Magic (Olivia Newton-John song)

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"Magic"
Magic Front.jpg
Picture sleeve of the US and Australasian releases
Single by Olivia Newton-John
from the album Xanadu
B-side
  • "Fool Country" (US)
  • "Whenever You're Away from Me" (UK)
ReleasedMay 1980
Recorded1979
Studio Musicland (Munich, Germany)
Genre
Length4:31
Label
Songwriter(s) John Farrar
Producer(s) John Farrar
Olivia Newton-John singles chronology
"Rest Your Love on Me"
(1980)
"Magic"
(1980)
"Xanadu"
(1980)

"Magic" is a song recorded by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John for the soundtrack to the 1980 musical fantasy film Xanadu , which starred Newton-John and Gene Kelly. Written and produced by Newton-John's frequent collaborator John Farrar, "Magic" was released as the soundtrack's lead single in May 1980 and topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks beginning on August 2. [4] On August 30, it was displaced from the top by Christopher Cross's "Sailing".

Contents

In Canada, "Magic" spent two weeks at No. 1 on the RPM Top Singles chart, and also reached No. 4 in Australia and No. 32 in the United Kingdom. "Magic" became Newton-John's biggest Billboard Adult Contemporary hit, spending five weeks at the top of the chart, and also topped the RPM Adult Contemporary chart for a week. [5] Billboard ranked "Magic" as the third most popular single of 1980. Record World called it an "infectious pop ballad [that] has a big beat production treatment". [1]

Both US and UK B-sides also appear in Xanadu:

Track listing and formats

All tracks written and produced by John Farrar.

A1. "Magic" – 4:25
B1. "Fool Country" – 2:29
A1. "Magic" – 4:25
B1. "Whenever You're Away from Me" – 4:22

Personnel

Additional personnel

Charts

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [22] Platinum100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

2011 version

"Magic (Peach & DJ Dan Murphy remix)"
MagicRemix.jpg
Single by Olivia Newton-John featuring Wacci
Released22 May 2011
Genre Electropop, dance-pop
Length3:37
Songwriter(s) John Farrar
Producer(s) DJ Dan Murphy, Steve Peach
Olivia Newton-John featuring Wacci singles chronology
"Help Me to Heal"
(2010)
"Magic (Peach & DJ Dan Murphy remix)"
(2011)
"When You Wish upon a Star"
(2011)
Music video
"Magic (Peach & DJ Dan Murphy remix)" on YouTube

"Magic (Peach & DJ Dan Murphy remix)" is a remix of the song. In May 2011, it was remixed by two Australians, DJ Dan Murphy and Steve Peach, to create a dance version. Newton-John 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 Newton-John's charity, the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre.

Newton-John was presented the world premiere of the song on the Australian edition of Dancing with the Stars on Sunday May 22, 2011. The song was released exclusively on Australian iTunes that same day.

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.

Chart performance

Chart (2011)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [23] 79
Australia Dance (ARIA)19

Cover versions

See also

Related Research Articles

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