The youngest child of Professor Brin Newton-John and Irene, daughter of Nobel Prize winning physicist, Max Born, Newton-John moved to Melbourne, Australia, with her family when she was five. By the age of fifteen, she had formed an all-girl group called Sol Four. Later that year she won a talent contest on the popular TV show, “Sing, Sing, Sing,” which earned her a trip to London. By 1963, Newton-John was appearing on local daytime TV shows and weekly pop music programs in Australia. She cut her first single for Decca Records in 1966, a version of Jackie DeShannon’s "Till You Say You’ll Be Mine." In 1971, she recorded a cover of Bob Dylan’s "If Not For You," co-produced by John Farrar, with whom she continued to collaborate.
Her 1973 U.S. album debut, "Let Me Be There," produced her first top ten single of the same name, with Newton-John being honored by the Academy Of Country Music as Most Promising Female Vocalist and a Grammy Award as Best Country Vocalist. This proved to be only the beginning of a very exciting career. Her countless successes include three more Grammys, numerous Country Music Awards, American Music Awards and Peoples Choice Awards, five 1 hits including “Physical,” which topped the charts for ten consecutive weeks, and 15 top 10 singles.
In 1978, her co-starring role with John Travolta in “Grease” catapulted Newton-John into super-stardom. This film led to the production of the most successful movie musical soundtrack in history, featuring the duets "You’re The One That I Want" and "Summer Nights," with Travolta, as well as her mega-hit, "Hopelessly Devoted To You." The film was re-released worldwide in 1998 in celebration of its 20th anniversary to even more acclaim, a true testament to the film’s timeless quality. Her other film credits include “Xanadu,” “Two Of A Kind,” “It’s My Party,” and “Sordid Lives.” She followed that success, by co-starring with her daughter, Chloe, in the Showtime movie, “The Wilde Girls.” Clearly following in her mother’s footsteps, Chloe has recently signed her first record label contract.
Newton-John appeal was boundless. With a career spanning more than three decades she was adored by fans across the world. Throughout her career, the much-loved star, who danced with Gene Kelly in “Xanadu,” hosted the popular internationally syndicated “Wild Life” television show, was bestowed an O.B.E. (Order Of The British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth in 1979, has held many humanitarian causes close to her heart, particularly since the birth of her daughter Chloe in 1986. She served as Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Environment Programme and in 1991, the Colette Chuda Environmental Fund/CHEC (Children’s Health Environ-mental Coalition) was founded after the tragic death of Chloe’s best friend from a rare childhood cancer, with Olivia serving as National Spokesperson for ten years. Newton-John’s devotion and shared commitment to CHEC’s mission and goals enabled the organization to receive worldwide attention and support. (For more information visit www.CHECnet.org.)
Her charmed life has not been without its share of upset. In the 90s, Newton-John successfully overcame her own battle with breast cancer, which inspired her self-penned and produced album, “GAIA,” her most personal album reflecting upon her experiences with cancer. She used these experiences to gain greater self-awareness and became a positive inspiration to millions of people battling cancer. As a breast cancer survivor, Newton-John became increasingly well known and respected for talking openly about her battle with breast cancer and for promoting public awareness of the importance of early detection. Her personal victory against cancer led her to announce her partnership with the Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre and the creation of the “Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre” (ONJCC) on the Austin Campus in her hometown, Melbourne, Australia. The ONJCC will provide a comprehensive range of services and facilities for cancer treatment, education, training and research. (For more information visit www.armc.org.au.)
Newton-John was acknowledged many times by charitable and environmental organizations for her ongoing efforts, among them: the American Red Cross, the Environmental Media Association, the Women’s Guild of Cedar’s Sinai Medical Center, the Rainforest Alliance and Concept Cure. Olivia promotes breast health awareness and has introduced the “Olivia Breast Self-Exam Kit,” an aid to help women perform self-exams with more ease and confidence (www.liv.com).
In the 2000's, her interational recognition continued to grow. She was invited by the Vatican on behalf of Pope John Paul II to perform at the Jubilee Celebration for the Sick and Healthcare Workers. Olivia was thrilled to perform at the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics to an estimated global viewing audience of four billion people. Adding to this Olympic experience is what Olivia feels is one of her most memorable moments – the honor of carrying the Olympic Torch during the Olympic Torch Relay. Her passion for Australia was ignited again when Olivia reunited with friend and business partner, Pat Farrar, to promote the Koala Blue brand with distinctly Australian wines to proudly bring “the taste of Australia” to the rest of the world. Her healing spirit also led to the opening of the GAIA Retreat & Spa in her homeland of Australia (www.GaiaRetreat.com.au).
In 1999, her album, "Back With A Heart," garnered her an Emmy Award for her songwriting. In 2000/2001, Olivia released her only live album, "One Woman’s Live Journey," followed by “Magic - The Very Best of Olivia Newton-John,” which celebrated thirty years of recording. And if that wasn’t enough, she also released her first holiday album, “The Christmas Collection.” In 2002, a CD of duets simply titled, “2,” was recorded in Australia and features a host of talented Ozzies along with a couple of her American friends, followed by “Indigo: Women of Song,” a tribute to some of her favorite female performers.
The CD “Stronger Than Before,” release in 2005, features songs of inspiration, courage and hope that relate to the complex emotions cancer patients and their loved ones experience. A portion of the CD’s proceeds benefit cancer research.
Her recording, “Grace and Gratitude,” a CD for relaxation to promote spiritual balance and physical and emotional healing, was released in September 2006 and coincided with the launch of Newton-John's wellness products for women.
In 2002, Newton-John was inducted into the prestigious Australian Music Hall Of Fame at the 16th Annual Aria Awards. Her latest honors include receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award by friend John Travolta at the G’Day L.A. Ball in 2006.
Newton-John was also appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia by the Queen for her “service to the entertainment industry as a singer and actor, and to the community through organizations supporting breast cancer treatment, education and training research, and the environment.”
Wesite www.OliviaNewton-John.com
Alfie
Olivia Newton-John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is it just for the moment we live
What's it all about when you sort it out, Alfie
Are we meant to take more then we give
Or are we meant to be kind and live only for the kind, Alfie
Then I guess it is wise to be cruel
If love comes only to the strong, Alfie
There's a heaven above, Alfie
I know there's something much more
Something even unbelievers can believe in
I believe in love, Alfie
Without true love, we just exist, Alfie
Until you find the love you've missed, your nothing, Alfie
When you walk let your heart lead the way
And you'll find love anyday, Alfie
Oh, Alfie.... Mmmmmm Alfie.....
Olivia Newton-John's song Alfie is a profound contemplation on the human experience and the quest for love and meaning in life. Alfie, the singer in the song, seems lost in his search for purpose and direction in life. The opening lines "What's it all about, Alfie? Is it just for the moment we live?" reflect the existential dilemma faced by Alfie and, perhaps, by most people. Alfie's questioning of the meaning of life is a common theme that runs throughout the song, as he wonders if we are meant to take more than we give and if love is only for the strong. The song invokes the question of whether we are meant to be kind to each other or to live only for ourselves.
The song also delves into the idea that love is the ultimate answer to the questions of life. It asserts that even non-believers can believe in love and that life without true love is just mere existence. The lines "I believe in love, Alfie, Without true love, we just exist..." reflect the importance and necessity of love for fulfillment in life. The song further posits that in the absence of love, we are nothing and it encourages Alfie to let his heart lead the way in the search for love.
Overall, Alfie is a powerful and introspective song that explores the perennial questions of human existence, purpose, and love.
Line by Line Meaning
What's it all about, Alfie
Alfie, what is life truly about?
Is it just for the moment we live
Do we just live for the sake of the moment?
What's it all about when you sort it out, Alfie
When you figure things out, what is life all about, Alfie?
Are we meant to take more then we give
Is it our purpose to be selfish and take more than we give?
Or are we meant to be kind and live only for the kind, Alfie
Or do we live to be kind and only for the good, Alfie?
Then I guess it is wise to be cruel
If only the strong deserve love, then it appears to be wise to be cruel.
If love comes only to the strong, Alfie
Alfie, if love is only for those who are strong, then what happens to the rest?
What will you lend on an old golden rule as sure as I believe
What will you base your actions on, Alfie, the age-old rule that all humans should live by?
There's a heaven above, Alfie
Alfie, there is a heaven above that we can strive for.
I know there's something much more
I know there is much more to life than just the present moment.
Something even unbelievers can believe in
Even non-believers can believe in something beyond themselves.
I believe in love, Alfie
Alfie, I believe in love and its power to transform us.
Without true love, we just exist, Alfie
Without genuine, honest love, we only survive, Alfie.
Until you find the love you've missed, your nothing, Alfie
You will feel like nothing until you find the love that you need, Alfie.
When you walk let your heart lead the way
As you walk through life, allow your heart to guide you.
And you'll find love anyday, Alfie
If you follow your heart, you will undoubtedly find love someday, Alfie.
Oh, Alfie.... Mmmmmm Alfie.....
Alfie, life is complex and confusing, but it is worth it in the end.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
rickw1100
Everything this beautiful woman has done is a classic all it's own.
アサギマダラ
I was my late fifties. I have been listening since I was an elementary school student. Your song always make me feel better.
Tim Dufelmeier
I heard her say that Dionne and Joan Baez were her two biggest influences.
Hegzan Siaani
Valuable ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
TonyBuemi
Lovely. Bacharach Dionne ONJ. People that like good music. ONJ should have added a Gene Kelly song on this album since it appears to be some of her favorite people. Almost Like Being in Love or one of his standards.
Hegzan Siaani
It's the someplace, over the rainbow