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1980 single
"Xanadu " is the title song from the
soundtrack of the
1980 musical film of the same name . Written by
Jeff Lynne of the English rock band
Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), the song is performed by British and Australian singer, songwriter and actress
Olivia Newton-John , with Lynne adding parenthetic vocals in the style of his other songs on the Xanadu soundtrack, and ELO providing the instrumentation. It was Lynne's least favourite of his own songs.
[ 2] [
failed verification ] Released as a single in June 1980, it reached number one in several European countries and was the band's only UK number-one single when it peaked there for two weeks in July 1980.
[ 3] It was certified silver by the
British Phonographic Industry .
[ 4] It also peaked at number eight on the US
Billboard Hot 100 .
[ 5]
Sung by Newton-John
[ 6] as the film's main female character Kira, it peaked at number one in
Austria ,
Belgium ,
Ireland ,
the Netherlands ,
Norway ,
Spain ,
the United Kingdom and
West Germany .
Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating
Billboard (favourable)
[ 7]
Billboard ′s reviewer described the song as a "sizzling track", writing: "Essentially it's Olivia taking Jeff Lynne's usual spot as lead singer of ELO. The combination is a winning one".
[ 8]
Olivia featuring Paula version
In late 1995, two Australian dance performers released two versions of the song. Sydney singer Olivia featuring Paula (on the MDS label) released a dance version first, followed by Kirsty K. (on Central Station Records). Both versions charted on the ARIA Singles and Dance Charts in the first half of 1996.
[ 37]
New Electric Light Orchestra version
In 2000, ELO's
Jeff Lynne re-recorded the song, with his own vocals, for the
box set
Flashback and the
All Over the World compilation. Though it was billed as an ELO selection, the song was recorded by Lynne with
Marc Mann on keyboards, but without input from his former bandmates
Richard Tandy ,
Bev Bevan and
Kelly Groucutt .
In 2009, Scottish singer-songwriter
Sharleen Spiteri recorded the song for her second studio album titled
The Movie Songbook which was released on 1 March 2010 worldwide. "Xanadu" was released as the lead single from the album in February 2010.
^
"Music Week" (PDF) . p. 26.
^
"Jeff Lynne interviewed by Simon Mayo in November 2017" . YouTube. Archived from
the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2018 . [
failed verification ]
^
a
b
"1980 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive – 12th July 1980" .
Official Charts Company . Retrieved 5 March 2013 .
^
"British single certifications – Xanadu" .
British Phonographic Industry .
^
a
b
c
"Electric Light Orchestra – Awards" . AllMusic. Retrieved 5 March 2013 .
^
"The Story Behind the Song Lyrics: "Xanadu" By Olivia Newton-John" American Songwriter . Retrieved 2023-03-29.
^
"Review: Xanadu – Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra" (PDF) .
Billboard . Vol. 85, no. 32. 9 August 1980. p. 70.
ISSN
0006-2510 . Retrieved 24 May 2020 – via American Radio History.
^ "Top Single Picks".
Billboard . 9 August 1980. p. 70.
^
Kent, David (1993).
Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 .
St Ives, NSW : Australian Chart Book. p. 217.
ISBN
0-646-11917-6 .
^ "
Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra – Xanadu" (in German).
Ö3 Austria Top 40 .
^ "
Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra – Xanadu" (in Dutch).
Ultratop 50 .
^
"RPM Top 100 Singles - November 8, 1980" (PDF) .
^
"RPM Top 50 AC - November 8, 1980" (PDF) .
^
a
b
c
d Hawtin, Steve.
"Song artist 171 – Electric Light Orchestra" . Tsort.info. Retrieved 2 May 2013 .
^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra".
Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 183. Retrieved 3 July 2022 .
^
"Xanadu in Irish Chart" . IRMA. Archived from
the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2013 . 1st result when searching "Xanadu"
^ Lee Zhito, ed. (1980).
"xanadu"+"japan"+"billboard"&pg=PT141 "Billboard, November 15, 1980" . Billboard . Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
ISSN
0006-2510 . Retrieved 10 July 2013 .
^ "
Nederlandse Top 40 – Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra" (in Dutch).
Dutch Top 40 .
^ "
Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra – Xanadu" (in Dutch).
Single Top 100 .
^ "
Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra – Xanadu" .
Top 40 Singles .
^ "
Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra – Xanadu" .
VG-lista .
^ John Samson.
"South African Rock Lists Website – SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (E)" . Rock.co.za. Retrieved 29 April 2013 .
^ "
Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra – Xanadu" .
Singles Top 100 .
^ "
Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra – Xanadu" .
Swiss Singles Chart .
^
"CASH BOX Top 100 Singles" . cashboxmagazine.com . 11 October 1980. Retrieved 5 January 2021 .
^
"ELO" . Wweb.uta.edu . Retrieved 17 October 2016 .
^
"Charts" . Wweb.uta.edu . Retrieved 17 October 2016 .
^ "
Offiziellecharts.de – Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra – Xanadu" (in German) .
GfK Entertainment charts . Retrieved 28 February 2020.
^
"Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of August 17, 2022" .
Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022 .
^
"CU.S Digital Song Sales: Week of August 20, 2022" .
Billboard . Retrieved 16 August 2022 .
^
"Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100" .
Official Charts Company . Retrieved 12 August 2022.
^
"National Top 100 Singles for 1980" .
Kent Music Report . 5 January 1981. Retrieved 17 January 2022 – via
Imgur .
^
"Australian-charts.com - Forum - Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)" . Archived from
the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014 .
^
"Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada" . Collectionscanada.gc.ca . Retrieved 17 October 2016 .
^
"UK Singles of the Year" (PDF) .
Record Mirror . London: Spotlight Publications. 27 December 1980. p. 30. Retrieved 13 June 2016 .
^
"100 Top Hits of 1980" (PDF) . Charismusicgroup.com . Retrieved 17 October 2016 .
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 . Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
^
"The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 03 Mar 1996" . Imgur.com (original document published by
ARIA ). Retrieved 31 July 2017 . N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.
^
"The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 25 Feb 1996" . Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 21 July 2017 . N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.
^
"Sharleen Spiteri" . Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 July 2013 .
Xanadu
Music
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