostles sit down for The Last Supper, they all freeze for a moment in the exact poses depicted in [[LeonardoDaVinci Leonardo Da Vinci's]] famous painting of The Last Supper. Movie fans have used this scene to identify exactly which actors are playing which apostles, since not all of them are identified by name in the film.

** Arguably, Caiaphas, who thinks that Jesus is a pretty cool guy, but feels that he has to have him killed to prevent him from stirring up revolution and provoking retaliation from Rome. When Judas is having his BSOD, Caiaphas comforts him, saying that his actions have saved Israel.

* OneSceneWonder: Herod and Simon.

* AmbiguouslyGay: Pontius Pilate is mildly campy and "theatrical" in many productions following the original, to the point of {{flanderization}} when [[Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian Monty Python]] [[FollowTheLeader did it too]].

* AmbiguouslyGay: Pontius Pilate is mildly campy and "theatrical" in many productions following the original, to the point of {{flanderization}} when [[LifeOfBrian Monty Python]] [[FollowTheLeader did it too]].

* AmbiguouslyJewish: The 1973 film plays this up with ''King Herod'' of all people, adding an AmbiguouslyJewish [[FunnyAfro appearance]] (and, [[AmbiguouslyGay arguably]], voice) to his [[YouHaveToHaveJews stage-musical style]] [[OutOfGenreExperience song]].

* DawsonCasting: Ted Neeley, you're now over twice Jesus' age. Maybe it's time to [[{{Squick}} stop dying for hours on end in a thong?]]

* TheResenter: Judas

** YourMileageMayVary on Caiaphas since he seemed like a bit of a prick, too.

** The 1973 version also has a rare occurrence of male [[AbsoluteCleavage]], in the form of Judas' shirt.

* BiggerThanJesus: Er... Actually "bigger than John was"
.* BSODSong: A line from ''Judas' Death'' is the page quote for the trope in question.

* DownerEnding: The story ends after the crucifixion, so it can seem a bit depressing if you're unfamiliar with the [[TheBible supplementary materials]].

* BiggerThanJesus: Er... Actually "bigger than John was, when John did his baptism thing."
* BSODSong: A line from ''Judas' Death'' is the page quote for the trope in question.

* WhatTheHellTownspeople: Pilate ''lambasts'' the mob screaming for Jesus to be crucified, since he sees Jesus as a harmless crazy man being used as a scapegoat by the mob for the revolutionary rumblings his presence set off. Nearly half of Pilate's final song is calling the crowd hypocrites and pointing out the DisproportionateRetribution they're forcing him to deal to Jesus.
--> '''Pilate''': There is no reason! I see no evil! This man is ''harmless'', so why does he upset you?! He's just misguided! Thinks he's important! But to keep you ''vultures'' happy I will flog him!

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Carl Anderson's career.
** One of those up for the role of Jesus was a nineteen-year old actor from [[{{Joisey}} New Jersey]] named JohnTravolta. Not saying it would've been ''good'', but it certainly would've been ''interesting''.

A RockOpera and (subverted?) PassionPlay by AndrewLloydWebber and Tim Rice. Originaly released as a ConceptAlbum in 1970, it made its way to the Broadway and London stage in 1971 and was filmed as a major movie in 1973. An updated version was recorded sometime around 2000 by Webber's Really Useful Group for PBS, and the show lives on in stage production and tours to this day. InspiredBy certain sections of TheBible, it chronicles the last seven days of Jesus' life, focusing mainly on the characters of Jesus, Judas and Mary Magdalene. It's regarded among Andrew Lloyd Webber's best works. It's sort of a sequel to ''JosephAndTheAmazingTechnicolorDreamcoat'', though this took a bit more liberty with the source material.

Depending on the production, the actors and settings in the show are portrayed with blends of modern and biblical-era clothing and motifs, running with the idea of Jesus being a rockstar-like figure (something not always appreciated by the MoralGuardians), the Apostles being [[NewAgeRetroHippie counter-cultural radicals]], and the Romans dressing in black leather and taking a [[BigBrotherIsWatching Big Brother]] approach to running TheEmpire. The 2000 filmed version updates the visual metaphors... specifically, setting it in a modern-day dystopic version of the Roman Empire with Nazi-esque guards, and Jesus' followers appear to be a street gang. Who're seen toting submachine guns and assault rifles at times. The plot is pretty much the same, but with different things emphasized; Annas, for instance, appears in many more scenes than in the '73 version and in a [[EvilChancellor very different light]], the HoYay between Judas and Jesus is played up to the point of a LoveTriangle with Mary Magdalene, and some other things.

* CampGay: Herod, in many productions. In the 1973 film, he's practically an {{expy}} of EltonJohn.

** The 1996 London Cast Recording got AliceCooper to sing the Herod song. Make of that what you will.

* HoYay: Judas and Jesus. Oh God, the Judas and Jesus... [[DependingOnTheWriter Depending on the Production]].
** A few of the live productions play up the gentility and respect in their relationship - they're like brothers.
** The 2000 version seemed to do this as blatantly as possible. All the apostles wore tight ripped shirts, leather pants, and ''very'' frequently caressed and hugged each other. While the women all wore pretty modest ankle length dresses and their hair held in a ratty bun.
*** To compare, in the 1973 version Judas' kiss of betrayal is Judas sneaking up from behind, giving Jesus a very quick light peck on the cheek. In the 2000 version, the two are looking each other directly in the eyes while crying. Then Judas gives him a ''deep, long, smooch'' and Jesus responds by briefly wrapping his arms around him before Judas pushes him off.
*** There's also the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9barYr_IF8s#t=5m39s clinging and crying during "The Last Supper"]].

* JesusWasWayCool: [[TropeNamer Even Caiaphas is impressed]].

* MetalScream: Inspired by Ian Gillan of DeepPurple (as Jesus) and Murray Head (as Judas) on the original Concept Album. Ted Neely (as Jesus) and Carl Anderson, an understudy for Ben Vereen (as Judas) became famous for the roles on stage and film, since Gillan and Head had become too successful as musicians to perform, and duplicating their vocal range can be quite difficult for other actors. Interestingly, Murray Head is not black; Ben Vereen and subsequently Carl Anderson pioneered that idea, in no small part because Anderson simply had the voice for the notes.

* NewAgeRetroHippie: Extremely pronounced. This and ''{{Hair}}'' are probably the most NewAgeRetroHippie plays that exist. Not really "retro" when the film / play / soundtrack was first produced, but Jesus' followers are portrayed as counter-cultural hippies and Judas and the Zealots are portrayed as members of the New Left. This is especially pronounced in the film.

A RockOpera and (subverted?) PassionPlay by AndrewLloydWebber and Tim Rice. Originaly released as a ConceptAlbum in 1970, it made its way to the Broadway and London stage in 1971 and was filmed as a major movie in 1973. An updated version was recorded sometime around 2000 by Webber's Really Useful Group for PBS, the show lives on in stage production and tours to this day. InspiredBy certain sections of TheBible, it chronicles the last seven days of Jesus' life, focusing mainly on the characters of Jesus, Judas and Mary Magdalene. It's regarded among Andrew Lloyd Webber's best works. It's sort of a sequel to ''JosephAndTheAmazingTechnicolorDreamcoat'', though this took a bit more liberty with the source material.