(August 15, 2022). The passing of Olivia Newton-John on Monday, August 8, 2022, has inspired many tributes and career retrospectives. Last Thursday, for example, this blogger wrote a personal reflection of what this one-of-a-kind singer/actress/activist meant to me personally.
Olivia was a gifted singer who could convey any emotion—jubilation one minute, sorrow the next—often singing with a clarity and delivery that ranged from a soft, whispery coo to exuberant exclamation…often in the same song. Vocal acrobatics and extended runs weren’t necessary for the kind of songs Olivia sang, but you certainly didn’t come away from the listening experience without feeling something.
Now, as an accompaniment piece to last week’s tribute, the blog ranks her 25 greatest songs! In countdown fashion, from No. 25 to No. 1, these Olivia faves are presented in rank order—based on personal opinion only—along with a mini-story on each (and an audio or video clip courtesy of YouTube).
As you scroll through the list, relive the ones you loved—or liked—and feel free to vote them with a thumbs-up (or down) or an emoji. Also, please comment on where your favorite Olivia songs should be on a greatest hits list like this, in either the comment section at the end of the article or in any of the social media feeds where this article is posted.
Hope you enjoyed scrolling the list of Olivia’s best! And remember to comment either below or on any of the social media feeds where the article is posted!
DJRob
DJRob (he/him/his) is a freelance music blogger from somewhere on the East Coast who covers R&B, hip-hop, pop and rock genres – plus lots of music news and current stuff! You can follow him on Twitter at @djrobblog.
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Excellent list, DJ Rob! I was especially pleased to see “Something Better to Do” (my personal #1 ONJ fave) and “Dancin’” included! And your assessment of “Hopelessly Devoted to You” being her “One Less Bell to Answer” was incredibly insightful. Love that!
“Landslide” and “Not Gonna Be The One” were also excellent choices.
My top 25 would be very similar, but with the addition of “Suspended In Time” and “The Rumour” in place of “Tied Up,” “Heart Attack” or “Soul Kiss.”
Hey Scott, thanks for posting this! It’s exactly what I was hoping for, a sense of which songs floated other people’s boats. I love “Tied Up” for that total 1982 vibe that John Farrar had at the time. His “I Paralyze” for Cher from that year also had that vibe to it. I love him.
Any love for “The Rumour” ? That one fell between the cracks in ’88; the album isn’t even available for streaming! Maybe the fact that Elton was riding a big hit himself at the same time meant that this -other- John/Taupin collab had to be stopped in its tracks.
Yeah, Douglas, it’s a decent song, but didn’t quite make my list.