Xanadu (Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra song)#Charts
{{Short description|1980 single}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Xanadu
| cover = xanadusingle.jpg
| alt =
| caption = One of the UK releases, with pink vinyl
| type = single
| artist = Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra
| album = Xanadu
| B-side = {{ubl|"Whenever You're Away from Me" (with Gene Kelly) (US)|"Fool Country" (UK)}}
| released = 13 June 1980{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1980/Music-Week-1980-06-14.pdf|title=Music Week|page=26}}
| recorded = 1979
| studio = Musicland Studios (Munich)
| genre = * Disco
| length = 3:28
| label = * MCA (US)
- Jet (UK)
| writer = Jeff Lynne
| producer = Jeff Lynne
| chronology = Electric Light Orchestra
| prev_title = I'm Alive
| prev_year = 1980
| next_title = All Over the World
| next_year = 1980
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Olivia Newton-John
| type = single
| prev_title = Magic
| prev_year = 1980
| title = Xanadu
| year = 1980
| next_title = Suddenly
| next_year = 1980
}}
}}
"Xanadu" is the title song from the soundtrack of the 1980 musical film of the same name. Written by Jeff Lynne of the English rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), the song is performed by British and Australian singer, songwriter and actress Olivia Newton-John, with Lynne adding parenthetic vocals in the style of his other songs on the Xanadu soundtrack, and ELO providing the instrumentation. It was Lynne's least favourite of his own songs.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPZqCSlugyE |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109205545/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPZqCSlugyE&t=760 |archive-date=2020-11-09 |url-status=dead|title=Jeff Lynne interviewed by Simon Mayo in November 2017 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=15 February 2018}}{{fv|date=October 2022}}{{fv|date=October 2022}} Released as a single in June 1980, it reached number one in several European countries and was the band's only UK number-one single when it peaked there for two weeks in July 1980. It was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry.{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United Kingdom|title=Xanadu|type=single|id=8369-688-1}} It also peaked at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/electric-light-orchestra-mn0000163229/awards |title= Electric Light Orchestra – Awards |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= 5 March 2013}}
Background
Sung by Newton-John[https://americansongwriter.com/meaning-xanadu-olivia-newton-john-song-lyrics/ "The Story Behind the Song Lyrics: "Xanadu" By Olivia Newton-John"] American Songwriter. Retrieved 2023-03-29. as the film's main female character Kira, it peaked at number one in Austria, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom and West Germany.
Reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = Billboard
| rev1Score = (favourable){{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1980/BB-1980-08-09.pdf|title=Review: Xanadu – Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra|magazine=Billboard|date=9 August 1980|access-date=24 May 2020|volume=85|number=32|page=70|via=American Radio History|issn=0006-2510}}
| noprose = yes
}}
Billboard′s reviewer described the song as a "sizzling track", writing: "Essentially it's Olivia taking Jeff Lynne's usual spot as lead singer of ELO. The combination is a winning one".{{cite magazine |title=Top Single Picks |magazine=Billboard |date=9 August 1980 |page=70}}
Personnel
- Olivia Newton-John – lead and backing vocals
- Jeff Lynne – guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
- Bev Bevan – drums, percussion
- Richard Tandy – keyboards
- Kelly Groucutt – bass guitar, backing vocals
- James Newton Howard – synthesizers
- Louis Clark – strings
Charts
{{col-begin|width=74%}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan){{cite web|title=Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of August 17, 2022|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=d_and_a_overseas&year=2022&month=08&day=22|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|date=17 August 2022|access-date=17 August 2022}}
| 18 |
|---|
| scope="row"|U.S. Digital Song Sales (Billboard){{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-canada-digital-song-sales/2022-08-20/|title=CU.S Digital Song Sales: Week of August 20, 2022|url-access=subscription|magazine=Billboard|access-date=16 August 2022}}
| 40 |
| {{single chart|UKdownload|21|date=20220812|rowheader=true|access-date=12 August 2022}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
{{col-end}}
Olivia featuring Paula version
{{Infobox song
| name = Xanadu
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Olivia featuring Paula
| album =
| released = 4 December 1995
| recorded = 1995
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Dance
| length =
| label = MDS
| writer = Jeff Lynne
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
In late 1995, two Australian dance performers released two 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.{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}
=Charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (1996)
!Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/LLw3Esv.jpg|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 03 Mar 1996|publisher=Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA)|access-date=31 July 2017}} N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.
| style="text-align:center;"|55 |
Kirsty K. version
{{Infobox song
| name = Xanadu
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Kirsty K.
| album =
| released = December 1995
| recorded = 1995
| studio =
| genre = Dance
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=30}}
| label = Central Station
| writer = Jeff Lynne
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
=Charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (1996)
!Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/7Ukt8V0.jpg|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 25 Feb 1996|publisher=Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA)|access-date=21 July 2017}} N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.
| style="text-align:center;"|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 by Lynne with Marc Mann on keyboards, but without input from his former bandmates Richard Tandy, Bev Bevan and Kelly Groucutt.
Sharleen Spiteri version
{{Infobox song
| name = Xanadu
| cover =
| caption =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Sharleen Spiteri
| album = The Movie Songbook
| released = 25 February 2010
| recorded = 2009
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Pop
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=34}}
| label = {{hlist|Mercury|Universal}}
| writer = Jeff Lynne
| producer = Sharleen Spiteri
| prev_title = It Was You
| prev_year = 2008
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
In 2009, Scottish singer-songwriter Sharleen Spiteri recorded the song for her second studio album titled The Movie Songbook which was released on 1 March 2010 worldwide. "Xanadu" was released as the lead single from the album in February 2010.
=Charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2010)
!Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url= http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/sharleen%20spiteri/ |title= Sharleen Spiteri |publisher= Official Charts Company |access-date= 12 July 2013}}
| style="text-align:center;"|71 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.jefflynnesongs.com/xanadu/ In-depth Song Analysis] at the Jeff Lynne Song Database (jefflynnesongs.com)
- {{discogs master|71372|Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra: Xanadu|type=single}}
- {{YouTube|mX8Y_LUxIJo|Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra - Xanadu}}
{{Xanadu}}
{{Electric Light Orchestra singles}}
{{Sharleen Spiteri}}
{{Olivia Newton-John singles}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Olivia Newton-John songs
Category:Electric Light Orchestra songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Jeff Lynne
Category:Songs written by Jeff Lynne
Category:Songs from Xanadu (film)
Category:UK singles chart number-one singles
Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in Germany
Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in Norway
Category:Sharleen Spiteri songs
Category:Flamingokvintetten songs
Category:Ingmar Nordströms songs
Category:Mercury Records singles