She's still the one that we want - Bay Area Reporter

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She's still the one that we want

Bay Area Reporter, by Gregg Shapiro Feb 23 2021

Gregg Shapiro: You have a history of duets, including “You’re The One That I Want” and “Summer Nights” from Grease sung with John Travolta and “Suddenly” from Xanadu sung with Cliff Richard. What do you enjoy most about the process of singing a duet?

ONJ: I love harmonizing. I’ve always done that, according to my parents, since I was a little girl. I would always sing harmonies to songs I heard. It was just lucky for me that I was able to do that. I love to do that. I enjoy that and I enjoy bouncing off somebody else, rather than just being the only person there. It’s fun to exchange energy when you’re singing. I’ve had some wonderful singing partners. I learned so much from Cliff (Richard) because he had me on his show. Then I was a double act with Pat Carroll for many years: Pat and Olivia. I’ve always loved that part of performing, and you get a chance to work with all these amazing people.

Gregg Shapiro: “Window in the Wall” was co-written by a trio of Nashville-area songwriters (Tom Paden, Eddie Kilgallon and Tajci Cameron) which reminded me that your earliest career hit singles were contemporary country tunes, including “Let Me Be There,” for which you received the 1973 Best Female Country Vocal Performance Grammy. Can you please say something about your attraction to that style of music?

ONJ: It’s really interesting because I never thought of myself as a country artist. My manager at the time, Peter Gormley, had managed Frank Ifield, who was a country star, an Aussie guy. He thought my voice really suited that kind of music. I thought of myself as a big balladeer [big laugh]. But really, I started out singing folk music. That was my entrance into singing. Singing folk music, Joan Baez and those songs. They brought those (country) songs to me. I wasn’t even sure I liked “If Not For You.” Of course, I’ve learned to love it. It’s my husband’s favorite song. Isn’t that amazing! Initially, it was really the idea of my producers, that style for me.

Gregg Shapiro: One of your biggest solo hit singles, “I Honestly Love You,” was written by Peter Allen, a gay man. The music video for “Physical” oozes gay subtext. Both Grease and Xanadu are musicals with strong queer appeal, and It’s My Party and Sordid Lives are more directly gay films. Do you remember when you first became aware of having a gay following, and what does that LGBTQ following mean to you?

ONJ: I just think of gay people as people [laughs]. I have had a wonderfully strong gay following and I’m very grateful for that because I feel they’re very loyal fans and very sweet. I’ve always enjoyed the company of gay people. I think they’re so much fun. One of my best friends, Gregg Cave, who runs Gaia (Resort and Spa) is gay and he was my mother’s friend also. It’s just natural to me. They’re funny people; I don’t know why that’s so [laughs]. I like that. I like to be able to laugh a lot.