In "Jesus Was Way Cool," frontman John S. Hall, over a mellow and drawn out piano figure, delivers an enthusiastic deadpanmonologue in which he declares Jesus "way cool" for such skills as healing, walking on water, and turning water into wine. Hall states that Jesus did "anything he wanted to do," and, anachronistically, could have surpassed the achievements of Jimi Hendrix, Wayne Gretzky, and Mikhail Baryshnikov in their respective fields. Hall then postulates that the crucifixion of Jesus was in fact motivated by jealousy of his coolness, and that the subsequent resurrection of Jesus is further evidence of said coolness. To further deadpan effect, Hall concludes, "No wonder there are so many Christians."[1]
After recording most of Mystical, I went up to Toronto for a week, where I performed with a bunch of great Canadian poets, including... Meryn Cadell. Meryn's work, which dealt in part with a strict Christian upbringing, reminded me of my Catholic school traumas, and my relationship and eventual estrangement with Jesus.... I had a good feeling about this one immediately, and the Torontonians(?) seemed to really like it, so when I got back, I immediately recorded this with a sparse Chris Xefos piano arrangement.[2]
Commercial performanceedit
Through the popularity of "Jesus Was Way Cool," Mystical Shit hit #1 on the CMJ charts, and the band was signed by a major label, Atlantic Records.[3] This series of events led Hall to make a habit of joking, "'Jesus' got me signed to Atlantic Records."[2]
The song appears with slightly different lyrics and a radically different arrangement as "Jesus Was Way Cool (Millennium Edition)" on the band's 2003 album The Psychopathology of Everyday Life. Additionally, a live version appears on the single for "My Heart Is A Flower," in which Hall alters the lyrics slightly.
Cover versionedit
A German-language version of the song, entitled "Jesus was so Cool", appears on the 1996 album "Das Jahr Schnee" by East German art rock band Herbst in Peking
Referencesedit
^"Lyrics: Jesus Was Way Cool". Farmboy's King Missile. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
^ abHall, John S. (2004). Album notes. In Mystical Shit & Fluting on the Hump [CD booklet]. New York City: Shimmy Disc.
^Prindle, Mark (2003). "Interview with John S. Hall". Prindle Rock and Roll Record Review Site. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
January 01, 1970
jesus, cool, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, september, 202. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Jesus Was Way Cool news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message Jesus Was Way Cool is a song by avant garde band King Missile It appears on the band s 1990 album Mystical Shit Jesus Was Way Cool Single by King Missilefrom the album Mystical ShitReleased1990GenreAvant gardespoken wordpopLength2 42LabelShimmy DiscSongwriter s John S Hall Chris XefosProducer s KramerKing Missile singles chronology No Point 1990 Jesus Was Way Cool 1990 My Heart Is a Flower 1991 Contents 1 Content 2 Commercial performance 3 Alternative version 4 Cover version 5 ReferencesContent editIn Jesus Was Way Cool frontman John S Hall over a mellow and drawn out piano figure delivers an enthusiastic deadpan monologue in which he declares Jesus way cool for such skills as healing walking on water and turning water into wine Hall states that Jesus did anything he wanted to do and anachronistically could have surpassed the achievements of Jimi Hendrix Wayne Gretzky and Mikhail Baryshnikov in their respective fields Hall then postulates that the crucifixion of Jesus was in fact motivated by jealousy of his coolness and that the subsequent resurrection of Jesus is further evidence of said coolness To further deadpan effect Hall concludes No wonder there are so many Christians 1 In the liner notes of the compilation Fluting on the Hump Hall described Jesus Was Way Cool as a reflection on Catholicism and poetry After recording most of Mystical I went up to Toronto for a week where I performed with a bunch of great Canadian poets including Meryn Cadell Meryn s work which dealt in part with a strict Christian upbringing reminded me of my Catholic school traumas and my relationship and eventual estrangement with Jesus I had a good feeling about this one immediately and the Torontonians seemed to really like it so when I got back I immediately recorded this with a sparse Chris Xefos piano arrangement 2 Commercial performance editThrough the popularity of Jesus Was Way Cool Mystical Shit hit 1 on the CMJ charts and the band was signed by a major label Atlantic Records 3 This series of events led Hall to make a habit of joking Jesus got me signed to Atlantic Records 2 The song was used in an episode of the Adult Swim series Off the Air Alternative version editThe song appears with slightly different lyrics and a radically different arrangement as Jesus Was Way Cool Millennium Edition on the band s 2003 album The Psychopathology of Everyday Life Additionally a live version appears on the single for My Heart Is A Flower in which Hall alters the lyrics slightly Cover version editA German language version of the song entitled Jesus was so Cool appears on the 1996 album Das Jahr Schnee by East German art rock band Herbst in PekingReferences edit Lyrics Jesus Was Way Cool Farmboy s King Missile Retrieved 2008 05 28 a b Hall John S 2004 Album notes In Mystical Shit amp Fluting on the Hump CD booklet New York City Shimmy Disc Prindle Mark 2003 Interview with John S Hall Prindle Rock and Roll Record Review Site Retrieved 2008 05 28 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jesus Was Way Cool amp oldid 1162697243, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
