OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN IS DEAD TO ME!

That’s very upsetting. I loved her so much.

DL going into nuclear meltdown in

3...

2...

1...

Her Wiki has not been updated yet.

I think OP is lying. If so I hope he is tracked down and murdered by scientologists.

OMG.

NOOOOO!

Screen capture of the Facebook post:

It's confirmed:

Damn that's sad. She wasn't that old either.

I'm crying as I post.

Awwww that’s a shame.

I loved her cookies.

Holy shit. My heart skipped a beat. Yes DL is going to meltdown and prime time is coming on.

It's DAME Olivia Newton John to YOU

She fought so hard.

Kudos to OP for using the correct format as well as being early!

Got to meet her and also saw her in concert. RIP.

He forgot "BREAKING" R15.

Will Travolta sing a Grease song at her funeral?

Now there's nothing in my way to finally crack America!

Is this a hoax?

Very sad.

If she wrote or composed physical she should have made a nice penny in residuals last year.

Well, that's it for me today. I have been dreading this day for years.

I wonder if that con artist husband who faked his own death will show up at her funeral

The fuck? I really hope this is like Tanya Roberts where it's a mistake and unlike Tanya, ONJ will survive.

Her TV special highlights....

Me too, r12. My heart skipped a beat.

OMG! I loved her. She always seemed so sweet in interviews.

I hate that evil and talentless trash like Trump don't seem to ever die. Yet nice people like Olivia, Bob Saget and Betty White (ok she was old but it still stung) have to leave us.

[quote]Will Travolta sing a Grease song at her funeral?

This is the third lady in his life to die of breast cancer, Diana Hyland, his wife Kelly and now Olivia.

I’m so very sad. RIP to my fave celebrity since I was 5 yrs old. It’s a sad day for this guy….

I had a sudden urge to listen to my Olivia faves playlist during my morning commute this morning. I now know why.

This is very sad news. She was such a beautiful, classy women. I loved so many of her songs and her songs played all of the time for years. RIP. Sweet lady. We will miss your sweet voice.

Now the truth can come out.

She could have gone so much farther if only she could have sung well.

R30 if it was something other than breast cancer one might assume Travolta had something to do with their deaths.

I remember being about 5 or 6 and going to see Grease at the drive-in in my mom's huge '76 Oldsmobile Cutlass. The thing was so massive that I was stretched out on the rear window shelf.

Ronstadt is next

R19 Kylie had her moment in America.

Also, she was originally in talks to Star as their daughter for Grease 3

Well, I assumed it was coming sooner rather than later but it still makes me very sad. I'm going to put on my 1982 Physical Tour concert tee and listen to her two Greatest Hits albums.

I'm seeing other confirmations. This sucks

I am saddened by her death. There are few others who would make me even sadder (who aren’t young, which would be even more tragic). Diana Ross will be sad.

And yet that hateful cunt Helen Lawson just keeps breathing.

RIP

her breast cancer came back a few years ago. She lasted longer than I thought she would.

I'm not on Facebook, and I don't see anything on her official Twitter, so I am going to be over here in denial until I see some verification from reputable sources.

Come join me

From Vanity Fair

"Few pop stars can lay claim to Newton-John’s outsize achievements. Her angelic beam matched with a clear, sweet-yet-supple soprano-mezzo was vocal satin, giving her a versatile edge in singing feel-good numbers across genres and styles. She snagged the longest-running hit of the 1980s with “Physical,” selling over a 100 million records worldwide, and throughout her career, winning four Grammys, and landing five No. 1s and 10 Top 10s.

From the naked vulnerability of hushed ballad “I Honestly Love You,” to the risque-for-its-time sensual synths of “Physical” — which surely gave audiences its first mention of the word horizontally in a pop song, as well as an unofficial fitness anthem — Newton-John floated ethereally through a multi-decade, multi-genre career that even upended the movie musical world. Occasional missteps such as the bizarre Xanadu still bore hits. And she did it all while evoking a demure girlishness mixed with a suggestive sensuality—a more modern Doris Day, without all the hangups."

Does ABC News do it for you, R44?

My favourite song of hers

BEAR-KING!!!!!!!!!

You never know which ones are really going to kick you in the gut. This is one of them. Beyond sad.

My dad LOVED her. So I did too. My dad died when I was only 10.. To this day I can remember staring at the "Olivia" album when I was 4 years old (This was 3-4 years after that album came out, I am almost 44) and I thought that she was the beautiful woman I had ever seen.

(Granted that did not make me straight)

But she was a kind woman and an underrated singer. I always loved her cover of Don't Cry For Me Argentina..

One of Olivia's older songs was "Country Girl"

My parents used to play it for me on road trips when I was very little.

I was such a doofus and I thought the song was called "Goodbye Lumber" (due to the Goodbye Momma part which I thought was Lumber) so I loved to sing it, and my parents would laugh hysterically. I also loved to sing it if we drove my a lumber yard whether it was playing or not.

So for Olivia I will sing it to myself and for my mom and dad-

Goodbye mama, let me see your smile

Wipe away that teardrop from your eye

I won't forget that I'm a country girl

I got to go, but I hate to say goodbye

So long, papa, I'll be seeing you

But I'll be coming home again someday

No, I won't forget that I'm a country girl

I'll come back to you, believe me

I won't forget that I'm a country girl

A country girl, you know I'll always stay

Has Didi Conn commented yet?

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You're the one that I want....

Makes me sad. I remember her in England when I was about 8 yrs old before big American fame. She was just a singer with a few chart hits. But very much on our radar.

R50- Me too. I am a little teary, as she was just a big part of my childhood fantasies about a "beautiful star".. And she really was so kind and lovely. A gem.

Loved, loved, loved her. I am so sorry she suffered these last few years. A truly fabulous diva. Rest in peace, Dame Olivia.

Found at the bottom of the stairs

That GIF hits hard today, R54.

Why-aii-aii-aii-aiiiii..... Oh, Sandy. 😭😢

She wasn't a diva, was she? I got the impression she was a class act.

Very sad, but man, she really fought hard against cancer diagnosis for many years.

Very sad!

Can we have her stuff?

R37- That will shatter me.

R30- The third NON sexual lady of his to die.

Any major awards for those ridiculous 🎶 musicals?

Damn thats really sad. Always seemed sweet and nice and was a great friend to gays. And she made some killer music. My personal fave was always "Magic". Rip to a good woman

Where will Matt Lattanzi pitch his teepee now?

I love when she said “Grease my ass and send it in!”

Oh, wow. RIP.

R36- A 1976 Cutlass was not huge . It was medium sized.

A 1976 Oldsmobile 98 - that was HUGE

It was 232 inches long and had a 455 Cubic Inch V-8 engine.

I was never a mega fan but loved a lot of her hits.

Loved Grease, of course, and Xanadu has its charms.

She seems to have had a long stretch of success without being a cunt, and she fought cancer hard for almost 30 years.

Bless her, may she rest in peace.

And if her estate has prime nudes of Matt L, why, now's the time to release them!

Thank you, OP, for announcing this very sad news using the traditional Datalounge honorific.

R54 has broken me.

A critical analysis of Olivia's live vocal performance of "Sam." She was a better singer than a lot of people give her credit for.

RIP to a lovely and talented lady.

Here is actual footage of OP learning of ONJ’s death and rushing to the computer to be the first one to post it on Datalounge.

From her early years, she had total star quality.

This one is like a knife in the heart. I knew it was coming, but man…Beautiful, talented woman who was part of the soundtrack of my life and I know many others. When your favorites die off…no words. Rest In Peace sweet lady you brightened all our lives.

This is so heartbreaking. I really thought she had it beat. I know a lot of us are in the same age group. And we grew up with her. I hope she was in no pain. Beautiful voice. RIP, Sandra Dee.🌹🌹🌹

Straight men absolutely loved her. I betcha she had a ton of weird stalkers.

RIP Sandy 💔

Okay; this just did me in. Dammit!

This is a sad one to watch today too.

You can make a better life

You're just waiting for the right moment

You can find another way

You're just waiting for the right moment

When you gonna let go

And forget about the life you knew

When will you surrender

And wake up to the real

Now you know that it's all borrowed time

Still you waste another day

But you watch and you wait for a sign

All along the way

Damn you R84. Now I'm crying again.

Marys!!!

She was unquestionably lovely and talented but knives through hearts?

Get the cloves and pineapple we're servin' ham!

I hope Chloe is okay and she has a strong support group around her.

WHEN WILL THE TEARS END????

There are worse things she could do.

sad but last year she came out as an antivaxxer. I wouldn't be surprised if her weakened immune system got covid

Goodbye to Sandra Dee!

Yeah, Mary! but fuck it. I'm crying my eyes out. I was 8 when Grease was released and 11 when Physical was released. She was, to me, the biggest star in the entire world.

Is anyone crying as they type? Come on, surely someone is crying as they type.

She was my first musical love as a kid, even before Cher. I used to listed to her If You Love Me Let Me Know album over and over. That album contained Country Girl, referenced in R51.

RIP. I honestly like her.

She sang this for Maurice Gibb. Her voice was better in maturity. Still lovely. She was a breathy singer who had power and range. Unusual combination. Nice girl, you can just tell.

[quote]He forgot "BREAKING" [R15].

You mean "BEARKING!"

So sad. She battled breast cancer for over 30 years. She was a fighter. Rest In Peace Dame Olivia Newton John. My condolences to her family and huge fanbase. I'll remember as Sandy on Grease. Beautiful woman.

[quote] I hope Chloe is okay and she has a strong support group around her.

Yes, I hear all her plastic surgeons are with her right now.

Tell me about it, STUD!

I started getting emotional yesterday night for no reason, could be this was why

...remember *her as Sandy..

Sadly with Olivia gone, her daughter Chloe will go completely off the rails now. I wouldn't be surprised if she's dead in a couple of years.

Apologies OP; I didn't want it to be true.

[quote] Yeah, Mary! but fuck it. I'm crying my eyes out. I was 8 when Grease was released and 11 when Physical was released. She was, to me, the biggest star in the entire world.

She certainly was at that time.

[quote]I started getting emotional yesterday night

Well hopefully you’ll start feeling better by today night.

Predictions for the next two celebrity deaths-Martin Sheen and Delta Burke

She was electrifying!!

R102 & R104 = Whitney Houston

OMG even listening to lyrics...

"From where I stand, you are home free The planets align so rare There's promise in the air And I'm guiding you."

SOB!!!

Don’t put that out there R108. I had a weird feeling about Martin Sheen yesterday.

Too young to leave this world. May she RIP.

- Barbra Streisand

I'm schinging Amazching Gracsh tonight on Carschon asch a tribute!

I can’t imagine her hot mess of a daughter will handle this too well. So sad. RIP.

She lit up my life.

So many idols from my youth...Tony Dow, now Olivia Newton John.

Through my tears I asked aloud:

"Has Susan Dey commented?"

And it made me laugh.

[quote]Sadly with Olivia gone, her daughter Chloe will go completely off the rails now. I wouldn't be surprised if she's dead in a couple of years.

That's a horrible thing to say.

Has Matt Lattanzi commented yet?

Will Matt Lattanzi comment?

WHET Matt Lattanzi?

I wanted her to live to see her given the Kennedy center Honors, and I am so sad we will never see that. (For those who object that she's Australian: other non-Americans like Julie Andrews and Sting have been given KC honors if they made it big in America and have major places of residence here.)

There will be many celebs commenting....John Travolta, for one.

I feel emotionally stranded at the drive-in.

Does Matt Lattanzi even have a cell phone?

Did I ever tell you about that time she farted in my face?

[quote] She lit up my life.—Didi Conn

You're confusing her with Debby Boone, dear.

Noooo!!!!!!

The very first LP I ever bought was one of her greatest hits albums.

I played it everyday. Loved all the songs on it.

😭😭😭

Summer days drifting away.......

How sad time is She was a beauty full of grace. I hope she's somewhere better

Who was that friend of hers who disappeared from a charted boat or something years ago? Wasn't he her boyfriend? That was a very strange story.

She died on a Summer Night. Coincidence?

R131 Tell me more!

R126, Didi was the lead actress, not the singing child of a preacher man, dear.

I mean DICK.

I feel like a close friend has died even though I never knew her personality. I’m heavy laden with sadness. 😞

Today is 8/8/22 I had an overwhelming urge to listen to my Olivia faves playlist during my commute. Around 7:30 am CST.

8/8/88 I got to speak to Olivia over the phone when she made a brief stop in St Louis to promote The Rumour at a Top 40 radio station. I was 16 yrs old and it was quite a thrill for me. I got an autographed copy of The Rumour too.

8:/8/80 the movie Xanadu opened in the US

Please, get up, we love you, Olivia!

A woman can struggle with breast cancer for thirty fucking years???

La travolta....

[...]

Wow...R134. 8/8 has significance for you regarding Olivia.

I wish she had had a more normal daughter. It's painful to think of all the worry her daughter must have caused her.

[quote]Today is 8/8/22 I had an overwhelming urge to listen to my Olivia faves playlist during my commute. Around 7:30 am CST.

Your story would’ve been much more credible had you gotten the urge at 8:08 AM.

I love Travolta's comment at R137. Lovely and very personal.

I wonder what her former husband Matt Latanzi is up to these days. I saw that after he came back to the states after many years in Australia he lived off the grid for years in Malibu. Then he moved up to Portland. He's been off the boards for a long time. I can't find any photos of him that look anywhere near current. He' now 63 years old.

She was something beautiful inside and out, the purity of her voice knocked me out.

R132:. Disappearance of Patrick McDermott: Patrick Kim McDermott (born September 18, 1956) was an American cameraman who disappeared on June 30, 2005 while on an overnight fishing trip off the coast of Los Angeles, California. He was the on-and-off partner of Olivia Newton-John.[1] The United States Coast Guard concluded that he was likely lost at sea. Since his disappearance, unsubstantiated claims have been made, particularly in the Australian media, that McDermott faked his own death and is still alive in Mexico.[2]

73 . . . Same age as Ivana Trump.

RIP, Olivia Elton John!

For those of you too young to remember or weren't even born yet, Olivia Newton-John was HUGE back in the day. A true superstar.

This sucks. :-(

Btw, has Gayle King already commented on her cause of death?

She was that blind item we had a few months ago.

I remember Physical playing in all the clubs when I went dancing.

My favorite song of hers is Fly Away with John Denver. She was ethereal.

Grease came out when I was in high school and we did a drill team song to one of the tracks for an assembly. She will forever be Sandy. RIP😢

I loved her on The Waltons.

No one wore spandex better than Olivia as Sandy.

Is John Travolta a breast cancer jinx?- Diana Hyland, Kelly Preston, and now Olivia. He's lost all of the ladies he loves to it.

Eldergays might enjoy this blast from the past in memory of her. According to Wiki, her duet partner is still alive.

Crispín Glover’s performance of ONJ’s Please Don’t Keep Me Waiting from The Beaver Trilogy.

R150 - For you.

Damn, my childhood stars are dropping like flies. This one is sad. I can't believe it.

R156- Just beautiful. One of my favorite songs. Thank you. ♥️

Has Susan Dey commented yet?

Sorry to hear this news. She was a class act all the way. RIP Olivia.

[quote]Now there's nothing in my way to finally crack America!

Not unless YOUR cancer returns R19.

Physical was the biggest hit song of the 1980s.

One of the best movie endings.

So sad

I am actually crying over this one.My favorite cousin and I must have seen Grease 20 times in a 2 week period. And of course I loved her music. Except Physical,I hated that song.

Very sad day. Fuck cancer.

Ugh. Sad about this. A childhood fave. I will always love Xanadu. Thirty years with cancer really sucks.

R136 I’m sure it was. It had spread to her bones and spine last year, IIRC. I think she said then she didn’t want her doctors to tell her how long she had.

May she RIP. I'm glad she was a gay ally and was in Sorid Lives. My favorite song by her- "Have You Never Been Mellow."

Damn it, I just picked up my phone and saw this. As others have said, this one really hurts. RIP, dearest Olivia.

Who's organising the DL buses to the funeral?

Muriel?

Twist of Fate was highly underrated.

Can Sandhal Bergman's Tell-All be far off?

This one is really getting to me. Like so many of you, Olivia Newton-John was such a part of my childhood. I'm really sad right now.

Is Chloe still married?

Even Anne Murray commented.

She was just 7 weeks away from her 74th birthday. I'm glad she got to live long enough to see the 40th deluxe edition of Physical released.

An everlasting world and you're here with me

eternally.

[quote]R37: Ronstadt is next

And I suppose I'm Miss Fucking Galadriel Brigadoon Eterna.

ONJ and Naomi Judd... Fuck you, 2022!

I actually let out an audible gasp, followed by 'Oh no!'.

Is this what it means to be getting old?!

In other words, call your doctor immediately if you experience chills. Once they start multiplying, it could be too late.

[Quote] I'm glad she got to live long enough to see the 40th deluxe edition of Physical released.

What kind of nonsense is this?

OLIVIA was glad she got to live long enought to see the remastered reissue of Gaia.

Heavens above, there's Olivia, cruising in her pussy wagon.

R148, she was huge for about five years, max.

^ Madonna

[quote] I actually let out an audible gasp, followed by 'Oh no!'. Is this what it means to be getting old?!

No. It just means you can be a Youtube sensation!

[quote]Dear sweet wonderfully talented @therealonj Olivia Newton John has passed at 73. She lived a big life, always shining her light on us all with her warmth and radiance. My heart breaks for her family, for they most of all know what a profound loss this is. She was a selfless human being, far better than most, and the world just got a little darker without her light. My deepest condolences, 🥲❤️🙏🏾 fran

r185, I'd say she was a star from 1971 to 1978, then Grease launched her to superstardom, and Physical made her an icon in 1981-82. From '78 to '83, she was probably one of the top 5 most famous women on the planet. Incredible how music tastes can shift so suddenly -- Madonna arrives in '83, and Olivia seems old-fashioned by comparison.

I can vividly recall the stack of albums in my bedroom as a teenager with Olivia, Donna, Barbra, Linda, Aretha, Diana and Sheena.

It doesn't seem possible that Olivia, Donna and Aretha are gone now. Too many of the stars of my teenage years are gone now and it breaks my heart.

Fran? Is that Fran Weissler?

Has Lulu commented?

And now, r189, Madonna seems like a pathetic, grasping relic and ONJ seems widely beloved.

Let's not pretend some of Olivia's plastic surgery wasn't bad. And she begat Chloe too.

Olivia's death will be a bigger deal than Madonna's.

[quote][R136]It had spread to her bones and spine last year, IIRC.

That's awful. At least she's no longer suffering.

[Quote] Olivia's death will be a bigger deal than Madonna's.

No. ONJ was over by the early 1980s. She had a good decade of stardom and relevance. Madonna had decades. Plus ONJ owed her career to John Farrar. Madonna owes her career to Madonna.

Last year? It spread to her spine by 2017.

the first guy who ever picked me up.... circa 1975 in the great desert Southwest

i was parked across the street in a laundromat from a gay bar....I was too nevous to park in the gay bar parking lot....

we go to his place...and after getting off and I'm rushing to leave

I noticed he had the Olivia NJ If You Love Me Let Me Know Lp sitting on the coffee table.

AND a faux marble nude male statue....

I then look across the room and see our nude reflections in mirror.

I thought

"oh God, this is what my life as a homo is going to be like.... and I don't even like Olivia Newton John!.... but I seem to like sucking cock"

I ultimately learned to like Olivia Newton John too.

Meh R194. I never noticed any bad plastic surgery. Chloe’s looked awful for years. She’ll end up spiraling even more. Idk if it’s drugs or what. She’s a mess.

Mariah and Olivia duet from a show in Australia during Mariah’s 1998 Butterfly World Tour

R171 Twist Of Fate went to the number 5 on Billboard. In what universe is that underrated?

Let's hope Chloe's hat for the funeral comes with a veil.

May I present in her honor … HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS

Damn, with all her resources and access to the best care, cancer still won. I wonder if she had one of those genes that predisposes her to virulent cancers.

[quote] Another angelic voice has been added to the Heavenly Choir. Not only was Olivia a dear friend, but one of the nicest people I had the pleasure of recording and performing with. I will most definitely miss her. She now Rests in the Arms of the Heavenly Father 🥲🙏🏾♥️

- Dionne Warwick

Oh man!!! You were my childhood!! Your talent, poise, beauty!! Rest in glorious peace. God bless your family....and thank you for creating eternal memories.

- Viola Davis

Too young to leave this world. May she RIP.

- Barbra Streisand

The whole world will feel this heartbreak today because the entire world felt Olivia’s unmatched light. A force for good. A force of nature. Strong and kind. my mentor, my friend, my inspiration, someone who always guided me… she was always there for me. Family to me. I don’t have all the words I would like to say today but I hope everyone will join in celebrating our beloved Olivia, her heart, soul, talent, courage, grace… I love you forever

- Delta Goodrem

My heart is broken. Rest now, sweet friend. You were as kind and loving a person as there’s ever been. I’ll miss you every day.

- Richard Marx

[quote] WHET Matt Lattanzi?

I heard that Matt Lattanzi is a faggot.

[quote] she was huge for about five years, max.

Lol. Um, no.

R202, I think they are indicating that the song is often never mentioned in current discussions of her 80s work....and I agree.

Whoof. This one's a gut punch.

I remember listening to ONJ's music thanks to my soft pop fanatic mom, then acting out every musical number from Grease with my sister, cousins and neighborhood friends.

Right now I'm an atheist who hopes I'm wrong, and that Olivia Newton John is somewhere in heaven in those amazing Bad Sandy pants (that never bind or bunch) telling us all to get Physical.

The world seems less without her in it.

Olivia has been reunited with her BFF Karen Carpenter.

Travolta posted a tribute Monday on Instagram, writing:

"My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!"

Like some of you, I am actually crying over this. I haven't cried over a celebrity death in a LONG time. Olivia Newton John was such a part of my growing up years, and she was a true class act.

I wonder if Australia will offer Olivia a state funeral as they did for Judith Durham of the Seekers, who died over the weekend. Both of them leave a big hole in many hearts.

And your ass has been huge for longer, R185.

[quote][R202], I think they are indicating that the song is often never mentioned in current discussions of her 80s work....and I agree.

Thank you, r210… that’s exactly it.

[quote] Mariah and Olivia duet from a show in Australia during Mariah’s 1998 Butterfly World Tour

I remember that. I was in my Mariah Carey phase and was stunned at how effortlessly ONJ outsung her.

Representing the United Kingdom in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest which was won by ABBA.

Still my favorite song of hers. I was 7 years old when it came out and I thought she was just so beautiful.

I loved her Soul Kiss album

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A photo made for DL - Dionne Warwick, Norman Lear, Helen Reddy and Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Wilde, great, great, great granddaughter of Isaac Newton has died, I'm now talking to her father Elton John...

Vale Olivia. She was my favorite singer growing up. This one cuts me deep. 😢 😭 😿

Grim Reaper missed again. It should have been Stockard Channing.

So sad, my teenage boyfriend did a drag show lip syncing of “I Honestly Love You” in middle school for a talent show in one of those off the shoulders prairie dresses, full makeup and hair and finger nail polish. My very first drag performance!

I was a gayling the year she won all those awards on the Grammys. I think she was considered Country back then. 😢😭😭

r227 how butch

Lynda Carter @RealLyndaCarter

I am crushed to hear that my friend @olivianj has died. She was a true light in this world and I loved all the times we worked together. My love goes out to her family and her friends. What a beautiful human. ❤️

Every gay man of a certain age thought there was a sliver of a chance he could be straight when he saw ONJ in her Slut-Sandy outfit and curly hair poof at the end of "Grease." She was even prettier than the young Travolta.

Hopelessly Deceased To You.

In her honor, we should all run down to our neighborhood Koala Blue store and buy something.

She looked like an angel....and her singing sounded like an angel. She had an innocence about her, if only in her look...even up in her later years.

Couldn't God have taken Anne Heche instead?

Every few years I go down a rabbit hole looking for this, but I never find it so I’ll ask now. I remember a very early acting role ONJ had in the 70s on a crime drama TV show like The Rockford Files or Cannon, that one with the fat detective.

ONJ plays a singer in a band, but she’s BLIND! I think one of the band mates was murdered and she’s in danger, but of course she can see them and they are after her. It’s no Mia Farrow in See Know Evil or aka Blind Terror, but there’s lots of tension and stumbling around trying to get away. She definitely sang at least one of her early songs and was an Australian, she wasn’t playing an American. Does this ring a bell with anyone?

Olivia was a close friend of Karen Carpenter.

R236, I think you may have the wrong person. IMDB is pretty accurate and doesn’t slow any TV appearances like that for her.

I actually thought the Sandy makeover was very unflattering to Olivia. It made her look hard and not even the twentysomething she was.

Marlee Matlin:

I am SO saddened at the news of the passing of Olivia Newton John. I remember being so star struck when I met her at my first Hollywood gathering for Paramount. She was the sweetest and brightest light and I loved getting to know her on "It's My Party." RIP dear, sweet Olivia.

I did her make up that day.

R240 She was wonderful in It's My Party.

Has Didi Conn weighed in yet?

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[quote]Couldn't God have taken Anne Heche instead?

I'm working on it.

Interesting, R208. Tell me more!

Chloe posted this photo three days ago. It was probably taken a while before. Olivia looks so frail and so fucking lovely.

R238 That’s what I’m saying it doesn’t see, to exist, but I have a very clear memory of this and especially the Australian accent that was very new and prominent to me. I think it was during her country music period and maybe set in Nashville. I’ve always assumed it wasn’t such a good performance, which is why it was wiped.

I think it is so interesting that ONJ was the granddaughter of German physicist Max Born. What an odd connection!

She was talentless. Now her whore, drug addicted, anorexic daughter can live high on the hog….until she overdoses.

Chloe does make wonder about ONJ's parenting skills..

Forgive me if this has already been posted - CBS Sunday Morning profile from 2019

I can't believe how fucking emotional I am over this.

What were you like when Helen Reddy died?

Even knowing she was struggling with breast cancer for years and expecting this to happen any day I am still a blubbering fool.

This won’t help.

She had some phenomenal songs. Physical, A Little More Love, Magic, Suddenly etc..

No.

Same, R168. Takes me right back to the happiest part of my childhood. One of those perfect meetings of song and artist. It was number one on the local Top 20 for two weeks, and then knocked out of the top spot by Shaving Cream! Those were the days.

Like the rest of you I knew it was coming, but I feel so sad. But she fought valiantly for so long, she's earned her rest. I have no idea what she was like in real life, but she was one of the few celebrities it was impossible not to like. I hope she's laughing with her family and friends like Karen and Andy.

Olivia?

Tell me more, tell me more. Did she put up a fight?

R259 thank you for doing the lord's work!

I was in the middle of Target when my husband texted me. Planning my Grease viewing party of one…

And OJ Simpson still lives.

😘r156

She tried a comeback in '92 with "I Need Love" -- I really liked the song and hoped it would be a hit. The local station in Tampa, where I lived at the time, played it a few times, but then it disappeared. Apparently, it peaked at #96 on the Hot 100.

She'd also tried a comeback in 1988 with the Elton John-Bernie Taupin song "The Rumour." Alas, it peaked at no. 62 on the Hot 100. I loved it.

I have this random memory of her on The Rosie O’Donnell show where they sang “Get Your Mammogram” to the beat of “Let’s Get Physical”…

Do you think any of her hits will re-enter the Hot 100, as happened with Whitney Houston and Prince after they died?

She was sick with what turned out to be hepatitis when she performed at the 1979 oscars. Passed out shortly after doing this performance and had to be rushed to the hospital. According to Olivia, she had to contact everyone she had either shook hands with or kissed at the ceremony to let them know she had it.

Was there any truth to the rumor that ONJ and Karen Carpenter were friends with benefits that circulated around Hollywood in the late 70's?

Karen Carpenter never ate pussy, too many calories.

I reckon it’s not such a g’day in Straya today.

While some are here longer than others, the fact remains life on this earth is only temporary for all of us. We can be thankful that she was here entertaining us, but now the time came for her to go home and sing for the Lord.

ONJ was linked with her Xanadu back up, Sandahl Bergman.

Kylie Minogue:

Since I was ten years old, I have loved and looked up to Olivia Newton John. And, I always will. (Just like this picture @nfsaonline) She was, and always will be, an inspiration to me in so many, many ways. My deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. x ONJ4EVER

Any word from Hugh Jackman?

[quote] Do you think any of her hits will re-enter the Hot 100, as happened with Whitney Houston and Prince after they died?

Maybe one of the songs from "Grease."

^And what about pink leggings? Back in, I'm guessing??

FUCK! This hurts. FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK

How will Lady Gaga make this about her and do endless tributes like she does whenever someone dies?

Let's get spiritual, spiritual....

Countdown to bitter queens complaining when she's left off of "in memoriam" reels at the Oscars, Emmys, etc.

[quote]How will Lady Gaga make this about her and do endless tributes like she does whenever someone dies?

Huh?

Lady Gaga did The Sound of Music after Julie Andrews died.

Lovely picture, R247. I'm going to take a sex doll for a walk now to memorialize it.

Julie Andrews is fine, she sends her love.

Lady Gaga does tributes to people she has no connection to just to pump up herself. She better stay the fuck away from ONJ tributes. ONJ shits on that bitch.

Dame Olivia always credited Dionne Warwick as one of her guiding influences. I love her even more for doing that.

I bought Olivia's very first big hit years ago, "If Not For You" (written by Bob Dylan), and subsequently bought all her hit records. LOVE her and she'll be missed. We were lucky to have her.

Grease alone solidifies her for the oscars in memorium.

Waiting for Madonna, Mariah, Elton, Cher, Liza, Dolly, Bette to all comment. They all knew her in one capacity or another. Madonna gave her a shout out during the Confessions era and said she was an inspiration for that album.

Her sister died of brain cancer in 2013; her father also died from cancer at a relatively young age. They got some bad cancer gene in the family.

Perky Olivia. Everyone loved her. Including me.

Did any of you visit the Aussie Milk Bar?

Maybe Tina will even comment given that they shared a manager for a few years.

There was supposed to be an upcoming album of duets. I presume they'll fasttrack it for release.

It’s not her best effort, but for some reason my gay teenage self liked this song.

[Quote] Maybe Tina will even comment given that they shared a manager for a few years.

I guess that explains how ONJ recorded "Toughen Up", which sounds like a Tina track.

Then and in later years. She aged quite well.

Not her best effort? That's one of her all time best songs, R295

[quote]Lady Gaga does tributes to people she has no connection to just to pump up herself. She better stay the fuck away from ONJ tributes. ONJ shits on that bitch.

I'm available!

Olivia Newton-John created the "sweet, innocent, good girl who eventually turns into a slutty whore" career template that was later used to great success by Sheena Easton, Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, and others.

I don't like the filler look, r297.

[quote]Dame Olivia always credited Dionne Warwick as one of her guiding influences. I love her even more for doing that.

Miss Warwick is a guiding influence on us all.

[Quote] Olivia Newton-John created the "sweet, innocent, good girl who eventually turns into a slutty whore" career template

Oh, did she?

A Little More Love is my favorite song of hers.

I'm a sucker for a good old fashioned murder ballad, like this one, which was her second big hit in both Australia and the UK.

I never realized she was so important to you elder gays.

Is Jessica Simpson the modern day equivalent?

Say what you want about Gaga but she has a beautiful voice. I’d love to hear a remake of “Hopelessly Devoted to You” from her.

No she isn’t!

stereotypical beautiful Australian blonde, a hard worker who valued her fans.

Watching Grease as a very junior frau, all I wanted in life was to be like Sandra Dee. ONJ always seemed so sweet and sunny, like her beauty meant everyone she came in contact with was lovely to her. When you can charm even Dionne Warwick…

I'm watching my Xanadu blu-ray as I type!

Turning sultry - and smoking - for awhile in Grease!

Aw, I loved her! I worked with her at the 1981 Grammy Awards when she presented 'Song of the Year' to Chris Cross. She was such a darling that after the award when we were backstage, she asked me "What do I do with the envelope". I said, "Leave it to me, hon. I'll take care of it!"

I still have the envelope. Wish I got her to sign it! What a joyful spirit! God bless ya, pet!

r306, Jessica Simpson isn't even in the same league.

ONJ charted hits from 1971 to 1984, five of them going to #1, and one of those being the #1 hit of the 80s. She also starred in one of the most popular films of the 1970s. She had a profound impact on the popular culture for Generation X.

I used to be so jealous of Sandy. I found Danny so hot. I always related to Sandy more than Danny. A true gayling.

She had that fresh faced beauty. A very pretty girl next door type.

She was more the pretty wholesome type.

Olivia Newtron Bomb was BIG 'Downunder'. RIP sweet soul.

I knew it was coming soon but it's still hard to wrap my mind around it. Grease is one of those musicals that has echoed in my mind since I was 13 or 14. It so truly portrays the human condition in such an uncanny way. Even after graduating, high school never ends. The constant questioning of "what do I want to do?" and "where will I end up?" and "who will still be with me?" are anxious questions that still follow me. Cliques still form. Adults don't really grow up, and they are still childish and foolish. And she perfectly executed Sandy, which was so essential to the telling of that story.

Gaga does not have a beautiful voice. It’s like a forced honking foghorn.

ONJ had a beautiful voice.

[quote] Has Didi Conn weighed in yet?

Yes, Rose. A hundred and forty pounds.

Nooooo. I wonder how many people went to Spotify (like I did) today to listen to her many many popular songs. I didn’t even realize some of them were hers, like “Please Mister Please”.

“Tell me about it, stud” is what I say to my man when he gets home from work.

Have a blast in Heaven, Livy.

"You lighted up my life" - Didi Conn

Olivia came from a time when singers sounded like their records when they sang live. She had great pitch, great tone and she knew the limitations of her voice. She also had a fantastic catalogue of songs. Her Magic compilation of hits is consistent. Not one track I would skip.

[quote]Olivia came from a time when singers sounded like their records when they sang live.

I’ve never heard it expressed this way but it’s so true.

In case you were wondering, these are the 14 top songs of the 1980s, tallied by how long they were #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Physical is the biggest hit of the 1980s the only song to hold the #1 spot for a staggering 10 weeks.

1 "Physical" Olivia Newton-John

2 "Bette Davis Eyes" Kim Carnes

3 "Endless Love" Diana Ross and Lionel Richie

4 "Every Breath You Take" The Police

5 "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

6 "Ebony and Ivory" Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder

7 "Billie Jean" Michael Jackson

8 "Call Me" Blondie

9 "Lady" Kenny Rogers

10 "Centerfold" The J. Geils Band

11 "Eye of the Tiger" Survivor

12"Flashdance... What a Feeling" Irene Cara

13 "Say, Say, Say" Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson

14"Like a Virgin" Madonna

I’ve been “sad” over a few celebrity deaths, but this one has truly gutted me. I was 9 when Grease came out, but I was already an Olivia fan due to my parents playing her records. I still listen to her music almost weekly, especially A Little More Love, Magic, Hopelessly Devoted to You, and Twist of Fate. I love all her music, but was never crazy about Physical.

She was beautiful, talented, and just radiated goodness. I new it would likely come soon, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.

She still fit into those black 'Grease' pants until her death. She proved it on 'Sunday Morning'.

Another fave.

[quote] Madonna owes her career to Madonna.

My sides! She also owes it to Freddy Demann, Jellybean Benitez, Nile Rogers, Pat Leonard, Stephen Bray, Mary Lambert, Marilyn Monroe, MTV, voguing clubs and a slew of other things.

Has anyone checked on Juliana Hatfield?

R328 it’s silly to measure hits based on # of weeks at #1. The charts were so competitive in the 80s, with stretches of no competition, huge songs would get knocked off by huge songs. Lots of #2 songs are bigger than many #1 songs though no denying Physical was huge.

Rosie uploaded an old interview three hours ago.

I was a big fan of ONJ and saw Grease 8 times , partly because the theater was air conditioned and we didn't have AC . Every time she came out in those leather pants and crop top , I was in love . To this day she is one of the six women I would go straight for . Fast forward forty two years or so and I am at Market Days in Chicago and she is one of the headliners playing in a freaking parking lot .I am up near the front and just for a second I caught her eye and she smiled that beautiful smile. If I live to be 100 , I will never forget that day ! She even had on the hot pants. So sorry to have her pass away but I will have my memory.

Are Olivia and Karen bumping pussies in Heaven?

R42 I understand Matt Latanzi is now quite bald.

Stockard Channing and Dinah Manoff release statements:

Stockard Channing and Dinah Manoff, who starred as Rizzo and Marti in Grease with Olivia, have released statements after they heard the news.

Olivia passed away on Monday (August 8) following a decades long battle with breast cancer.

“I don’t know if I’ve known a lovelier human being,” Stockard told People in a statement about Olivia.

She added, “Olivia was the essence of summer – her sunniness, her warmth and her grace are what always come to mind when I think of her. I will miss her enormously.”

Dinah, who played Marti in the movie, also released a statement, saying, “As many will tell you, Olivia Newton-John was one of the kindest, most generous souls ever to grace the earth, and I was one lucky Pink Lady to have spent time with her during the filming of Grease.”

She added, “She brought light and laughter wherever she went. My deepest condolences to her family and friends during their time of great loss.”

Another thing, r334, is that a list of top hits by length of stay at #1 in the 80s is going to tip entirely to 1980-84 -- the most recent song on r328's list is Madonna's "Like a Virgin," which was #1 for six weeks in December 1984 and January 1985. After "Like a Virgin," no song logged more than 4 weeks at #1 until Paula Abdul's "Rush Rush" stayed at the top for 5 weeks in 1991. Sales of 45 singles plummeted as buyers shifted to cassette and CDs; meanwhile, stations reporting their charts were unreliable, particularly when they would move a big hit to "recurrent" when it was still getting major play. A song like Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer" -- undeniably a massive hit -- spent 4 weeks at #1, is out of the top 10 in 2 weeks, then falling completely out of the top 40 four weeks after that? Incredible.

Just so lovely.

I know Two of a Kind may not be a great film but it's always been special to me because it was one of the first movies I saw at the cinema. And the soundtrack was terrific. I was obsessed with Twist of Fate and Livin in Desperate Times.

Melissa Manchester posted a lovely tribute on Facebook with a nice picture of them.

RIP dear #olivianewtonjohn I will remember you as a valiant warrior as well as kind, compassionate, loving and so talented. The world has lost a sweet source of light

R296, if I'm not mistaken, Tina was first offered "Toughen Up," but passed.

Two of a Kind was bad but Olivia and John both looked fantastic in it.

R342, I loved Living in Desperate Times!

R342 I know. Another great songs but lousy film type thing. But there was no denying the Travolta Newton John chemistry. It was truly electric, and Travolta never looked better around this time frame. Aww the days when we were young. Wish I had a time machine.

I just posted something on the Magic thread a couple of days ago. Her pretty voice was magic. RIP

Thx r348

And sadly so it begins. A lot of her albums are now on Amazon s Mover & Shaker charts

David Muir did a stand up job and a classy closing segment on Olivia this evening. He obviously really liked her too.

Dionne Warwick always comes out of her vampire coffin when somebody dies. She went on Home & Family when Helen Reddy died and claimed that she discovered Reddy and gave her a career.

And who can forget her hijacking Whitney's funeral and making it all about her, while shutting out Aretha so as not to steal her spotlight.

R352 that’s a perfect observation.

R352 “Dionne Warwick always comes out of her vampire coffin when somebody dies” 😝

[quote]And who can forget her hijacking Whitney's funeral and making it all about her, while shutting out Aretha so as not to steal her spotlight.

And she shaded Aretha right there on the podium, in front of the tv cameras. It was masterful. Dionne is the Queen of Shade.

I don't normally get upset by celebrity deaths, but I've been sad all day. Olivia obviously had a special place in the hearts of we Gen Xers who grew up with her.

By all accounts she was an absolutely wonderful and kind person.

When I was a kid my aunt told me I shouldn’t like Olivia because she was a “bisexual”…my mom was pissed that my aunt had told me that word. That aunt is in her 70s now, and I’m pretty sure she’s still a closeted dyke.

Ah yes, the urban legend that Olivia “admitted” her bisexuality to Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show.

Old urban legend that Olivia addressed in the early 00s when Del Shores or someone associated to him asked her on camera or print about it and she laughed and said she wasn’t

About 2 years or so ago I heard she was out of remission again for the 3rd or 4th time, I knew she wasn't going to beat the cancer this time around.

It had spread into her spine circa 2017. She was stage 4

Oh wow!😢

I suspected something was wrong when there hadn’t been many social media posts or media in general from her this summer. When Chloe moved back to California to be with her I feared for the worst.

I'm personally disgusted that no musician has stepped up to do a 'Rock and Roll Heaven' type song compiling and honoring all the pop stars who have passed over the past few years,

I wonder where she'll be buried?

Australians consider to be Australian despite her living in California for decades.

I was thinking about her from time to time, knowing she was hit again with such a horrible disease - hoping she’d be okay, though experience with my friends’ mothers has told me otherwise.

I, too, am a gen-xer, and I’ll always remember my extended family all together in my uncle’s front room, dancing and singing to the Grease soundtrack in the summer of ‘79, when I was nine, my parents were young, my grandparents, aunts, and uncles were still alive….it was a wonderful, optimistic time for a lot of us.

“Xanadu” and “Magic” were part of the AM radio soundtrack of the scary bus ride to a hellish middle school when I entered grade six in the fall of 1980. Olivia’s perfect voice, beauty, and seeming kindness was a balm to me during that dark time.

I know - [italic][bold]MARY![/bold][/italic] me - but Olivia Newton-John was a huge part of my childhood and early adolescence. To me she sounded and looked like an angel!

(I have perfect pitch, which is actually a hassle, as anything even slightly off-key can grate me, but Olivia’s voice was absolutely [italic]perfect[/italic], warm, and lovely.)

^ fuck me - apologies for the bad markdown.. 😔

[quote] It had spread into her spine circa 2017. She was stage 4

I remember hearing that and thinking she had months. ONJ stretched those months into 5 years. Cancer is so horrible but she was a real warrior. Just another reason to love her. I will grieve but I won't be sorrowful because now she is at peace.

It was so cute when she and John dressed as Sandy and Danny again. Loved it!

No one waits for a few words from Stockard Channing, let alone Diane Oneoff.

Less is more.

r369 I never saw that. That was great!

R365, I think she'll be buried in California. Her daughter and Ranch are there. We would love to have a great send off for her here in Australia mind you.

Very sad, and too soon. I grew up with her music. RIP Olivia.

Critic’s Notebook: Hopelessly Devoted to Olivia Newton-John:

R290 Look out, Chloe.

Chloe posted pics of her with mom on ig

At the iTunes store (or whatever it's called), 11 of the top 40 singles are ONJ, including Hopelessly Devoted to You at #2, held back from #1 by Beyonce and Madonna.

Stockard, Dinah, Barry and Didi have made statements and interviews. Get your tissue. I cried through it.

Some people can be so touchy.

[quote] No one waits for a few words from Stockard Channing, let alone Diane Oneoff.

I think you mean Dinah Manoff. Both of them already have declared tributes, which are linked upthread.

And Ms Dey?

Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson may have driven off into the sunset at the end of 'Grease' but I suspect any marriage would have encountered a rocky road.

Ms. Dey declined to make a statement as she was the first person they offered Sandy to and she turned it down.

She is absolutely adorable in the clip at r79. Star quality indeed.

R378 Didi looks great.

I expect Madonna to make a comment. Madonna has cited Olivia as an influence and they’ve met. Supposedly Madonna has sent her well wishes which makes sense since Madonna’s mother died of breast cancer. I think Olivia said this at a concert at a casino in Lake Charles. A guy who is a minor musical journalist, Jim R (long last name) interviewed Olivia. He is a huge fan of both Olivia and Madonna so she told him Madonna had offered support. I’ll get back with his name tomorrow. It’s late.

Why hasn't Lorna Luft issued a statement? She was in Grease.

Maybe Madonna can post an Instagram of her butt in fishnets to show her condolences.

[quote] Why hasn't Lorna Luft issued a statement?

She did.

It said, "The Pink Ladies pledged to act cool, to look cool, and to be cool. Now death has parted us. Think pink."

Olivia = angelic.

Madonna = strumpet.

I think we all know what Lorna's three-word statement actually said...

R385 Madonna posted the scene of them together in Truth or Dare on instagram, with this message:

[quote]Good-Bye Olivia... Beautiful Magical Creature 💔

Ooo roo, mate.

Olivia was such a masterful vocalist. The crystal clear tone, the precise but heartwarming notes... She really made the songs hers.

Jolene

Of course, Madonna can only post something about someone else as long as SHE is front and center.

Guilty with Barry,

"I Honestly Love You" really brought tears to my eyes today.

RIP.

R397 Barry & Olivia were owned by the same man back in the 70s.

After her first cancer diagnosis, she created a cancer treatment organization, to help people with similar diseases to hers. She was truly a gentle and kind woman.

[quote]Since the ONJ Centre opened, thousands of cancer patients have come through the doors and accessed the world-leading services. Olivia's dream was supporting people with cancer person through supportive wellness therapies. She found them so helpful to her journey that she wanted everyone to have access to them.

[quote]Olivia was a driving force to win over cancer, for treating the whole person and looking after their mind, spirit and body. Having the opportunity to meet Olivia was a joy, her kindness and light was irrepressible.

[quote]The ONJ Centre was her dream, and we are proud of everything we achieved together. We will continue our work to honour her legacy.

She changed the course of my life. I left Detroit when I was 18, $35 in my pocket. My dream was to make it as a professional dancer. After years of struggling and being broke, I decided to go to auditions for musical theater. I had no training or dreams of ever becoming a singer but I went for it. I got cut and rejected from every audition — not tall enough, not blend-in enough, not 12-octave-range enough, not pretty enough. Not enough. And then one day a French disco sensation was looking for backup singers and dancers for his world tour. I thought, ‘Why not? The worst that can happen is I can go back to getting robbed, held at gunpoint and being mistaken for a prostitute in my third-floor walk-up that was also a crack house.’ That’s right, I’m a Rebel Heart. So I showed up for the audition and two very large French record producers sat in the empty theater, daring me to be amazing. The dance audition went well. Then they asked me if I had sheet music and a song prepared. I panicked. I had overlooked this important part of the audition process,. I had to think fast, my next meal was on the line. Fortunately one of my favorite albums was ‘Physical’ by Olivia Newton-John. I blurted out, ‘Physical’. The two French guys nodded at me approvingly.So I started to sing ‘Physical’...

... Yada yada yada... Madonna, Madonna, Madonna...

So y'all are probably wondering why I’m telling you this story. There’s a connection, because none of this Madonna thing would’ve happened — could’ve happened — without our Lady of Country Pop. She led me to where I am today and I know she influenced so many people in this house tonight, in this room tonight, and I want to thank you, Olivia, for empowering all of us. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Long live the angel.

R402 Class, from the Goddess.

She can't be dead, she's just resting.

C`mon everybody, wake her up!

"Let's get physical, physical

I wanna get physical

Let's get into physical

Let me hear your body talk, your body talk

Let me hear your body talk"

Pearls before swine.

Has Chloe blamed vaccines yet? Does she have time for another Courteney Cox facelift before the funeral?

I love her music so, so much

RIP.

And fuck cancer!

Close friend Jane Seymour talks about Olivia's last weeks.

R121, why in the world would she EVER be given a Kennedy Center Honor? Yes, she had some big pop hits, and was in a hugely popular movie (ONE, count it, ONE), but a Kennedy Center Honor? Might as well give one to Victoria Principle while you're at it.

Amy Grant is getting a Kennedy Center Honor this year, R409. Anus thing is possible.

R87: "Get the cloves and pineapple we're servin' ham!"

LOL. Agreed. She had a nice voice and was a nice person, but it's telling that the overwhelming majority of the Mary's actually crying (!!!) from this news are people who were little kids or early teenagers when she was in Grease, at the height of her popularity. A completely emotional reaction, not a rational one. After all, while she was incredibly beautiful, her voice was thin, breathy and limited -- no where near as good as say Anne Murray's, mentioned above.

R409 ONJ was at one point the most successful female solo singer EVER on the Billboard Hot 100. She was a huge A-list artist.

Can you Aspie OCD mother fuckers give it a fucking rest with the tired memes about Susan Dey and Lorna Luft? They're as old and rotten as you mother's pussy that's been in the ground for 30 years,

Olivia deserves better than you tired old meme queens

She’s not dead. She just went back into the mural.

Is Michelle Pfeiffer ok??

She definitely was a fighter. Had no idea she'd been battling stage FOUR cancer since 2017. That's a long time to put up w/the pain, nausea, etc..

r411 Olivia had a pop culture impact that very few artists ever had.

From Elton:

[quote]The saddest of news to wake up to. Olivia was a beautiful and courageous woman, who I never heard complain about her illness. A beautiful voice and a warm and loving friend. I will miss her so much. Condolences to her family and loved ones.

Fans are paying tribute over Olivia's Hollywood Walk of Fame star.

R394. Such a beautiful song, and she sung it beautifully. As a fan, I will miss her presence terribly.

R399 - That was Allan Carr. When Olivia turned down Can't Stop the Music he made the memorable quip - Who does she think she is? Streisand?!

Here she is on Merv Griffin.

R421 Yes, That was Allan Carr and Robert Stigwood. They also owned this pretty man and that failed movie.

Michael Beck twittered RIP.

Olivia will have a state funeral in Australia.

I recently saw an interview with Peter Allen in his heyday, and it turns out he and ONJ were good buddies since the Bandstand days in their teens. Although it is a truth universally acknowledged that she was sweetness itself, she evidently enjoyed his impish sense of humour. They were in a Royal Command Performance in Sydney in the early 80s when Helen Reddy, without notice, donned an evening dress and TIARA between her performance and meeting the Queen afterwards. Peter and ONJ, who had rushed straight offstage together, stood further up the reception line, giggling and "WTF?"-ing each other about it like naughty schoolkids.

The other story, which was told on radio this morning, is about a long-ago Mardi Gras parade where ONJ was spotted watching from the upstairs balcony of the cabaret club Kinselas on Taylor Square. When one group of marchers reached the spot below, they burst into Xanadu and brought the house down, not least from Olivia herself. I hope DL enjoys hearing about this little act of worship by the community.

No matter what you may think of her, one has to admire Ms. Dey’s fortitude at not responding, ever!

Why was this never a hit?

R428 This was just before her first cancer diagnosis. She looked beautiful.

[quote] Might as well give one to Victoria Principle while you're at it.

And you should get a detention slip!

Is Judith Durham get0ting a state funeral too? She was actually born in Australia.

^ yes she is. Premier announced it earlier.

maybe they will do a twofer.

Amoureuse didn't suit Olivia's range. Kiki Dee's version is leagues better.

I love the story that Olivia was walking the Great Wall of China when she encountered a fan. The fan started singing one of Olivia's songs at her. Olivia good naturedly joined in for a few bars before exclaiming "Ok. That's enough now."

They even did a special repeat performance on TV, r369.

Presumably, Olivia's State Funeral in Australia will be more a memorial. I don't think her body will be repatriated or anything.

[quote]A completely emotional reaction, not a rational one.

Yes, how stupid of people to react emotionally to the death of someone they loved and admired, especially when that someone doesn't meet your vocal standards.

I don’t think I knew that Australia was divided into states until now, for some reason I thought they were provinces like Canada?

To those who think Olivia wasn’t a great singer…

This guy analyzes her incredible range during a performance of Sam. He explains how subtle and natural her range is and that most people wouldn’t recognize the vocal gymnastics she does.

The clip is really long, but it’s worth watching for a minute or two.

[Quote]Olivia deserves better than you tired old meme queens.

Well, excuse us, Miss Indignacia @ R413.

Are there any Gibbs brothers left to Candle In the Wind a song for her funeral?

Barry is still here.

Calm down, everyone. Lulu posted.

Oh, the thought and emotional police have arrived to tsk tsk at the reactions of others and to tell us what the Obesely Huge Nellie Prisspot Brigade thinks is an appropriate reaction/level of mourning.

R440 Yes!

Hopelessly Devoted To You is a much harder song to sing than it looks. It's fine in the beginning, but after "But now..." she really lets loose and, like this video, she made it look easy.

I love that Olivia, 29, and Stockard Channing, 33, were playing 16 years old high school students in Grease. Suspension of disbelief is one thing but unsuspension of disbelief is another one over which Joel Thurm, the cast director, trampled blithely. If he was the cast director of the remake of Thelma and Louise, I bet 64 year old Madonna would easily play Thelma. Lights, makeup, tons of vaseline, and... Action.

Does the casting director have much say in the lead roles of a movie? I'm sure Allan Carr had final say on who was playing Sandy and even Rizzo. For Frenchy, Marty, and Jan, I'm sure Joel Thurm's input was more vital.

RIP

R446, why does everyone nowadays equate loud with difficult or impressive? The hardest thing of all is to hit a high note quietly.

As one who belted it out regularly as a teenager, Hopelessly Devoted is satisfying to sing, not difficult. I Honestly Love You is quite a bit harder, because you have to get all the colour into the melody vocally and by "acting" the lyrics, without ever going really loud. As Peter Allen said to ONJ, "You can't record that as a single. There's not even a drum in it."

[quote]Why hasn't Lorna Luft issued a statement? She was in Grease.

I like Koala Blue

Olivia looked great here.

Barry looked like hammered shit. But Liv looks great!

I don't recall saying anything about "loud" - I loathe melisma.

[quote]after "But now..." she really lets loose...and makes it look easy.

Pardon me, but what else does "lets loose" mean?

From the ABBA ladies... Agnetha:

[quote]So sad to hear of Olivia's passing... A fine person has left us - and there are many of us who mourn her now... My thoughts go out to the family, and her music and personaliy will always remain in memory.

And Frida:

[quote]What do you feel, what do you say when the nicest, kindest and most loving woman leaves us to travel somewhere else. The heart aches to know Olivia's brave fight against an, in her case, invincible enemy. That she never gave up or complained about her situation, but instead told us her story so that we would understand and want to help others affected. I am grateful to have known a person like you Olivia and you will always be in my heart. With love, your friend Frida.

Loud ≠ melisma. The latter refers to running notes on a single syllable, which, technically, you could do loud or soft.

Holy shit. The Twist of Fate soundtrack is fire.

Desperate Times is blasting on my headphones right now. There are some great extended mixes on ITunes from that Physical Extended /special addition.. They are great!

Olivia had this very rockish/nasally twangy thing going on that really gives these songs an edge.

And she was an expert PHRASER. The way she phrased lyrics and enunciated the words is something she gets zero credit for.

[quote] Is Michelle Pfeiffer ok??

Michelle posted a sweet tribute to ONJ in her Instagram stories yesterday.

Jesus Christ Frida's tribute made me cry.

I am basically rediscovering Olivia, and especialy what a truly excellent singer she was.

Highly recommend these extended Twist of Fate songs! Great stuff.

David McCullough couldn't live in a world without Olivia!

Her album Gaia, which she released after her first battle against cancer, is great. It's quite personal, she wrote all the songs.

Grease's main audience over the years had been kids who've seen it on TV. When you're a kid, everyone who is built like an adult is "old."

This was an underappreciated single - so good!

I'll always remember being at a video bar and giving a wet, sloppy blow job while this played in the background.

Where are you finding these Two of a Kind remixes? I don't see the album on Apple Music at all.

Olivia leaning into rockish was a mistake. She didn't compare to someone like Pat Benatar in that area. ONJ's sweet spot was soft and heady.

R464 Here you go:

R464 They were released in the Physical deluxe edition, last year.

Hopelessly Devoted to You #1 on the iTunes charts!

Magic is #2!

Aha! No wonder I couldn't find them. I was looking for the Two if a Kind soundtrack. Thank you!

Also, here is a gorgeous outtake from Xanadu. Olivia singing You Made Me Love You. Heaven.

Right now on iTunes, Olivia has 7 of the top 10 songs (incl #1, Hopelessly Devoted to You), 6 of the top 10 albums (incl #1 Grease), 3 of the top 10 Country songs (incl #1 Let Me Be There), and 4 of the top 10 Country albums (incl #1 If You Love Me, Let Me Know).

Here's the full top 100 on iTunes. 21 of them are Olivia songs. Even the title tune from Grease, performed by Frankie Valli, is back on the chart.

Bitch stole my thunder!

I Honestly Love You, Have You Ever Been Mellow, Hopelessly Devoted to You - favs/love!

Physical, Zanadu were okay, nots favs.

"If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do matters much"

I'm inclined to think that Chloe was born with a 666 on her scalp. I cannot envision Olivia being a bad mother.

It was Matt's seed. Our Liv was perfect.

Hold on R464- Give me a second

R464- Physical "Deluxe Edition".. Its on there- There are a good 10-12 songs from Twist of Fate on there- remastered/extended- Great stuff!!

Thanks, R478

Saw her in concert at a packed Forest Hills Tennis Stadium and she introduced this as her next record and the place loved it.

Dolly Parton has not said a thing about Olivia. : (

Wonder why iconic pop artists have daughters that turn out to be like Chloe & Lourdes, not to mention Billy Joel's daughter, 'ol what's-her-name.

Frida's tribute was lovely.

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I didn’t know that her sister Rona was already dead.

Like the above poster, I got all teary when I saw that Australia is giving her a state funeral.

Did they do that for Helen Reddy?

They'll do it for Toni Lamond.

R463 That is a beautiful Olivia story, so romantic and touching. Thank you for sharing it with us, we appreciate it.

Holy shit! I am going in deep on Olivia! So many songs I have not heard since I was so little (and they were old then!)

Her cover of Ring of Fire is SO good!

I’m one of her long-fans. I sobbed for about 6 hrs yesterday afternoon into the evening. My grief for the loss of my fave singer since I was 5 yrs old is real. I feel like a good friend has died in my life. No matter how shitty my life got from my childhood through the present, I would put on Olivia’s music and it would bring me up out of the muck. It took me to an aural happy place every time. Kind of like biting into a delicious dessert when you really needed it.

^^long-time fan.

My friend died yesterday. 😥

[quote]Olivia deserves better than you tired old meme queens

Then maybe she deserved better than the tired old "dead to me" meme. Oh, wait. I forgot. Some DL Aspie keeps reminding us that it's the "proper form" and criticizes those who don't use it.

Olivia is the first singer I remember loving as a little kid. My mom used to commute to work and she had me at a pre-school by where she worked. So I would have to get up at the crack of dawn with her and we'd drive to the town where she worked and she would drop me off, but beforehand, we would stop and get breakfast. I can remember us listening to the car radio on the way, the sun just coming up, and we'd always sing along to the Olivia Newton-John songs when they'd come on the radio. We loved Let Me Be There and If You Love Me, Let Me Know.

I would be more surprised if Olivia WAS a good mother. Star is no easy job. It's a wonder Diana Ross did so well juggling both roles, though one of her daughters was hanging out with Paris Hilton at one point.

How do you feel about Long Live Love?

The video is some hilariously '80s shit, but this has always been one of my favorite ONJ songs.

Does anyone else find R204 clip of 1980 Hollywood Nights TV special a bit of a mindfuck? The end of an era. After MTV those loose variety formats were history. And Tina and Elton in a kickline with Peaches and Toni Tenielle...?

Those late 70s/early 80s tv specials were all crazy entertaining. Not just ONJ's, several other major stars made these for the networks, they were always loaded with "special guest" appearances of other major stars of the day doing out-of-order skits or musical numbers.

Now I'm envisioning Toni Tenille duetting on "Fuck The Pain Away."

[Quote] Those late 70s/early 80s tv specials were all crazy entertaining.

Bless you!

And Karen Carpenter r498!

She had that very, very, VERY rare quality of being completely sweet, innocent, genuine, and lovable -- without a trace of saccharine, gullibility, or phoniness.

Ah, this one made me very sad. Olivia was part of my childhood. In 1974 and 1975 she had a sting of hits in the US. Please Mr. Please is the one I remember the most. Then of course she did Grease and became a global superstar. She and Travolta were both ridiculously good looking in that movie. That soundtrack was the sound of summer in 1978. It had hit after hit after hit. I also was the rare album that both kids and parents enjoyed. My mother loved Grease because she was a teenager in the 1950s.

Then in 1980 the Xanadu soundtrack gave her more hits. Magic will forever be the sound of summer in 1980 for me. It it still one of my favorite songs. I played it so much I had to buy another 45 of it because I wore the first one out. Suddenly was another good one. Physical was a huge sensation in 1981.

I agree with someone upthread who said by 1983 and 1984, her style started to seem outdated. Twist of Fate from 1983 is a great song. It was her last hit in the US.

It's been great listening to a lot of the shows and concerts posted upthread. Her voice really was controlled and sensational.

^string of hits - It was also - It is still

I guess I should have proofread . . .

To be honest, I enjoyed her music, when it was on the radio....and thought she was very pretty. I enjoyed her in Grease. I wouldn't say I was a particular fan. It's very striking to me, of how much she is loved and the outpouring, all over the world, of love and positive comments about her. She really was a lovely person, reading about her, and very generous to her fans and contributions to cancer causes. I read John Travolta said, "She looked at life as a glass half full.", or something to that affect, and she seemed not to dwell on her illness...even admitting denial. She enjoyed her life and was very grateful for the life she had. That is probably why she survived for 30 years with cancer, with the ups and downs. That attitude gave her the strength to fight and carry on. She truly had a light within her...very positive. Another celebrity, whom I was struck of all the outpouring of love, was Robins Williams. Certain people really do touch a lot of peoples' lives. Maybe they don't know that while they're still alive, but they had that certain something that really drew in people.

Sorry for the clumsiness of my comment. Wish there was an edit...^^

My lips are half full. I must schedule another round of fillers.

[Quote] That is probably why she survived for 30 years with cancer, with the ups and downs. That attitude gave her the strength to fight and carry on

BS. As Peter Hitchins (sp?) said. You're not a fighter, you're the battleground when you have cancer. I think it's tacky to credit ONJ's survival to her personality or attitude. That's not how it workds.

*works

R503 perfectly put..

I mean, she was pretty gullible with that boyfriend who faked his own death.

Her fanbase seems more diverse than the average pop diva's. Many gays love her, but lots of straight guys aren't afraid to admit they like her music too.

She was blonde and beautiful, so no surprise there..^

[Quote] lots of straight guys aren't afraid to admit they like her music too.

Should we be impressed by that?

She was fortunate to marry the hottest piece of ass in Hollywood at the time.

And together they gave the world...

Have you ever been mello? Have you ever tried define comfort deep inside you?

She was one of the good ones. Rest in peace

She loved Heavenly Haszh!

R493 this is

SO

NOT

YOUR

MOMENT

so fun

Not yours, Linda, you talent-free whore.

Olivia was okay, but frankly, she looked a little porky to me.

If anyone says she cant sing is a fucking idiot.

I agree she just had that beautiful voice. Her and Madonna, for me, had a sweet spot in their voices that is just sublime (I hate using that word). ONJ had one of my favorite voices. It wasn’t flashy (thank god) just lovely as hell. Crystal clear.

It’s a shame she didn’t have a bigger career after Physical. It looked like she’d take off after the successes of Grease and Physical and didn’t. And damn she was beautiful.

Olivia does Olivia! 😥

I know there are 80s gays swear by Soul Kiss etc. (Just like the 80s gays who prefer Diana Ross' RCA output) but it's clear why ONJ declined. The quality of her work went down. She had a good run.

She had 15 years of hits, and if she was a better actress, she could have parlayed that into a 2nd chapter of her career. But 15 years is a long time for a pop star, especially when you're pushing 40. It's the rare female pop singer who can go much past that, especially back then, without something else to carry her through the lean times. Midler did it with acting, so did Cher, Dolly Parton, etc. I also think ONJ's cancer changed her outlook on things and she was less concerned with getting hits and more concerned with leaving the world in a better place (or trying to).

I also think she saw the writing on the wall with The Rumor. That should have been a much bigger hit than it was, and it tanked. She knew she'd had her day in the sun.

But the thing about Olivia that so many of her peers lack is that she will be remembered, rediscovered and beloved for generations because of Grease. She will always have a fan base, because that movie is always going to attract new audiences to it.

We haven't had so many queens this upset since Judy Garland in 69.

Insert Repost of Dead Princess Diana Scream

[quote] We haven't had so many queens this upset since Judy Garland in 69.

Judy deserved to go. She was a train wreck. It was the best career move she ever made.

This place will need a grief counselor when it's Streisand, Cher or Dolly.

I'm surprised that her death has gotten 2 to 3 times more coverage than Donna Summer's death, which was also unexpected.

If a singer is in a big movie, it ensures a level of stardom that merely being a successful singer can never equal. Olivia's role in Grease guaranteed her eternal superstar status even though her music career died out decades ago. It's why Olivia, Barbra, Cher, Bette, Whitney, Dolly, Gaga and Judy will always be icons. You can't say the same about Donna Summer or Linda Ronstadt because they never starred in a big movie.

DM reporting she sold her Aus ranch and that her Calif ranch is currently listed. Don't let me down, DL. Who has the listing link?

[quote] I'm surprised that her death has gotten 2 to 3 times more coverage than Donna Summer's death, which was also unexpected.

The gays abandoned Donna years before she died. For reasons that are well known to her.

Will Chloe battle with the husband?

Donna had a good relationship with the still camera. She was nothing special in moving pictures. See also: Sheena Easton.

Nope. The husband is in business with Chloe's husband AND Matt Lattanzi. They own a marijuana farm in Portland.

[quote]I'm surprised that her death has gotten 2 to 3 times more coverage than Donna Summer's death, which was also unexpected.

Olivia was much more of a pop culture presence than Donna was in the last two decades thanks to Grease, as well as Xanadu (which had a hit Broadway show) and shows like Glee which spoofed the Physical video. Also, Olivia still recorded regularly and toured up until 2017 as well as had her charity work.

Donna had been largely out of the spotlight since 1991, except for the occasional tour and attempt at a comeback every so many years.

That being said, Donna's passing was a complete shock to a lot of people, as many didn't even know she was sick. I did the Princess Diana scream myself when I saw the headline.

R532 Don’t even bring Gaga into this. She will not go down as a fucking icon anywhere near those women. JFC.

I forgot Olivia was already “old” by the mid 80s for a pop star. Dolly and Bette are passable actors, not really good.

R539, You don't have to be good. You just need to be in at least one memorable movie. 9 to 5 will always be an iconic comedy, and Bette has been in several memorable movies. Whitney and Cher couldn't act either, but they have iconic movie roles. Starring in an ionic movie is more important than winning an Oscar for a movie that nobody saw. Olivia's role in Grease is more iconic than Brie Larson's Oscar win for Room.

The Bodyguard was NOT an iconic movie. The soundtrack, yes, the movie was shit and it not fondly looked at. There’s no one who wants to watch that train wreck again.

Olivia’s Grease alone shits on anything except Barbara.

What Cher movie is iconic? None of her movies are movies people clamor to see again.

There are so few movies with black female leads. This helps Whitney in The Bodyguard, and Angela Bassett in I, Tina. Hell, even The Wiz has a fanbase it probably wouldn't if it was a Caucasianfest.

[quote] Olivia was much more of a pop culture presence than Donna was in the last two decades thanks to Grease, as well as Xanadu (which had a hit Broadway show) and shows like Glee which spoofed the Physical video. Also, Olivia still recorded regularly and toured up until 2017 as well as had her charity work.

"Pop culture presence"? I suppose it depends on your environment. I never lost track of Summer. She is a perennial in clubs. "I'm A Fire" blew up a party in Palm Springs I attended back in 2008. And her old songs?! As much as the queens want to malign her as anti-gay, even today, any one of her songs will cause a stampede to the dance floor. Summer's music is rhapsodically received by every crowd, young and old.

As much as I loved her, I did lose track of ONJ after the mid-90s. I personally only got back into her music after I heard of her terminal cancer diagnosis about 5 years ago. It is telling that ONJ is best remembered for "Grease" even though she had huge pop chart hits before and after that movie. While she is greatly beloved, musically, I don't think she was as relevant as Summer. The sound and spirit of Summer's music has been profoundly influential to contemporary music, from Madonna to Kylie to Rihanna and Beyonce.

r539, I'm far too old for Lady Gaga, and other than Bad Romance and Poker Face, don't know much of her other music; I have seen her films, and she's acquitted herself quite well in that arena . For the current generation, particularly gay men of the current generation, there's absolutely no doubt that she is an icon and, unless she does something truly heinous, will be beloved by that generation for decades to come.

No, Whitney is only remembered for the soundtrack not the movie which she was stiff and dull.

Crayons made about as much impact as Back With A Heart.

Did Olivia have her nose bobbed?

Looking more snatched.

Her last request was to send money to her charity and not flowers.

Is the charity for Chloe's tits?

Love this track. Total 1980 adult contemporary gold.

Olivia's music was a cornerstone in my life … both her and Judith Durham were early and profound influencers in the way l sang and fashioned my life. I feel bereft without them both.

Mia Farrow tweeted: “Very sad that lovely, talented, brave Olivia Newton-John has died. I never got to meet her, but everyone says she was wonderful-always kind.”

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John Farnham: “The Farnham family send love and sympathies to Olivia’s family. Behind that iconic smile was a tenacious fighter. A beautiful voice and a loyal friend. She will be greatly missed.”

[quote]"Pop culture presence"? I suppose it depends on your environment. I never lost track of Summer. She is a perennial in clubs.

The number of people who've gone to clubs and heard Donna Summer represents a tiny fraction of the people who've watched (and rewatched and rewatched and rewatched) Grease over the years.

Tonight is Koala Blue fashion night redux here

[quote] why does everyone nowadays equate loud with difficult or impressive?

It's because 95% of the current generation DON'T know how to sing.

All they know is about placing an electric microphone almost into their mouths.

It is nice to see her getting the airtime, but one thing that is bugging me a little bit about some of the news coverage, is they are making it sound like it sound like she was discovered when she made Grease and completely ignore the first part of her career with her country-pop songs of the early and mid-70's. Grease might have taken her to another level, but she had a pretty good run of hits leading up to it.

I know Physical is an iconic song, and her biggest hit, and I don't hate it, but it is pretty down on my list of her stuff.

[quote] Mia Farrow tweeted: “Very sad that lovely, talented, brave Olivia Newton-John has died. I never got to meet her, but everyone says she was wonderful-always kind.”

Unlike you, you gaslighting cunt.

Livvy was a star back in 1970.

Not from that movie, she wasn't. It wasn't even released.

[Quote] It's because 95% of the current generation DON'T know how to sing. All they know is about placing an electric microphone almost into their mouths.

The current sound isn't belting/loud, though.

Livvy was hanging out with pretty shirtless men from the beginning.

This is Lesbian Overload right here.

Chloe posted a sad video with a cat or kitten on Ig a few min ago. I hope she can sustain

I agree R560. She is being reduced to Olivia Newton John, Star of Grease, dead at 73. But only in the media.

The rest of the world is full on IN LOVE with ONJ today. I don't even like much of her music - but what a lovely woman with such a sweet and pretty voice. That's not a diminutive. Diana Ross also had a uniquely sweet silvery light voice. Magical in it's own way.

I think Physical is a dumb song and very dated. And everyone has had a go at this one I post below. But Olivia Newton John in all her ordinary pretty blondeness - somehow always just came across as special. Someone said she's sincere, and she's gone. The goodwill of so many people are sort of flooding the collective with love for her. It's palpable.

Her early country/pops hits are really GOOD and Twist of Fate is still a great song sonically and rhythmically. Dance. The world can't help loving the gorgeousness of young Olivia and SEXY sexy SExy ASS Travolta in Grease. Though I agree she was more interesting as just herself.

I wish I had paid more attention. She would have made a lovely Evita - as a follow up to Grease.

She's a second rate diva who canNOT sustain.

Lovely?! Eva Peron should not be LOVELY!?!

Lovely is an adjective, ASPIE @ R570.

[quote] She's a second rate diva who canNOT sustain.

But enough about Beyonce...

Shut up, Farah!

was 11 years old when Grease was released, and saw it at least a half-dozen times that summer. It played on a double-bill with Foul Play at a theater in my neighborhood (about a five-minute bike ride from my house). That's what my best friend next door & I did whenever we were bored, or it was just too damn hot do anything else. "Wanna go see Grease & Foul Play again?"/"Okay!"

I watched it again last night, on-demand through my cable provider. It was probably the first time I'd see the *original* theatrical version (no commercials, no editing/dubbing of language) in ten years? I was fine (no tears), until the very end -- when Sandy turned & waved over her shoulder as Greased Lightening flies away. Fucking burst into tears.

Thnks to whoever posted those rare gems: her first success "If Not For You" and that wonderful dance routine with Gene Kelly.

What do they do in a state funeral exactly? I assume there is no street procession.

R575, if you haven't already, be sure to check out her Hollywood Nights special linked at R204. Gene Kelly enters at 25:45. They do a charming number called "Makin' Movies" (set to the tune of "Makin' Whoopie") and basically do that "Whenever You're Away From Me" dance number again.

It’s nothing personal

In other circumstances

Another place, other time

And I might take my chances

Physical and the vid must’ve been shocking for its time especially seeing how ONJ was seen as angelic.

It's campy, though. Not really "slutty."

[quote]I'm surprised that her death has gotten 2 to 3 times more coverage than Donna Summer's death, which was also unexpected.

Olivia's death wasn't unexpected to anyone who has been paying attention to her life and career.

Yeah. Olivia did some TV interviews in the last year or so. She looked and sounded frail.

Magic has been an earworm for me all day today…

I was fan and became a friend of her in the late 80s. She was truly one of the nicest people I have ever met - she really did light up the room without even speaking. I am so sad that she’s departed our world, she will be missed for generations to come because of Grease and Xanadu - but for many she will be missed for her entire catalog of music. She was an Angel among us. Matt Lattanzi is an incredibly kind soul, too. He doesn’t deserve any vitriol, neither does Patrick. Let her rest - our hearts are broken. I hope there will be a huge ONJ resurgence - she deserves it - and she’d get a good laugh looking down at us. She was truly an Angel.

R576 The flags on government building are flown at half-mast. The governor and pollies try to attend. The police provide escorts and crowd control.

But, I don't know if the coffin will be there.

It's funny that a movie can be a total bomb and still be a great success. "Xanadu" is considered a failure, yet it produced a slew of hits for Olivia (including the second biggest song of her career, "Magic"), as well as for ELO. Same thing with "The Jazz Singer", which was widely ridiculed, but it gave Neil Diamond 3 top ten songs in a row for the first time in his career.

R584- Today alone I rediscovered Olivia's music...

Check out her version of Ring Of Fire- its my latest obsession.

I was so sad, and I have to say, just listening to Olivia's music today made me feel so good. It was not sad, it was actually uplifting and a great way to remember this legendary lady. And my god my dad was right, she was a stunner.

I hope her music (not just Physical and Grease!) will get a resurgence and a new respect.

And these young guys I follow on Youtube who basically discuss horror films gave her the LOVELIEST tribute. I was floored!

R422, she was ON Merv Griffin?

Olivia should have done a big Broadway revival of The Sound of Music after Xanadu flopped. That would have been a huge success and she could have won a Tony. What a missed opportunity.

[quote]It’s hard to find a photo of Olivia Newton-John not smiling.

Nice tribute from the Toronto Star.

R574, MARY!!!

I sobbed.

MARY!

Still at #1 bitches!

#1 wot?

#1 on the charts!

She had five number-one songs, but it's the less-popular "Sam" and "Suddenly" that I really love.

I was surprised when it was mentioned that Olivia's first hit "If Not For You" was a Bob Dylan song. For some reason, I always associated it with George Harrison.

George Harrison, of the Beatles.

Petula Clark.

Dietrich and DiMaggio

G'day mates!