Olivia Gets Physical

80s

thanks to Kay

Innocent. Youthful. Mellow. These are words that described Olivia Newton~John in 1975, her first appearance at MTSU.

Sensuous. Dynamic. Sex bomb. These are words that describe her in 1982.

On September 12. 1982, Olivia made a second physical appearance in Murphy Center for a packed audience, which ranged from babies to grandparents. Her image had changed. as had her style of music and her popularity was greater.

The Olivia Newton-John show opened with Tom Scott. whose band also provided the back-up music for Olivia. Scott, jazz saxophonist, supplied the audience with his own distinctive material.

Finally, the main event began. Olivia opened her show with a slide presentation of film clippings of her singing history. Musical selections popular to each segment of her history were in correspondence to the time period. Included were the beginning days I Honestly Love You. Grease footage. Xanadu clips. and physical selections. At the end of the presentation. Olivia burst through the screen wearing a black mini dress with silver sequins and matching boots. Singing Deeper Than the Night, and sporting her now famous haircut, she made her way around the stage, charming the audience. And that was only the beginning.

For all of her old fans. Olivia sang many of her first hits. including Let Me Be There. Please Mr. Please. and Have You Never Been Mellow. All of these brought an immense response, as did Dolly Parton's song Jolene. which reflected a good-to-be-in-Nashville-area feeling from Olivia.

After disappearing for about a minute, Olivia returned wearing a red mini dress while singing Magic. A spinning mirror ball and dry ice fog floating on stage set the atmosphere. With the aid of her handsome male back-up singer. Dennis Demotto. Olivia sang Suddenly. originally done with Andy Gibb. Ed- it was Cliff Richard

At one point in the concert, Olivia raised a glass to her lips, then as an afterthought, said, Cheers, or what do they say in Murfreesboro? Someone proved just where she was by yelling in a growling, husky voice, Give 'em hell She smiled.

This segment of the evening ended with a dolphin film, while Olivia raced back stage for yet another clothing change. Gradually she was entering her sex bomb image, leaving behind the soft love ballads and innocent years. Returning in a skin tight pants outfit, Olivia sang various tunes, including her newest single Heart Attack, an up-beat punkish number.

Prancing around the stage with continuous sex appeal. Olivia moved directly into a number which won her a scattered all male standing ovation, Make a Move on Me. After yet another exit, she bounced back on stage wearing an MTSU sweatshirt and short shorts, singing. yes, Physical, the one song perhaps everyone had been waiting for. Doing back view stretches and an exercise dance routine with the musicians and singers.

Olivia gave the attenders just what they were expecting a very, voluptuous exhibition of talent. Olivia's show could not have been complete without her singing her first big hit. I Honestly Love You. As she sat on stage with a single spotlight upon her, she tenderly poured out her heart into the song. Behind her on the screen. were pictures of her back-up band, singers, road crew. etc. along with their names.

During the two hours Olivia entertained the audience. MTSU got a glimpse of the old and the new .. . the evolution of time. and its impact upon one individual's life in the music world. From innocence to maturity Olivia Newton-John.

Photos by Brent Evans. Words by Myra Young