80s Throwback: Olivia Newton John- 'Twist of Fate'

It's gotta be a strange twist of fate
Telling me that Heaven can wait
Telling me to get it right this time
Life doesn't mean a thing
Without the love you bring
Love is what we've found
The second time around

Some movie pairings are so good you desperately want to see them happen again. Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta were one of them.

After Grease became a massive cultural phenomenon, putting the two of them back together seemed like a no-brainer. They had chemistry, they could sing, they looked fantastic together, and America was still completely obsessed with them.

So naturally, Hollywood decided to put them together again. And then Hollywood apparently decided to get really weird about it.

The result was Two of a Kind, which landed in theaters in late 1983. And if you don't remember it, there's a pretty good reason for that. It bombed.

Like, really bombed.

Because while Grease gave us leather jackets, poodle skirts, teenage romance and songs that we still know every word to, Two of a Kind gave us... Four angels trying to convince God not to destroy Earth and start over.

Yep. That's the movie.

Newton-John and Travolta play two people whose relationship becomes part of a plan to save humanity from divine annihilation. Because apparently, after Grease, somebody sat around a Hollywood conference table and thought, You know what these two need? Angels. And the possible destruction of the planet. Critics were not impressed. Audiences weren't exactly lining up around the block either.

And honestly, even the combined star power of Newton-John and Travolta couldn't overcome a plot that sounded like someone had mixed a romantic comedy with a leftover Twilight Zone script.

But here's where things get interesting. The movie may have been a dud, but the soundtrack gave us a winner.

"Twist of Fate" was released as the first single from the soundtrack, and Olivia Newton-John absolutely delivered. The song climbed into the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100, giving her another major hit and ultimately becoming far more memorable than the movie itself.

In fact, if you mention Two of a Kind to most people today, there's a pretty good chance they'll respond with, "Oh yeah...that Olivia Newton-John song!"

And "Twist of Fate" is also a pretty great snapshot of where Newton-John was in her career at the time.

The days of the sweet, innocent Sandy from Grease were rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Newton-John was clearly interested in pushing beyond the good-girl image that had followed her for years, and her music and style were becoming considerably more sophisticated—and, let's be honest, a whole lot sexier. She was reinventing herself. Again.

And while Two of a Kind didn't exactly give her the comeback sequel to Grease that Hollywood was hoping for, it did give us a damn good pop song. So let's forget the angels and the questionable plot.

Just turn up "Twist of Fate" and enjoy Olivia Newton-John doing what she did best.

Because sometimes the best thing to come out of a terrible movie is the song you still can't get out of your head 40+ years later.

Daily Boom 80's Throwback: Olivia Newton John - 'Physical'

"I'm sayin' all the things that I know you'll like
Making good conversation I gotta handle you just right, you know what I mean
I took you to an intimate restaurant, then to a suggestive movie
There's nothing left to talk about 'less it's horizontally."

Olivia Newton John was the perennial girl next door in the '70s. Her string of soft rock hits gave no advance notice of what was to come from her in the '80s. "Physical" was originally intended for Rod Stewart, who in 1981 was the king of raunch. Somehow, Olivia ended up recording the song and before she could pull it (something she actually tried to do), "Physical" took off. It skyrocketed up the charts and sat at number one on Billboard's Hot 100 for ten weeks. The video really raised eyebrows as the singer worked overtime in the gym trying to whip a bunch of men into shape. She gave up just as their transformation into hot, muscular dudes occurred. Of course, there was a catch, they all appeared to be gay, except for one.

The video is pretty iconic but I always appreciated Olivia's live (okay lip-synched) performances in workout gear. The only thing that makes this clip better is the Solid Gold dancers! Check it out below!

Currently Booming: Sunday Soundtrack- 'Xanadu'

You have to believe we are magic
Nothing can stand in our way
You have to believe we are magic
Don't let your aim ever stray
And if all your hopes survive
Destiny will arrive
I'll bring all your dreams alive

It has been a really long time since I've watched Xanadu. I was almost ten when it was first released in theaters back in 1980 and at the time I was kind of obsessed with Olivia Newton John. I loved Grease, had several of her albums and even begged my mom to buy an issue of TV Guide because she was on the cover. While Xanadu, with its pretty far out magical concept wasn't exactly a hit in theaters, the soundtrack was golden.

If Olivia wasn't singing on a track then it was meticulously handled by ELO and the result was fantastic. So many good songs came out of this film that it made a whole new generation take a look at Xanadu, this time on Broadway. While it was once a little embarrassing to admit that you loved Xanadu, it is now considered a cult classic. I know I was thrilled to find a pretty clean copy of the soundtrack while hunting for albums at a recent record fair. Check out the full album below. Pretty cool, isn't it? 

Currently Booming: Olivia Newton John- Hollywood Nights Television Special (Watch)

Daily Boom 80's Throwback: Olivia Newton John - 'Twist Of Fate'

It's gotta be a strange twist of fate
Telling me that Heaven can wait
Telling me to get it right this time
Life doesn't mean a thing
Without the love you bring
Love is what we've found
The second time around

Do you remember when Olivia Newton John and John Travolta teamed up onscreen a second time and the result was nothing like the critical acclaim that Grease received?  The film, Two Of A Kind was released in late 1983 and while everyone loved Newton John and Travolta together years earlier, this movie bombed pretty badly. Critics and fans alike weren't buying the far-fetched plot line of 4 angels persuading God not to wipe out the planet earth in favor of a do-over. Even Newton John and Travolta couldn't save this one.

What was good from Two Of A Kind is the soundtrack. "Twist Of Fate" was the first single off of it and it helped Newton John's hot streak to continue. It was a top 5 hit on Billboard's Hot 100 and it quickly became the most memorable part of Two Of A Kind. Check out the video below. This was when Newton John was still working hard to escape her good-girl image. 

Daily Boom 80's Throwback: Olivia Newton John - 'Physical'

"I'm sayin' all the things that I know you'll like
Making good conversation I gotta handle you just right, you know what I mean
I took you to an intimate restaurant, then to a suggestive movie
There's nothing left to talk about 'less it's horizontally."

Olivia Newton John was the perennial girl next door in the '70s. Her string of soft rock hits gave no advance notice of what was to come from her in the '80s. "Physical" was originally intended for Rod Stewart, who in 1981 was the king of raunch. Somehow, Olivia ended up recording the song and before she could pull it (something she actually tried to do), "Physical" took off. It skyrocketed up the charts and sat at number one on Billboard's Hot 100 for ten weeks. The video really raised eyebrows as the singer worked overtime in the gym trying to whip a bunch of men into shape. She gave up just as their transformation into hot, muscular dudes occurred. Of course, there was a catch, they all appeared to be gay, except for one.

The video is pretty iconic but I always appreciated Olivia's live (okay lip-synched) performances in workout gear. The only thing that makes this clip better is the Solid Gold dancers! Check it out below!

Daily Boom 80's Throwback: Olivia Newton John - 'Physical'

"I'm sayin' all the things that I know you'll like
Making good conversation I gotta handle you just right, you know what I mean
I took you to an intimate restaurant, then to a suggestive movie
There's nothing left to talk about 'less it's horizontally."

Olivia Newton John was the perennial girl next door in the 70's. Her string of soft rock hits gave no advance notice of what was to come from her in the 80's. "Physical" was originally intended for Rod Stewart, who in 1981 was the king of raunch. Somehow, Olivia ended up recording the song and before she could pull it (something she actually tried to do), "Physical" took off. It skyrocketed up the charts and sat at number one on Billboard's Hot 100 for ten weeks. The video really raised eyebrows as the singer worked overtime in the gym trying to whip a bunch of men into shape. She gave up just as their transformation into hot, muscular dudes occurred. Of course there was a catch, they all appeared to be gay, except for one.

The video is pretty iconic but I always appreciated Olivia's live (okay lip synched) performances in workout gear. The only thing that makes this clip better is the Solid Gold dancers! Check it out below!

Daily Boom 80's Throwback: Olivia Newton John - 'Physical'

"I'm sayin' all the things that I know you'll like
Making good conversation I gotta handle you just right, you know what I mean
I took you to an intimate restaurant, then to a suggestive movie
There's nothing left to talk about 'less it's horizontally."

Olivia Newton John was the perennial girl next door in the 70's. Her string of soft rock hits gave no advance notice of what was to come from her in the 80's. "Physical" was originally intended for Rod Stewart, who in 1981 was the king of raunch. Somehow, Olivia ended up recording the song and before she could pull it (something she actually tried to do), "Physical" took off. It skyrocketed up the charts and sat at number one on Billboard's Hot 100 for ten weeks. The video really raised eyebrows as the singer worked overtime in the gym trying to whip a bunch of men into shape. She gave up just as their transformation into hot, muscular dudes occurred. Of course there was a catch, they all appeared to be gay, except for one.

The video is pretty iconic but I always appreciated Olivia's live (okay lip synched) performances in workout gear. The only thing that makes this clip better is the Solid Gold dancers! Check it out below!

Currently Booming: Sunday Soundtrack- 'Xanadu'

You have to believe we are magic
Nothing can stand in our way
You have to believe we are magic
Don't let your aim ever stray
And if all your hopes survive
Destiny will arrive
I'll bring all your dreams alive

It has been a really long time since I've watched Xanadu. I was almost ten when it was first released in theaters back in 1980 and at the time I was kind of obsessed with Olivia Newton John. I loved Grease, had several of her albums and even begged my mom to buy an issue of TV Guide because she was on the cover. While Xanadu, with its pretty far out magical concept wasn't exactly a hit in theaters, the soundtrack was golden.

If Olivia wasn't singing on a track then it was meticulously handled by ELO and the result was fantastic. So many good songs came out of this film that it made a whole new generation take a look at Xanadu, this time on Broadway. While it was once a little embarrassing to admit that you loved Xanadu, it is now considered a cult classic. I know I was thrilled to find a pretty clean copy of the soundtrack while hunting for albums at a recent record fair. Check out the full album below. Pretty cool, isn't it? 

Boom Daily 80's Throwback: Solid Gold Dancers

You know how you start in one place and end up on a totally different track? Well that is this throwback post completely. I went to look at Billboard's charts for this week back in the 80's to see if a song jumped out at me and one did. Barbra Streisand's "Woman In Love" was the number one song 35 years ago this week. I remember my mother loving the song and while she wouldn't ever turn the volume up, she'd shush us while it played.

More importantly, the instant visual that I get is of the Solid Gold dancers slinking across the stage. If you were an 80's kid then you know exactly what I'm talking about. The line of skinny, big-haired women in gold bikini bottoms and halter tops sliding across the stage before jumping on one of the male dancers. "Woman In Love" was in one of Solid Gold's first countdowns with the dancers and I, like every other girl I knew, was obsessed with them. Of course we were all going to grow up to be a Solid Gold dancer, talent wasn't an issue and the idea that they may one day end their run and no longer exist was just unfathomable. We were told in school to aim high and so I did, I wanted the gold stripper shoes and matching headband.

Finding a clip of the Solid Gold dancers romping around to Babs was actually easy and her song is followed by Olivia Newton John's Xanadu on this particular countdown. That's like the ultimate bonus because in the late 70's my best friend Stacey and I were obsessed with Olivia. Not the good girl "Have You Ever Been Mellow" Liv, but the "Totally Hot" Olivia that was draped in pleather, trying to look tough.

Olivia. Babs. Solid Gold dancers. Yeah, you're welcome.

By the way, Olivia still slays vocally!

Currently Booming: Ladies of the 80's Playlist

Currently Booming: Ladies of the 80's Playlist

Daily Boom 80's Throwback: Olivia Newton John - 'Twist Of Fate'

It's gotta be a strange twist of fate
Telling me that Heaven can wait
Telling me to get it right this time
Life doesn't mean a thing
Without the love you bring
Love is what we've found
The second time around

Do you remember when Olivia Newton John and John Travolta teamed up onscreen a second time and the result was nothing like the critical acclaim that Grease received?  The film, Two Of A Kind was released in late 1983 and while everyone loved Newton John and Travolta together years earlier, this movie bombed pretty badly. Critics and fans alike weren't buying the far-fetched plot line of 4 angels persuading God not to wipe out the planet earth in favor of a do-over. Even Newton John and Travolta couldn't save this one.

What was good from Two Of A Kind is the soundtrack. "Twist Of Fate" was the first single off of it and it helped Newton John's hot streak to continue. It was a top 5 hit on Billboard's Hot 100 and it quickly became the most memorable part of Two Of A Kind. Check out the video below. This was when Newton John was still working hard to escape her good-girl image. 

Boom Daily 80's Throwback: Solid Gold Dancers

You know how you start in one place and end up on a totally different track? Well that is this throwback post completely. I went to look at Billboard's charts for this week back in the 80's to see if a song jumped out at me and one did. Barbra Streisand's "Woman In Love" was the number one song 35 years ago this week. I remember my mother loving the song and while she wouldn't ever turn the volume up, she'd shush us while it played.

More importantly, the instant visual that I get is of the Solid Gold dancers slinking across the stage. If you were an 80's kid then you know exactly what I'm talking about. The line of skinny, big-haired women in gold bikini bottoms and halter tops sliding across the stage before jumping on one of the male dancers. "Woman In Love" was in one of Solid Gold's first countdowns with the dancers and I, like every other girl I knew, was obsessed with them. Of course we were all going to grow up to be a Solid Gold dancer, talent wasn't an issue and the idea that they may one day end their run and no longer exist was just unfathomable. We were told in school to aim high and so I did, I wanted the gold stripper shoes and matching headband.

Finding a clip of the Solid Gold dancers romping around to Babs was actually easy and her song is followed by Olivia Newton John's Xanadu on this particular countdown. That's like the ultimate bonus because in the late 70's my best friend Stacey and I were obsessed with Olivia. Not the good girl "Have You Ever Been Mellow" Liv, but the "Totally Hot" Olivia that was draped in pleather, trying to look tough.

Olivia. Babs. Solid Gold dancers. Yeah, you're welcome.

By the way, Olivia still slays vocally!

Boom Daily Throwback: Solid Gold Dancers

You know how you start in one place and end up on a totally different track? Well that is this throwback post completely. I went to look at Billboard's charts for this week back in the 80's to see if a song jumped out at me and one did. Barbra Streisand's "Woman In Love" was the number one song 35 years ago this week. I remember my mother loving the song and while she wouldn't ever turn the volume up, she'd shush us while it played.

More importantly, the instant visual that I get is of the Solid Gold dancers slinking across the stage. If you were an 80's kid then you know exactly what I'm talking about. The line of skinny, big-haired women in gold bikini bottoms and halter tops sliding across the stage before jumping on one of the male dancers. "Woman In Love" was in one of Solid Gold's first countdowns with the dancers and I, like every other girl I knew, was obsessed with them. Of course we were all going to grow up to be a Solid Gold dancer, talent wasn't an issue and the idea that they may one day end their run and no longer exist was just unfathomable. We were told in school to aim high and so I did, I wanted the gold stripper shoes and matching headband.

Finding a clip of the Solid Gold dancers romping around to Babs was actually easy and her song is followed by Olivia Newton John's Xanadu on this particular countdown. That's like the ultimate bonus because in the late 70's my best friend Stacey and I were obsessed with Olivia. Not the good girl "Have You Ever Been Mellow" Liv, but the "Totally Hot" Olivia that was draped in pleather, trying to look tough.

Olivia. Babs. Solid Gold dancers. Yeah, you're welcome.

By the way, Olivia still slays vocally!

Boom Daily 80's Throwback- Olivia Newton John "Physical"

I think everyone is pretty familiar with Olivia Newton John's hit single "Physical", right? It was released way back in September of 1981 and stayed at the top of Billboard's Hot 100 for ten straight weeks. The video  raised eyebrows because it turned the tables on the industry at that time and sexualized men instead of women. Ironically, this song was originally offered to Rod Stewart and when he passed then Newton John snatched it up and in doing so put herself in the record books.