....eeeeasy....the "Midnight Special" performance of "Magic" in 1980 (3:04); It was Number One when performed, she looked like a hot "Chrissy" from "Three's Company" and was THE TOP SINGER in the Game, even with Linda, Babs & Donna hovering around! ...CLASSIC 'LIVVIE, right there....
....oooh!! ...I remembered another One; her performance of "I Honestly Love You" on the Andy Williams special (1974), where she cried a single tear down her cheek...DEVASTATING.....
Finally catching this in 2024 Thanks for an amazing heart felt tribute to this queen, dame Olivia!! It would have been amazing to see you interview her. Huge fan of hers for 45yr now, i have never been a fan of anyone more than her , my only celeb icon n crush, and lucky got to meet her a few times, and own items from her province from her Hollywood celeb auction in 2019. She was an unbelievably caring human her whole life.
Five women taught me how to sing: Judy Garland, Linda Ronstadt, Donna Summer, Pat Benatar and Olivia Newton-John. It’s hard to describe Olivia’s immense impact on Gen X. She was our childhood.
Olivia is a great loss, hard to believe another icon passed. Being a vocalist you might be interested in another Aussie powerhouse, Delta Goodrem, mentored by Olivia and who came to play her in the movie. Had her first album at 16. Had to re-learn to talk after a botched tonsil operation, let alone sing. Delta is a coach on The Voice and is the darling of Australia, and writes her own songs, also plays piano. Seriously underrated worldwide. Hope you enjoy.
Olivia was the kindest person I have ever known. I never heard her say anthing negative about anyone. In fact, only the oppisite was true; she loved people and only put positivity into the world. She was an amazing artist and an even more amazing friend. I miss her so much. Please send love and light to her family. She is so very missed. Thank you for the tribute, Professor. It was wonderful. Olivia will always be magic!
There's only one person who could pull off being a country singer, a rock star and a movie star without missing a beat, and that was Olivia! She was every man's fantasy, every female singer's idol and one of the greatest singers of all time! I still tear up when I think of her passing. She will be missed dearly!
I totally agree with your assessment of Olivia Newton John. I was disheartened to learn about her demise. I'm sure Chloe is struggling with the loss of her mother right now. What is your favorite Olivia Newton John song?
@@speedlearner She had so many great songs that it's hard to choose just one, but I've always loved Magic since the first day I heard it. There's just something about the sensuality of her voice in that song that strikes a chord in my soul.
@@karaokekraziness3891 My personal favorite song is Fly Away which was a duet with John Denver. It has a very haunting melody. I will miss her terribly. Did you get a chance to see her live in concert?
I was extremely distressed at hearing of Olivia's passing, and have been very upset about it since. She was such a beautiful soul, inside and out, and an absolutely gorgeous creature, so uber talented... I just can't bring myself to accept that she is gone.
I had been waiting for a tribute episode for Olivia Newton-John. I knew the professor wouldn't let me down and he didn't. Beautiful tribute. This one really hurts. Growing up in 1970s to the early 1980s, Olivia Newton-John and Karen Carpenter were my 2 favorite female singers (still are). They both had the purest, sweetest, most angelic, female singing voices I've ever heard. Now they're both gone. From the country-pop part of her career, my favorite song of her's is "Have You Never Been Mellow.' Then, she reinvented herself and had a great 4 album stretch with the two great movie soundtracks "Grease" and "Xanadu" and her studio albums "Totally Hot" and "Physical" (I have every album). I must have seen Grease at least 30 times (probably more). Grease, along with Saturday Night Fever plus many other albums, helped make 1978 my favorite music year (I turned 13 that year). While Xanadu failed at the box office, the music soundtrack was a blockbuster success. I was in high school in the early 80s and there was probably no song or music video that represented that time-frame better than "Physical". Her music was so much a part of my life growing up. I also read that Olivia was very close friends with Karen Carpenter (In fact, Olivia said that she was scheduled to meet Karen for lunch the day after Karen surprisingly died). If there is a Heaven, I hope that Olivia and Karen are singing together. I Honestly love them.
She's definitely the total package: great, talented artist, attractive inside and out and yet one of the most giving and caring souls. Rest in peace Ms. Olivia, a true angel. ♥️✌️
I literally sobbed through this beautiful tribute. I remember singing along to her records, standing on a cedar chest... using a pencil as a mic in the 70's, growing up in Montana. From the beginning, she shaped my love of music. Thank you 💗 💛 💖
I've been binge-watching Livvy's (as we Aussie's affectionately call her) UA-cam videos in recent days and HONESTLY, have been finding it difficult stopping the tears flowing. :( This August I lost my 90 year-old mother and my beloved fellow-Australian musician, Olivia Newton-John. :(
Professor please do an episode on “Magic”. You and I are close in age and that song instantly brings me back to being a little kid in the back seat of my parent’s Plymouth Duster full of innocence. What a great vocalist and performer Olivia was- a true talent who will always live on through her music. Thanks for this episode!
I applaud you, Professor, on this exceptional display of one of the most successful female vocalists ever. I was privileged to see Olivia in concert in 1974. She was my favorite singer. She not only blessed us with her delightful vocals, but we witnessed her resilience in her fight against breast cancer. She was a champion!
Olivia IS the sound of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Few celebrities come across like a punch in the gut as much as hers. The world is a little darker without her as part of it. Thank you for creating the most wonderful of tributes to this very special person.
It is so Incredible how much everyone of us can miss ONJ... I can recall perfectly the moment when Heart Attack sounded on the radios every minute that 1982... Or the pleasure about listening the great unique "Stranger's Touch" drinking something in the night... In my country Soul Kiss was a Smash Hit... Maybe, it made her sing it for her first time live ever. An astonishing performance with fabulous nice musicians..... Great band... I love Rock and Folk... So I enjoy listening to her singing songs such as A Little More Love, Silvery Rain or If You Could Read My Mind... She is "completely" a Complete Artist... The perfect convergence between a whole Artist of the Music and a Great Woman and Mother... I will love her for the rest of my life... Long Live Livvy inside of Everyone... Thanks So Much for your Video...!!! Hugs from Santiago de Chile!!!
As a young boy in the 70's and a teenager in the 80's, Olivia Newton-John was a staple of music in that era; a woman who not only crossed genres but sounded like perfection in each one of them. She was the first singer/performing artist I fell in love with when I a young boy and to this day I can still sing all her songs and know every lyric. I can remember the first time I heard "If Not For You" and fell in love with her voice, as well as the summer I had "Heart Attack" playing over and over again on my walkman. This one hurt. As a grown man in my 50's, I feel the nostalgia of all those songs from my youth and saddened to hear of her passing. RIP Olivia, and thank you for the happiness, memories and especially the music.
I'm 51 and Olivia's music has been a part of my life since I was born. My mother loved her since the late 60s early 70s. We were blessed to see her in concert 2x. It is like losing a beloved family member. Her music touched deep into people's souls and br9ught so much joy, comfort and emotion. I will miss her for the rest of my life.
RIP Olivia ! Great country songs from the early 1970s ! Amazing you won the 1977 American Music Award for best album beating out The Eagles and Elton John (and Grammy Awards too !) Love your hit songs from your iconic albums Grease , Totally Hot , Xanadu and Physical Much respect to your cancer research center in Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺 that employs the best cancer scientists and oncologists to treat cancer patients! You fought a well fought out 30 year battle with breast cancer with poise, grace , calmness and humility - again REST IN PEACE I’ll never forget your iconic angelic singing voice ! My favorite songs - I honestly love you , Have you Ever Been Mellow , If you love me let me know , please mister please , a little more love , Hopelessly Devoted to you , Xanadu , Suddenly, Magic , and Physical
I've been binge-watching Livvy's (as we Aussie's affectionately call her) UA-cam videos in recent days and HONESTLY, have been finding it difficult stopping the tears flowing. :( This August I lost my 90 year-old mother and my beloved fellow-Australian musician, Olivia Newton-John. :(
In the late 80’s, early 90’s she was my neighbor in Malibu. No one in my little hillside community ever locked their doors and people would drop by and walk on in each others homes and she would be in my kitchen often. She was the nicest person. RIP.
Bravo Adam! As an Australian who not only grew up with her music but also did his first solo performance on stage singing one of her songs, this gives us over here a true reflection of the gravity she had on the music scene outside of Australia. This almost brought me to tears. As a very important side note, I will also mention that currently, one of her best musical Australian friends, John Farnham (google his music if you’re unaware of him) has just endured an 11hr operation to remove mouth cancer and have a full jaw reconstruction. We are shocked and hurting here in Oz from the pain of seeing one Aussie icon lost forever and another possibly unable to ever sing again. 😕🇦🇺 I feel so lucky now that the last concert I ever attended in 2020 just before the pandemic hit contained these two legends of Aussie music doing a duet. R.I.P. Olivia and get well soon John “Whispering Jack” Farnham.
We're being hit by the losses of the greatest artists right now, Glen Wheatley, Judith Durham, Olivia NJ. We can only pray that John Farnham gets through his cancer battle. The nicest guy with a voice so strong and awesome, it was described by Tommy Emmanuel as God showing off!
Back in high school, mid '80s, us guys used to crank the radios in the cars and rock out to hard rock groups; Zeppelin, Kiss, AC/DC, Aerosmith, etc. That was considered cool, cutting edge even. Not considered cool was any of us singing anything sung by a female singer, so peer pressure dictated that none of us did - except me - and only when an Olivia Newton -John song came on. I might have been called a name or two, and whoever did it got the stink eye. I just didn't care. That's how great she was.
I'm glad this guy referred to Olivia as an ICON of music...she was one of the most successful female singer of all time,but the media spoke of her like just 'A drop in the pan' after her passing...and no one thought it necessary to make a movie about her life...oh,and she wasn't also worthy to be inducted into "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" ( not even nominated!)
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Jeff put a little bit of that Mr. Blue Sky magic into that number. I was teaching English at a Korean high school when I heard it playing in the classroom next to my office. Apparently the kids were studying the poem Kubla Khan and their teacher had searched for "Xanadu" on UA-cam. They played it the whole way through.
I typically don't get bothered by celebrity deaths. But there are some who who become so ingrained into your life that they seem to become a family member of sorts. As a self-professed "TV Head", Olivia Newton-John was on the short list of actresses that I was madly in love with as a child. I don't think there was a man alive who didn't go gaga at the end of Grease when she came on screen in black leather, flashing that gorgeous smile. RIP ONJ. Thanks for the memories.
More of a "popper" than a rocker. This perception is what has ruined the rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Still sad that she did not survive, but she had a better life than most of us will ever know. Good for her. Fun Fact: Most people don't realize that she is actually British and not Australian. She was born in the UK and lived there for her career instead of being in Oz.
@@JoeGator23 I'm a little confused. Are you telling Mark he's more of a "popper" than a rocker? Do you know him or did you misread his comment and think he was calling ONJ a rocker?
I spent many boring summers belting out her music and lip syncing to a hairbrush as a tween to her music. She was my idol. My heart broke when I heard of her passing. She managed to get through the times with dignity and grace that is unheard of with today’s female performers.
The first time I heard her voice, I was a hyperactive 6 year-old. The song "Magic" stunned me into placidity. I was totally captivated. Later, I saw "Xanadu", and I fell head-over heels in love with her. She played the muse of song and dance, Terpsichore. She was utterly perfect in the role, and I've thought of her as Terpsichore ever since then. I wept Luke a brokenhearted child when the news broke. A hard-bitten, cynical 50 year-old, sobbing helplessly. It still hurts. I will love her forever.
....hell, an even MORE cynical 61 year Old came close to weeping when I listened to her version of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" recently (from her '77 Album, "Making A Good Thing Better") ...If a REAL Singer can make cynical Men weep, you're REEEAL good....RIP, ONJ....
Magic is one of my aunt’s favorite songs from her high school years. When I found out she died, I spent the rest of the day listening to ONJ while shedding a few tears. That is all I wanted to do.
I've been binge-watching Livvy's (as we Aussie's affectionately call her) UA-cam videos in recent days and HONESTLY, have been finding it difficult stopping the tears flowing. :( This August I lost my 90 year-old mother and my beloved fellow-Australian musician, Olivia Newton-John. :(
That's funny because "A Little More Love" is a song of hers I played over and over when I was a kid. In my world and mind, it was one of her biggest hits lol.
So perfectly stated. This one truly hurts us because she was so wonderful, genuine, talented and inspirational. Thanks for articulating it for us, Adam.
She performed several times at a local concert hall over the past 15-20 years. She would order food at a neighboring restaurant and her tour bus would pull into the parking lot. Here she was, after a show, exhausted and freshly showered, in a robe with a towel around her hair. She graciously invited the restaurant staff on her tour bus and would take pictures with them. I don’t know any celebrity that would do that for their fans. Such a kind and classy lady.
I was at work when i found out, and instantly the tears flowed, i work with people who's lives don't revolve around music like mine does, music is the thing in my life that has always been in the forefront. So they thought i was just weird and ridiculous that i cry and am upset over people who i don't know, they just DON"T GET IT. I think it's sad that they don't have an open mind or ear or heart to love more and who are just in front of them and just in their lives. Forever loved and missed Olivia
She was my first crush. I saw Grease at a drive-in. After that I was in love. Magic is my all time favorite song. I watch her Make a move on me, Little more love & yes Magic. My heart is broken.
I can’t remember a time in my life when her music hasn’t been there. Her music is part of the tapestry of my life. And I would dare say all of us Gen X’ers. I think the first song of hers I truly remember is Please Mr. Please. To this day if I put my money into a jukebox (good luck finding one) I still can’t play B-17 :)
Olivia was a magnificent woman, her voice was perfection but her spirit was angelic. She was passionate about saving women from cancer, her clinic in Melbourne Australia was her greatest gift to humanity. During one of her remissions of cancer she was treated at her facility but did so incognito. She spent time getting to know other patients without telling them who she was. Her heart was as enormous as her talent. She will be missed.
I met Olivia in 1999, she was performing in Boston MA. She invited me as a guest to see her show because she'd been told I was an activist parent against toxic pollution who's kids were sick. ONJ was part of an organization called Children's Health Environmental Collation (CHEC) that was created when one of Olivia's friends 5-yo daughter passed from leukemia. I was already a huge fan of her music by the time we met face-to-face. Olivia was a beautiful soul on Earth, she will live on in the hearts of many ..... like me, forever grateful 🙏 ❤️
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 another interesting coincidence is when I met ONJ there were 4 of us mothers with similar struggles fighting against pollution causing cancer. One of those ladies was Donna Robbins, her case made into a movie called 'A Civil Action'. In that film the lead role of Atty Jan Schlictman was performed by John Travolta. Interesting connection that's maybe no so coincidental 🤔
Thank you Professor of Rock for doing this tribute to Olivia Newton-John. I became a fan of hers in 1974 after seeing her at Six Flags in my home town. It's the closest thing I have ever had to a religious experience. Her personality was captivating, her voice was mesmerizing. I fell in love with her music as well as her as a person. I felt like she was singing just to me. I became a fan for life that day. She has been and will be a constant in my life. She taught me how to care about wildlife, the environment and how to deal with cancer when it affected people in my own family. She could sing any style of music, which I'm sure, widened my appreciation for all kinds of music. There will only be one Olivia Newton-John she will live forever in our hearts.
I've been in love with Olivia since I was 10 years old and discovered that beautiful face that was singing Sam. Listening to Sam, Hopelessly Devoted to You or Magic, bring tears to my eyes. Thanks for this tribute professor. We'll love her forever.
In Love, In Love, In Love with that women's soul, voice, music, character, charitable nature, activism, caring, benevolence and strength. What A Beautiful Soul Full Of Magic, Love And Light!!!
How much I love that lady. About three years ago I got her autographed through the mail and it is on my table in my living room, I got it because I became good friends with her daughter Chloe on Instagram and Chloe made sure she would personally sign this picture for me. Chloe is awesome
I am Australian and for me the 2 greatest female artists to make it big internationally are Olivia newton John an judith Durham from the seekers both modest and beautiful people,rest in peace .Australia loves you .
I was in HS when "I Honestly Love You" came out. I would melt into a puddle and flow through the cracks in the floor to the earth below when I heard it. Her voice wobbled my knees.
Still want to see the tv show with her singing that song with a tear running down her cheek. Don’t remember which-Dean Martin? She instantly became my girlfriend.
What cannot be overstated is the impact of ONJ’s voice and songs on the ears and hearts of a young Gen X through the top 40 repetition of crackling AM radio. We just lost a piece of that collective heart.
Over the last couple of weeks there have been a number of ONJ tributes on Aussie TV (along with tributes for another Aussie legend Judith Durham who passed away a few day earlier), and I was a little surprised at how hard her passing hit me because country and pop aren't my style of music, but her stunning, angelic voice always made her music enjoyable. She was a wonderful talent and will be missed, not only in Australia. Thanks for another wonderful tribute.
Very, very well done. Olivia's vocals, music, and performances are simply peerless. She was absolutely magnificent in every way. Someone said when God wanted to show off he created Olivia. Hard to argue with that assessment. We miss her terribly.
I was born in 1972, so her music goes back to my earliest memories. Grease came out as I was finishing kindergarden, Physical was my 'tween years, and she was still making popular movies with John Travolta when I was in middle school. The more I got into rock music, the less I listened to ONJ, but her death hit me harder than Charlie Watts, or Eddie Van Halen, or any artist I can think of. I have been kicking out the ONJ jams a lot lately, and waiting for this tribute! 🙂 🎶🎶🎶
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 by the time you are my age, it will feel like literally life long! If you are like me or most people, everything before that age is barely even the beginning of life - just a fuzzy memory 🙂🎶
She was such a treasure. I was a little kid when I saw Grease for the first time and immediately adored her. Then came Xanadu and man there will never be another lady that everyone adored so much. She was to pop what Dolly is to country. My dad won a copy of Xanadu from a radio station and I fell in love with it. It was a gatefold vinyl that had shoots from the movie that I would stare at while listening to the album. Man, tough to know she’s gone.
Thank you for the beautiful tribute! Olivia was one of a kind. There will never be another performer like her. The entertainment world has truly lost a legend. I became aware of ONJ when I was a pre-teen in the mid-1970s and heard her songs on the radio and just fell in love with her music. Her early songs were simply magical - "Let Me Be There", "If You Love Me, Let Me Know", "I Honestly Love You", "Have You Never Been Mellow", "Please Mr Please", "Sam", "Don't Stop Believin", etc. Then I saw "Grease" and her star just exploded into the stratosphere! The songs from "Grease" - "You're the One That I Want", "Hopelessly Devoted to You", and "Summer Nights" - were the soundtrack of 1978 for me. Then her "Totally Hot" album came and the songs from it - "A Little More Love" and "Deeper Than the Night" were simply mesmerizing! Then it just kept going with "Xanadu" and all of the songs that came from it. "Magic" was a huge hit song in the summer of 1980. You heard it everywhere. Then, of course, there was the title track "Xanadu" and the duet with Cliff Richard on "Suddenly". Again, truly magical songs. Then no one was prepared with the phenomenal success of "Physical", a controversial song back when it was released in 1981 but in 2022 would probable be considered too tame. The songs she released during that time in the early to mid-1980s were the soundtrack for the rest of my teenage years - "Make A Move On Me", "Heart Attack", and "Twist of Fate". After that, her star power kind of faded and the remainder of her music did not do as well, though she continued to record amazing songs. Olivia Newton-John was a true superstar and I think now people are realizing how underrated she was as a performer during the height of her career. She was gifted with a truly amazing voice that could sing just about any style of music - from country to pop to rock to standards. Olivia, we will always be hopefully devoted to you. Rest in Peace.
Olivia was the Sunday evening headliner several years ago at an LA Pride festival. That morning, my friends and I were walking by the covered fencing around the main stage area. I heard her singing Xanadu and knew it had to be her sound check. My friends refused to believe it - because it sounded so perfect. She was easily in her 60's by then and hit that same, great high note she hit in 1980.
“Grease” was the first non animated movie I remember seeing and I remember how amazed I was at how beautiful and talented Olivia Newton John was. Xanadu wasn’t as good, but she made it “magical” anyway (along with ELO). Thank you Adam for this wonderful tribute to a true icon.
Oh, where to start. Olivia was the first musician I became a fan of in the early and mid 70s. Have You Never Been Mellow was a great early hit. Another really good song that showed her range and talent was Sam. Then into my teens she released Physical and Magic. She was truly special. A human being we can all admire. RIP, Olivia.
Another metalhead here.. want to show my love for Olivia. I would have to go with "Have you never been mellow". Some amazing vocal gymnastics on that one. Just listen to her soar on that pre-chorus.. "Now I don't mean to make you frown... No, I just want you to slow down" It was always good advice I was always so poor at taking. She sang it so amazingly. She seemed so caring and sincere. Goodbye, angel.
Olivia's music will live forever from her gentle and heartwarming ballads to her uplifting pop anthems she gave us hope and inspiration with songs such as magic she will be greatly missed
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 she just had that special something and also she kind of was the first real female video starlet in the early days of MTV well before Madonna and Cyndi Lauper
I fell in love with her in 1974 when she sang I honestly love you on the Tonight Show. I first met her in 2001. Over the next 21 years we developed a casual friendship. Olivia loved all of her loyal concert going fans. She would give them a wave or wink or her amazing smile to say thank you for coming to the concert. She knew their faces and some she even knew their names. Olivia was the most caring, giving and loving singer in the world. Rest In Peace darling Olivia we are all sadden by your passing but now you are pain free and can spread your beautiful spirit to all of us. Love and Light.
She is so underrated as a singer, her vocal prowess, ability, registry, breath control, and range is incredible. No better interpreter of a song ever besides her bestie, Karen Carpenter! So many good songs, what a beautiful person who made a difference with her platform for children, environment, animals, and cancer research along with therapies. Thanks again!!!
I first saw Olivia Newton John at Six Flags Over Mid-America in the early 1970s, that's how old I am and how long I've been a fan. I bought every album and sang into my hairbrush to every song. Thank you for this much deserved tribute, Adam. She is a true icon for girls everywhere.
ONJ is the only celebrity to whom I have ever written a fan letter. I was a young kid in the early 80's and she was the brightest star in my sky. I still have my Greatest Hits: Vol II vinyl that I played every day for years. I was so very sad to hear of her passing. #RIPONJ P.S. If you tell me Xanadu is a bad movie, we cannot be friends.
As an Aussie I can say she's always been one of us. My daughters school switched their school bell to Olivia's music in honor of her even if the kids had no idea who she was. It sadly cam less than a month after I introduced my 15yo to Greese and Xanadu
Olivia Newton-John was under appreciated as a whole by the media after her passing,she was one of the top selling,most underated singers of her time,her music spanding over 5 decades,with Country,Easy Listening,folk,Pop,lite rock,and inspirational music...She will always be the #1 female singer of all time for me...Thanks Livy' for the music,the movies,and showing how a celebrity should be,and act!"💯🎶👏🙏♥️
My dad had custody of me on the weekends. I made him take me to the first showing of Xanadu Saturday which was at midday. There was only 4 or 6 extra people. ONJ was my first celebrity crush next to princess Leia. I loved the movie, my dad big ELO fan liked the soundtrack. My heart sank when I heard the news because she really felt like family.
Olivia's music brought this Aussie kid so much joy and excitement in the early 80s. Forever our Queen of Pop, and a great tribute to her Adam thanks mate
I had the chance to meet her twice, I volunteered at a pet shelter, she signed photos and T - shirts for us to raise money. Such a talented and lovely soul, there will never be another like her.
I was totally obsessed with her as a kid and even wrote her a couple of fan letters when I was probably about 7. A Little More Love, Magic, and Come on Over are some of my favorites by her. She will be missed 😭
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 doubtful, but I got back a photo and bio if I remember correctly back to the early-mid 80s. I remember the fact sheet even had the names of all her pets listed. Lots of dogs and horses lol
@@iamangee Ooh, this makes me want to go back even more! My mom’s family wrote letters to pen pals back in the 70s and 80s, it’s what this reminds me of.
Poll: What is your favorite performance by Olivia Newton John?
I always loved her version of Country Roads and anything from Grease
....eeeeasy....the "Midnight Special" performance of "Magic" in 1980 (3:04); It was Number One when performed, she looked like a hot "Chrissy" from "Three's Company" and was THE TOP SINGER in the Game, even with Linda, Babs & Donna hovering around! ...CLASSIC 'LIVVIE, right there....
I don't really listen to her music.
....oooh!! ...I remembered another One; her performance of "I Honestly Love You" on the Andy Williams special (1974), where she cried a single tear down her cheek...DEVASTATING.....
Silvery Rain, Jolene, Heart Attack...
Finally catching this in 2024
Thanks for an amazing heart felt tribute to this queen, dame Olivia!! It would have been amazing to see you interview her. Huge fan of hers for 45yr now, i have never been a fan of anyone more than her , my only celeb icon n crush, and lucky got to meet her a few times, and own items from her province from her Hollywood celeb auction in 2019. She was an unbelievably caring human her whole life.
Five women taught me how to sing: Judy Garland, Linda Ronstadt, Donna Summer, Pat Benatar and Olivia Newton-John. It’s hard to describe Olivia’s immense impact on Gen X. She was our childhood.
Yes, gotta recognize all the women rockers out there!
I would add Blondie to that. 👍
And for late Boomers, she was our puberty and adolescence!
Olivia is a great loss, hard to believe another icon passed.
Being a vocalist you might be interested in another Aussie powerhouse, Delta Goodrem, mentored by Olivia and who came to play her in the movie. Had her first album at 16.
Had to re-learn to talk after a botched tonsil operation, let alone sing.
Delta is a coach on The Voice and is the darling of Australia, and writes her own songs, also plays piano.
Seriously underrated worldwide.
Hope you enjoy.
Barbra Streisand, Sheena Easton, Ann Wilson, Joni, Joan and Judy, Janis, Janis Ian, Diana Ross... every drag queen's dream!
Olivia was the kindest person I have ever known. I never heard her say anthing negative about anyone. In fact, only the oppisite was true; she loved people and only put positivity into the world. She was an amazing artist and an even more amazing friend. I miss her so much. Please send love and light to her family. She is so very missed. Thank you for the tribute, Professor. It was wonderful. Olivia will always be magic!
There's only one person who could pull off being a country singer, a rock star and a movie star without missing a beat, and that was Olivia! She was every man's fantasy, every female singer's idol and one of the greatest singers of all time! I still tear up when I think of her passing. She will be missed dearly!
I totally agree with your assessment of Olivia Newton John. I was disheartened to learn about her demise. I'm sure Chloe is struggling with the loss of her mother right now. What is your favorite Olivia Newton John song?
@@speedlearner She had so many great songs that it's hard to choose just one, but I've always loved Magic since the first day I heard it. There's just something about the sensuality of her voice in that song that strikes a chord in my soul.
Well said!!! ♥️
@@karaokekraziness3891 My personal favorite song is Fly Away which was a duet with John Denver. It has a very haunting melody. I will miss her terribly. Did you get a chance to see her live in concert?
@@speedlearner No, I never had that opportunity.
The world is a lesser place without her and all she gave to it. 😓❤️
I was extremely distressed at hearing of Olivia's passing, and have been very upset about it since. She was such a beautiful soul, inside and out, and an absolutely gorgeous creature, so uber talented... I just can't bring myself to accept that she is gone.
I had been waiting for a tribute episode for Olivia Newton-John. I knew the professor wouldn't let me down and he didn't. Beautiful tribute. This one really hurts. Growing up in 1970s to the early 1980s, Olivia Newton-John and Karen Carpenter were my 2 favorite female singers (still are). They both had the purest, sweetest, most angelic, female singing voices I've ever heard. Now they're both gone. From the country-pop part of her career, my favorite song of her's is "Have You Never Been Mellow.' Then, she reinvented herself and had a great 4 album stretch with the two great movie soundtracks "Grease" and "Xanadu" and her studio albums "Totally Hot" and "Physical" (I have every album). I must have seen Grease at least 30 times (probably more). Grease, along with Saturday Night Fever plus many other albums, helped make 1978 my favorite music year (I turned 13 that year). While Xanadu failed at the box office, the music soundtrack was a blockbuster success. I was in high school in the early 80s and there was probably no song or music video that represented that time-frame better than "Physical". Her music was so much a part of my life growing up. I also read that Olivia was very close friends with Karen Carpenter (In fact, Olivia said that she was scheduled to meet Karen for lunch the day after Karen surprisingly died). If there is a Heaven, I hope that Olivia and Karen are singing together. I Honestly love them.
This one hurt the most out of all the legends we lost this year. RIP ONJ and Karen.
She was an amazing artist and will be missed deeply. She had such a good heart and went out of her way to make her fans feel special.
Beautifully spoken 💗
Now that would have been a beautiful song if they had got together.
She's definitely the total package: great, talented artist, attractive inside and out and yet one of the most giving and caring souls. Rest in peace Ms. Olivia, a true angel. ♥️✌️
She was a wonderful woman who advocated for breast cancer and warmed the hearts of so many. August 8 was a truly difficult day for me.
My two biggest crushes as a boy in the 70's. ONJ and Jacklyn Smith.
❤️
Amen
I literally sobbed through this beautiful tribute. I remember singing along to her records, standing on a cedar chest... using a pencil as a mic in the 70's, growing up in Montana. From the beginning, she shaped my love of music. Thank you 💗 💛 💖
Thanks you Rachel!
It really hurt for me too. No other celebrity death this year has hurt nearly as much.
Oh yeah, me too
I've been binge-watching Livvy's (as we Aussie's affectionately call her) UA-cam videos in recent days and HONESTLY, have been finding it difficult stopping the tears flowing. :(
This August I lost my 90 year-old mother and my beloved fellow-Australian musician, Olivia Newton-John. :(
This is a beautiful, well-deserved tribute to THE ONJ. Thank you.
Professor please do an episode on “Magic”. You and I are close in age and that song instantly brings me back to being a little kid in the back seat of my parent’s Plymouth Duster full of innocence. What a great vocalist and performer Olivia was- a true talent who will always live on through her music. Thanks for this episode!
I love Magic so much.
Smart parents. We had one also
I applaud you, Professor, on this exceptional display of one of the most successful female vocalists ever. I was privileged to see Olivia in concert in 1974. She was my favorite singer. She not only blessed us with her delightful vocals, but we witnessed her resilience in her fight against breast cancer. She was a champion!
I thought I got through my grief of our loss, but your tribute made me cry again. Thank you for this touching tribute.
Olivia IS the sound of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Few celebrities come across like a punch in the gut as much as hers. The world is a little darker without her as part of it. Thank you for creating the most wonderful of tributes to this very special person.
Magic is a song that instantly transports you back to that time, if you were alive when it was around.
So true.
It’s such a great song. My aunt loves it.
MAGIC is pure Magic!!!!!!
As an Australian, I can tell you we are so proud of the artist and person Olivia was. We miss her.
Was terrible losing Judith only days prior too. Vale ONJ and JD
@@thedys70 yes, another great talent and wonderful person gone from our shore.
@@sharon3470 Totally crap month for us Aussies; August be GONE!
It is so Incredible how much everyone of us can miss ONJ... I can recall perfectly the moment when Heart Attack sounded on the radios every minute that 1982... Or the pleasure about listening the great unique "Stranger's Touch" drinking something in the night... In my country Soul Kiss was a Smash Hit... Maybe, it made her sing it for her first time live ever. An astonishing performance with fabulous nice musicians..... Great band... I love Rock and Folk... So I enjoy listening to her singing songs such as A Little More Love, Silvery Rain or If You Could Read My Mind... She is "completely" a Complete Artist... The perfect convergence between a whole Artist of the Music and a Great Woman and Mother... I will love her for the rest of my life... Long Live Livvy inside of Everyone... Thanks So Much for your Video...!!! Hugs from Santiago de Chile!!!
As a young boy in the 70's and a teenager in the 80's, Olivia Newton-John was a staple of music in that era; a woman who not only crossed genres but sounded like perfection in each one of them. She was the first singer/performing artist I fell in love with when I a young boy and to this day I can still sing all her songs and know every lyric. I can remember the first time I heard "If Not For You" and fell in love with her voice, as well as the summer I had "Heart Attack" playing over and over again on my walkman. This one hurt. As a grown man in my 50's, I feel the nostalgia of all those songs from my youth and saddened to hear of her passing. RIP Olivia, and thank you for the happiness, memories and especially the music.
I'm 51 and Olivia's music has been a part of my life since I was born. My mother loved her since the late 60s early 70s. We were blessed to see her in concert 2x. It is like losing a beloved family member. Her music touched deep into people's souls and br9ught so much joy, comfort and emotion. I will miss her for the rest of my life.
Born in the 70s... all her songs were on in those days...then Xanadu the movie..not afraid to say I had quite the crush on her😁
I think she is very underrated in music industry. I think she had one of the clearest voice that always sounded sincere. Rip
RIP Olivia ! Great country songs from the early 1970s ! Amazing you won the 1977 American Music Award for best album beating out The Eagles and Elton John (and Grammy Awards too !) Love your hit songs from your iconic albums Grease , Totally Hot , Xanadu and Physical
Much respect to your cancer research center in Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺 that employs the best cancer scientists and oncologists to treat cancer patients!
You fought a well fought out 30 year battle with breast cancer with poise, grace , calmness and humility - again REST IN PEACE
I’ll never forget your iconic angelic singing voice !
My favorite songs - I honestly love you , Have you Ever Been Mellow , If you love me let me know , please mister please , a little more love , Hopelessly Devoted to you , Xanadu , Suddenly, Magic , and Physical
I've been binge-watching Livvy's (as we Aussie's affectionately call her) UA-cam videos in recent days and HONESTLY, have been finding it difficult stopping the tears flowing. :(
This August I lost my 90 year-old mother and my beloved fellow-Australian musician, Olivia Newton-John. :(
She was such a hero for so many. My favorite song of hers probably has to be You’re The One That I Want or Xanadu.
Add...Deeper Than the Night, Heart Attack, The Second Time Around and Make A Move On Me.
In the late 80’s, early 90’s she was my neighbor in Malibu. No one in my little hillside community ever locked their doors and people would drop by and walk on in each others homes and she would be in my kitchen often. She was the nicest person. RIP.
Bravo Adam! As an Australian who not only grew up with her music but also did his first solo performance on stage singing one of her songs, this gives us over here a true reflection of the gravity she had on the music scene outside of Australia. This almost brought me to tears. As a very important side note, I will also mention that currently, one of her best musical Australian friends, John Farnham (google his music if you’re unaware of him) has just endured an 11hr operation to remove mouth cancer and have a full jaw reconstruction. We are shocked and hurting here in Oz from the pain of seeing one Aussie icon lost forever and another possibly unable to ever sing again. 😕🇦🇺 I feel so lucky now that the last concert I ever attended in 2020 just before the pandemic hit contained these two legends of Aussie music doing a duet. R.I.P. Olivia and get well soon John “Whispering Jack” Farnham.
We're being hit by the losses of the greatest artists right now, Glen Wheatley, Judith Durham, Olivia NJ.
We can only pray that John Farnham gets through his cancer battle. The nicest guy with a voice so strong and awesome, it was described by Tommy Emmanuel as God showing off!
Back in high school, mid '80s, us guys used to crank the radios in the cars and rock out to hard rock groups; Zeppelin, Kiss, AC/DC, Aerosmith, etc. That was considered cool, cutting edge even. Not considered cool was any of us singing anything sung by a female singer, so peer pressure dictated that none of us did - except me - and only when an Olivia Newton -John song came on. I might have been called a name or two, and whoever did it got the stink eye. I just didn't care. That's how great she was.
I'm glad this guy referred to Olivia as an ICON of music...she was one of the most successful female singer of all time,but the media spoke of her like just 'A drop in the pan' after her passing...and no one thought it necessary to make a movie about her life...oh,and she wasn't also worthy to be inducted into "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" ( not even nominated!)
She had so many great songs outside of the hits. Queen of the Publication, Rosewater, and I'm a Small and Lonely Light are a few of my favorites.
Rest in peace to such a legend! Thanks for such a tribute.
It’s super sad!
She was an amazing singer and left a legacy of beautiful music that touched all of us deeply.
She still is my favorite, ever since I heard Have you never been mellow.
A lovely tribute, Professor! Her work with ELO on the Xanadu soundtrack was absolutely amazing, along with everything else she did.
She was one of a kind.
That Xanadu title song is a burst of joy!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Jeff put a little bit of that Mr. Blue Sky magic into that number. I was teaching English at a Korean high school when I heard it playing in the classroom next to my office. Apparently the kids were studying the poem Kubla Khan and their teacher had searched for "Xanadu" on UA-cam. They played it the whole way through.
My 1st crush... I love the Bee Gee's and was gratified to learn of her long history with them and Andy Gibb.
@@MarkRyanSchulz Jeff made that song sound way ahead of its time! Timeless indeed. Great story.
A very beautiful and kindhearted person; RIP to the Lovely Songbird is all I can say...
Olivia is one of the exceptionally few celebrities that I cried over when they passed. She was a phenomenal woman!!!!
I typically don't get bothered by celebrity deaths. But there are some who who become so ingrained into your life that they seem to become a family member of sorts. As a self-professed "TV Head", Olivia Newton-John was on the short list of actresses that I was madly in love with as a child. I don't think there was a man alive who didn't go gaga at the end of Grease when she came on screen in black leather, flashing that gorgeous smile. RIP ONJ. Thanks for the memories.
I absolutely loved Olivia. This rocker often found himself singing to her songs. Great post Prof once again.
Same.
More of a "popper" than a rocker.
This perception is what has ruined the rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Still sad that she did not survive, but she had a better life than most of us will ever know. Good for her.
Fun Fact: Most people don't realize that she is actually British and not Australian. She was born in the UK and lived there for her career instead of being in Oz.
She had a beautiful voice.
@@JoeGator23 I'm a little confused. Are you telling Mark he's more of a "popper" than a rocker? Do you know him or did you misread his comment and think he was calling ONJ a rocker?
@@jopp3786 I thought he was calling ONJ a rocker... I must have misread the comment.
I spent many boring summers belting out her music and lip syncing to a hairbrush as a tween to her music. She was my idol. My heart broke when I heard of her passing. She managed to get through the times with dignity and grace that is unheard of with today’s female performers.
So tru❤❤
I’d do the same thing! When You’re The One That I Want or Xanadu came on I would immediately sing along.
The first time I heard her voice, I was a hyperactive 6 year-old. The song "Magic" stunned me into placidity. I was totally captivated. Later, I saw "Xanadu", and I fell head-over heels in love with her. She played the muse of song and dance, Terpsichore. She was utterly perfect in the role, and I've thought of her as Terpsichore ever since then. I wept Luke a brokenhearted child when the news broke. A hard-bitten, cynical 50 year-old, sobbing helplessly. It still hurts. I will love her forever.
....hell, an even MORE cynical 61 year Old came close to weeping when I listened to her version of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" recently (from her '77 Album, "Making A Good Thing Better") ...If a REAL Singer can make cynical Men weep, you're REEEAL good....RIP, ONJ....
Magic is one of my aunt’s favorite songs from her high school years. When I found out she died, I spent the rest of the day listening to ONJ while shedding a few tears. That is all I wanted to do.
She was an amazing artist and her music will live on as a tribute to her talent and loving heart.
I've been binge-watching Livvy's (as we Aussie's affectionately call her) UA-cam videos in recent days and HONESTLY, have been finding it difficult stopping the tears flowing. :(
This August I lost my 90 year-old mother and my beloved fellow-Australian musician, Olivia Newton-John. :(
I'M NOT CRYING! YOU ARE!!!
It sucks that we all have to die. Some of us leave our mark in this world and she definitely did with her voice and music.
ONJ was a Goddess that walked among us. Huge fan since 1973. This old soldier teared up at her passing. Thanks Prof for doing this.
She will be missed! You should do a deep dive on her song “A Little More Love”. That’s a lesser known gem.
Xanadu was no.1 in UK "Professor". You did not mention it at all.
That number is my favorite from her.
Very underrated song indeed.
She could glide effortlessly through any and all key changes. That is definitely one of my top 10 favorite songs in the ONJ catalog.
That's funny because "A Little More Love" is a song of hers I played over and over when I was a kid. In my world and mind, it was one of her biggest hits lol.
RIP 💔💔
So perfectly stated. This one truly hurts us because she was so wonderful, genuine, talented and inspirational. Thanks for articulating it for us, Adam.
She performed several times at a local concert hall over the past 15-20 years. She would order food at a neighboring restaurant and her tour bus would pull into the parking lot. Here she was, after a show, exhausted and freshly showered, in a robe with a towel around her hair. She graciously invited the restaurant staff on her tour bus and would take pictures with them. I don’t know any celebrity that would do that for their fans. Such a kind and classy lady.
Super cool!
I was at work when i found out, and instantly the tears flowed, i work with people who's lives don't revolve around music like mine does, music is the thing in my life that has always been in the forefront. So they thought i was just weird and ridiculous that i cry and am upset over people who i don't know, they just DON"T GET IT. I think it's sad that they don't have an open mind or ear or heart to love more and who are just in front of them and just in their lives. Forever loved and missed Olivia
She was my first crush. I saw Grease at a drive-in. After that I was in love. Magic is my all time favorite song. I watch her Make a move on me, Little more love & yes Magic. My heart is broken.
I can’t remember a time in my life when her music hasn’t been there. Her music is part of the tapestry of my life. And I would dare say all of us Gen X’ers. I think the first song of hers I truly remember is Please Mr. Please. To this day if I put my money into a jukebox (good luck finding one) I still can’t play B-17 :)
Olivia Newton-John is the kind of gal that all of us guys want to find and hardly any of us ever do.
Olivia was a magnificent woman, her voice was perfection but her spirit was angelic. She was passionate about saving women from cancer, her clinic in Melbourne Australia was her greatest gift to humanity. During one of her remissions of cancer she was treated at her facility but did so incognito. She spent time getting to know other patients without telling them who she was. Her heart was as enormous as her talent. She will be missed.
An absolute angel. First crush and one of the best. Her voice and beauty were magic
Olivia passed just 3 days after the passing of Judith Durham, another Australian music legend, a lot of us Aussies are hurting right now.
And Farnham's got a fight on his hands too...
@@thedys70 Yea
I met Olivia in 1999, she was performing in Boston MA. She invited me as a guest to see her show because she'd been told I was an activist parent against toxic pollution who's kids were sick. ONJ was part of an organization called Children's Health Environmental Collation (CHEC) that was created when one of Olivia's friends 5-yo daughter passed from leukemia. I was already a huge fan of her music by the time we met face-to-face. Olivia was a beautiful soul on Earth, she will live on in the hearts of many ..... like me, forever grateful 🙏 ❤️
She did so much for people struggling with cancer. We could not have done without her.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 another interesting coincidence is when I met ONJ there were 4 of us mothers with similar struggles fighting against pollution causing cancer. One of those ladies was Donna Robbins, her case made into a movie called 'A Civil Action'. In that film the lead role of Atty Jan Schlictman was performed by John Travolta. Interesting connection that's maybe no so coincidental 🤔
@@traceymacneill9879 Wow, pretty amazing coincidence!
I'm an aussie and I grew up hearing all those classic country pop hits on AM radio as a kid. Just so sad that Olivia is gone. RIP
It is unbelievable.
Her duet; -Suddenly- with Cliff Richard
CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED!!
Yes, I agree. Great song!
I totally agree that Suddenly is a terrific song, but Suspended in Time is even more underrated. It wasn't even released as a single.
I believe that Olivia Newton-John could have sung any page from Webster’s dictionary, and taken it to No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100.
Haha, I wish she would have done that for real! 😛
She could sing anything and I’d be watching crying laughing or screaming out of pure happiness
Thank you Professor of Rock for doing this tribute to Olivia Newton-John. I became a fan of hers in 1974 after seeing her at Six Flags in my home town. It's the closest thing I have ever had to a religious experience. Her personality was captivating, her voice was mesmerizing. I fell in love with her music as well as her as a person. I felt like she was singing just to me. I became a fan for life that day. She has been and will be a constant in my life. She taught me how to care about wildlife, the environment and how to deal with cancer when it affected people in my own family. She could sing any style of music, which I'm sure, widened my appreciation for all kinds of music. There will only be one Olivia Newton-John she will live forever in our hearts.
I've been in love with Olivia since I was 10 years old and discovered that beautiful face that was singing Sam. Listening to Sam, Hopelessly Devoted to You or Magic, bring tears to my eyes.
Thanks for this tribute professor. We'll love her forever.
In Love, In Love, In Love with that women's soul, voice, music, character, charitable nature, activism, caring, benevolence and strength. What A Beautiful Soul Full Of Magic, Love And Light!!!
How much I love that lady. About three years ago I got her autographed through the mail and it is on my table in my living room, I got it because I became good friends with her daughter Chloe on Instagram and Chloe made sure she would personally sign this picture for me. Chloe is awesome
I hope Chloe is ok. I am a little worried for her.
Super cool! I feel so bad for Chloe right now, such a difficult time for her and her family.
@@natalieburnham3300 She’s a very sweet and sensitive woman. I pray for her and I write message to her on her Instagram every day to lift her spirit
I am Australian and for me the 2 greatest female artists to make it big internationally are Olivia newton John an judith Durham from the seekers both modest and beautiful people,rest in peace .Australia loves you .
I was in HS when "I Honestly Love You" came out. I would melt into a puddle and flow through the cracks in the floor to the earth below when I heard it. Her voice wobbled my knees.
Same. Now, THAT is real talent.
Still want to see the tv show with her singing that song with a tear running down her cheek. Don’t remember which-Dean Martin? She instantly became my girlfriend.
Thank you. I loved her my entire life. So sad
What cannot be overstated is the impact of ONJ’s voice and songs on the ears and hearts of a young Gen X through the top 40 repetition of crackling AM radio. We just lost a piece of that collective heart.
She made the world sweeter.
Thank you for honouring one of our most valued Singers in Australia. Thank you.
Over the last couple of weeks there have been a number of ONJ tributes on Aussie TV (along with tributes for another Aussie legend Judith Durham who passed away a few day earlier), and I was a little surprised at how hard her passing hit me because country and pop aren't my style of music, but her stunning, angelic voice always made her music enjoyable. She was a wonderful talent and will be missed, not only in Australia. Thanks for another wonderful tribute.
Very, very well done. Olivia's vocals, music, and performances are simply peerless. She was absolutely magnificent in every way. Someone said when God wanted to show off he created Olivia. Hard to argue with that assessment. We miss her terribly.
I was born in 1972, so her music goes back to my earliest memories. Grease came out as I was finishing kindergarden, Physical was my 'tween years, and she was still making popular movies with John Travolta when I was in middle school. The more I got into rock music, the less I listened to ONJ, but her death hit me harder than Charlie Watts, or Eddie Van Halen, or any artist I can think of. I have been kicking out the ONJ jams a lot lately, and waiting for this tribute! 🙂 🎶🎶🎶
I was born in 2006, and first discovered ONJ through Physical in middle school. Since then, I’ve been hooked!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 whether it's been a lifelong thing as it has with us, or those just discovering her after we lost her, we all have TODAY
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 🙂🎧🎶❤️
@@wsemmons2001 It’s been a lifelong thing for 4 years now. I’ve always loved ONJ.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 by the time you are my age, it will feel like literally life long! If you are like me or most people, everything before that age is barely even the beginning of life - just a fuzzy memory 🙂🎶
I have loved ONJ since I was a kid. I was lucky enough to get to see her in concert once. She was truly a special lady and will be missed.
She was such a treasure. I was a little kid when I saw Grease for the first time and immediately adored her. Then came Xanadu and man there will never be another lady that everyone adored so much. She was to pop what Dolly is to country.
My dad won a copy of Xanadu from a radio station and I fell in love with it. It was a gatefold vinyl that had shoots from the movie that I would stare at while listening to the album. Man, tough to know she’s gone.
Thank you for the beautiful tribute! Olivia was one of a kind. There will never be another performer like her. The entertainment world has truly lost a legend. I became aware of ONJ when I was a pre-teen in the mid-1970s and heard her songs on the radio and just fell in love with her music. Her early songs were simply magical - "Let Me Be There", "If You Love Me, Let Me Know", "I Honestly Love You", "Have You Never Been Mellow", "Please Mr Please", "Sam", "Don't Stop Believin", etc. Then I saw "Grease" and her star just exploded into the stratosphere! The songs from "Grease" - "You're the One That I Want", "Hopelessly Devoted to You", and "Summer Nights" - were the soundtrack of 1978 for me. Then her "Totally Hot" album came and the songs from it - "A Little More Love" and "Deeper Than the Night" were simply mesmerizing! Then it just kept going with "Xanadu" and all of the songs that came from it. "Magic" was a huge hit song in the summer of 1980. You heard it everywhere. Then, of course, there was the title track "Xanadu" and the duet with Cliff Richard on "Suddenly". Again, truly magical songs. Then no one was prepared with the phenomenal success of "Physical", a controversial song back when it was released in 1981 but in 2022 would probable be considered too tame. The songs she released during that time in the early to mid-1980s were the soundtrack for the rest of my teenage years - "Make A Move On Me", "Heart Attack", and "Twist of Fate". After that, her star power kind of faded and the remainder of her music did not do as well, though she continued to record amazing songs. Olivia Newton-John was a true superstar and I think now people are realizing how underrated she was as a performer during the height of her career. She was gifted with a truly amazing voice that could sing just about any style of music - from country to pop to rock to standards. Olivia, we will always be hopefully devoted to you. Rest in Peace.
Olivia was the Sunday evening headliner several years ago at an LA Pride festival. That morning, my friends and I were walking by the covered fencing around the main stage area. I heard her singing Xanadu and knew it had to be her sound check. My friends refused to believe it - because it sounded so perfect. She was easily in her 60's by then and hit that same, great high note she hit in 1980.
She was a close friend of Karen Carpenter. The thought of them being together and singing together again makes me smile.
My top three female vocalists: 1.Babs 2. Karen Carpenter 3. ONJ
“Grease” was the first non animated movie I remember seeing and I remember how amazed I was at how beautiful and talented Olivia Newton John was. Xanadu wasn’t as good, but she made it “magical” anyway (along with ELO). Thank you Adam for this wonderful tribute to a true icon.
You have to believe ONJ was Magic. She was a beautiful soul and possibly the most beautiful woman ever.
She was
Oh, where to start. Olivia was the first musician I became a fan of in the early and mid 70s. Have You Never Been Mellow was a great early hit. Another really good song that showed her range and talent was Sam. Then into my teens she released Physical and Magic. She was truly special. A human being we can all admire. RIP, Olivia.
Olivia sings… the world stops and just listens. An angel returns home.
The 70's and 80's were great listening to Olivia's beautiful voice!
She was amazing!
Another metalhead here.. want to show my love for Olivia. I would have to go with "Have you never been mellow".
Some amazing vocal gymnastics on that one. Just listen to her soar on that pre-chorus..
"Now I don't mean to make you frown... No, I just want you to slow down"
It was always good advice I was always so poor at taking. She sang it so amazingly. She seemed so caring and sincere.
Goodbye, angel.
Olivia's music will live forever from her gentle and heartwarming ballads to her uplifting pop anthems she gave us hope and inspiration with songs such as magic she will be greatly missed
Her angelic voice!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 she just had that special something and also she kind of was the first real female video starlet in the early days of MTV well before Madonna and Cyndi Lauper
@@georgemathie8123 And Pat Benatar too! You Better Run!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 that's right pat Benatar is among the first MTV stars as well
@@georgemathie8123 She had the second video ever to be played on MTV!
I fell in love with her in 1974 when she sang I honestly love you on the Tonight Show. I first met her in 2001. Over the next 21 years we developed a casual friendship. Olivia loved all of her loyal concert going fans. She would give them a wave or wink or her amazing smile to say thank you for coming to the concert. She knew their faces and some she even knew their names.
Olivia was the most caring, giving and loving singer in the world.
Rest In Peace darling Olivia we are all sadden by your passing but now you are pain free and can spread your beautiful spirit to all of us. Love and Light.
Such a lovely tribute. She will be greatly missed.🙏🏻
It really sucked for me, that day.
She is so underrated as a singer, her vocal prowess, ability, registry, breath control, and range is incredible. No better interpreter of a song ever besides her bestie, Karen Carpenter! So many good songs, what a beautiful person who made a difference with her platform for children, environment, animals, and cancer research along with therapies. Thanks again!!!
She and Karen will be sorely missed. Such wonderful singers.
Definitely NOT underrated! By whom?
@@RDYCHer voice is underrated. Of course, she is one of the most succesfull artist of all time
My dad took me to see Xanadu in the theater, something like 8 times. I was 8. Changed my life for sure. Thank you for this, Professor!
You bet!
@@ProfessorofRock Your videos truly make my days even more awesome.
Don’t blame you there!
One of the first - maybe THE first - movies I could watch all alone only with myself - without "parents supervision" 😂😂😂😂😂😂 - 10 or 11 I think... 😂
What a great tribute to Olivia Newton John, Mr. Professor. Well done, sir. 👏
A great, great loss...Olivia was a class act, an angel who rocked and lullabied the best years of our lives 😭
Great tribute to Olivia Professor…once again, you brought me to tears with your eloquent words. Thank you.
I first saw Olivia Newton John at Six Flags Over Mid-America in the early 1970s, that's how old I am and how long I've been a fan. I bought every album and sang into my hairbrush to every song. Thank you for this much deserved tribute, Adam. She is a true icon for girls everywhere.
ONJ is the only celebrity to whom I have ever written a fan letter. I was a young kid in the early 80's and she was the brightest star in my sky. I still have my Greatest Hits: Vol II vinyl that I played every day for years. I was so very sad to hear of her passing. #RIPONJ
P.S. If you tell me Xanadu is a bad movie, we cannot be friends.
Australia had not recovered from losing Judith Durahm, another icon here, then we lose her. That week sucked big time. 😭
Bo, Rachel, Farah, and Olivia....every 15 year old's dream in the 70's.
As an Aussie I can say she's always been one of us. My daughters school switched their school bell to Olivia's music in honor of her even if the kids had no idea who she was.
It sadly cam less than a month after I introduced my 15yo to Greese and Xanadu
OMG, I would have loved to go to that school! That’s so clever and creative!
She was a beautiful Lady and the world would be better if more people had her empathy.
For sure.
The first time I heard the song If Not For You, I fell in love with her voice. She had such an angelic voice, reminiscent of Mary Hopkins.
Nobody can sing like her.
Olivia Newton-John was under appreciated as a whole by the media after her passing,she was one of the top selling,most underated singers of her time,her music spanding over 5 decades,with Country,Easy Listening,folk,Pop,lite rock,and inspirational music...She will always be the #1 female singer of all time for me...Thanks Livy' for the music,the movies,and showing how a celebrity should be,and act!"💯🎶👏🙏♥️
My dad had custody of me on the weekends. I made him take me to the first showing of Xanadu Saturday which was at midday. There was only 4 or 6 extra people. ONJ was my first celebrity crush next to princess Leia. I loved the movie, my dad big ELO fan liked the soundtrack. My heart sank when I heard the news because she really felt like family.
Thank You for honoring ONJ with respect.
Olivia's music brought this Aussie kid so much joy and excitement in the early 80s. Forever our Queen of Pop, and a great tribute to her Adam thanks mate
I had the chance to meet her twice, I volunteered at a pet shelter, she signed photos and T - shirts for us to raise money. Such a talented and lovely soul, there will never be another like her.
I was totally obsessed with her as a kid and even wrote her a couple of fan letters when I was probably about 7. A Little More Love, Magic, and Come on Over are some of my favorites by her. She will be missed 😭
Super cool! I wonder if she ever got your letters.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 doubtful, but I got back a photo and bio if I remember correctly back to the early-mid 80s. I remember the fact sheet even had the names of all her pets listed. Lots of dogs and horses lol
@@iamangee Ooh, this makes me want to go back even more! My mom’s family wrote letters to pen pals back in the 70s and 80s, it’s what this reminds me of.