#rock operas for life

[pommedepersephone]

Have you watched "Jesus Christ Superstar"? If so, what did you think of it?

Jesus Christ Superstar is in my top three favorite musicals - and I lettered in theatre and choir in high school so my list of favorite musicals is hilariously long.

Setting aside any discussion of the music and lyrics first, let's talk about the narrative. The story is very much about the humanity of it all - and how society treats their heroes. The tension between Jesus, Judas and Mary is a debate about how we balance (or fail to balance) our dedication to a movement over our devotion for individuals. And it features table flipping Jesus!!

Mary is devoted to Jesus as a person. "He's a man, he's just a man" she tells us. She focuses on comforting and caring for him. But in her concern for him individually, she has little demonstrated interest in his work to better the world.

Judas is dedicated to the movement. He is (justifiably) concerned that people are losing sight of Jesus as a prophet, making him into an idol instead of a visionary leader. But in his fervor for the movement, he forgets the individual. He seems unaware just how weighed down Jesus is, and likewise disparages Mary asking why Jesus would "waste his time on women of her kind."

As for Jesus? Poor Messiah is conflicted. He is overwhelmed by what is asked of him by both his followers and his detractors. He is reduced by The People to what he can provide to them, and by The Man to how he can give them influence. And he is resigned because he knows that he has obtained a level of notoriety without authority where he has few options left - his death is pretty inevitable for the sake of the movement.

You know who NEVER makes an appearance? God. God is absolutely silent and absent. Because in the end, Jesus Christ Superstar is not about God at all. It's about how the black and white thinking - devotion to individuals OR dedication to movements - both fail to actually provide us with the society we need.

Now, is the musical itself a bit clunky and cheesey? Oh yeah, definitely. But that is the charm of it. Rock opera just has an inherent kitsch to it that I adore. But it's also clever. Outraged religious leaders so often miss the actual point of the story which is also amusing. And I love the 1973 movie version, but I have loved every live performance I've ever seen. The message remains extremely relevant. And our family watches the movie every December.

And yes, in case anyone is curious, I am certain Aziraphale and Crowley saw JCS live. I bet Crowley loved it and spent weeks afterwards humming "Damned For All Time" to himself. Aziraphale probably refused to comment on the content, just being a snide bastard about the quality of the lyrics, then went home and cried over "I Don't Know How to Love Him."

[garak-pussy-indulgence]

Saw my favorite thing last night

[awfullybigwardrobe44]

Do you ever experience some of your favorite media and be like “Wow actually I love this so much I’m going to cry”

And it’s something normal people would look at you weird about 😅

[feline-evil]

Never gonna be over how unutterably pathetic and in dire need of ANY kind of companionship or friendship that doesn't revolve around their band the entirety of dethklok are. I love these horrible idiots who are so devoid of any real connections outside of themselves that they will latch onto anyone unfortunate enough to get too close to any one of them! And GOD help anyone they latch onto!!

[poindexters-labratory]

I'm kinda behind- Glamrock Puppet for day 6 of fnaftober

prompt list below:

[crmsnmth-journal]

I have nothing to say. I may be a nihilist, but at least I recognize an extreme danger. The world is laughing at us. Good job. I can't wait, because in two to three years, I'm going to look you right in your bloated and empty faces and say "I fucking told you so." Maybe you should have read a little deeper into this man's policy ideas and see that all these fucking freedoms you are so called fighting for are about to be destroyed if this man-child doesn't get his way. That's not what you want in a world leader. Not someone who doesn't have a censor button, and doesn't actually understand the true meaning of fairness and equality. And maybe it's because I am at the bottom of the third class. I'm like two missed steps away from homeless. The idea of dictatorship should be on everyone's minds as this man, who accuses everyone else of cheating, claims perfection. Usually when a person constantly points the finger at others, they are usually the fucking culprit. But we see red hats, and rallies, and rednecks getting guns and blah blah blah, and we are brainwashed. That is what comes from a two-party system. And the thing is, this system will fail. All systems always do. Eventually, the regime crashes, and collapse right under it's own heavy weight. We're just speeding the process up. I will say I used to stand for you and I to get along, in spite of our differences, but after seeing who you are and what you support, I can't be your friend. I don't even want to be your fucking colleague. I don't even want to know you anymore. I was wrong. We cannot be friends. I cannot be friends with someone who's head is so far up his ass, that your fucking eyes are turning brown. I cannot be friends with someone who bleieves ANYONE has control over someone else's body. You want want an abortion because you were raped? Let's go. You want an abortion because if you don't, that baby will kill you? Let's go. You want an abortion because you made a mistake? Let's go. You want an abortion? Let's go. The idea of this being anything other than a pro-choice situation is fucking appalling. It makes me fucking sick. And I can't wait to see all those prices drop. Because that's what it is. The fucking failing billionaire is going to fix it all? He won't fix shit. All these people, esepcially around the circles I'm in, confuse me. All of you that support him, down here in the lowest class with the thugs and lowlifes, need to realize a really simple fact, HE DOES NOT GIVE TWO SHITS ABOUT YOU. If you aren't worth at the very minimum of seven digits, you don't exist to him. Other than to clap at him, and applaud him when he gets shot. This human being stole confidental documents and just fucking stashed them in his bathroom. He couldn't even be bothered to actually fucking hid them. He just stashes them in his fucking house! In his bathroom! In the room where he shits! And that's fitting, I guess. Because that's what he thinks of everyone who isn't him. You're shit in his eyes. Just shit. You look at him, and how do you not see dangerous? The most dangerous creature on this planet, is a man who doesn't care about his opponent. Is a man who is above the law. Is a man who is constantly validated for the wrong things. Do I say everything that he's done is awful? No. Not at all. The dude's done some great things in many areas. I totally agree. Guy has got his merits. Nobody is pure shit at least. I guess I did have something to say. I've gone through my entire day keeping my mouth shut. I needed to vent.

Fuck it.

We're still in this together.

[bijouxcarys]

This will never not give me chills. The isolated vocals, harp, and guitar?? Fuck…

@celestial-dragoness you’re fucking welcome

[salvator3cannwaiit]

Looking for mutuals!

Hii im just a normal teenager looking for people that have the same intrests as me!

I really like music and theatre and I myself do those things! I play the Violin and do theatre (if you couldnt tell already)

I go to a natural science and graphics school and its not bad as i thought it would be.I also live in Croatia

One of my most favorite musicals is The phantom of the opera i could watch it all day again and again!

Well i like all kinds of music like punk, Rock etc. I mostly grow up on that music so its not really new to me.

I'm also really intrested in fashion and I like to explore the history and find new information about fashion and fashion brands

Feel free to contact me if you would like to be mutuals!!!!!!!

[crmsnmth]

Update (Nobody gives a shit about bigfoot.)

So, if you've been here a while you've probably noticed my output has dropped drastically lately, with a few times absolutely no word from at all. I swear I have a good reason for that. Well, three. Shut up. This is my world and If i want bad math, I'm gonna have bad math. I think I've earned the right. One, I'm exhausted right now. I just worked 33 straight days in a row (I'm stupid and took a second job, but it's cool not to worry about having enough to get some cigarettes and caffeine everyday). It isn't because I stopped writing. Believe me, the notes app on my phone is overflowing, and there's a notebook sitting here with little fragments of sentences and lines. Two, I've been putting a lot of my free energy into music and working on finishing up another album (The Safety Is Off). That's taken a lot of time. But for once, I kind of dig what I'm creating. The last album (Soundtrack To Your Overdose) was made in such a stressed out period that it comes through in the music. This one is at a much more content and peaceful place and I'm really happy with what I'm producing at night. And reason number three. I'm working on my book. Again. Another edit, more fixes and words and blah blah blah. We all know how it really goes. I'm going to end up over editing and it'll never get it's one chance to see a publisher's hands. Whatever. I'm still finding things I need to fix. On top of the things that I'm fixing, I've been also taking the most unhinged lines (and there are definitely some weird lines I think I may well be the first person to ever write.) What do I plan with these unhinged lines? Well, I'm gonna post the collection here, as kind of an advertisement towards the book and the work I've put into it. There's a pretty big collection, and seeing them out of context had me laughing so hard, I cry. And I don't mean cry like I normally do when I read these words I've laid out, but in they are fucking funniest things I've ever come up, and I am terrified I'll never ever beat them.

So that's what's been going on. Nothing major, but just enough things to make it impossible to keep up with my usual output. One of those days, there's just going to end up being a massive drop of some of the crappiest, shittiest stuff you'll ever lay eyes on. I'm pretty sure I can promise that.

That's me. How's life? What have you been up to? Still slaving away? Exhausted? Pull a Courtney Love and shotgun a Rockstar.

Bye. Love you. Peace, Love, and Bubblegum. crmsnmth 9/21/2024

[lizardson]

as much as bare is very clearly a product of it's time see me will always make me bawl my eyes out

[iminaworldofpureimagination]

(: Bojacks first real act of kindness in the show

[sassmill]

I’m just. So interested in the relationship between grief and trauma and arousal and anger.

[garak-pussy-indulgence]

Hey mutuals who I love. will you pls listen to me I'm banging on your door actually. guess what my tattoo is from also

[unimportant-ramblings]

I'm so sorry guys I know that everyone knows this here but the rhetoric of "alw is closing Phantom Broadway for Bad Cinderella" will in fact kill me

[awlimagines]

The Phantom of Forget-Me-Not Valley

ROCK x READER x GUSTAFA

You found yourself torn between the two men in the tiny country town. 

On the one hand, the fun and fashionable Rock. You remember playing with him as children when you visited your Father’s farm. He had once plunged into the winter ocean to save your scarf. You had failed to tie it properly, and the gusting wind carried it off, leading you to cry. Rock had only laughed and said it seemed like fun when his parents chastised him, doing his best even then to brush off being remotely responsible. When you go to visit and apologize, Rock grinned and said his cold was great! So long as he was sick, his parents wouldn’t nag him about chores. You should throw more things around in Winter for him to fetch. Rock and you naturally drifted apart when you stopped visiting the farm and focused on city life instead.

On the other hand, the relaxed and calm musician Gustafa. A man who wasn’t meant to be permanent and traveled. He’d share tidbits of his travel with an enigmatic smile, leaving you craving more. In addition, Gustafa was a musical genius who could play any song on any instrument. You fell for him when you sang a line or two before stopping in embarrassment. You had never been a great singer. Gustafa was the first to compliment your voice, and when you blushed, brushing him off, offered singing lessons if you’d be interested. His voice entranced you; it was like the voice of an angel of music rather than a mere man. 

While Gustafa seemed detached from everyone and had no solid opinions on anyone, Rock did not like Gustafa in the least and made it well known. He wasn’t great looking, and the lessons took as much time as your farmwork. When were you supposed to have fun with him? Rock wanted to catch up with you where he had been in the past years. He looked like a kicked puppy, tugging at your heart until you agreed that skipping one day shouldn’t hurt. Rock’s spirits immediately lifted as he dragged you to the beach to play. He said you look best when you’re laughing, and Gustafa was too much of a stick in the mud to make you giggle.

When you found Gustafa the next day near the waterfall, he was frowning slightly. He calmly asked if everything was okay, it wasn’t like you to miss lessons. You felt guilty and confessed Rock had convinced you to play hooky with him. Gustafa’s fingers on the lute’s strings halted as you rushed into an apology and promised to let him know if anything came up again.  Gustafa sighed, explaining you could do what you wanted; he didn’t mean to monopolize your time. He would just like you to think carefully before going off mindlessly. Rock had no ambition and was looking at either his parents or a spouse supporting his carefree lifestyle. You were naturally talented at everything he had seen you try; Rock might set you back if you let him.  

“How am I ever meant to choose between them?” you wondered, staring at the blue feather on your nightstand.

[lives-in-a-harpsichord]

It's Cecilia Bartoli appréciation time