Olivia strikes it rich in the US
AFTER the deflation of the Eurovision Song Contest let down, Olivia Newton-John has struck back by striking it rich, in America.
Olivia, first Briton to win coveted Grammy award (the Oscars of the US music industry), has soared to the American Hit Parade heights with her latest single, “If You Love Me.”
After two months of touring and TV promotions in America, she popped into town for a week to cut an album. Then she was hopping a jet to Las Vegas to open in cabaret with country star Charlie Rich, writes Alan Goddard.
She’s booked until September in the States, and it looks as if she’s going to the Tom Jones-Elton John pop elite who rate superstar status across the Atlantic.
“Everything’s started to happen,” said the golden girl eyes shining. “When it does it happens all at once particularly in America”.
Unsuitable
The professor’s daughter has made the big time grade after only three years solo performer. No wonder she’s over the moon.
Last April she was chosen to represent Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest with “Long Live Love,” which was widely tipped as a potential winner.
It came joint fourth, trailing behind the Swedish group Abba and “Waterloo.” When Olivia was afterwards quoted as saying she thought her song was unsuitable for the contest, the critics accused her of sour grapes.
She’s still hurt by the slanging. “I didn’t really expect to win the contest, so I can’t say it was a great shock to me in that I was shattered or heartbroken by the result.”
“I was only disappointed I couldn’t have sung a better song for Britain. You see, it wouldn’t have been fair to say before the contest that I wouldn’t have chosen the song myself.”
“So after the contest was over I thought it was fair enough to say ‘no’ when people asked if I would have chosen the song if I had had the choice. It was a straight answer, given with no bitterness.”
Disneyland
“But it was misinterpreted and the Press had a go at me.”
Even so, she still pushed “Long Live Love” into the Top Twenty. But the storm in the Euro teacup is way behind her, and she is busily establishing herself in the USA.
Recently she played in Disneyland in hectic round of early morning engagements (1 am. and 4 a.m.) to college student audiences.
“It’s a unique venue, particularly during Graduation Nights when Disneyland’s open to students. For nine dollars everything’s free.
“I performed on a stage that came out of the ground amid audiences of 4,000 kids, with big dippers whizzing over my head.”
Romance
“Disneyland are fussy about setting a good example to the young. They ban long hair, which amuses the musicians, and the girls are instructed to wear little or no make-up and have their hair tied back.”
Back home in Britain, Livvy’s new BBC-1 TV series “Moods Of Love” has Just started. Had the girl, whose three-year engagement to ex-Shadow Bruce Welch was broken off two years ago, any time for romance?
“I’m travelling so much at the moment,” she said, “and there are so many things on the go that I don’t have time to get a relationship established with someone, much as I’d like to.”
Was there a particular someone?
“Well, there’s always somebody,” she giggled. “But I’m not getting married, so let’s just leave it at that.”