Olivia and Labi Siffre in Hamburg
Translation:
In a nearly sold-out CCH, Australian Olivia Newton-John showed the Hamburg crowd why America, the model country for professionals, so adores the slim girl with the powerful voice: There’s the indelible “girl next door” effect, the open, wonderful laugh, the direct approach to the audience with waves, curls, and eye rolls. And the voice.
Olivia Newton-John, already a star in our country six years ago, has changed. She disappeared to the States, gave the old country music stars in Nashville a piece of her mind, met the man with the elastic legs, John Travolta, during his “Kotter” TV series, and later filmed “Grease” with him. And this “grease” helped her to a third career, to Europe and Nashville.
She takes a critical look at the film’s disco hits: “I played a schoolgirl, you won’t believe it.” And the black singer Labi Siffre, who performed the opening act with his beautiful voice, took up the ball. He comes on stage for a short disco riff: “If you can be a schoolgirl, I cna be Italian.”
And Olivia, in pink satin skinny jeans, sings the “Grease” hit “You’re the One That I Want” with him. But her disco style disappears just as quickly as Labi disappears from the stage. Olivia Newton has found her style. She sings her songs beautifully and uniquely.
She began with a Presley song and ended with a Steve Winwood song (“Gimme Some Lovin’”).
"You're the one that I love": Olivia und Labi Siffre. Photo: KLAUS BEHR