Magic (Olivia Newton-John song)
| "Magic" | |||||||
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 MCA Records release cover | |||||||
| Single by Olivia Newton-John | |||||||
| from the album Xanadu | |||||||
| B-side |
"Fool Country" (MCA) "Whenever You're Away from Me" (with Gene Kelly) (Jet) | ||||||
| Released | May 23, 1980 | ||||||
| Format | 7" vinyl | ||||||
| Genre | Pop rock | ||||||
| Length | 4:25 | ||||||
| Label | MCA, Jet Records | ||||||
| Writer(s) | John Farrar | ||||||
| Producer(s) | John Farrar | ||||||
| Certification | Gold (US)[1] | ||||||
| Olivia Newton-John singles chronology | |||||||
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"Magic" is a 1980 song performed by Olivia Newton-John, from the soundtrack to the film Xanadu. The song was number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks beginning on August 2, 1980. It was her 25th American chart hit, and her 10th of 12 records which went Gold or higher.
"Magic" was also her biggest pop hit until "Physical" ruled the Hot 100 for ten weeks beginning in November 1981. Billboard magazine ranked "Magic" as the third most popular single of 1980, behind only "Call Me" by Blondie and "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II" by Pink Floyd. In Canada, the song spent two weeks at number one. It also reached number 4 in Australia and number 32 in the UK.
The song became Newton-John's biggest Adult Contemporary hit to date, spending five weeks at the top of the American chart, and also topped the Canadian AC chart for a week.[2]
John Lennon commented about "Magic" shortly before his death in the "complete Newsweek interview from September 1980". The only 2 songs he specifically mentions that he likes are "Magic" and "All Over the World" both on the album "Xanadu".[3]
The B-sides vary, depending on the label: "Fool Country" (also from Xanadu but not on the OST) is the B-side of the MCA release; "Whenever You're Away from Me" (with Gene Kelly) is the B-side of the Jet release.
Formats and track listings
- MCA vinyl single
- "Magic" – 4:25
- "Fool Country" – 2:29
- Jet vinyl single
- "Magic" – 4:25
- "Whenever You're Away From Me" – 4:22
Chart performance
Weekly singles charts
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Year-end charts
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2011 version
| "Magic (Peach & Murphy remix)" | ||||
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 | ||||
| Single by Olivia Newton-John | ||||
| Released | May 22, 2011 | |||
| Format | Digital download | |||
| Genre | Electropop, dance-pop | |||
| Length | 3:37 | |||
| Writer(s) | John Farrar | |||
| Producer(s) | Dan Murphy, Steve Peach | |||
| Olivia Newton-John singles chronology | ||||
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"Magic (Peach & Murphy remix)" is a remix of the 1980 song. In May 2011, the song was remixed by two Australians, DJ Dan Murphy and Steve Peach, to create a dance version. Olivia went back to the studio to re-sing the vocals. The version was sponsored by WACCI, a humanitarian group.
Everybody who worked on the project volunteered their time, with all proceeds being donated to Olivia's charity, the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre.
Olivia was presented the world premiere of the song on Australian Dancing with the Stars on Sunday May 22, 2011. The song was released exclusively on Australian iTunes, also on Sunday May 22.
Music video
A video was shot for the new remix in Sydney in an attempt to break the Guinness Book World Record for largest cast in a music video by featuring 350 people. Newton-John does not appear in the video, which was directed by DJ Dan Murphy.
Charts
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) Singles Chart | 79 |
| Australia (ARIA) Australian Singles Chart | 10 |
| Australia (ARIA) Dance Chart | 19 |
Covers
- The song is included in the film Xanadu and also the Xanadu musical.
- A version of the song by Stimulator was used in commercials for Macy's.[12] This cover was also used in the film Ella Enchanted and appeared on the film's soundtrack.
- Another updated version of the song was performed by Meaghan Martin for the Disney Channel Original Movie Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie. It was subsequently included on the television series and the film's soundtrack album.
- In 2015 Newton-John teamed up with her daughter Chloe Lattanzi and Dave Aude to rework the song's chorus into a new recording, "You Have To Believe." The song went to number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart. [13]
- In 2015, the song was also used in Season 2 of the HBO series, the Leftovers - in the 9th episode "Ten Thirteen" as a veiled reference to the determination of the Guilty Remnant, a terrorist organization within the show.
See also
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1980 (U.S.)
- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1980 (U.S.)
- Cashbox Top 100 number-one singles of 1980
References
- ↑ "American single certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Magic". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
- ↑ https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0232&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=sre4hmc75bv4n7jfmvotuh9ng0
- ↑ http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/did-john-lennon-love-the-soundtrack-to-xanadu.327908
- ↑ http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275
- ↑ https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0243a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=3q2fqq0qnk5e6jdvv3uoqmg9p5
- ↑ [Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2002]
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 182.
- ↑ http://50.6.195.142/archives/80s_files/19800816.html
- ↑ http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275
- ↑ http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/?chart=3869
- ↑ http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1980.htm
- ↑ Free-press-release.com Stimulator signs deal with Macy's for their "Find Your Magic" campaign
- ↑ "Hot Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 21, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
External links
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