- Xanadu (Electric Light Orchestra and Olivia Newton-John song)
Single infobox
Name = Xanadu
Artist =Olivia Newton-John andElectric Light Orchestra
from Album = Xanadu
B-side = "Whenever You're Away From Me" [Olivia Newton-John,Gene Kelly ] [ U.S. version] , "Fool Country" [Olivia Newton-John alone] [ UK version]
Released = July 1980
Format =7"
Recorded = 1980 Musicland Studios Munich
Genre =Pop rock ,Disco
Length = 3:28
Label =Jet Records
Writer =Jeff Lynne
Producer =Jeff Lynne
Certification =
Reviews =
Chronology =Electric Light Orchestra singles
Last single = "I'm Alive" (1980)
This single = "Xanadu" (1980)
Next single = "All Over The World (1980)
Misc = Extra chronology
Artist =Olivia Newton-John
Type = singles
Last single = "Suspended In Time" (1980)
This single = "Xanadu" (1980)
Next single = "Physical" (1981)"Xanadu" is the title song from the album "Xanadu", thesoundtrack to the1980 film of the same name.Collaboration
The song is performed by the
Electric Light Orchestra andOlivia Newton-John . Newton-John sings the primary vocals, with ELO adding "parenthetic" vocals in the style of their other songs on the "Xanadu" soundtrack, along with providing the instrumentation.A rare collaboration for ELO, the single reached no.1 in several countries and was the band's only UK #1 single when it peaked there for two weeks in July 1980. The song peaked at #8 on theBillboard Hot 100 in the US.New ELO version
In 2000, ELO's
Jeff Lynne re-recorded the song with his own vocals for thebox set "Flashback" and the "" compilation. Although billed asELO the song was recorded entirely by Lynne himself with no input from his former bandmates.Cover versions
In early 1996, two Australian dance performers released 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 on 1996.
The track was also covered by the Australian singer
Dannii Minogue , and Xanadu was to be the seventh single from Minogue's album, "Club Disco ", but was cancelled due to filming commitments and forthcoming recording plans. The song is being performed as part of the 2007 Broadway musical "Xanadu".This is the only song beginning with the letter 'X' to ever chart on the "Billboard"
Hot 100 .Charts
External links
* [http://www.jefflynnesongs.com/xanadu/ In-depth Song Analysis] at the Jeff Lynne Song Database (jefflynnesongs.com)
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.