Olivia Newton-John’s songs of healing
Updated | By Poelano Malema
Amazing, talented, and a conqueror are just a few words that can be used to describe the legendary Olivia Newton-John. The four-time Grammy Award winner has been a household name since the 1970s.
Olivia has enjoyed much success with her music and film career. She won the hearts of millions around the world as Sandy in the 1978 romantic comedy film, ‘Grease’.
READ: Get ready to be 'Hopelessly Devoted': Grease to come back as TV show
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Olivia Newton-john (@therealonj) on
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Olivia Newton-john (@therealonj) on
To date, she has sold over 100-million albums and has performed all over the world.
And one of the things that makes her remarkable is how she has managed to overcome all the challenges she has faced in life, including divorce, the loss of her parents, and her battle with breast cancer.
Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 - the same year that she lost her father.
After undergoing chemotherapy, Olivia was declared cancer-free. Sadly, in 2013, the singer found out that the cancer returned. Again, she conquered it after undergoing a partial mastectomy, but in May 2017, she was told once again that she has cancer and it is on stage four.
The 'I Can't Help It' hitmaker has since been battling with the condition and has been hospitalised for weeks.
Newton-John has revealed that her secret to dealing with such a hectic condition is simple – just enjoy life.
“I don’t know what my time is, but I need to enjoy my life. So, I’m going to eat a cookie if I want. I’m going to have a cup of tea if I want it, and if I want a little bit of wine, I’m going to do that, because the joy of life in everyday living has to be a part of that healing process as well,” she told Gayle King in an interview on CBS This Morning.
Her songs such as 'Physical', 'I Love You', and 'Let Me Be There' have made the star a household name.
Newton-John has also written several songs to help her deal with the pain she has endured over the years.
'Liv On'
The song ‘Liv On’ by Newton-John was inspired by the death of her sister who succumbed to a brain tumour in 2013. She co-wrote the song with the award-winning songstress Beth Nielsen Chapman, and Amy Sky.
The whole album focuses on grief and offers songs of comfort for those who are suffering from cancer.
'Help Me To Heal'
Newton-John released ‘Help Me To Heal’ in 2006 from her album ‘Grace And Gratitude’. The song is about someone who is going through pain and is feeling hopeless. She reaches out and hopes for someone to offer her hope and to help her heal.
The English-Australian superstar is turning 72 on Saturday, 26 September. We will honour her life by playing some of her biggest hits through the day on East Coast Gold.
Image courtesy of Instagram/@therealonj
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