The Queen Mum of pop
Still modest after all those hits, Olivia Newton-John is back to perform in Bangkok on Tuesday
Olivia Newton-John will forever remain best loved as Sandy in the 1978 big-screen musical adaptation of “Grease”, starring opposite John Travolta. And she’s tickled with that.
But, as fans who saw her last show in Thailand four years ago were thrilled to be reminded, the Australian pop icon has won four Grammy Awards on the back of five No 1 singles, two No 1 solo albums and an estimated 100 million record sales . She is, beyond question, one of the best-selling musicians of all time.
As if further reminder of this were needed, Newton-John returns to Bangkok on Tuesday for a concert at the Royal Paragon Hall. She has an astonishing repertoire on which to draw, since 1971 releasing 27 studio and live albums and greatest-hits collections. To delve into that glorious past in a chat with the 67-year-old singer ahead of her Asian tour, we began with the present.
HOW HAS 2016 BEEN SO FAR?
It’s been wonderful! It started with me kicking off my third year in residency at the Flamingo in Las Vegas, then off to South America for a wonderful tour, followed by a little downtime before I head to Asia for another tour, which I am so excited about!
WHAT OTHER ASIAN STOPS ARE SCHEDULED?
I’ll be performing in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and then Seoul. I really am looking forward to the entire tour - the audiences in Asia are so warm and loving. I can not wait!
LAST YEAR YOU RECORDED “YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE” WITH YOUR DAUGHTER CHLOE.
It was a great experience and actually it was Chloe’s idea. My producer, Dave Aude, wanted to create a dance version of my song “Magic” from the movie “Xanadu” and Chloe thought it would be great to come up with new verses, which she and Dave wrote while keeping the original chorus. It was a great experience to work with her because she’s so talented. And the icing on the cake was that the song went to No 1 on the Billboard Dance Club chart. It was great to have another hit record at this stage in my career, but I was even more excited for Chloe because it was her first.
DO YOU SEE YOURSELF DOING MORE ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC IN THE FUTURE?
I know my fans loved the song, so who knows, maybe there will be more dance or EDM versions of my hits in the future. Never say never!
ALSO LAST YEAR YOU WERE A GUEST JUDGE ON BOTH “RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE” AND “DANCING WITH THE STARS”.
I love RuPaul - he’s so talented and so fun that it was a great day! And “Dancing with the Stars” was also so much fun - everyone on that show is so talented. I had a great time doing both, but I’m not very good at judging because it’s so hard. And I should know, because my career started when I won a talent competition as a young girl and now I know what it’s like to be on both sides. Will I do more judging? Who knows?
YOU HAVEN’T HAD A STUDIO ALBUM SINCE 2008 AND THE FANS MUST BE GETTING IMPATIENT.
I’m very excited that I just finished a wonderful new CD called “Liv On” with my dear friends Amy Sky and Beth Nielsen Chapman. It’s an 11-song collection intended for people trying to transcend loss while taking a journey toward newfound meaning and hope. It was our intention with this album to create songs with a message of compassion and hope. They’re for anyone facing a time of challenge in their lives, whether it’s grieving a loss or on the journey to health and recovery. It will be released in September.
NOT A LOT OF ARTISTS HAVE ENJOYED FIVE DECADES OF CAREER SUCCESS. WHAT KEEPS YOU INSPIRED?
I think the main things that keep me going are my wonderful fans and that I love what I do. I mean, really, after all these years, I’m still singing and they’re still showing up, and I’m very honored by that. My fans are the best! I’m also having so much more fun performing live as the years go on. When I was younger I was much more worried, but now I’m really just enjoying it. And it’s been a bonus that I’ve been very lucky to have some wonderful songwriters and producers who helped create great songs that I love to sing.
IS THIS WHERE YOU IMAGINED YOURSELF BEING WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED OUT?
Oh gosh, I’m just glad people still turn up! Seriously, I have always loved singing and it’s been wonderful to have the career I have, and the fact that it’s lasted this long is something I truly treasure. Not only did I get to do what I love all these years, but it also allows me to bring some joy to people through my music.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUNG TALENTS IN THE DIGITAL ERA?
The only advice I really have is to just be you - don’t try to be someone else or copy someone else’s style. That person already exists! Just be you. And, as for the social media, don’t listen to everything people say, tweet or post. Be your own person and artist and the rest will all happen.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CANCER RESEARCH AND WELLNESS CENTER.
I am so proud that the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Center is bringing so much to those going through the cancer journey. As a cancer “thriver” myself, it was very important to me to have everything - the treatments, the research and the wellness programs - all under one roof and, that’s what the ONJCWRC has become.
YOU’LL BE BACK IN BANGKOK VERY SOON. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?
The show is really a musical journey through my life and career. You’ll hear the country songs from my early career, like “Let Me Be There”, “Have You Never Been Mellow”, “If You Love Me, Let Me Know”, and of course the songs from “Grease” and “Xanadu”, and the “Physical” album, plus some new ones and classics I love singing. And I have the best band in the world, so it will be a lot of fun for everyone. I hope to see all of my Thai fans at the concert when I’m in Bangkok!
“An Evening with Olivia Newton-John” is at 8pm on Tuesday in Royal Paragon Hall at Siam Paragon. Tickets are Bt2,500 to Bt5,500. For details, check www.ThaiTicketMajor.com or call (02) 262 3456.
Original article