Tag Archives: Olivia Newton-John

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Song of the Day #2,995: ‘Physical’ – Olivia Newton-John

physical_olivia_newton_johnWhile I’m on the subject of Olivia Newton-John, I kind of have to give a nod to ‘Physical,’ the 1981 single that spent ten weeks at #1.

This song, which signaled a distinct change of style for the wholesome Newton-John, spent more time at #1 than any other 1980s single.

In 1981, ‘Physical’ was considered racy enough to spark controversy and it was banned from certain radio stations because of its sexual references (apparently a reference to getting “horizontal” was just too suggestive back then). How far we’ve come.

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Song of the Day #2,994: ‘Magic’ – Olivia Newton-John

olivia_newton_johnEvery so often I’ll hear an old song on the radio and fall for it in a way I never managed to the first time around. This usually happens with songs released in the late 70s through early 80s, a time when I was between 6-11 years old and not exactly in control of my own musical landscape.

Olivia Newton-John’s ‘Magic,’ from the 1980 movie Xanadu, is the most recent example. I heard it on an easy listening or oldies station (remember when “oldies” meant 50s and 60s?) and immediately succumbed to the glossy perfection of peak Newton-John.

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