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
Best Of Friends
Olivia Newton-John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We come from where the wolves raise children
I tried to numb the pain but I still feel it
Watch me burn a bridge right after I built it
My best friends don't have feelings
We come from where the wolves raise children
I tried to numb the pain but I still feel it
Watch me burn a bridge right after I built it
Tried to hang my demons with my shoe strings
Griffey air maxes for the mood swings
Saw flaws in my God, so I had to change the routine
Houdini on these thots
Couldn't trap me with a box
Wasn't no keys in my escape
I was picking all the locks
All this pain it weighs a lot
So my chain gon' weigh a lot
Pull mercedes off the lot
It's like the 80's how I rock
Feel like McGrady against the clock
So I take another shot
My best friends don't have feelings
We come from where the wolves raise children
I tried to numb the pain but I still feel it
Watch me burn a bridge right after I built it
Olivia Newton-John's "Best of Friends" revolves around the idea of being numb to pain and unable to form real emotional connections. The lyrics "My best friends don't have feelings" and "We come from where the wolves raise children" suggest that the singer and their friends have been through difficult, traumatic experiences that have hardened them emotionally. They've learned to disconnect from their feelings and form superficial relationships instead.
The lines "I tried to numb the pain but I still feel it" and "Watch me burn a bridge right after I built it" indicate that the singer has developed coping mechanisms that ultimately cause them more pain. They try to avoid their emotions and build connections with others, but end up sabotaging those relationships. The reference to "Houdini on these thots" suggests that the singer is aware of their patterns but feels powerless to change them.
The second half of the lyrics describe the singer's attempts to escape their pain through material possessions and distractions. References to "Griffey air maxes" and "pull mercedes off the lot" suggest a need for status symbols and luxury goods to distract from underlying emotional issues. The repetition of "My best friends don't have feelings" reinforces the idea that the singer is trapped in a cycle of emotional numbness and avoidance.
Line by Line Meaning
My best friends don't have feelings
The people I consider my closest companions are not easily persuaded by sentimentality or emotional displays
We come from where the wolves raise children
Our point of origin is in a harsh, unforgiving environment that requires a tough exterior to survive
I tried to numb the pain but I still feel it
I attempted to avoid and disregard my emotional discomfort, but it still affects me
Watch me burn a bridge right after I built it
I have a tendency to ruin relationships that I've put effort into forming or repairing, shortly after they've been established
Tiptoeing on a moonbeam
Moving cautiously and tentatively forward with a sense of hope and optimism despite the potential obstacles
Tried to hang my demons with my shoe strings
I attempted to rid myself of my internal struggles by any means necessary, even if they were unconventional and unlikely to be successful
Griffey air maxes for the mood swings
Reference to a specific type of shoe, used as a metaphor for how I cope with my emotional shifts
Saw flaws in my God, so I had to change the routine
I became disillusioned with my faith or belief system and therefore had to reevaluate and change the way I lived my life
Houdini on these thots
I successfully escaped the attention or advances of people who were overly interested in me, similar to the magician Houdini's ability to escape restraints
Couldn't trap me with a box
I couldn't be confined or controlled by societal norms or expectations
Wasn't no keys in my escape
There were no obvious or easy solutions to the problems I was facing, requiring creative and unconventional problem-solving methods
I was picking all the locks
I was working hard and diligently to find a way out of my difficult situation or mindset
All this pain it weighs a lot
My emotional pain has a significant impact on my well-being and overall happiness
So my chain gon' weigh a lot
My material possessions or external factors may serve as a physical manifestation of the burden I carry internally
Pull mercedes off the lot
A luxurious car may serve as a status symbol or way to cope with my internal struggles by distracting myself with external pleasures
It's like the 80's how I rock
I exude an aura of confidence and coolness similar to how popular musicians and celebrities did in the 1980s
Feel like McGrady against the clock
I feel pressured or stressed to perform well under a certain time constraint, similar to how a basketball player may feel during a high-stakes game
So I take another shot
I attempt to persevere and overcome my challenges by making another attempt or trying a different approach
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: John Crown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind