Olivia - Shukan FM

Translation from Japanese:

Pop diva Olivia Newton-John happened to visit us at the end of the year. At the time, she was number one on the US charts. In a year when female artists were making a big splash in the music scene, Olivia, who could now be called a veteran, was certainly making a spectacular final appearance.

During her short stay of just a week in Kotor, she worked hard on TV and FM radio. At the press conference, she even donned a kimono to impress us, and we've compiled a list of her quotes from the press conference. The main article, Nirakto M Special Investigation Unit, also introduces her appearance on Sunday Music.

The album, which has been well-received in the US (its release in Japan has yet to be decided), is currently selling well. She's saving her tour, and will finish editing her next best-of album, by the end of the year, and is currently working on a video for it.

We can look forward to her continuing to create high-quality music at her own pace, without rushing. This special program, designed with Olivia's appeal in mind, will also feature a disc jockey. The main focus of the program will be the 20-plus questions she will be asked.

When we decided to have Olivia appear, the thing we paid the most attention to was the issue of dolphins, which is currently a hot topic in the newspapers. We were careful not to include this in the questions or bring it up. Because interpretations vary greatly depending on each person's perspective, it's not an issue that can be defined solely through personal words. The program ran surprisingly smoothly, and I think her cheerful nature was also apparent, said Director Kawashima, a veteran director now in his 12th year.

To combat the monotony of this long-running program, he says his role is to gradually overcome some of the issues, such as inviting guests and making minor changes, such as playing records other than those sponsored by Toshiba EMI Records, to add depth to the program.

However, I get bored with just famous musicians appearing. The musician's perspective on life needs to resonate with the young people who listen to the program, and the main focus is to provide enjoyable, wonderful music and informative content, so striking a balance is difficult. Some listeners want the songs to be broadcast uncut, but there are various aspects, such as the effect of playing only the first and second halves of a song, or the effect of playing the whole thing. I think this is where the talent of a director shines.

He also says that answering listeners' phone calls and answering their questions about the publisher of the books Shintaro introduces on the show is an important part of his job. If you just listen to the program casually, you don't really notice the flow, the clever structure, or the overall cohesion. However, the difficulties involved in making such a program are enormous. For example, in this case, the questions posed to Olivia were randomly chosen

Olivia's questions are also compiled and edited, covering her feelings toward the Girls' Generation and her father, and artists like Cliff Richard, Andy Gibb, and John Travolta. This explains the breadth of Olivia's answers. Singing in church still stays with me. You should marry the person you love, and I want to marry once and build a good family. When I'm lonely or feeling tired, I like to take my dog for walks or ride horses. I want men and women to always be treated equally. I think they should work equally.

In addition to these, Olivia's views on music and life are abundantly revealed on the program. In the latter half of the show, Olivia herself will be playing a DJ set, introducing pop numbers of her choice. This special program is sure to satisfy you.

Photos: Masanori Hotta