Top 5 Olivia-Newton John Songs: Her Legacy Lives On

Olivia Newton-John passed away on Aug. 8 due to cancer at her home in California. But her legacy is on this planet - forever.

She rose to prominence during the 1970s. She began her music career as a teenager, and began performing on Australian television shows.

Despite her humble beginnings at Australian television shows, Newton-John is a four-time Grammy Award winner. She has had five songs that placed first on the Billboard Hot 100, and numerous became top-ten hits.

Here are the top five Olivia Newton-John songs that carry her legacy into the future. Despite being a singer over fifty years ago, Newton-John's music is still considered iconic bops.

Olivia's top tracks

1. "I Honestly Love You" (1974)

A song out of her album "If You Love Me, Let Me Know," released in 1974, "I Honestly Love You" is a fan favorite. "I Honestly Love You" ranked number three on the Billboard Hot 100, and sold over a million copies. It put "If You Love Me, Let Me Know" at number one.

2. "Physical" (1981)

"Physical" saw a different side of Newton-John. Released during the 80s, it was a dance-pop song, and Tina Turner almost sang it had she not declined it. It was an instant hit and received positive reviews from critics, calling it "an eighties gem."

3. "Hopelessly Devoted To You" (1978)

Grease fans might recognize this song, as it is in the 1978 film's official soundsong. "Hopelessly Devoted To You" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Newton-John performed this song at the 21st Grammy Awards.

4. "Changes" (1972)

Newton-John bared her soul through "Changes." It is one of her self-written songs, included in her second album "Olivia." The lyrics reveal an inside look into Newton-John's divorce and how it affected her child.

5. Xanadu (1980)

"Xanadu" is an upbeat song Newton-John sang for the musical of the same name. Newton-John starred in the musical and sang the song. Despite "Xanadu" the musical not performing well on the box office, "Xanadu" the song is a fan favorite. It was even included in The Guardian's list of Newton-John's best songs.

Olivia's Other Legacy

Newton-John's legacy lives on not only through her music but also through her philanthropic work. The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Center does fundraisers for cancer research.

She was so passionate about this due to her battle with breast cancer. In 2017, it was announced that her breast cancer had returned and had metastasized. She was initially diagnosed in 1992, recurred in 2013, and finally in 2017.

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