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"Magic" is a song recorded by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John for the soundtrack to the 1980 musical fantasy film, Xanadu. Written and produced by John Farrar, the song was released as the lead single from the album in May 1980. It peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks beginning on August 2, 1980. On August 30, it was displaced from the top by Christopher Cross's "Sailing".

This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2011)

"Magic"
Picture sleeve of the US and Australasian releases
Single by Olivia Newton-John
from the album Xanadu
B-side	"Fool Country" (US) "Whenever You're Away from Me" (with Gene Kelly) (UK)
Released	May 1980 (1980-05)
Recorded	1979
Studio	Musicland Studios (Munich, Germany)
Genre	Soft rock[1] pop
Length	4:31
Label	MCA (US) Jet (UK)
Songwriter(s)	John Farrar
Producer(s)	John Farrar
Olivia Newton-John singles chronology
"I Can't Help It" (1980) "Magic" (1980) "Xanadu" (1980)

Billboard magazine ranked "Magic" as the third most popular single of 1980, behind only "Call Me" by Blondie and "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II" by Pink Floyd. In Canada, the single spent two weeks at number one on the RPM Top Singles chart. It also reached number four in Australia and number 32 in the United Kingdom. The single also became Newton-John's biggest Billboard Adult Contemporary hit to date, spending five weeks at the top of the chart, and also topped the RPM Adult Contemporary chart for a week.[2]

John Lennon named "Magic" and "All Over the World" as two recent songs he liked in a Newsweek interview in September 1980, shortly before his death.[3]

In a lawsuit involving the use of the song in a high school musical performance, the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals described the song as follows:

"Magic" was an original song in the 1980 musical movie fantasy "Xanadu." Olivia Newton-John played Kira, a muse descended from Mount Olympus, who encourages and inspires the male protagonist, Sonny, to pursue his dream of opening a fantastical nightclub, Xanadu. "Magic" plays during their first encounter, reprises first when Kira must return to Olympus, and then again when Kira seemingly reappears as a Xanadu waitress. It is thus used as a vehicle of inspiration for pursuit of one’s dreams and love.[4]

Both US and UK B-sides also appear in Xanadu:

• US: "Fool Country" is one of three single B-sides to appear in the film but not on the soundtrack album. This is featured in the nightclub grand opening segment following the movie title track and before its reprise.
• UK: "Whenever You're Away From Me" (with Gene Kelly), also appears as the B-side of the US "Xanadu" single.

Track listing and formats

• US 7-inch vinyl single (MCA)

1. "Magic" – 4:25
2. "Fool Country" – 2:29

• UK 7-inch vinyl single (Jet)

1. "Magic" – 4:25
2. "Whenever You're Away from Me" – 4:22

Personnel

• Olivia Newton-John – lead and backing vocals
• John Farrar – electric guitars, electric piano, synthesizers and backing vocals
• David Hungate – bass
• Carlos Vega – drums and percussion

Additional personnel

• Strings arranged and conducted by Richard Hewson
• David J. Holman – engineering and mixing

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[20]	Platinum	100,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

2011 version

"Magic (Peach & DJ Dan Murphy remix)"
Single by Olivia Newton-John featuring Wacci
Released	22 May 2011
Genre	Electropop, dance-pop
Length	3:37
Songwriter(s)	John Farrar
Producer(s)	DJ Dan Murphy, Steve Peach
Olivia Newton-John featuring Wacci singles chronology
"Help Me to Heal" (2010) "Magic (Peach & DJ Dan Murphy remix)" (2011) "When You Wish upon a Star" (2011)
Music video
"Magic (Peach & DJ Dan Murphy remix)" on YouTube

"Magic (Peach & DJ Dan Murphy remix)" is a remix of the 1980 song. In May 2011, the song was remixed by two Australians, DJ Dan Murphy and Steve Peach, to create a dance version. Olivia went back to the studio to re-sing the vocals. The version was sponsored by WACCI, a humanitarian group.

Everybody who worked on the project volunteered their time, with all proceeds being donated to Olivia's charity, the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre.

Olivia was presented the world premiere of the song on Australian Dancing with the Stars on Sunday 22 May 2011. The song was released exclusively on Australian iTunes, also on Sunday May 22.

Music video

A video was shot for the new remix in Sydney in an attempt to break the Guinness Book World Record for largest cast in a music video by featuring 350 people. Newton-John does not appear in the video, which was directed by DJ Dan Murphy.

Charts

Chart (2011)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[21]	79
Australia Dance (ARIA)	19

Covers

This section needs additional citations for verification. (March 2015)

• The song is included in the film Xanadu and also the Xanadu musical.
• A version of the song by Stimulator was used in commercials for Macy's.[22] This cover was also used in the film Ella Enchanted and appeared on the film's soundtrack.
• Another updated version of the song was performed by Meaghan Martin for the Disney Channel Original Movie Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie. It was subsequently included on the television series and the film's soundtrack album.
• In 2015, the singer/pianist character performed the song in Part I of the HBO mini-series Olive Kitteridge.
• In 2015 Newton-John teamed with her daughter Chloe Lattanzi and Dave Aude to rework the song's chorus into a new recording, "You Have to Believe". The song went to number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart.[23]
• Juliana Hatfield covered the song on her album Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John.[24]
• In 2018, Delta Goodrem performed the song in the mini-series Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted to You and the accompanying soundtrack album, I Honestly Love You.

See also

• List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 1980
• List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1980
• List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1980

References

External links

• Olivia Newton-John - Magic on YouTube

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