Based on all the tributes I've read and seen so far, it sinks in how much admirable character Olivia Newton-John had. By all accounts, she maintained it in the face of serious illness and in everyday life. I was sorry to learn that she passed away yesterday. One memory keeps coming to mind. During a college showing of "Grease," nearly every woman in the auditorium sang along with "Hopelessly Devoted To You." Their collective precision on the "But now..." section of the chorus was especially impressive. That's an obvious favorite of many listeners, along with "Summer Nights" and "You're The One That I Want." That doesn't surprise me, as all three songs stay with you long after you've heard them. These, however, are seven of my favorite Olivia Newton-John songs:
- Have You Never Been Mellow (I like that in 1975, this was a chart-topper. In today's increasingly callous world, we could use more lyrics and sensitive vocals like this. When you want to be let into someone's life, this is a great way to suggest it. The song also contains my favorite vocal moment of Newton-John's--her elongation of and belting of the word "hand" just before the final chorus. To my ears, Erin Bode's "Sydney Come Down" conveys similar sentiments.)
- If Not For You (This cover of a Bob Dylan tune was Newton-John's first American hit and, in my opinion, one of her best recordings. The steel guitar complements her earnest vocals especially well. This is my favorite version of this tune and one of my most-played 45s. Outside of "American Top 40" and KXOK's early '80s "Time Machine" oldies show, however, I've never heard it on any St. Louis radio station. That's unfortunate.)
- Let Me Be There (Stylistically atypical for Newton-John, as it straddles the line between soft rock and country music. The chorus is direct, memorable, and invites the listener to sing along.)
- A Little More Love (This always struck me as unusually structured, in a good way, for a pop song. These are some of Newton-John's most confident, forthright vocals. It puzzles me that this song didn't get radio airplay here after it left the charts. I was pleased to hear Juliana Hatfield cover it so well.)
- Magic (Lyrically, "Magic" encapsulates why people seek significant others and risk having their hearts broken.)
- Make A Move On Me (This 1982 hit is largely overlooked today. It sports one of Newton-John's catchiest, bounciest hooks and deserves airplay on oldies stations.)
- Suddenly (with Cliff Richard) (Richard and Newton-John give endearing life to lyrics about knowing you've chosen the right spouse and being excited to face the future together. If I were a wedding DJ, this tune would be in heavy rotation.)
