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
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Olivia Newton-John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I couldn't even see the floor
I'd be sad and blue, if not for you
If not for you, babe, the night would see me wide awake
The day would surely have to break
It would not be new, if not for you
Without your love I'd be nowhere at all, I'd be lost, if not for you
If not for you, the winter would hold no spring
Couldn't hear a robin sing
I just wouldn't have a clue, if not for you
If not for you
My sky would fall
Rain would gather too
Without your love I'd be nowhere at all
I'd be lost if not for you
If not for you
The winter would hold no spring
You couldn't hear the robin sing
I just wouldn't have a clue
If not for you
If not for you
The song If Not For You by Olivia Newton-John is a beautiful expression of the importance of love and the impact it has on one's life. In this song, the singer expresses that without the love of their partner, they would be lost and wouldn't be able to function properly. The first stanza talks about how the singer wouldn't even be able to find the door or see the floor without their partner's love. It shows how love brings clarity and meaning to one's life. In the second stanza, the singer expresses how without their partner's love, they would be awake all night and time would stand still. It shows how love makes time pass quickly and without it, life would be dull and monotonous. The singer then goes on to say that without their partner's love, they'd be nowhere at all and their life would hold no meaning.
The third stanza describes how without their partner's love, the singer's world would be dreary and without any beauty. The winter would hold no spring, and they wouldn't be able to hear the birds sing. The last line of the song affirms the importance of love as the singer repeats the phrase "If not for you" showing how love is the key to their life.
Overall, the song If Not For You is a beautiful representation of the importance of love and how it gives meaning to our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
If not for you, babe I couldn't even find the door
Without you, I would be lost and unable to even navigate my own surroundings.
I couldn't even see the floor
Without your guidance, I would be overwhelmed and unable to focus on even the most basic things.
I'd be sad and blue, if not for you
Your love and presence bring me happiness and fulfillment, without which I would be miserable.
If not for you, babe, the night would see me wide awake
Without you, I would be unable to find peace and rest in the darkness and solitude of night.
The day would surely have to break
I would be unable to find the strength to face each new day without you by my side.
It would not be new, if not for you
Life would feel dull and unchanging without the excitement and perspective that you bring.
If not for you, my sky would fall, rain would gather too
Without your love and support, my world would come crashing down and I would be left to weather the storm all alone.
Without your love I'd be nowhere at all, I'd be lost, if not for you
Your love is the foundation that keeps me grounded and gives me direction in life. Without it, I would be aimless and uncertain.
The winter would hold no spring
The hardships and difficulties of life would feel never-ending without the hope and renewal that comes with your presence.
Couldn't hear a robin sing
The joys and beauty of the natural world would go unnoticed and unappreciated without your ability to bring a sense of wonder and appreciation to my life.
I just wouldn't have a clue, if not for you
Without your insight, guidance, and love, I would be lost and unable to navigate the complexities and challenges of life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tito zanella
My God. Her voice is in heaven now. I’ll miss you so much Olivia. Thank you for what you’ve done in this world
C Pace
I just love her music and voice. The song If got my eyes crying and my heart back on Olivia!
Jon Cunningham
Stunning cover of a bread classic. A voice so pure.
Susifae Lemarr
So beautiful forever🕊️
Paul's Music Videos
Forgot she covered this classic ballad. Always wondered how "If" would sound sung by a woman. Only 2 &1/2 minutes, no chorus, just 2 verses sung by the sweetest, purest amazing voices. The second verse is about the end of life. Felt like the world stopped revolving when this amazing, talented beauty left the earth for music heaven August,8 2022.😇 RIP music royalty #OliviaNewtonJohn 🕯👑💖 #If
Steven Highams
Petula Clark did this song in the same year. Olivia's is better.
Brian Anderson
Where would I be if I never knew your voice? I feel so fortunate to have grown up hearing your songs. Rest in peace Olivia🕯
MrWeatherdude1984
I didn't even know she sang this song from Bread, it's so pretty the way she sings it. May she rest in peace. She was one of my favorite female singers when I was a kid, Olvia & Helen Reddy were both my favorite female singers when I was a kid, both of them will be missed. RIP to both. I don't think they'll ever be replaced, how I wish we had singers like that today.
Ila Hilda Sissac
I was a little girl and young teen in her heyday, but Olivia did have a beautiful voice. Nice cover.
peace bewith u
such a beautiful cover