18/08/2022
With the passing of Olivia Newton John, I found myself looking at some of her memorable performances. In 1982 her live performance of "Sam" brought it all back for me. There are certain chord progressions that are guaranteed to tear me up. "Sam" is one of those songs that perfectly showcase how incredibly remarkable Olivia's voice was. She covers a huge range on this song, having stunning control over her head and chest voice. Every bit of vibrato she introduces is perfectly timed, with perfect intensity. She brings her entire body into perfect synch to make you believe she is LIVING the story of this song. She's not just singing this song. It's a conversation, a plea, emotional vulnerability. This was not a theatrical song...but she performs it perfectly as if it was one. The reason we sing in theater is because the message, the intensity of mere words alone are insufficient to convey the heart. Olivia's performance of "Sam" encapsulates this without compromise. https://youtu.be/fYr1ek6NbEc
