Xanadu
Movie and Soundtrack Introduction
By Jose R. Perez on April 29, 2002
Format: Audio CD
By guillermoj on July 26, 2003
Format: Audio CD Verified Purchase
Xanadu was a
campy, confusingly narrated and supremely goofy movie with Olivia Newton John,
Gene Kelly (his last filmed performance) and Cliff Richard. Let’s admit that it was a lousy movie that,
arguably, never should have been released to theatres. But that soundtrack! It’s fetching, touching, clever and
uplifting. I would recommend getting the
mp3 file of the soundtrack from Amazon, because it is a re-mastered ear-opener
vastly superior to the duller sound of the original very-early-era CD release.
And take the
time to read these insightful customer reviews of Xanadu from Amazon as shown
immediately below.
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102 of 109
people found the following review helpful
A Superb Mix of Genres, Voices and StylesBy Jose R. Perez on April 29, 2002
Format: Audio CD
The
film "Xanadu" received what I consider the best movie review of all
time on its release in 1980: a single sentence that read... "In a word,
Xana-don't"!
To be sure, this campy roller-dancehall fairy tale still has its enthusiasts and remains a guilty pleasure for some. In the end, the film was a catastrophe but remains in the Hollywood Babylon pantheon of nostalgia and cult classics for three reasons. First, it ended up being Gene Kelly's swan song from a 4 decade career in film as in the movie, he dances to a charming time-warping tune with a soft-shoeing Olivia Newton-John (his last on screen partner.) Second, ONJ met her future husband Matt Lattanzi on the film set, and the tabloids feasted on their decade-plus age difference while rumors of Matt (and Olivia's) sexual orientation percolated under the surface during the hateful "outing" campaigns of the early 80s.
Perhaps the most lasting legacy of the film, however, rests in this soundtrack - a uniformly strong collection of tracks from the former girl-next-door-gone-bad Olivia and the legendary Electric Light Orchestra, a fusion rock band of operatic depth (alongside the Moody Blues, Yes and Queen - ELO ranks as rock-opera royalty.) Thrown in for fun and easy digestion are guests like Kelly ("Whenever I'm Away from You") Sir Cliff Richard (the sweet easy listening classic "Suddenly" - a top 20 hit with Olivia) and the punkish sound of the Tubes ("Dancin'" - a pop-punk confection with an irresistible hook that gets lost when viewing the unwatchable scene on film or video.) Far superior to that other camp cult classic - "Can't Stop the Music" - Xanadu, the soundtrack, accomplishes a romantic, sweeping vision that the film could only struggle with. ELO's contributions are terrific - essential ELO songs in my opinion, from "All Over the World" and "I'm Alive" to the title song performed with Olivia (a gold selling, top 5 treat.) Stronger still is Newton-John, who comes into her own here in a passionate, forthcoming way. The astounding #1 track "Magic" remains one of the singer's shining moments, and Livvy takes unexpected risks in her delivery, at once gutsy and shy and always singing from the heart. Her "Xanadu" is pitch perfect, and "Suddenly" is every adult contemporary artist's dream song...a lilting ballad of fresh love and hopeful romanticism.
Simply said, say "Xana-don't" to "Xanadu" the movie. But say YES to its accompanying soundtrack, and you'll be singing your heart out before you know it. A true, indelible treat!
To be sure, this campy roller-dancehall fairy tale still has its enthusiasts and remains a guilty pleasure for some. In the end, the film was a catastrophe but remains in the Hollywood Babylon pantheon of nostalgia and cult classics for three reasons. First, it ended up being Gene Kelly's swan song from a 4 decade career in film as in the movie, he dances to a charming time-warping tune with a soft-shoeing Olivia Newton-John (his last on screen partner.) Second, ONJ met her future husband Matt Lattanzi on the film set, and the tabloids feasted on their decade-plus age difference while rumors of Matt (and Olivia's) sexual orientation percolated under the surface during the hateful "outing" campaigns of the early 80s.
Perhaps the most lasting legacy of the film, however, rests in this soundtrack - a uniformly strong collection of tracks from the former girl-next-door-gone-bad Olivia and the legendary Electric Light Orchestra, a fusion rock band of operatic depth (alongside the Moody Blues, Yes and Queen - ELO ranks as rock-opera royalty.) Thrown in for fun and easy digestion are guests like Kelly ("Whenever I'm Away from You") Sir Cliff Richard (the sweet easy listening classic "Suddenly" - a top 20 hit with Olivia) and the punkish sound of the Tubes ("Dancin'" - a pop-punk confection with an irresistible hook that gets lost when viewing the unwatchable scene on film or video.) Far superior to that other camp cult classic - "Can't Stop the Music" - Xanadu, the soundtrack, accomplishes a romantic, sweeping vision that the film could only struggle with. ELO's contributions are terrific - essential ELO songs in my opinion, from "All Over the World" and "I'm Alive" to the title song performed with Olivia (a gold selling, top 5 treat.) Stronger still is Newton-John, who comes into her own here in a passionate, forthcoming way. The astounding #1 track "Magic" remains one of the singer's shining moments, and Livvy takes unexpected risks in her delivery, at once gutsy and shy and always singing from the heart. Her "Xanadu" is pitch perfect, and "Suddenly" is every adult contemporary artist's dream song...a lilting ballad of fresh love and hopeful romanticism.
Simply said, say "Xana-don't" to "Xanadu" the movie. But say YES to its accompanying soundtrack, and you'll be singing your heart out before you know it. A true, indelible treat!
46 of 48 people
found the following review helpful
A Perfect Soundtrack That Should Have Been A
DisasterBy guillermoj on July 26, 2003
Format: Audio CD Verified Purchase
When
you consider that the music on this CD comes from the cheesy (guilty pleasure
for some) 1980 musical "Xanadu", starring Olivia Newton-John and Gene
Kelly, you'd assume that it's soundtrack would not have a chance; however this
is soundtrack simply astounds as each song is simply amazing.
It features 10 tracks, including some of E.L.O.'s strongest songs ("I'm Alive, "All Over The World", among others), Olivia Newton John's #1 smash "Magic", a gorgeous duet by Newton John and Cliff Richard ("Suddenly") as well as the E.L.O penned "Xanadu" sung by Newton John. It also has a duet between Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly that would seem iffy at best on paper, but it also works.
I can't say enough about this release, which was unavailable in the U.S until a few years ago. It may be in my top 10 soundtracks ever. Enjoy the magic!!!! When I compare this CD to a lot of the junk that is put out there by way of soundtracks, it's amazing that a pre-marketing package can wipe the floor with all the focus group cross-marketing efforts that are now a material part of the music business
It features 10 tracks, including some of E.L.O.'s strongest songs ("I'm Alive, "All Over The World", among others), Olivia Newton John's #1 smash "Magic", a gorgeous duet by Newton John and Cliff Richard ("Suddenly") as well as the E.L.O penned "Xanadu" sung by Newton John. It also has a duet between Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly that would seem iffy at best on paper, but it also works.
I can't say enough about this release, which was unavailable in the U.S until a few years ago. It may be in my top 10 soundtracks ever. Enjoy the magic!!!! When I compare this CD to a lot of the junk that is put out there by way of soundtracks, it's amazing that a pre-marketing package can wipe the floor with all the focus group cross-marketing efforts that are now a material part of the music business
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