Musical Monday - Magic by Olivia Newton John

#1 on the Billboard Hot 100: August 2, 1980 through August 23, 1980.

#1 on the Cash Box Top 100: August 2, 1980 through August 16, 1980.
#1 on the U.K. Chart: Never.

Magic was the second chart-topping single from the Xanadu soundtrack, although this one topped the two U.S.-based charts and the other one - the title track to the movie - only topped the charts in the U.K. This is also the second time that Olivia Newton John has appeared on the 1980s Project, although it will not be the last.

Looking back, it seems like the 1980s were defined by artists like Michael Jackson, U2, and Madonna, but in the first couple of years, Olivia Newton John was a dominant force in pop music. To a certain extent, her persona projected here, with the white fringed romper and cowboy boots coupled with her nigh-ethereal floating hair, is what Madonna and Cyndi Lauper were reacting against. One can make the argument that Olivia Newton John reacted against this persona herself later.

But in 1980, this was Olivia Newton John in all her glory, and her star power was such that she was able to take a fairly mediocre song from the soundtrack of a terrible movie and drive it all the way to the top of the U.S. pop charts and keep it there for three weeks.

Previous Musical Monday: Use It Up and Wear It Out by Odyssey

Subsequent Musical Monday: The Winner Takes It All by ABBA

Previous #1 on the Billboard Hot 100: Its Still Rock and Roll to Me by Billy Joel

Subsequent #1 on the Billboard Hot 100: Sailing by Christopher Cross

Previous #1 on the Cash Box Top 100: Its Still Rock and Roll to Me by Billy Joel

Subsequent #1 on the Cash Box Top 100: Take Your Time (Do It Right) by the S.O.S. Band

List of #1 Singles from the Billboard Hot 100 for 1980-1989
List of #1 Singles from the Cash Box Top 100 for 1980-1989
List of #1 Singles on the U.K. Chart for 1980-1989

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