Amazon.com
From “If Not for You” to “Physical,” from Grease to Xanadu, from her successful battle against breast cancer to her support of numerous environmental causes, Olivia Newton-John has had a long, fruitful, and impressive career, as Live at the Sydney Opera House, a good-looking, great-sounding, beautifully performed concert recorded in 2006, will testify. Born in 1948, Newton-John is one of those singers who these days would be known as a diva, were it not for the fact that her… More >>
Olivia Newton-John and the Sydney Symphony: Live at the Sydney Opera House
Don’t miss this hilarious blast-from-the-past concert from oldies legend Olivia Newton John! I loved seeing Olivia re-visit her golden era hits from the early to mid- 1970s. The highlight of the program is certainly “Physical”, her final hit. Seeing it orchestrated and performed by a woman of her current years is side-splitting, and should place a grin on anyone who recalls the song when it was a chart-topper (nearly thirty years ago!). The only negative aspect is that perhaps Olivia was having a bad throat on the date of this event- some strain is evident, and perhaps some overdubbing could have frosted over the sour moments. But, no fan of this 70’s songbird should miss this disc. In the USA, Olivia is a neglected icon, overshadowed in memory by such legends as Helen Reddy and Toni Tennille, and we tend to forget that the sweetly whispy voice of Olivia did indeed inspire us to buy a single or two, around the nation’s bicentennial. The last words: Don’t miss ordering this before it goes out of print!
Rating: 2 / 5
I bought this DVD for my wife who has many of Olivia’s CD’s which she plays a lot. When my wife saw this DVD she said ‘who is that old lady?’ Why did Olivia wear a golden version of one of her grandad’s old suits? Is she too old to look femminine? Why sit down to sing several upbeat country songs? Is Olivia too old to stand up? This version of ‘Your the one that I want’ is pathetic. All the numbers have been slowed to walking (sleeping) pace and ‘Let’s Get Physical’ is anything but. Totally lifeless numbers, the fire has gone out.
Continue making CD’s Olivia, but give up the stage if this is the best that you can do. The 1982 live concert video is far far superior. We have now trashed the Live at the Sydney Opera House DVD.
Rating: 1 / 5
Olivia’s new Christmas CD is so magnificent. It is spectacular and a wonderful piece of Christmas music to enjoy for years to come. My partner, who is a skeptic of Olivia’s music, fell in love with this CD.
Rating: 5 / 5
I just watched this & was a bit let down. First the tour of Australia in between songs should have been a seperate extra not padding for the dvd. I corrected Amazons running time or tried to this runs 127 minutes not 187 as first listed. She ran through some of her hits with just a few lines from the songs & ran through full length lesser known songs. Physical was turned into a slow lounge song for elevator music. The early Olivia in concert from the early 1980s was far superior. I thought Carly Simon on the Queen Mary did her songs with more life than Olivia did hers. Her one back up singer looks like a young clone of Laura Branigan. Thats the way i saw the concert for my review.
Rating: 2 / 5
Well, I went to ONJ’s 1982 concert and was blown away. ONJ was at her apex of her career and her accompanied band was incredible. I was hoping for that same excitement, that same flair, THE SAME MAGIC. Alas, I was slightly taken back. Positives: Sound is EXCELLENT and ONJ still has the voice, but not as dynamic as 1982. Her BEST SONGS were You’re the One That I Want and Summer Nights, with Make a Move on Me (my all time favorite), Dancing (from Xanadu) and Let Me Be There as solid. Sydney Opera House looks like a Fantastic venue.. Negatives: It felt like a cocktail show in Vegas. ONJ butchered Physical and turned it into a lounge song (brutal). Many of her songs, skipped verses (like Make a Move on ME, Don’t Stop Believing) which irrated me. The backup singers were weak (compared to the 1982 concert) except for the GREASE songs. For Let Me Be There, If you love me, Let me know, it was NOTICEABLE bad compared to the original and his voice did not add the debth of the original. ONJ’s upbeat songs were DIFFERENT with an orchestra/band. OVERALL, the DVD of the concert was SOLID, but disappointing. It is GREAT to have it in your collection, but still does not produce the MAGIC that ONJ deserves.
songs:
Have you never been mellow
Magic
Xanadu
Stronger than before
If not for you
Letme Be There
Please Mr. Please
Jolene
If you love me (let me Know)
Physical
Don’t stop believin
Dancin
Suddenly
Not Gonna give in to it
Cry me a river
The rumour
Heartattack
Make a move on me
Twist of Fate
Tenterfield Saddler
Can I trust your arms
the Promise (the dolphin Song)
You’r the one that I want
Hopelessly devoted to you
Summers nights
I honestly love you
Serenity
Rating: 4 / 5