Newton-John first music video was for "Follow Me", a promotional single from her 1975 album Have You Never Been Mellow. She released another four music videos (including two from live performances) before Grease. The singles from Grease had excerpts from the film as music videos, with heavy rotation in television. After Grease, Newton-John image changed from goody-goody "Sandy 1" to spandex-clad "Sandy 2", and she released the successful album Totally Hot, with four new music videos (including one live on tour). It's Olivia first pop studio album, before that, her career was basically focused on country music.
Although initially Olivia did not want to release it,[1][2] in 1981 "Physical" came out with a music video for the song. The single was a commercial phenomenon, staying for ten weeks on the top of the Billboard Hot 100. The music video was very controversial and was banned by several broadcasters (MTV originally cut the ending).[1] The following year Newton-John released the ABC television special Let's Get Physical, with the music video for "Physical" and new music videos for the Physical album and the Grease and Xanadu soundtracks. The special was a success and received a home video release with two new music videos added ("Love Make Me Strong" and "Falling"), as Olivia Physical. The video won a Grammy Award for Video of the Year and became an iconic piece of the popular culture.[2] In 1983, another music video collection was released, Twist of Fate. The music videos are from Two of a Kind soundtrack ("Take a Chance" is a duet with John Travolta, who appeared in the music video), starring Newton-John. The music video for "Twist of Fate" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video. The Soul Kiss video was released in 1985 and features five music videos for the songs of the album of the same name.
The last music video collection released by Newton-John, to date, is the musical-style Olivia Down Under. The video premiered in 1988 on HBO and in 1989 on home video, and features various songs from the album The Rumour, plus some unreleased songs. In the video, Olivia travels through Australia, celebrates the country bicentenary and shows more of the Australian culture. In 1998, Newton-John made a comeback to country music with the album Back with a Heart and recorded two music videos: one for the lead single, a re-recording of her 1975 hit "I Honestly Love You", and another for the song "Precious Love", to promote the album on Country Music Television. In 2011, the music video for "Magic" (Peach & Murphy remix) featured the biggest cast ever for an Australian music video, with over 300 people.[3]
Beyond the official releases, there are also several licensed home video releases by small distributors, with unreleased Newton-John material such as concerts, music videos and television specials. Examples of these releases are the DVDs 20th Century Masters: The Best of ONJ,[4]A Million Lights Are Dancing: The Heartstrings Tour,[5]Simply Olivia[6] and Live in Japan 1976.[7]
"You Have to Believe" (with daughter Chloe Lattanzi)
Olivia's daughter Chloe released a re-working of "Magic". Olivia sings and appears in the video on the chorus.
2016
"Live On" (with Amy Sky & Beth Nielsen Chapman)
Robert Lynden
Promotional music videos
Year
Music video
Director(s)
Notes
1982
"Physical" (Alternative version)
Promotional music video filmed for Brazilian weekly television Fantástico during the Physical promotion in the country.
1992
"I Need Love" (Alternative version)
Promotional music video filmed in the Netherlands during the Back to Basics promotion in the country. The video features an edited version for the song.
The music video is a part of "Bad Reputation" episode from the TV series Glee. It's a remake from the original video, featuring Newton-John and Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch).
Contains The Main Event Tour as shot live in Melbourne, Australia, 1998 in support of her seventeenth album Back with a Heart. An Australia-only release.[19]
Includes the music videos of "Landslide", "Magic", "Physical", "Carried Away", "A Little More Love" (1982 version), "Recovery", "The Promise (The Dolphin Song)", "Love Makes Me Strong", "Stranger's Touch", "Make a Move on Me", "Falling", "Sivery Rain" and "Hopelessly Devoted to You" (1982 version).[21]
Charted at No. 11 on Billboard Top VHS Sales and at No. 18 on Billboard Top Video Rentals.
Includes the music videos of "Twist of Fate", "Take a Chance", "Livin' in Desperate Times" and "Shaking You".[22]
Charted at No. 9 on Billboard Top VHS Sales and at No. 14 on Billboard Top Videodisks. Was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipment of 100,000 units in the United States.[18]
Includes the music videos of "Tuta la vita", "Click Go the Shears", "Walk Through Fire", "Old Fashioned Man", "Let's Talk About Tomorrow", "Winter Angel", "Get Out", "Big and Strong", "Love and Let Live", "It's Always Australia for Me" and "The Rumour".[24]
Promotional music videos from 1978 to 1983. Includes "Deeper Than the Night" "A Little More Love", "Totally Hot", "Landslide", "Magic", "Physical", "Carried Away", "A Little More Love" (1982 version), "Recovery", "The Promise (The Dolphin Song)", "Love Makes Me Strong", "Stranger's Touch", "Make a Move on Me", "Falling", "Silvery Rain", "Hopelessly Devoted to You" (1982 version), "Let Me Be There" (Olivia in Concert), "Please Mr. Please" (Olivia in Concert) and "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)" (Olivia in Concert).[9]
Charted at No. 17 on Billboard Comprehensive Music Videos and at No. 17 on Billboard Top Music Videos.
Promotional music videos from 1983 to 1998. Includes "Twist of Fate", "Take a Chance", "Livin' in Desperate Times", "Shaking You", "Heart Attack", "Tied Up", "Soul Kiss", "Culture Shock", "Emotional Tangle", "Toughen Up", "The Right Moment", "The Rumour", "Can't We Talk It Over in Bed", "Reach Out for Me", "I Need Love", "I Honestly Love You" (1998 version), "Sam" (Olivia in Concert), "Suddenly" (Olivia in Concert), "You're the One That I Want" (Olivia in Concert) and "Xanadu" (Olivia in Concert).[25]
Charted at No. 21 on Billboard Comprehensive Music Videos and at No. 21 on Billboard Top Music Videos.