Early life
Travolta, the youngest of six children, was born in Englewood, New Jersey to Salvatore Travolta, a second-generation Italian American semi-professional football player turned tire salesman, and Helen Cecilia Burke, an Irish American actress and singer who had appeared in The Sunshine Sisters, a radio vocal group, and acted and directed before becoming a high school drama teacher. She was 42 when Travolta was born. Travolta grew up in an Irish-American neighborhood and has said that his household was predominantly Irish in culture. His family was Catholic.
Career
After dropping out of Dwight Morrow High School after his junior year, Travolta moved to New York City to get a job as a performer. He landed roles in the touring company of Grease and on Broadway in Over Here! singing the Sherman Brothers' song "Dream Drummin'". Travolta also cut singles for a local record company, but the songs were quickly forgotten. But eventually, he moved to Los Angeles, California to further his career in show business.
Travolta gained his first major movie role as Billy Nolan, a sadistic bully who taunted Sissy Spacek's Carrie White in the horror film Carrie (1976). Around the same time he landed his star-making role as Vinnie Barbarino in the TV sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–1979) in which his sister, Ellen, also occasionally appeared (as Arnold Horshack's mother).
Around this time he also had a hit single entitled "Let Her In" peaking at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the next few years, he appeared in some of his most memorable screen roles: Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever (1977) and as Danny Zuko in Grease (1978). His mother and his sister Ann appeared as extras in Saturday Night Fever and his sister Ellen appeared as a waitress in Grease. Travolta performed several of the songs on the Grease soundtrack album, that eventually went on to sell more than 10 million copies. In 1980, Travolta inspired a nationwide country music craze that followed on the heels of his hit film, Urban Cowboy, in which he starred with Debra Winger.
After Urban Cowboy came a string of flops that sidelined his acting career. Some suggest that he was typecast as a disco stud or 1970s icon, which could be the reason his agent intervened on several occasions to turn down acting roles. During that time he was offered, but turned down, lead roles in what would become box office hits, including American Gigolo, An Officer and A Gentleman, and Splash. The first two films ultimately starred Richard Gere in the lead role and went to become box office successes. This was also the case with the movie Chicago - the role of lawyer Billy Flynn was offered to Travolta, but ultimately was played by Gere; the film went on to become a highly commercial and critical success. His only hit film during this period was alongside Kirstie Alley and a baby voiced by Bruce Willis in Look Who's Talking. However, it wasn't until he played Vincent Vega in Quentin Tarantino's hit Pulp Fiction (1994), for which he received an Academy Award nomination, that his career was revived. The movie shifted him back onto the A-list, and he was inundated with offers. Coincidentally, before Travolta took the role he visited Tarantino, who was living in the same ramshackle apartment in Los Angeles that Travolta had inhabited when he got his start. Notable roles following Pulp Fiction include a movie-buff loan shark in Get Shorty (1995), an FBI agent in Face/Off (1997), a desperate attorney in A Civil Action (1998) and a military detective in The General's Daughter (1999).
Travolta also starred in Battlefield Earth (2000) based on a work of science fiction by L. Ron Hubbard, in which he played the leader of a group of aliens that enslaves humanity on a bleak future Earth. The film received almost universally negative reviews and did very poorly at the box office. Travolta, who converted to Scientology in 1975 and endorses Hubbard's teachings, had hoped that the film would be well received and be the first in a series of Hubbard film adaptations. In fact, the film won a Razzie Award for Worst Film of the Year at the 2000 awards.
Travola is currently starring as a workaholic turned biker in Wild Hogs (2007).
Travolta will play Edna Turnblad in the 2007 adaptation of Hairspray.
Personal life
Travolta married actress Kelly Preston in 1991. They have a son named Jett, and a daughter named Ella Blue. On April 10, 2006, Mark Ebner of Hollywood, Interrupted made a public plea to Travolta and Preston to have their son treated for autism, alleging five reliable sources—including representatives from Cure Autism Now and The Autism Perspective—who claim that Jett suffers from autism, and not from Kawasaki syndrome as stated by the parents. His brother Joey Travolta recently produced a documentary about autism.
Travolta is a licensed pilot and owns five airplanes, including an ex-Australian airliner, the Qantas 707-138. The plane bears the name Jett Clipper Ella in honor of his son Jett and his daughter Ella. Pan Am was a large operator of the 707 and used Clipper in their names. His US$4.9 million estate in the Jumbolair subdivision in Anthony, Florida is situated on Greystone Airport with its own runway and taxiway right to the door.
In 1992, he wrote and illustrated a short children's book entitled Propeller One-Way Night Coach about the fictional journey of an 8-year-old boy named Jeff across the USA in the 1950s. He celebrated with the Australian national football team in their dressing room following their qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Questions have also been raised regarding what kind of agreements were made between Travolta and then-President Bill Clinton, regarding how Travolta would portray Jack Stanton, a character based on Clinton, in the movie Primary Colors and whether Clinton would pressure the German government to remove its ban on Scientology. Travolta was quoted about the issue in May 1998 issue of George magazine:
The next day, I met with Clinton. He told me: "Your program sounds great. More than that, I'd really love to help you with your issue over in Germany with Scientology." I was waiting for the seduction that I had heard so much about. I thought, "Well, how could he ever seduce me?" And after we talked, I thought, "Bingo!" He did it. Scientology is the one issue that really matters to me.
In another interview, Travolta admitted that his portrayal of Stanton was much more kind than that in the book Primary Colors. The next year, in November 1998, Clinton sent Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to urge German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel to grant Scientology the status of a registered religion—without success.
Other
Travolta's affiliation with Scientology is frequently mentioned in the press. In 1998 he was named in a lawsuit involving a former member who claimed that he was promised that his homosexuality could be cured. The lawsuit alleged that the organization frequently cited Travolta as proof that the organization could in fact change a person's sexual orientation. A lawyer for Travolta replied, "This looks like complete hogwash. Travolta is a happily married man, which proves he isn't gay". Paul Barresi claimed to have had a homosexual relationship with Travolta in 1982, but later recanted the statement. In 2006, Travolta was photographed in what looks like the exchange of a kiss with an unidentified male in Hamilton, Ontario. However, Travolta's attorney, Martin Singer, stated that Travolta's wife Preston was on board the plane and claimed the kiss to be a nonromantic gesture Travolta makes with all close friends of both genders, entirely nonsexual in nature, and that "people who are close to Mr. Travolta are aware of his customary, non-romantic gesture."
Faith No More's Mike Patton wrote and recorded a song called "Travolta" with his band Mr. Bungle. The name of the song was changed to "Quote Unquote" due to legal reasons. The song came out 1991, which was a time at which John Travolta was considered a "has-been" actor. This was before Pulp Fiction came out, and Travolta's career took off again. "Quote Unquote" is also the name of a book John Travolta published around this time. In an episode of South Park, Travolta was one of the characters shown trying to get Tom Cruise out of Stan's closet. The other trying to get him out (Tom Cruise) was R. Kelly, threatening both Tom and John the count of three before he shoots both of them.
This Christmas
John Travolta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna get to know you better, yeah
This Christmas
And as we trim the tree
How much fun it's gonna be together, yeah ha
This Christmas
Fireside is blazing bright
And this Christmas, will be yeah
A very special Christmas, for me yeah
Presents and cards are here
My world is filled with cheer and you, oh yeah
This Christmas
And as I look around
Your eyes outshine the town, they do
This Christmas
Fireside is blazing bright
We're caroling through the night
And this Christmas, will be
A very special Christmas, for me yeah
Alright, break it down, ha ha ha
Ooh yeah, yeah yeah, alright
Yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah
Alright now, right now, now
Fireside, oh, is blazing bright
We're caroling through the night, yeah
And this Christmas, will be, oh
A very special Christmas, for me yeah
And this Christmas, will be
A very special Christmas, for me oh oh
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Merry Christmas, ooh yeah
Gonna have a merry Christmas, oh yeah, oh oh
Merry Christmas, oh it will be
Oh, a very very very special Christmas
A very special Christmas (this Christmas)
Alright now, right now, yeah oh
It will be now, oh (this Christmas)
Oh, this will be, this will be, baby
A very special
Have a merry merry Christmas (hey yeah)
And a happy New Year
Oh hey, alright, yeah yeah yeah
Merry Christmas
This Christmas
Oh this will be, this will be, baby
The song "This Christmas" by John Travolta is a classic holiday tune that celebrates the joy and magic of the season. The lyrics are filled with imagery of holiday traditions, such as hanging mistletoe and trimming the tree. The song is about spending time with loved ones and connecting on a deeper level during this special time of year.
The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, with Travolta singing about getting to know someone better as they hang mistletoe and trim the tree. The chorus repeats the sentiment that this Christmas will be very special and meaningful. The second verse highlights the joy of receiving presents and spending time with loved ones, and the final chorus ends with a joyful exclamation of "Merry Christmas!".
Overall, the song is a celebration of the warmth and love that come with the holiday season, and a reminder to cherish the time we spend with the people we care about most.
Line by Line Meaning
Hang all the mistletoe
I want to decorate the house with mistletoe so that we can kiss and get closer to each other.
I'm gonna get to know you better, yeah
I want to spend more time with you this Christmas so that I can understand you better and connect with you emotionally.
And as we trim the tree
As we decorate the Christmas tree, I can't wait to spend quality time with you and create beautiful memories.
How much fun it's gonna be together, yeah ha
I am excited to spend time with you and have lots of fun together this Christmas.
Fireside is blazing bright
The fireplace is burning brightly and creating a cozy and warm environment for us to enjoy.
We're caroling through the night
We are singing Christmas carols together as we enjoy the festive season.
And this Christmas, will be yeah
I have high hopes that this Christmas will be really special and unforgettable.
A very special Christmas, for me yeah
I am looking forward to having a Christmas that is uniquely special to me and filled with joy.
Presents and cards are here
There are lots of presents and Christmas cards around, adding to the festive atmosphere and making me feel loved.
My world is filled with cheer and you, oh yeah
The world around me is full of joy and happiness, and I am especially grateful to have you in my life this season.
And as I look around
As I look at all the decorations, presents, and people around me, I realize how fortunate I am to have you by my side during this Christmas.
Your eyes outshine the town, they do
Your eyes are so beautiful and radiant that they stand out even against the bright and festive background.
Alright, break it down, ha ha ha
Let's loosen up and have some fun, maybe even dance to the music of the season.
Oh yeah, yeah yeah, alright
I am feeling good and excited about this Christmas, and I hope you are too!
Merry Christmas, ooh yeah
I wish you a very merry Christmas filled with joy, happiness, love, and everything that makes this season special.
Gonna have a merry Christmas, oh yeah, oh oh
I am confident that we will have a merry and unforgettable Christmas, full of memories that we will cherish forever.
A very special Christmas, for me oh oh
This Christmas will be extra special and meaningful to me, and I hope it will be for you as well.
This Christmas
This Christmas is not just any Christmas, but one that we will remember and cherish for a long time.
Have a merry merry Christmas (hey yeah)
I hope you have an incredibly merry and joyful Christmas, one that you will never forget.
And a happy New Year
May the happiness and joy of this Christmas follow you into the new year and beyond.
Oh hey, alright, yeah yeah yeah
Let's celebrate the festive season with enthusiasm, joy, and excitement!
This Christmas
Once again, I emphasize that this Christmas is special and unique for us, and let's make the most of it.
Oh this will be, this will be, baby
I am confident that this Christmas will be filled with love, cheer, and happiness, and I am excited to share it with you.
Right now, yeah oh
Let's live in the present moment and enjoy the magic of this Christmas right now.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Donny Edward Hathaway, Nadine McKinnor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind