Xanadu (Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra song)
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2011) |
"Xanadu" | |
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Song | |
B-side | "Fool Country" [Olivia Newton-John] (UK) "Whenever You're Away from Me" [Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly] (US), |
"Xanadu" is the title song from the soundtrack album Xanadu, and is the title song from the 1980 film of the same name. A rare collaboration for ELO, the song is performed by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and Olivia Newton-John. Newton-John sings the primary vocals, with ELO (Jeff Lynne) adding "parenthetic" vocals in the style of their other songs on the Xanadu soundtrack, along with providing the instrumentation.
The single reached number 1 in several countries, and was the band's only UK number 1 single,[2] when it peaked there for two weeks in July 1980. The song peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.[3] This was the first song beginning with the letter 'X' to ever chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and it remained the only one until 2000's "X" by Xzibit.[citation needed]
Chart performance
Weekly singles charts
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Year-end charts
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Personnel
- Olivia Newton-John - Vocals
- Jeff Lynne - Guitar, Keyboards, backing vocals
- Bev Bevan - Drums, percussion
- Richard Tandy - Keyboards
- Kelly Groucutt - Bass, backing vocals
- Louis Clark - Strings
Kirsty K. version
"Xanadu" | |
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Song |
In early 1996, two Australian dance performers released 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.[citation needed]
Chart performance (Kirsty K. version)
Chart (1996) | Peak position |
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Australia ARIA Dance Chart[citation needed] | 71 |
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 entirely by Lynne himself, with no input from his former bandmates.
Sharleen Spiteri version
"Xanadu" | |
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Song |
In 2009, Scottish singer-songwriter Sharleen Spiteri recorded the song for a second studio album titled The Movie Songbook which was released on March 1, 2010 worldwide. Xanadu was released as the lead single from the album in February 2010 and has so far made the BBC Radio 2 C-List.[26]
Music video
A Music video for the song was added to Spiteri's official YouTube channel in February 2010. The video shows the Capitol Records Building and Spiteri performing the song with an acoustic guitar and one male and two female back up singers.
Chart performance
Chart (2010) | Peak position |
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UK (Official Charts Company)[27] | 71 |
Other cover versions
Karin Glenmark recorded the song in Swedish, with lyrics by Ingela "Pling" Forsman, and released it as a single in 1980.[28] Her version chartered at Svensktoppen for 10 weeks between October 26-December 21, 1980.[29] 1980 also saw the release of Swedish language-recordings by Ingmar Nordströms.,[30] Flamingokvintetten [31] and Wizex.[32]
British indie artist Dev Hynes, under his alias, Lightspeed Champion, did his own rendition of "Xanadu" as a b-side to his single "Tell Me What It's Worth".
The song appeared on the first episode of the fourth season of the American adult animated sitcom American Dad! "The Vacation Goo" wherein the alien character Roger performed "Xanadu on a cruise ship as he is impersonating Olivia Newton-John.
Dannii Minogue also covered "Xanadu" for her 2007 album Club Disco.
References
- ^ "British single certifications – Xanadu". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Type Xanadu in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ a b "1980 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive - 12th July 1980". Offfical Charts Company. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Electric Light Orchestra - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. 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.
- ^ "Xanadu in Canadian Adult Contemporary Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
- ^ "Xanadu in Canadian Top Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Hawtin, Steve. "Song artist 171 - Electric Light Orchestra". Tsort.info. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
- ^ "Xanadu in Irish Chart". IRMA. Retrieved July 10, 2013. 1st result when searching "Xanadu"
- ^ Lee Zhito, ed. (1980). "xanadu"+"israel"+"billboard" Billboard, September 6, 1980. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
- ^ Lee Zhito, ed. (1980). "xanadu"+"japan"+"billboard" Billboard, November 15, 1980. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 10, 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 April 29, 2013.
- ^ "Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra – Xanadu". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra – Xanadu". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ ELO
- ^ Charts!
- ^ http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275
- ^ http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0272&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=5r23skjoe05mdfgjkjaojei7j1
- ^ American Top 40 - "100 Top Hits of 1980"
- ^ http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1980.shtml
- ^ - 17:05. "Radio 2 - Playlist". BBC. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
{{cite web}}
:|author=
has numeric name (help) - ^ "Sharleen Spiteri". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
- ^ "Svensk mediedatabas". Retrieved May 29, 2011.
- ^ "Svensktoppen". 1980. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
- ^ "Svensk mediedatabas". Retrieved May 29, 2011.
- ^ "Svensk mediedatabas". Retrieved May 29, 2011.
- ^ "Svensk mediedatabas". Retrieved May 29, 2011.
External links
- In-depth Song Analysis at the Jeff Lynne Song Database (jefflynnesongs.com)
- "Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra: Xanadu" at Discogs (list of releases)
- Single chart usages for Germany2
- 1980 singles
- 1996 singles
- Olivia Newton-John songs
- Electric Light Orchestra songs
- Song recordings produced by Jeff Lynne
- Songs written by Jeff Lynne
- Songs from Xanadu (film)
- UK Singles Chart number-one singles
- European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
- Number-one singles in Germany
- Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
- Number-one singles in Norway
- Dannii Minogue songs
- Sharleen Spiteri songs
- Flamingokvintetten songs
- Wizex songs
- Ingmar Nordströms songs
- 1980 songs
- MCA Records singles
- Jet Records singles