Jesus Christ Superstar - Heaven on Their Minds (Judas's aria) (cover)

Hereby I have to tell you, dear Reader, this is one of my most favorite covers by Cygnus Rock Band.

I love the original song as well. Well, I love the entire Jesus Christ Superstar rock opera. No, don't worry, I didn't fall into the trap of Christianity (nor into any other monotheistic religion for that matter). Simply, if you take this rock opera and remove the religious bullshit, what will you get? Great, really great music, well-arranged, great songs, very talented artists. Isn't music about it after all?

For me - but it's my own personal taste - Carl Anderson (and Judas) is the main character of this rock opera. Even stronger than Ted Neely (Jesus), even though uncle Teddy definitely kicks all the asses around with his voice. I especially like that right after the overture the opera starts with Judas's aria, where Carl Anderson screams Judas's doubts into the dry desert (a scene that deserves an award in itself!) while Jesus is surrounded by his disciples. A memorable performance from a wonderful actor/singer, surrounded by amazing music written by a genius.

Andrew Lloyd Webber is the name of this genius, because I know how under-informed you all are out there, despite the technology in your hand... but you use it for watching porn and playing Candy Crush Saga instead of getting educated 😒

So, as the saying goes in my mother tongue, Cygnus Rock Band got a nice load of homework to make a cover from Judas's song on their usual beautiful, well-arranged, cathartic level.

Dear everyone, dear Reader,

THEY MADE IT.

They didn't just make a sweeping, wonderful cover, but they made it on such a level that - all my respect goes out to Maestro Carl Anderson, I love him! - my adoration for the original Judas's aria was overwritten and now this cover IS my Judas aria. Period.

First of all, they removed all the orchestration from the original song and put there guitars instead. The intro - it by default has got a strong guitar presence, Blu is bringing it with his usual professionalism - is supported by Ruxx's percussions, giving the sound a much heavier, much more rock/metal flavor.

And then comes the first scream and the bass enters.

The song originally has got a heavy, characteristic bass line that gives a lot to the atmosphere, emphasizing Judas's emotions in the aria. This is one of my secret favorite features of this song, that the orchestration and the bass have got a kind of contrast, still blending in wonderfully, both supporting the singer. Here Deneb kicks the listener right in the stomach with his bass - most probably using his secret potion 

I swear he should put a trademark on it, bassists from all around the world would be begging for the recipe with tears in their eyes, the coolest rock musicians would be standing in line at his door asking for just one chance to collaborate with him and he'd be on the cover of Bass Magazine

and as the song goes on, he treats the listener with lots and lots of smaller and bigger virtuoso tricks, giving a generous insight into his talent, skills and dedication.

And he is doing it all with the strength and energy of a raging bull.

Be ready that the bass won't just knock you out but it will run through you, like a steam roller.

You will enjoy it, I promise!

Reny is doing an enormous job as well. He doesn't just play all the piano lines - and the original song is carried most of all by the piano - but he gives all those harmonies that was done by the orchestration in A. L. Webber's track.

In previous covers Reny played mostly harmonies, though he was given the chance quite a few times, like in this one or in this one to add his very own ideas

not to mention all the Dream Theater, Deep Purple and Pink Floyd covers, reviews are coming soon

and to make the listener sure about his talent and versatility. But what he is doing in this cover is amazing. An absolute professional, he seemingly enjoys playing these more complex themes and he is doing it with precision and elegance.

And yes, here Reny again gives a piece of his creativity.

It's the church organ.

Reny added the sound of a church organ into the bridge at the second half of the song.

There's a saying that those musicians practiced the hardest who play seemingly the easiest. This goes out to Reny now, but not just for him though.

The entire band is running in this cover on full speed. You can see

in case you have eyes, ears and heart...

that this song was indeed a challenge for them and they didn't just do their very best but they managed to grow and improve as musicians that the result of their work is better than the original - and the original is a masterpiece by itself!

The very same goes for Blu. I could see him playing not just for Cygnus Rock Band but for other artists as well from the most different genres and the Mexican ensured everyone around himself every time that he easily adapts himself to all styles, may it be rock, pop, funky, metal, blues, he'll be doing it all with delicacy and style, being a collected, absolutely reliable musician for the whole time. Here in this cover he plays with exactitude and his trademark refinement.

And Ruxx is singing.

Again I want to underline that Carl Anderson was and still is a perfect choice for Judas. His voice was very powerful, his performance will always be remembered and generally he and his acting had a key importance in the story (and the success) of the rock opera.

And Ruxx managed to exceed this breathtaking performance.

btw. knowing what kind of "singers" perform nowadays as Judas, Ruxx's work is even more enormous and impressive

Instead of the original Judas's doubts and desperation Ruxx is singing with rage and wrath in his voice. Carl Anderson impersonated a Judas being full of questions, while Ruxx is a Judas who is not afraid of charging the alleged savior about his intentions. He doesn't hold back his emotions, sometimes he is just hissing, sometimes he gruntles with disdain, sometimes he is spitting, sometimes he is shouting out his fury - like when he is singing "your followers are blind/too much, too much heaven on their minds"; this is the cathartic point of the cover for me - while doing the screams and legatos of the song with full power. In the meantime he is playing his drums, not holding himself back. You can see him adding a lot of extra cymbals and kick drums to the sound. This way it's not only the song getting an extra rock/metal load (quality load, definitely!), but Ruxx is also supporting the bass and by this the rhythm section is functioning on full momentum.

Have I mentioned how I LOVE when Cygnus's rhythm section is grooving their asses off?...

And we arrive at the song's crescendo part, that starts with Ruxx's amazing, breathtaking staccato singing. The rhythm section is already there, Deneb and Ruxx together tear the listener into tiny pieces. The bass is roaring, the drums hit like a pneumatic drill, the guitar and the keyboards join them while Ruxx is screaming his heart and soul out.

(and that little "phew" at the very end is everything)