RIP Olivia Newton John

[Harmony]

Posted by her husband, John Easterling

Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.

Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer. Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund.

[Orbert]

Well, crap.  I don't know much about her, except that she had a beautiful voice and was also a beautiful lady.  And was Australian.

[hefdaddy42]

Oh, that's too bad.  RIP

[jingle.boy]

I think many of us are at the age where our childhood heroes/famous figures are gonna start dropping like flies.  We're gonna have a new thread multiple times a week - if not daily.

[Harmony]

Yeah, well she fought breast cancer 3 times.  She deserves her own thread.   

But yes...I know.  I just had very fond memories of her in Grease.  She was the perfect Sandy.

She also had a very controversial life.  At one point, her husband disappeared off the face of the earth and was never found.  I kind of remember a story that years later he was discovered alive and well and staged his own death for the life insurance but I never understood how someone could do that on staging their own death.  How would he have gotten the pay out? 

[DoctorAction]

Ah, that's sad news. RIP, Sandra D.

[lonestar]

Interesting point brought out on the radio just now... even though the song Physical was banned by a great deal of radio stations for it's sexual connotations, the song still managed to be a hallmark track of the 80s. A tribute to how much a star she was, and the power of music video.

Anyways, a great talent lost, I echo Chad's sentiment that those of our generation need to get used to losing our heroes.


RIP Olivia 

[pg1067]

the song Physical was banned by a great deal of radio stations for it's sexual connotations

I had no idea.

I also had no idea that it was written with the intent that it be sung by a "macho male rock figure like Rod Stewart" and that, before it was recorded by ONJ, it was offered to Tina Turner (yuck!).

The song came out when I was a freshman at a Catholic high school.  At some point during the fall semester, we were required by our religion teacher (a relatively young and not entirely unattractive woman (not a nun)) to memorize the books of the New Testament.  One thing she suggested was putting the books to a song lyric, and she offered extra credit to anyone who would "perform" something in class.  Perhaps ironically, someone wrote "Let's Get Biblical" to the tune of "Physical."  If only camera phones existed back then!

[Dream Team]

That’s a big bummer, in her heyday a really cute girl and a nice voice. Since my wife is a cancer survivor now I have renewed appreciation for people who have gone through this.

[Stadler]

That’s a big bummer, in her heyday a really cute girl and a nice voice. Since my wife is a cancer survivor now I have renewed appreciation for people who have gone through this.

Honestly, I think she aged phenomenally; I thought she was attractive even when she wasn't in her heyday.