Olivia Newton John – Magic

“Magic” – Single by Olivia Newton-John from the album Xanadu
B-side “Fool Country” (US) / “Whenever You’re Away from Me” (UK)
Released in May 1980
Recorded 1979
Label MCA (US) / Jet (UK)
Songwriter John Farrar
Producer  John Farrar
Charted No.1 in US, Canada
Charted No.4 in New Zealand; No.12 in Sweden; No.32 in UK, No. 36 in West Germany

Written by Olivia Newton-John’s longtime producer John Farrar, “Magic” appears on the soundtrack to the movie Xanadu, which she starred in along with Gene Kelly. The song deals with destiny and faith, and its easygoing melody and clear vocals proved much more accessible than the movie. While the film floundered, this song was a huge hit, staying at #1 on the Hot 100 for four weeks and on the Adult Contemporary chart for five weeks during the summer of 1980. The follow-up single, the title song from the film, went to #8 in the US. The next year, Newton-John had her biggest hit with “Physical.”

“Magic” became the first word to serve as both the title of a chart-topping hit and the name of an artist behind a leading song after the Canadian band Magic! topped the Hot 100 in July 2014 with “Rude.” (Exclamation point excluded).

“Magic” became Newton-John’s biggest Billboard Adult Contemporary hit, spending five weeks at the top of the chart, and also topped the RPM Adult Contemporary chart for a week. Billboard ranked “Magic” as the third most popular single of 1980. Record World called it an “infectious pop ballad [that] has a big beat production treatment”.