Summer Nights (concert residency)

Rumours of a Vegas residency were first reported in June 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2012/apr/23/strip-scribbles-olivia-newton-john-headlining-lv-l/|title=Strip Scribbles: Olivia Newton-John headlining in L.V.? Let's get physical!|last1=Leach |first1=Robin |date=23 April 2012|website=Las Vegas Sun |publisher=The Greenspun Corporation |access-date=12 April 2014}} Initially, Newton-John was to perform in the middle of 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2013/apr/11/heart-attack-olivia-newton-john-heads-flamingo-spr/ |title=Heart attack! Olivia Newton-John heads to the Flamingo this spring |last1=Leach |first1=Robin |date=11 April 2013 |website=Las Vegas Sun |publisher=The Greenspun Corporation |access-date=8 February 2014}} However, her sister's brain cancer and death postponed the residency indefinitely.{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2013/05/olivia-newton-johns-sister-dies/ |title=Olivia Newton-John's Sister Dies |last1=Wilder |first1=Jessica |date=29 May 2013 |website=ABC News |publisher=American Broadcasting Company |access-date=8 February 2014}} On 4 February 2014, the residency was officially announced/resumed for 45 shows beginning April 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/olivia-newton-john-to-begin-las-vegas-residency/ |title=Olivia Newton-John to begin Las Vegas residency |author= |date=4 February 2014 |website=CBS News |publisher=CBS Broadcasting, Inc. |access-date=8 February 2014}} Entitled, "Summer Nights", the shows were intended to be intimate, not the usual Vegas-style spectacular.{{cite web |url=http://www.classichitsandoldies.com/v2/2014/04/08/olivia-newton-john-kicks-off-vegas-residency-tonight-will-she-wear-those-black-spandex-pants/ |title=Olivia Newton-John Kicks Off Vegas Residency Tonight: Will She Wear Those Black Spandex Pants? |author= |date=8 April 2014 |website=WFJA |publisher=Cumulus Media Networks |access-date=12 April 2014}} Newton-John performed with an eight-piece band and simple staging.{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2014/feb/04/confirmed-olivia-newton-john-one-fans-want-flaming/|title=Confirmed! Olivia Newton-John is the one that fans want at the Flamingo|last1=Chareunsy |first1=Don |date=4 February 2014 |website=Las Vegas Sun|publisher=The Greenspun Corporation |access-date=12 April 2014}} She performed her greatest hits, including songs from hit films Grease and Xanadu. During an interview with Closer Weekly, Newton John revealed with former co-star, John Travolta was to come to a show, she would try to get him onstage for a duet.{{cite web |url=http://www.closerweekly.com/posts/olivia-newton-john-spills-about-upcoming-vegas-residency-reveals-the-set-list-35467 |title=Exclusive: Olivia Newton-John Spills About Upcoming Vegas Residency & Reveals The Set List! |last1=Cacich |first1=Alison |date=26 February 2014 |website=Closer Weekly |publisher=Bauer Media Group |access-date=12 April 2014}} In July 2014, Newton-John confirmed the extension of Summer Nights, with twenty-four additional dates which ran until January 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.lasvegasmagazine.com/entertainment/2014/jul/09/olivia-newton-john-extends-run-flamingo/#/0|title=Olivia Newton-John extends run at Flamingo|last1=Houston |first1=Jack |date=9 July 2014|website=Las Vegas Magazine |publisher=The Greenspun Corporation |access-date=22 July 2014}} The show was subsequently extended throughout 2015 and 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://lasvegasmagazine.com/entertainment/2014/jul/09/olivia-newton-john-extends-run-flamingo/|title=Olivia Newton-John extends run at Flamingo|website=Las Vegas Magazine|language=en|access-date=2019-08-11}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.olivianewton-john.com/Flamingo_2016_announce.html|title=Olivia Newton-John Extends Residency at Flamingo Las Vegas Through 2016|website=www.olivianewton-john.com|access-date=2019-08-11}}

When asked on her decision to perform in Vegas, Newton-John explained that her previous tours of the United States included performing in casinos in small towns, outside of the metro area. She was told many fans were not willing to travel to the towns however some would travel to Vegas for the Vegas experience. She also stated the comfort of performing at one venue for the tenure. Speaking of the concerts, Newton-John stated:

"I am thrilled to be able to call Las Vegas home for a while. I have performed here many times through the years and have had nothing but wonderful memories and I look forward to even more fun at the Flamingo. I am especially thrilled that a portion of every ticket sold will benefit the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre".{{cite web |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/507228/olivia-newton-john-makes-like-britney-spears-gets-her-own-las-vegas-show |title=Olivia Newton-John Makes Like Britney Spears, Gets Her Own Las Vegas Show! |last1=Malec |first1=Brett |date=4 February 2014 |website=E! |publisher=NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group |access-date=12 April 2014}}

Mike Weatherford of Las Vegas Review-Journal stated that "Newton-John said herself in an interview that she’s not a 'razzmatazz' performer. But not long into this by-the-numbers retrospective, I realized she is an entertainer" and "If you expect anything more ambitious from the forever 'nice girl' at this point, well that would just be mean".{{cite web |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/mike-weatherford/olivia-newton-john-no-bad-girl-and-s-good |title=Olivia Newton-John no bad girl, and that's good |last1=Weatherford |first1=Mike |date=2 May 2014 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |publisher=Stephens Media |access-date=22 July 2014}} Steve Bornfeld of Vegas Seven described Summer Nights as a show which "reflects what [Newton-John] has always been: a lovely woman with a pretty voice singing sweet ballads and catchy pop tunes without an ounce of artifice or affectation".{{cite web |url=http://vegasseven.com/2014/04/14/olivia-newton-john-brings-elegance-catalog-hits-flamingo/ |title=Olivia Newton-John Brings Elegance and a Catalog of Hits to the Flamingo |last1=Bornfeld |first1=Steve |date=14 April 2014 |website=Vegas Seven |publisher=Wendoh Media |access-date=22 July 2014}} Sam Masseur of Vegas Chatter wrote: "For anyone who’s ever enjoyed an Olivia Newton-John song, Summer Nights will be a perfect evening of entertainment".{{cite web |url=http://www.vegaschatter.com/story/2014/4/14/84236/3829/vegas-travel/We+Honestly+Love+You,+Olivia...+And+Your+New+Show,+Too! |title=We Honestly Love You, Olivia... And Your New Show, Too! |last1=Masseur |first1=Sam |date=16 April 2014 |website=Vegas Chatter |publisher=Condé Nast |access-date=22 July 2014}}

This set list is representative of the show on 8 April 2014. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the residency.{{cite web |url=http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2014/04/set-list-olivia-newton-john-flamingo.html |title=Set List: Olivia Newton-John @ The Flamingo, Las Vegas|author= |date=11 April 2014 |website=Vintage Vinyl News |access-date=12 April 2014}}

{{Div col}}

1. "Pearls on a Chain"
2. "Have You Never Been Mellow"
3. "Xanadu"
4. "Magic"
5. "Suddenly"
6. "A Little More Love"
7. "Sam"
8. "If Not for You"
9. "Let Me Be There"
10. "Please Mr. Please"
11. "Take Me Home, Country Roads"
12. "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)"
13. "Physical"
14. "Cry Me a River"
15. "Send in the Clowns"
16. "Not Gonna Give Into It"
17. "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise)"
18. "You're the One That I Want"
19. "Hopelessly Devoted to You"
20. "Summer Nights"
21. "We Go Together"
22. "I Honestly Love You"
23. "Over the Rainbow"

{{div col end}}

{{reflist|2}}

• [http://www.olivianewton-john.com/ The Official Olivia Newton-John Website]
• [http://www.flamingolasvegas.com/shows/olivia_newton-john.html#.U0lmyMe0b3u Olivia Newton-John: Summer Nights]

{{Olivia Newton-John}}

Category:Concert residencies in the Las Vegas Valley

Category:Olivia Newton-John concert tours

Category:2014 concert residencies

Category:2015 concert residencies

Category:2016 concert residencies

Category:Flamingo Las Vegas