And Jeong Sun-ah is a Korean actress who is best known for her part in Wicked (she played Glinda) and Chicago (Velma Kelly), but she also played Mary Magdelene in the 2012 Korean production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
And yeah, the song still gives me goosebumps in Korean.
Many of you are wondering - wait, this blog was completely dead, and now you're posting two in one day?
A few of you are wondering why the hell I'm posting Sporty Spice.
Because, guys, this is Sporty Spice. The best Spice. I will die on that hill.
Now, this 2012 performance (for Red Nose Day, I believe) got mixed reviews, mostly on wardrobe. Mary Magdelene should be dressed more modestly - but I give it a positive one. She sang the hell out of the song, and sincerely paid attention to the tone shift as the song goes on. Note the 3:00 minute part when she takes off her makeup.
Also, it was a rock opera in 2012, not a post-hippie musical from 1971, so settle down, people.
Also, "I've had so many men before, in very many ways" is literally a line in the song. Modestly? Modestly?!
Lest you think this was a one-off.
It wasn't. She was part of a television show called Superstar that was tasked with casting Jesus in a 2012 revival, and she played the part in a touring version of the show for more than a year. The song was legit a Top 20 hit on the UK Indie Chart!
From the NBC television version of Jesus Christ Superstar, featuring Sara Barielles as Mary Magdelene, who is, in my opinion, one of the star characters of the musical - and Judas is absolutely the other.
Yvonne Elliman, who originated the role of Mary Magdelene on Broadway and also starred in the 1973 movie version of the musical, is a fan of this version, so you should be as well.
Yes, the Wicked Guilty Pleasures post was ABSOLUTELY an excuse to post this. This cover is even heavier on the twang than the Chicks' version. (Chicks's? We never know which is right). Also, Sophie Allison's quiet delivery of Susan Gibson's words and music resonates in a manner arguably deeper than Natalie Maines's performance did.
I even let the domain name lapse. Don't worry. I'll fix that.
But I wanted to add one more for 2024. This cover of an Edith Piaf classic literally gave a billion people goosebumps this summer. It was never even clear that Céline Dion would ever perform again... and she did, on the goddamn Eiffel Tower.
I didn't really make it clear that she got her start on the 2013 edition of La Voix, which is the Quebec version of The Voice. For most of the public, this is the first time they ever heard Charlotte Cardin - covering the hell out of Amy Winehouse.
NO, Totally Covered isn't going away. Some things belong here.
Like this pandemic cover of a Paris Hilton classic by Kim Petras, in support of The Stonewall Gives Back.
By the way, if you question whether or not Paris Hilton endorses Kim Petras covering her best known song, you should check out this video from Paris's wedding. (The two of them have actually performed the song together as well)
