You know I’ve been feeling nostalgic after watching Stranger Things. I just saw Olivia Newton-John died from cancer at the age of 73 in her Southern California home on Monday, August 8, 2022.

Olivia Newton-John was a pop singer and huge animal lover who spent more money on her menagerie of animals than herself, her accountant pointed out, in the Ladies Home Journal of August 1977.

I don’t put stars on a pedestal, but Olivia Newton-John was someone who made an impression on me. I loved the movie Xanadu. Olivia is probably the reason why I roller skated as a kid in my backyard with the music blasted.

When it came to making a book cover for Superfreak I was inspired by the colors in Xanadu and a little bit by Donna Summer’s fan letter with purples and blues and clouds. Yes, I wrote Donna Summer three times. I wish I had kept her letters in response.

And the merman series I am writing now is a tiny bit inspired by Xanadu. I looked at all my favorite movies trying to find something like the current story I am writing. I couldn’t find anything, but Xanadu has that urban fantasy romance vibe I like to write about.

One of my favorite songs she sang besides “Xanadu” was “Magic.” Here are the lyrics to “Magic.” It’s so mystical.

Come take my hand
You should know me
I’ve always been in your mind
You know I will be kind
I’ll be guiding you

Building your dream has to start now
There’s no other road to take
You won’t make a mistake
I’ll be guiding you
You have to believe we are magic

Nothin’ can stand in our way
You have to believe we are magic
Don’t let your aim ever stray
And if all your hopes survive
Destiny will arrive
I’ll bring all your dreams alive
For you
I’ll bring all your dreams alive

For you
From where I stand, you are home free
The planets align so rare
There’s promise in the air
And I’m guiding you

Through every turn I’ll be near you
I’ll come anytime you call
I’ll catch you when you fall
I’ll be guiding you

You have to believe we are magic
Nothin’ can stand in our way
You have to believe we are magic
Don’t let your aim ever stray
And if all your hopes survive
Destiny will arrive
I’ll bring all your dreams alive
For you
I’ll bring all your dreams alive
For you
You have to believe we are magic
Nothin’ can stand in our way
You have to believe we are magic
Don’t let your aim ever stray
And if all your hopes survive
Destiny will arrive
I’ll bring all your dreams alive
For you
I’ll bring all your dreams alive
For you

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriter: John Farrar
Magic lyrics © John Farrar Music

Happy Vegan!

From blog of melissacrismon.com

Copyright 2022 Melissa Crismon