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
Rainy Days and Mondays
Olivia Newton-John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes I'd like to quit, nothing ever seems to fit
Hanging around nothing to do but frown
Rainy days and mondays always get me down
What I've got they used to call the blues
Nothing is really wrong, feeling like I don't belong
Walking around some kind of lonely clown
Funny but it seems I always wind up here with you
It's nice to know somebody loves me
Funny but it seems it's the only thing to do
To run and find the one who loves me
What I feel has come and gone before
No need to talk it out, we know what it's all about
Hanging around nothing to do but frown
Rainy days and mondays always get me down
Oh funny but it seems I always wind up here with you
It's nice to know somebody loves me
Funny but it seems that it's the only thing to do
To run and find the one who loves me
Ahhh yeah, what I feel has come and gone before
No need to talk it out, we know what it's all about
Hanging around nothing to do but frown
Rainy days and mondays always get me down
Hanging around nothing to do but frown
Rainy days and mondays always get me down
Always
Get me down
Down.
In Olivia Newton-John's song "Rainy Days and Mondays," she speaks about her emotions and how her spirits are always low on rainy days and Mondays. She begins the song by saying that she often feels lonely, which could be from the blues (depression) that used to be called "the blues." She feels like nothing is fitting right in her life, and she always wishes she could quit. Being around bored and unhappy people doesn't make it any better. However, she appreciates the company of someone she loves on these days, which seems to be the only solution to make her feel better.
Olivia Newton-John is speaking about a common feeling that many people have: when the weather is gloomy or damp, and when the pressure to start a new week is high. People in this state may feel lost or uninspired because they don't feel like they belong or appreciate the people around them. But being connected to a loved one can help them feel appreciated and valuable. The song conveys the message that there will be days when your spirits are low, and the only way to beat the blues is to talk to someone who understands and loves you unconditionally.
Line by Line Meaning
Talking to myself and feeling old
I'm feeling lonely and isolated, like I'm aging before my time.
Sometimes I'd like to quit, nothing ever seems to fit
I feel like giving up because nothing goes my way.
Hanging around nothing to do but frown
I'm bored and unhappy, with nothing to occupy my time or make me smile.
Rainy days and mondays always get me down
I'm particularly unhappy on gloomy days and at the start of the workweek.
What I've got they used to call the blues
I'm experiencing a sense of sadness and dissatisfaction, a feeling commonly known as 'the blues'.
Nothing is really wrong, feeling like I don't belong
There's nothing specific to complain about, yet I still feel like I don't fit in.
Walking around some kind of lonely clown
I feel like I'm putting on a show for the world, but deep down I'm just a hurt and lonely person.
Rainy days and mondays always get me down
I feel especially down on days that are both dreary and associated with work.
Funny but it seems I always wind up here with you
It's strange yet comforting that I always turn to you when I'm feeling down.
It's nice to know somebody loves me
It's reassuring to have someone who cares for me and makes me feel loved.
Funny but it seems it's the only thing to do
It's a bit ironic that seeking comfort from you is my only strategy for dealing with my negative feelings.
To run and find the one who loves me
I feel compelled to search for love and companionship, to lift me out of my emotional funk.
What I feel has come and gone before
These negative emotions are familiar and recur often in my life.
No need to talk it out, we know what it's all about
There's no need for me to verbalize my struggles, since we both understand what I'm feeling.
Hanging around nothing to do but frown
I'm still stuck in the same place, with no activities or friends to bring me joy.
Rainy days and mondays always get me down
The rainy weather and thought of the upcoming workweek always weigh heavily on my mood.
Hanging around nothing to do but frown
Once again, I find myself without a purpose or anything to make me happy.
Rainy days and mondays always get me down
As always, dreary days and the obligation of work make me feel miserable.
Always
My negative emotions seem like they will never go away, an ever-present companion in my life.
Get me down
This phrase emphasizes the heaviness and burden of my negative feelings, continually dragging me down.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bill Parthum
Olivia's cover is great and keeps the song and her friend Karen in our hearts and memories!
Michael Gilbert
Not even Olivia can cover Karen, but then again, Olivia is unique in her own right.
Ada Isip
We will miss your beautiful voice...rest in paradise ONJ🖤❤️
Leo
Beautiful. She is a gift
Robert Braga
Olivia's tribute to her best friend, Karen Carpenter! These two were great friends.
Christopher Park
No one can beat Karen Carpenter on this song, but Olivia did it great, Love her soft voice,
Peruanderthal
Paul Williams!
helder sufiano
you are right!!!!
branco44444444
@Peruanderthal That's true, Paul Williams wrote the lyric and Roger Nichols the music.
sue cook
Love your version ONJ - great job!