Olivia, AC Honestly Loves You
Twenty four years after it first came out I Honestly Love You is back on R&R’s AC chart. But more importantly Olivia Newton-John, the stylist who delivered the haunting emotion to the song is alive and healthy and enjoying the song’s rebirth.
“It’s absolutely fabulous because I’ve always loved that song. When I put this album together I had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to re-record “I Honestly Love You” before someone else did. I’m so possessive about that song. It’s mine.”
With more and more classics getting updated Olivia feared someone else would beat her to the punch. “Everyone seemed to like the idea of me redoing it and I asked David Foster to produce it. He agreed and we were lucky enough to get Babyface for backing vocals and here we are.”
Legendary producer whizz David Foster and Olivia have known each other for years, and she remarks “We’ve worked together a lot and it’s very relaxing and easy being with him. We did all the vocals at David’s house. I went over there in my jeans and it was great fun.”
Jeff Barry and the late Peter Allen penned the song Olivia recalls “Peter was a friend of mine and a wonderful writer. I’ve always loved that song very much. Losing Peter was a big loss for me personally and for music in general.”
All of us were saddened to learn of Olivia’s breast cancer diagnosis exactly six years ago this month but the upbeat singer reports she’s in great health these days. Talking about the situation she comments reinforces how lucky she is to be alive “I like to get the word out to other women. If you notice a lump, find out more about it, but don’t ignore it.”
Following doctor’s suggestions, she did routine self-examinations and had previously discovered lumps. but this time, she recalls she really didn’t feel right at all. “This one didn’t show up in a mammogram or needle biopsy, so it was really instinct on the part of the doctor and me to go further,” she remembers, “women really need to listen to their bodies if they feel something that doesn’t feel right.”
She stresses the need for women to push for a second opinion if they’re even the least bit unsure. “Luckily, we found it early enough and I had nine months of chemotherapy and surgery. I feel great.”
Initially of course she was very frightened but the singer was given excellent treatment. “Everyone imagines that cancer is a death sentence, but I’m here to say that it isn’t. It’s just a very scary word and unfortunately it’s become too common. It’s an epidemic. I’m just one of many women who are going through this but I’m one of the lucky ones. In addition to the chemotherapy and surgery I did a lot of mediation and things to keep my mind and spirit strong. Thank goodness I’m okay.”
Ironically, Olivia was scheduled to go on tour for the Back To Basics album the week the cancer was found. But even more tragedy was to strike “My father died that weekend so I obviously had to cancel the tour. It was the beginning of starting to focus on taking care of myself and not worrying about everyone else. Many women have that problem of trying to take care of other people.”
She immediately cut back and didn’t work for the next 18 months. “songs came to me and I started writing an album of my own songs. It didn’t come come out in this country, but it was very cathartic for me. i like performing but I think the writing and creative part are even more fun.”
Perhaps forever linked to Grease, Olivia admits that when the movie was made 20 year ago, she and fellow cast members had no idea it would be so popular. “But this time around it wasn’t so surprising because I knew the popularity was gaining. It’s on video and always on cable. It’s timeless, becasue people love the 50s, it’s got energy to it, the costumes are great and all the characters are like cartoon figures.”
Staying busy on radio promotional tours, Olivia has been going out on weekends, usually just performing one song. “A radio station will have many acts, and everyone does a song or two. I’ve been doing this for several weeks. It’s fun because I get to meet all the new people in the business. It’s wonderful to watch them, because they are so talented.”
While it’s tough for her to list her favourite performers, Olivia notes “Paula Cole has been on this promotional tour a lot with me, as have Mariah Carey and Sarah McLachlan and they’re all fantastic. i like all kinds of music and enjoy people like Beth Nielsen Chapman and Garth Brooks. I saw a talented group of young men N Sync who are also very good. There are just so many wonderful people out there.”
“when I was writing I listened to a lot of Talk radio so I wouldn’t pick up on anything by mistake. I didn’t have any intentions of getting back into the business like this, it’s just sort of evolved but I’m really enjoying myself. It’s the ice cream on the icing on top of the cake and I’m having a great time.”