Liv's Legends
Olivia shares her inspiration for life - and music
Olivia Newton-John has come out of the closet. The squeaky clean Aussie songbird, widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost environmentalists, has lifted the lid on a little secret she knows will make health advocates cringe.
“I’m blushing now just thinking about it,” she says with a giggle as she talks about the teenage years she spent with long-time pal Pat Farrar growing up in the craziness of London in the 1960s.
“Pat and I shared a flat in London,’ Olivia explains. ‘We had some pretty fun times. We were young singing partners finding our way in the world and we were in love with [singer] Julie London’s voice.”
“She had this amazing husky deep sort of sound that was unforgettable, so Pat and I used to smoke cigarettes to try to sound like her. Isn’t that awful?” Olivia says, bursting with laughter.
“My smoking days didn’t last very long and I couldn’t pick up a cigarette now if I tried, but I will always remember the influence Julie London had on us.”
Deeply personal memories such as this inspired Olivia to record Indigo: Women of Song, her album tribute to the women that shaped her stellar career, women such as close friend Karen Carpenter, and Minnie Riperton who was the first woman Olivia knew who died of breast cancer.
“I played in a celebrity tennis match in the 1970s with Minnie, Linda Ronstadt and Helen Reddy, what a team!”
“It was some time later that I became aware that Minnie was sick - she was such a brave and inspirational woman.”
“And Karen was a very dear friend and her death was so very tragic, but she was such a beautiful person and her music was extraordinary,” Olivia adds.
“So many people were affected by her death and I was very nervous about singing one of her songs, I mean how on earth can you follow Karen Carpenter?” she muses. “But I think she’ll forgive me.”
Ironically, while her contemporaries are hanging up their microphones, Olivia’s career is flourishing and this album is one of her most personal and soulful yet.
“In an odd sort of way, this feels like my first grown up album,” she enthuses.
“I guess because it’s my own concept, each of these women are special to me and every song has a story. They all have a place in my heart, they are beautiful songs and beautiful women”
It is timely that while Australia recognises National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Olivia finalises plans for an extended stay here next year, when she will further the work of the Liv Foundation, which she established to raise funds for the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre in Melbourne.
A keen tennis player, Olivia is excited to announce that the Liv Foundation is to be one of the official charities of the Australian Open 2005, which will help promote the Liv Kit breast self-examination aid launched by New Idea this year.
Olivia is delighted the Liv Kit is now being sold through large US chain store Albertsons. The women at the counters have little pink badges that say ‘ask me about the Liv Kit’.
“I am so proud of the kit and what we can achieve and I’d love that to happen here too.”
By Sue Smethurst Picture: Patti Springsteen
Australia Calling
While Olivia now lives in Malibu in California, she has a certain homing instinct for Australia. It was a balmy Melbourne afternoon when we caught up with the 56-year-old beauty who has jetted home between dates in her gruelling US tour to promote her new album, Indigo: Women of Song.
Although it is just a whirlwind visit this time, she says she is relishing a few days “soaking up Australia”. “You know what?” she smiles. “Having a week in Australia is like a month anywhere else, it’s such a wonderful place I feel completely re-energised when I’m home!”