Tag: Olivia Newton-John

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Song Of The Day: Alt-Rocker Juliana Hatfield Covers Olivia Newton-John “A Little More Love”

Alt-rocker Juliana Hatfield says she has never not loved pop music icon, Olivia Newton-John.

The Boston-based musician’s upcoming April 13 release, Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John, is a heartfelt tribute, with an focus on the four-time Grammy Award-winner’s ’70s and ’80s hits.

“I have never not loved Olivia Newton-John. Her music has brought me so much pure joy throughout my life. I loved her when I was a child and I love her still. Her voice and her positive energy and her melodies have stood the test of time and they give me as much pleasure now as they ever did. Listening to her is an escape into a beautiful place. She has inspired me so much personally and I just wanted to give something back; to share some of these tremendous songs, reinterpreted, with love, by me.”

In my opinion, the best tribute recordings pay respect to the original while bringing a new sensibility or perspective to the piece, which is exactly what Hatfield does here.

I like.

You can pre-order Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John via American Laundromat Records.

Hatfield will donate $1 from the sale of every album to the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre (ONJ Centre), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing patients with cancer access to leading medical treatment, breakthrough research, and the best in wellness and supportive care.

Watch the music video below.

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Christmas Music: Olivia Newton-John & Jon Secada “Every Time It Snows”

It’s not often one of the newer holiday songs comes along and actually sticks with me, but I’ve been smitten with “Every Time It Snows” from my first listening.

But the romantic nature of the lyrics and the soaring vocals by Grammy winners Olivia Newton-John and Jon Secada just kill me.

I love the little moment at the end between the two superstars 🙂

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Olivia Newton-John On Aussie Same-Sex Marriage: No Reason To Debate, Love Is Love

International superstar Olivia Newton-John visited with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Canberra in hopes of the Australian government ponying up more funding for brain and breast cancer research at her Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Center.

Olivia lost her sister four years ago to brain cancer and is currently on her second cancer journey as her breast cancer from 25 years ago returned earlier this year.

She also reaffirmed her support for same-sex marriage as Australia prepared to vote on approving marriage equality.

A longtime LGBTQ ally, Olivia was one of the very first Aussie celebrities to speak out in support of same-sex marriage: “With respect to marriage equality I believe that no one has the right to judge and deny couples who love each other the ability to make a marriage commitment. Love is love.”

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#TBT: Olivia Newton-John “Help Me To Heal”

For a bit of #ThrowBackThursday, I’m thinking of my girl, Olivia Newton-John.

Her brilliant 2006 album, Grace and Gratitude, was a touchstone for my cancer journey back in 2009.

She re-released the album, dubbed Grace and Gratitude Renewed, in 2010 with added tracks, including a contribution from Grammy winner David Darling.

When she re-released the album in 2010, it debuted at #2 on the Billboard New Age chart – a new frontier for her.

I was clear of my cancer at the time, and Olivia asked me to direct a charity concert of the album. I was, of course, honored.

The new iteration of G&G featured a new song, “Help Me To Heal.” There wasn’t a music video for the album, but her team gave me raw footage from the original recording sessions in Toronto, Ontario, inviting me to create.

What you see below became the “official” music video for the song. How cool is that?

The album is easily a highlight of her already golden career. Not necessarily a “new age” release, it’s relaxing, revitalizing and helps people “breathe” after day-to-day pressures. I think it’s quite fantastic.

As many know, Olivia is currently facing a recurrence of her breast cancer from 1992.

I hear she is doing very well with her current treatment, and I look forward to seeing her back onstage next month.

#F*ckCancer #TeamONJ

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Olivia Newton-John Covers People Magazine

People Magazine does great by pop icon Olivia Newton-John sharing her positive perspective as she faces down cancer again 25 years after her first bout.

While the article is filled with statements by her husband, John Easterling, and close friends like Didi Conn and Leeza Gibbons, the Aussie icon shares a message to her fans via the publication:

“I am really grateful for and touched by the worldwide outpouring of love and concern. Thank you.

“I am feeling good and enjoying total support from my family and friends, along with a team of wellness and medical practitioners both here in the US and at my Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia.

“I’m totally confident that my new journey will have a positive success story to inspire others!”

You can listen to my interview with Olivia talking about her latest album, LIV ON, on iTunes.

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Podcast: Ireland’s 1st Openly Gay Prime Minister, Pride Month 2017 Begins, 7th Circuit Court Rules In Favor Of Trans Student

In this week’s podcast:

• Ireland elected it’s first openly gay prime minister

• Newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron stands up for gay men in Chechnya

• The 7th court of appeals rules in FAVOR of a transgender student in Wisconsin

• Illinois is about to ban use of the “gay panic” defense in courtrooms

• The Navy and the Pentagon honor Pride Month

• LGBT ally Olivia Newton-John lives by example being positive in the face of personal challenges, and her fans return the favor

• New queer film, “Handsome Devil,” delivers a charming and charismatic coming-of-age story that’s reminiscent of Dead Poets Society

All that and more in this “good news” episode of The Randy Report

 Listen below, and a favor – please Subscribe to my podcast on iTunes here.

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Olivia Newton-John’s Personal Anthem Goes To Number One

Upon learning of Olivia Newton-John’s recent diagnosis of breast cancer, her dedicated fans banded together with a plan to take her to the charts, again.

Olivia has shared with audiences at her concerts for years that when she first conquered cancer, she wrote a song, “Not Gonna Give In To It” for her 1994 Gaia album, which she says has become her personal anthem. Written in the middle of the night, the song is a testament to facing down our fears.

Oh I’m not gonna give into it no
I’m not gonna give into it no no
I’m not gonna give into it no
I’m not gonna give into it

And I watch you sleep soundly
So peacefully unaware
And your breath is soothing to me
And it’s good to know you’re there

Then the morning comes
With it’s golden light
And I feel alright
And my heart beats again
But the night is not my friend

Oh I’m not gonna give into it no
I’m not gonna give into it no no
I’m not gonna give into it no
I’m not gonna give into it

Livvy’s fans spread the word that they wanted to show the Aussie icon she was in their thoughts, and that they knew she wasn’t “gonna give in to it.”

The dedicated fans coordinated to buy the track from Amazon in solidarity on the same day with the hopes of seeing the anthem chart.

Not only did the plan work, but it took the song all the way to number one on the “Pop/Rock” chart.

Those are some great fans for a awesome artist.

Best thoughts to Livvy as she beats this once again and returns to the stage to celebrate her music.

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Olivia Newton-John Postpones Concerts Due To Cancer Diagnosis

Hubby Michael with Olivia and her husband John at her wedding reception in 2008

As regular readers may know, I’ve known Olivia Newton-John for almost 20 years as a personal friend. So very dear, and exactly as warm as you would imagine.

Olivia shared today she is postponing concerts this month to cope with a health issue.

Via press release:

Olivia Newton-John is reluctantly postponing her June U.S. and Canadian concert tour dates. The back pain that initially caused her to postpone the first half of her concert tour, has turned out to be breast cancer that has metastasized to the sacrum.

In addition to natural wellness therapies, Olivia will complete a short course of photon radiation therapy and is confident she will be back later in the year, better than ever, to celebrate her shows.

“I decided on my direction of therapies after consultation with my doctors and natural therapists and the medical team at my Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia,” says Olivia Newton-John.

There will be no interview requests accepted at this time as Olivia’s focus is on her treatment and healing. Ticket buyers for the upcoming concerts should contact venues directly about refunds. Rescheduled concert dates will be posted at OliviaNewton-John.com in the coming weeks.

Many will recall that Olivia was one of the first major celebrities to go public with her breast cancer journey in 1992. It was that journey that inspired her to help raise over $200 million to build the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne, Australia.

She has also been a staunch LGBT ally for decades. She was one of the very first Aussie celebrities to come out strongly in favor of marriage equality in 2012. She’s also performed at packed Pride festivals in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago and Sidney.

Olivia has been touring to promote her inspirational album LIV ON, a personal collection of songs about overcoming challenges and grief inspired by the loss of her sister Rona to brain cancer in 2013.

During my cancer journey in 2009, Olivia was in touch with me constantly checking on my progress and always offer her positive outlook.

She hates the words “cancer survivor” as she has viewed herself as a “cancer thriver” since she overcame breast cancer in the early 1990s. In fact, at the time she wrote a song she now calls her anthem, “Not Gonna Give In To It.”

I’m certain she’ll be back on stage sharing her music again very soon.

Best thoughts.

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Olivia Newton-John, Beth Nielsen Chapman & Amy Sky On BBC Radio 2

Prior to their concert tonight in Glasgow at the Celtic Connections Festival, Olivia Newton-John, Amy Sky and Beth Nielsen Chapman shared three songs from their critically acclaimed album, LIV ON, with BBC Radio 2. Listen here.

For more info about the album and concerts, click here.

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Olivia Newton-John Talks About Grief & Loss Through Her New Album LIV ON

International superstar and multiple Grammy Award-winner Olivia Newton-John, with her friends Grammy nominee Beth Nielsen Chapman and SOCAN Award-winner Amy Sky, joined forces to create LIV ON, a collaborative, eleven-song collection which focuses on uplifting hearts burdened by grief while at the same time bring comfort to the listener.

Olivia Newton-John and her collaborators sat down with me to talk about the new album intended to aid & comfort those experiencing grief and loss while using the power of music to heal.

This inspiring new project grew out of the three artists’ personal experiences with loss and illness, which they all survived to “LIV ON” and celebrate each day with a depth of gratitude.

“LIV ON” – means “to thrive, to have hope and to remember.” The message is clear in the lyrics of the album’s title song:

Live on, Live on
Brighter skies will come again
Cry the tears you cry
And then live on, live on
Love is all we leave when we are gone…Live on

Loss and grief occur for many reasons – whether it’s losing a loved one, a relationship, one’s health, a pet, or a job, to name just a few. It’s important to remember that each person’s grief is as individual as his or her DNA – and there truly is no timeline for healing from loss.

Olivia, Beth and Amy called upon their personal experiences in creating this collection of songs which will aid, uplift and comfort those working their way through the maze of grief and loss.

You can learn more about LIV ON by clicking here.