Western Courier

Issue date: 10/20/06 Section: The Edge

Media Credit: Martyn Davis Newton-John gives thanks for her beautiful bouquet.

Media Credit: Martyn Davis Olivia Newton-John reaches out to touch a young fans hand.

Olivia Newton-John amazed a large audience of fans with her beautiful voice and passionate performance that showcased her old hits along with some new songs in Western Hall on Wednesday night.

Newton-John gave her heart and soul for everyone to see. She opened up with a song called "Pearls on a Chain" that showcased a Middle Eastern flute and piano. As she started to sing, audience members came to the stage to give her bouquets of flowers and gifts.

"Hello, Macomb!" Newton-John said. "It's really lovely to be here." She sang a couple of her old hits and then did a ballad called "Stronger Than Before." Newton-John explained that she has survived many things, and her experiences have made her stronger. It was amazing how great her voice sounded. At age 58, she sounded and looked like she was 30. Her personality was very sweet and warm. In between some of the songs, she would take a sip out of her drink and say, "Cheers!"

In 1980, Newton-John starred in a movie called "Xanadu" with Gene Kelly. As she played the title track, the audience clapped along to the cheerful, upbeat disco. "Magic" was also sung from the movie and Newton-John's energy soared as she danced and moved.

After a duet and a couple of country songs, Newton-John sang what she called her "age-appropriate version" of "Physical," complete with a beautiful saxophone solo. Newton-John's band and back-up singers complimented her voice but never outshined her.

Then Newton-John explained that her 20-year-old daughter, Chloe, wrote lyrics that were so beautiful that she wrote a melody to it. She sang and played the piano alone on the stage with the lyrics "Sunlight fades to black and I'm alone."

Finally, the "Grease" songs were performed and the audience loved them. Newton-John and her band put on leather jackets. The final duet of the movie, "You're the One That I Want," was played first with help from one of her backup singers. She was still the same Sandy. She swayed her hips and moved just like in the movie.

Next was "Hopelessly Devoted to You," and then Chloe came onto the stage to help sing "Summer Nights." The audience gave her a standing ovation and the encore included one of her favorites, "I Honestly Love You." The last song was called "Instrument of Peace," off of her album "Grace and Gratitude."

"I thought she was tremendous," said Jon Wheat, Morton resident. "She covered her whole career in two hours. It was amazing how much energy she had, we were impressed."

"Fantastic," said Diane Kearns, who traveled from Keokuk, Iowa. "Her voice is so beautiful."

Newton-John was born in England in 1948 and then moved to Australia when she was five. By age 15, she had already formed an all-girl group named Sol Four. In 1973, her U.S. album debut, "Let Me Be There," was honored by the Academy Of Country Music as Most Promising Female Vocalist. The rest is history.

In the 1990s, Newton-John battled with breast cancer and is known to openly speak and promote public awareness. "Grace and Gratitude" is inspired by spiritual balance and physical and emotional healing, which is complementary with October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. "I'm totally fine now. I am lucky," she said.

Olivia Newton-John gave a wonderful performance that proved how humble and down to earth she is after all of her fame. Her strength through her struggles was inspiring to witness. For more information on Newton-John go to www.olivianewton-john.com.

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