Superstar (Jesus Christ Superstar song)

"Superstar"
Single by Murray Head and ensemble
from the album Jesus Christ Superstar
Released	November 21, 1969 (UK) December 1, 1969 (USA)
Format	7"
Recorded	10 October 1969 Olympic Studios, Barnes, London
Genre	Symphonic rock, funk rock
Length	4:15
Label	Decca/MCA
Writer(s)	Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) Tim Rice (lyrics)
Producer(s)	Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice
Murray Head and ensemble singles chronology
"Superstar" (1969) "I Don't Know How to Love Him" (1971)
Jesus Christ Superstar track listing "Trial Before Pilate (Including the 39 Lashes)" (20) "Superstar" (21) "The Crucifixion" (22)

"Superstar" is the title song from the 1970 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. It was released as a single in 1969, before the album was completed. Sung by Murray Head with the Trinidad Singers, it initially debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the week ending 31 January 1970, eventually peaking at No. 74 in late February of 1970.^[1] Nearly one year later, the single then re-entered the Hot 100 chart for the week ending 2 January 1971, eventually peaking at No. 60 on the chart in early March of 1971. The single then fell off the chart three weeks later, but then almost immediately re-entered the Hot 100 chart a third and final time for the week ending 10 April 1971. It then rapidly climbed the Hot 100 chart during its third chart run, eventually spending two consecutive weeks at its peak position of No. 14 in late May and early June of '71.^[1] It performed even better in Canada, where it peaked on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart at No. 6, its highest known position worldwide.

Content

It is sung by the spirit of Judas Iscariot, where he questions why Jesus chose to arrive in the manner that he did and if what happened to him was truly part of a divine plan. Although it may be considered accusatory, it is dominated by the repetitive apologies of Judas for questioning ("Don't you get me wrong", "I only want to know"). Along with "I Don't Know How to Love Him", it is the best-known song from this production.

Recording

In order to get the concept album of Jesus Christ Superstar off the ground, Decca/MCA first gave Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice money to make the single and begin the album. They wanted to release the single first, which caused uproar within the MCA board at the time.

The single was recorded on 8-track equipment at the Olympic Studios in Barnes, London, with Irish 22 year old Alan O'Duffy as the chief engineer. Lloyd Webber and Rice were backed by MCA and spent a small fortune on the recording, including using a full orchestra and the backing vocals of the Trinidad Singers. The Grease Band, one of the best rhythm sections in the world at that time, were brought in as the foundation of the ensemble.^[2]

Other versions

Laura Osnes, female winner of Grease: You're the One That I Want!, performed the song during the showtunes week.

Carly Smithson sang the song during the seventh season of American Idol, the week the theme was the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Although judge Simon Cowell called it one of his favorite performances of the night, Smithson was eliminated the following results night.

Jodie Prenger and Samantha Barks performed a duet of the song on I'd Do Anything which was highly acclaimed. Prenger went on to win the BBC competition and become Nancy in the West End revival of the musical Oliver!.

Anastacia performed the song at Concert for Diana on 1 July 2007.

The 1970s ABC Sports TV show The Superstars used the instrumental version of the song as the show's theme song.

Former WWF champion Superstar Billy Graham used the song as his entrance theme and then was given to Don Muraco when Graham started managing Muraco.

Slovenian industrial/electronic band Laibach included a reinterpreted version of the song on their 1996 album Jesus Christ Superstars.

Chart performance

References