He totally gets the fear and anger of a man preparing for death. This song and Nolan's rendition are just fantastic!!!

it SERIOUSLY pains me how many people don't get this performance. Simply INCREDIBLE.

This is one of the best casting decisions I've seen the many productions of JCS make. You can see how much he truly loves the material and his voice is great.

What a perfect voice. What a perfect band. What a perfect show. What a perfect sound. What a performance without any feeling.

I loved Paul Nolan's performance when I saw the show. I've never been more impressed at live male vocals than with this production. He and Josh Young have such power and presence, gave a fantastic live performance.

His style is so different than Steve Balsamo’s.... they both sing the exact same song but they have totally different renditions... Balsamo’s rendition feels more like a Broadway style performance, whereas Nolan’s version has more of a hard rock feel to it. Both versions match this show perfectly though

This performance haunts me because of the way he maintains that weird poker face the whole time

1:07 listen, surely this is the best part of this interpretation.

Had the pleasure of seeing this live in 2012, and I must say he is one of the best to play Jesus. In my opinion he surpasses Steve Balsamo and Ian Gillan (I'm prepared for the hate comments :P) but is under Ted Neely. 1. Ted Neely 2. Paul Nolan

What really makes this performance amazing to me is the mix of desperate deeps, confused mid tones, and then the stellar high tones Nolan can pull off

Hey, what a surprisingly different rendition of this great song....my first upbeat Gethsemane ever! Which changes the whole atmospere of the song. Paul Nolan has a very different style, makes this his own, low key, impressive eyes, impressive singing and with deep inner (not so much outer) emotions. My heart will always belong to the amazing Steve Balsamo and his deeply moving Jesus/Gethsemane (in younger days, older days, or 'magnum opus' version Ahoy 2004) but some other people (and NOT nessecarily Ted folks) brought good things to this role too. So Paul: Rock on! And for the purists: free your mind, and the rest will follow!

I love the grit that's already present in his voice before the high note. Most other Jesuses have a softer, more ethereal voice before that point. Nolan's interpretation is especially humanizing, yet doesn't take away from the belt at all.

I quite like his interpretation, its more how i would see Jesus being, not over reacting or going crazy. Just my opinion :)

Alot of people says his acting is bad, but personally even though he isn't showing much expression his voice says it all. I feel like he's concentrating on his internal emotions to the point where it isnt fully shown outwards but his voice shows all of that internal conflict that it's just so mesmerizing!

I love Paul Nolan...he is so amazing!

@2:40 NAILED IT!!!

I've been listening to this music too much (is there such a thing?!) that I dreamed the cast and show last night. I saw this twice in Stratford. My jaw kept dropping with every song. I couldn't stop crying when Paul (or his understudy, Jonathan Winsby then) sang it. Awesome.

Wow Paul, your voice is so incredible. It seems almost humanly impossible to hit the note at 2:39! You are extremely talented.

I saw this during its first run and my old choreographer was in the show !!! MIND BLOWING!!!

Saw this yesterday. Nolan is stunning. STUNNING

This is my favourite song of the entire show :)

I've seen this performer do this live at Stratford - it's amazing LIVE! Go see it! I can't recommend this production enough!

Wonderful voice, Mr. Nolan is superb - and to see Rick Fox at piano! Fantastic

Great band sounds perfect !!!

I just have to say as a performer myself of the stage..........This guy........did an amazing job with this song

The Neeley's performance at the Farewell Tour must be the reference forever... it was perfect, after years he reach the perfection for Gethsemane. Nolan is in the right way.

One from the best who I hear to sing this song! Bravo !

Wow! Powerful performance. Wish I could have been there. This is the most important song of JCSS!

Awesome job Paul!! Well Done!!

Just.... Wow!! :')

One of the better renditions of this song.

By far my favorit rendition of this song🙌🏻

why's no one talking bout drew sarich when they talk about their favourites... he's mine by far! plus he's awesome in both roles, jesus and judas...

I'm in love

Bravo singing!

Remember, in the Garden, Jesus was sweating blood, a physical reaction to the stress and fear, everything he was feeling as he prayed, "if it be possible, let this cup pass from me - yet not my will, but Thine be done."

sorta looks like House... Saw this live. My first musical. I love it.

meraviglioso!

Exciting

I don’t understand why he didn’t hold out the “See how I DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE” then he’s just standing there awkwardly till the next part starts

I really love the way he makes this song his own. I agree with others about the seeming lack of emotion, but this is also a very low-key concert.

WOW! Great interpretation, Paul...I enjoyed it just as much as your performance on Broadway. Great control of your voice with the high notes. So proud of you, my friend.

Wow. Gillan set the standard at a towering high. Not many could even attempt to reach it. But with this young man's appearance, hope has been renewed.

these are executional, wow, way to go.

Love the odd time signatures.....you all kicked major "ass" 😎🎼🎸🎶

I agree! I saw the original cast in Stratford a couple of summers ago when it opened, and he was amazing... not at all like he is here.

I think that Paul Nolan is by far the best Jesus I've seen played!!! :D

Dr House :-)

Unless you've seen Paul perform this live you really can't say anything bad about him. His live stage performance was amazing. He was perfection.

CHILLSS

He sounds great.

@trebonius3 I agree, I wouldn't call him unemotional. There's subtlety here. Even so, I think he's really holding back vocally.

That was awsome, now go get yourself a beer 😎

WOW

1. Ted Neeley 2. Tie Balsamo/Nolan 3. Ian Gillian

He needs to stand still!!

watch drew sarich in everything and you will be blown away... best judas I've ever seen

Очень!!!!!!!!!

Wow

OMGGGGGGG I'am so disappointed. Ted Neely was one of a kind and obviously no one has EVER been able to touch the vocal range he could. Ted Neely's voice in younger years was spectacular. He sang with such undeniable passion, you felt it deep down in your soul. Ted Neely will always remain the reigning champ singing "Gethsemane"

He looks like Adam Pascal haha. I love this!

This is the song that got me into college as a vocal major haha.

@Anulik96 completely agree. Saw this Thursday night @ Neil Simon and thought he was incredible, absolutely amazing and no simpering that I found in Neely. I saw the original in 1972 with Ian Gillan and I can't imagine anyone being better, but this guy comes close.

from regina saskatchewan pride right here go canada !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amazing singer, doesn't need to move to have such an interpretation ;-)

Love that really climactic moment and then this puny little trumpet jumps in.

@GaryTseTseFlyNYHC In the second half Judas was a f'ing miracle. In the beginning of the show he seemed inconsistent but I saw it with my 22 and 26 year old "kids" and they both agreed that Judas did the show proud. I had chills from it, Outstanding performance

Those belts though!!! 😳

Balsamo’s version was my favorite but this definitely is my second favorite

No mms amo su voz

@trebonius3 I agree, people don't understand what is going on with Jesus at this moment in the show. His voice is so perfect for this part... its rocky but not so rocky that it takes away from the difficulty of the song. It is absolutly amazing what Paul can do... I saw it 8 times in stratford, he was by far my favorite lead.

Thank you for the source! I checked it out and you seem to be right. Although I wouldn't simplify it to just money. According to his own words he would be giving up a dream of a lifetime, It doesn't seem as though money was the only reason.

sweep picking at 4:53 heck yeah!

@TheJakeStern to clarify, he sings with an already rock voice while trying to sustain it for all of the shows he has to do... If he sang (or screamed like you want him to) he would lose his voice. This is more than being more "rock". It is about adding elements of rock while trying to preserve the voice... and he does an amazing job... I saw the show 8 times in Stratford and Paul was, by far, my favorite lead.... Amazing Job Paul.

I thought I'd preface my comments by first stating that I thought Paul Nolan gave a great performance. That said, I am not an expert nor am I a musician. And I love Ted Neely. OK, until Paul got to the WHY he was extremely mechanical in his presentation. From WHY on he displayed powerful emotion until the second part of the song. There his very quiet voice was drowned out by the instruments. I would love to see the entire performance live. Ciao

Can we put all 4 of them in a show? Please?

@enterthedome He is not holding back! Listen to it again and watch him. Understand that he has to perform this numerous times, he needs to preserve his voice.

1.- Neeley 2.- This guy

Nolan has more of a grunge rock sound to his performance... my favorite note he hits is when he says “Before I change my mind” at the end

I read the money bit in the bio "Child in Time."

Dr Hose Will Raise Again!!!

Is there a term or way to describe how he sings 1:08 in comparison to other singers? It just feels so wildly different and sounds so much better

I assume you did not see the show? Paul Nolan was absolutely amazing. And you describe Ted Neeley as "average"? Unreal!! That's almost a sin!! Ted Neeley was the ultimate!!

... Well, I like him!

This vocal is amazing...i'd have to second it to Ted, the only thing lacking is the performance....but if you listen to the vocal only, as I have just done, it seems to have it all.....bravo

Jesus Christ Superstar has always been performed with screams and all.

excellent. I'm getting my tickets. Can Paul do Judas as well ? - I don't know which part is more important and Judas, Judas is a bit theatrical. .

This is very very good. I don't do the comparison thing normally, but I'd say he's more in camp Neeley as opposed to camp Balsamo. IMHO there are two ways to perform this song... either with anger or with despair (the two aren't mutually exclusive though). This, like Neeley, sounds angry - almost as if Jesus disagrees with the task but has to submit. Balsamo, Gillian. Carter, et al tend to go for despair at accepting their fate. I guess it's subjective which one you feel most appropriate/prefer?

Not quite Neely, but he's pretty damned good.

With all due respect to anyone who enjoys this, I have to agree completely with you SpotlightKid - I think we're in the minority here, but I think you "nailed" it!! I was also thinking karaoke when watching this - ugh....I guess being around for the original greatness with Ian Gillan, and then warming up to Ted Neeley in the movie version and onstage, I personally can't see anybody else in this role. But cheers to all who actually think this is good acting.. Peace!

When I said a source I was thinking more of a confirmation of that reason from reliable source rather than a random speculation on the internet...

HOT JESUS

i really like drew sarich doing this song. i dont know if hes my favorite, but hes somewhere up there

It's not random speculation. Ian Gillan's Q&A section on his website.

Thanks God they didn't include the mid-slow part when he decides to die, and the final when he repeats "before I change my mind, added a few years ago. They made the song get slower and powerless.

You all probably also should watch Drew Sarich as Jesus here on KZfaq:)

Jesus Christ Superstar Exclusive Fan Concert; Gethsemane

@trebonius3 there obviously more emotional on stage this is a concert but they are amazing

where can i find CD with this cast of JC ??

Ok, I get it... BUT,,, this was not the play. This was a special "concert" ill look at the actual show, Ted was AMAZING in the role. The best actor for sure. but in terms of the singing,,,, Gillan was untouchable, Stupidly he didnt do the movie because he wanted them to pay deep purple for his services.