Olivia's Weber 'physical' show is out of shape
OGDEN One of the most disappointing concerts of any sea son took place at the Dee Events Center Tuesday night. Billed as Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical Tour of North America 82,” the concert was anything but physical Tedious would be a more apt description.
All one had heard lately was how Miss Newton-John had changed her style, her image, her musical focus. Baloney! The only thing she changed for Tuesday’s performance was her outfits, and three of the four were hideous.
My ticket said 8 p.m. starting time. Olivia, apparently still on Australian time, sauntered on stage at 10 p.m. oblivious to the fact she had kept the audience waiting so long.
I guess when you are an alleged “superstar.” and are being filmed by Home Box Office you can do as you please. Frankly, it would have pleased me a great deal if she hadn’t shown up at all.
Keeping a crowd waiting two hours is in poor taste. But Miss Newton-John’s entire show set new lows for pop schlock.
Newton-John, never more than a flossy fashion model with a whispering, almost wimpering voice. worked her way through such forgettable songs as “Have You Never Been Mellow.” “Xanadu.” “Please Mister Please” and “Let Me Be There.”
Just when you figured she couldn’t do any more material that sounded exactly the same, Olivia launched into more mass-market pap, singing such marshmallow, or is it marshmellow, tunes as “If Not For You.” “If You Love Me, Let Me Know.” “Hopelessly Devoted To You” and “Come On Over.”
She put her fake country voice to work on “Jolene,” a catchy number that held promise, but eventually fizzled like all the others.
Her backup band was led by Los Angeles saxophonist Tom Scott, an ineffectual sort who has sold out any integrity he might have had when he was once considered a promising jazz musician. The rest of the band was a bland collection of typical L.A session men intent on fattening their wallets while sacrificing all artistic integrity. The only exception was Pops Popwell, the round and jovial bass player. He provided the only musical spark of the evening.
Olivia, possessor of a Barbie doll fare and a model’s reed-thin body. wouldn’t take any dancers jobs away with her prissy prancing. Her two go-go outfits she wore for a good portion of the 90-minute performance looked like something out of “Mod Squad” or London’s Carnaby Street. Nice for the ’60s, but out of place in 1982.
Of course any Olivia Newton-John concert wouldn’t be complete without an obligatory, overblown rendition of “Physical,” her biggest hit to date.
For this number, she chose to don jogging shorts, T-shirt and gym shoes. She began the song with some affected exercises and then proceeded to literally run the song into the ground. She insisted on displaying her jump roping prowess, which was fine, because as soon as she crossed the rope it got caught on her foot. The band stopped planing so Olivia could get squared away. She almost jumped her way through the song until the rope once again got caught on her foot.
Olivia Newton-John appears to try hard on stage. But she’s not an entertainer. Not by a long shot. She really isn’t a very good singer; she can’t dance a lick; and she has absolutely no stage presence.
She’s the classic example of a manufactured kewpie doll who has hoodwinked the masses into thinking she has talent.
The only redeeming aspect of the entire evening was the one time Newton-John wasn’t actually on stage. Projected onto a huge screen was a filmed segment of the Australian lass cavorting with some dolphins. That was well done.
By Tom McCarthey, Tribune Staff Writer