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
I'm Alive
Olivia Newton-John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm alive - suddenly I am here today
Seems like forever (and a day), thought I could never (feel this way)
Is this really me? I'm alive, I'm alive
I'm alive - and the dawn breaks across the sky
I'm alive - and the sun rises up so high
Lost in another world (far away), never another word (till today)
Suddenly came the dawn (from the night), suddenly I was born (into light)
How can it be real? I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive
I'm alive - and the world shines for me today
I'm alive - suddenly I am here today
Seems like forever (and a day), thought I could never (feel this way)
Is this really me? I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive
I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive
The lyrics to Olivia Newton-John's "I'm Alive" are a celebration of newfound life and the joy that comes with it. The song is an expression of the singer's gratitude for the ability to experience the world around her. The first verse emphasizes the enormity and wonder of this newfound sense of being alive, as the world "shines" and "suddenly" feels so vibrant and present. There is a sense of disbelief that accompanies this feeling, as she reflects on how long it has been since she has felt this alive. The second verse emphasizes how it feels as if she has been in another world, far away from the joy and beauty of life that is now suddenly present. The chorus repeats the joyous affirmation of her newfound life, with each repetition of "I'm alive" reinforcing the gratitude and appreciation she feels.
The bridge of the song is a reflection on the suddenness of this change, as she notes that it all came "from the night" and that the experience of being "born into light" is almost too much to comprehend. The final chorus repeats the affirming message of the song and doubles down on the powerful sense of gratitude and joy that the singer feels.
Overall, "I'm Alive" is a song about the power of gratitude and the overwhelming sense of joy that can come with even the most basic experiences of being alive. It is a celebration of life in all its complexity and wonder.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm alive - and the world shines for me today
Being alive makes everything around me feel brighter and more beautiful.
I'm alive - suddenly I am here today
I am aware and present in this moment and in this world.
Seems like forever (and a day), thought I could never (feel this way)
It feels like it has been a very long time since I've felt alive and present, and I didn't believe I was capable of feeling this way again.
Is this really me? I'm alive, I'm alive
I am in awe of and amazed by the fact that I am alive and present in this moment.
I'm alive - and the dawn breaks across the sky
The dawn symbolizes a new beginning and a fresh start, and being alive means I get to experience it every day.
I'm alive - and the sun rises up so high
The rising sun symbolizes hope and new opportunities, and being alive means I get to experience them every day.
Lost in another world (far away), never another word (till today)
I was disconnected from reality and the present moment, and hadn't truly experienced anything or spoken up until now that I am alive and present.
But what can I say? I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive
There is nothing I can say to fully express the gratitude and wonder I feel about being alive and present in this moment.
Suddenly came the dawn (from the night), suddenly I was born (into light)
Just as the dawn breaks through the darkness, I emerged from a state of feeling lost and disconnected to being fully present and alive.
How can it be real? I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive
It is difficult to comprehend the reality of being alive and present in this moment, and it fills me with gratitude and wonder.
I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive
This repetition of being alive emphasizes the joy and gratitude that comes with simply existing and being present in this world.
Contributed by London L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Murray Lee Wilson
@marcisikoff I see. Actually, as good as Iluvia and E.L.O. were, I think that there is one other band that would have been brilliant for songs in a movie like these ones and that would be K.C. And The Sunshine Band.
For this movie, E.L.O. was still the best pick because I think that they're the best band at singing a song with other artists but K.C. And The Sunshine Band would still be brilliant at both more up-tempo, fun songs and the slower, more serious ones such as their later hit, Please Don't Go.
It's such a shame that their songs weren't on the one movie the same way. The Bee Gees were credited with making disco popular but that's wrong.
What really made disco explode was K.C. And The Sunshine Band's song, "That's The Way. People went absolutely crazy over that song, largely because of it's opening, Joyful line but also because of the rhythmic, canting style disco beat.
The Bee Gees first semi disco song, I don't consider it disco actually, was their song "Jive Talking" which came just before.
Up until then, you still had some song's such as "Born To Be Alive" but people's reaction to "That's The Way" was just crazy. Everyone just lived the opening and they couldn't help chanting along with the "That's the way. Un huh uh huh lyrics
Catchy doesn't begin to say it, more like driven. The only other song that I've ever seen that got people going so much was Blondie's "Heart Of Glass.
Jeffrey G
For our lovely Olivia Newton-John, pretty much the total package, with beauty, not just on the outside, but the inside, too. Another case where the gift and the wrapping are of equal quality. (As a fellow animal lover, she had me hooked)
Through the years, even as she changed her look along the way, fashion could never deny her authentic inner glow ❤
And now, the celestial journey home, back into the arms of the unconditional and those she loved on Earth.
It always amazes me how poignant, with time and loss, the hook lines of any song ring clearer in retrospect, as if they are fully aware of their eventual destination.
As you watch the Xanadu video now, you'll see that, just for a few moments, that is life as it should be; pure celebration, a unified tribal dance of gratitude for being, while we prepare for the main event to come.
With Olivia in mind, Xanadu...a Heaven, an afterlife, by any other name, does indeed, still smell as sweet. Gratitude, always...and all ways!
Godspeed, Angel.❤
"A million lights are dancing
And there you are, a shooting star
An everlasting world
And you're here with me, eternally" (Jeff Lynne & ELO)
Charmainia #1
I don't care what anyone says. This is a masterpiece. Thinking about you Olivia.😢
Tina Baker
❤ one of the best movies ever made👍
Joreel
She will be dearly missed by so many fans who were touched by her music and her beauty.
bob marsh
She made it a masterpiece
Ciclopea2
One of the best musical fantasies ever created. I truly believed that if it had premiered a year earlier than it did it would've been a massive hit, but cult classic is a nice title to have.
Eric F
@Ciclopea2 100% YOU ARE CORRECT!!
aaron srok
I love this scene because you see how much they all love the mortal realm and being in it. They love to be a part if it. Breathing the air, their senses are in overload and they just can't contain their joy.
OreadNYC
At least as I interpreted it, the Muses are goddesses of inspiration...and it's difficult to either inspire other or be inspired yourself when you're feeling ambivalent or depressed or tired. They're probably excited to have an opportunity to fulfill the purpose for which they were created...especially since Kira's reaction when she's released from the mural suggests that she and her sisters actually don't get to be corporeal very often.
Hector Garcia
Nice to see y’all under the muse enchantment 😊
Natalie Montoya
Awe I never thought of this scene that way. You have great perception thanks for sharing❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉