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| 1948-2022 |
A little bit country and little bit disco. The above picture says it all.
All well and good, but to properly segue from country to disco, one must first return to...
...the 1950s?
Don't ask me to pick favorites. I like both versions. RIP Olivia.
Hi, Kirk!
ReplyDeleteNice tribute to ONJ, good buddy! Olivia was indeed a versatile artist. Early in her singing career, she had a string of hits doing innocent country and soft pop songs. Suddenly, she shifted gears and became Totally Hot. I favor the sophisticated, adult-oriented output of the latter period and danced to those hit singles in clubs during my second bachelorhood . My favorites in this song set are "Mellow" and "Hopelessly Devoted." Other early hits that I like include include "Let Me Be There" and "If You Love Me ( Let Me Know)." My career favorites are a song from Totally Hot - "A Little More Love" - and "Magic" from Xanadu. No matter what type of material Olivia performed, her soul shone through. I have a saved draft of an upcoming post showcasing the 20 all-time greatest performances by a female vocalist. Olivia appears twice on that list. I wish she could have stayed on this earth a lot longer, but the stubborn reaper had other ideas. Olivia Newton-John's legacy is intact. She was an elegant lady and an extraordinary talent. Thanks for saluting her on short notice, good buddy Kirk!
I look forward to that upcoming post, Shady.
DeleteShe was never a fave singer of mine, but she was a brave battler against cancer. RIP
ReplyDeleteDebra, I think one downside to being a celebrity is that they're now expected to publicly talk about serious health issues when they may just rather deal with them in private. That itself takes a kind of bravery.
DeleteOh, no, let's not return to the 1950s. Oh, never mind. The USA is there now and heading to the Dark Ages.
ReplyDeleteDark Ages, Mitchell? I'll have to see if my landlord will let me build a moat around my apartment.
DeleteNow that is a beautiful ode a a huge gan favorite!!!!! I had blog also her scene with Gene Kelly from Xanadu. Such a beautiful song.
ReplyDeleteI'm headed to your place right now, Maddie.
DeleteThere aren't many celebrity deaths that touch me, but listening to DiDi Conn's tribute on GMA and reading John Travolta's statement brought tears to my eyes. She was a rare treasure! - Kass
ReplyDeleteKass, after I read your comment, I googled that GMA interview. Didi looks pretty good these days, still has that big smile, and that unmistakable voice of hers is still intact.
DeleteStockard Channing (Rizzo in Grease) has also paid tribute to Olivia.
Physical was always my favourite of her :-D RIP Olivia.
ReplyDeleteWell, Ananka, then it's a good thing I thought to include that clip.
DeleteI've been listening to her music all week long. Loved her!! RIP Olivia..a boyhood crush of mine.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to add that I remember my parents going to an Olivia concert in the late 70s. I remember cause my cousins and I made the baby sitter mad (we did something---we were all boys except for the one girl, my sister). Anyway, I remember them playing some Olivia music the next day, they had purchased a cassette at a merch table. Loved hearing the song "Have You Never Been Mellow".
ReplyDeleteJM, "Mellow" is my favorite of her non-disco songs
DeleteGrease is my daughters favorite film. She has done several Grease birthday parties at roller rinks. She was crushed by Olivia's death.
ReplyDeleteMike, since you haven't given me any reason to believe you're in your 90s, but I'm going to guess your daughter is at least a generation removed from Grease's initial debut, which shows you what staying power that movie has that it's her favorite.
ReplyDeleteMike, let me clarify what I said so there's no misunderstanding. Things you have written on your own blog makes me think you grew up at least partially in the 1970s, so any children you have should have first seen Grease (which came out in 1978) long after its initial release.
DeleteI have started to feel old now that Olivia Newton John has gone. Someone like that can't be dead. Grease is such a classic that it's gone on and on and still seems cool.
ReplyDeleteIt was shocking, Jenny. I kind of associated Olivia with youth.
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