Songs You Can Sing Along To in Western Music: Olivia Newton-John’s Easy-to-Sing Tracks

MagicOlivia Newton-John

Magic

Although “Magic” did not achieve commercial success for the film Xanadu, the soundtrack itself received high acclaim, and this track—sung by Olivia Newton-John—comes from that movie.

In the United States, it was a major hit, topping the Billboard chart for four consecutive weeks, and it remains a beloved classic.

While it has some disco-pop elements characteristic of the late ’70s, it carries a calmer mood distinct from “Physical,” showcasing Olivia’s remarkable expressive range that lets her master any type of song.

Because this isn’t a piece you can power through on momentum, be mindful of the transition from the restrained verse into the chorus where the atmosphere shifts, and aim to sing naturally and expansively like Olivia.

The lyrics and pronunciation don’t contain particularly difficult vocabulary or grammar, so even if you’re not confident in English, you can listen closely to Olivia’s delivery and try imitating it—even in katakana-style English—and you’ll be surprised how convincingly you can sing it.

So don’t worry.

SuddenlyOlivia Newton-John & Cliff Richard

Suddenly

Also known by its Japanese title “Koi no Yokan,” “Suddenly” was produced for the soundtrack of the film Xanadu and is a duet by the movie’s star Olivia Newton-John and British singer Cliff Richard.

It’s said that during her time in the UK, Olivia trained as a backup vocalist for Cliff, so they share something like a mentor–student relationship—which makes for exceptional chemistry.

You can’t help but be captivated by their superb singing.

The lyrics use simple grammar and vocabulary that a junior high school student could understand, and this heartwarming love song is wonderfully comforting.

It’s definitely a duet-only number, so I’d love to see couples give it a try!

PhysicalOlivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John – Physical (Official Music Video)

In August 2022, the late Olivia Newton-John—an Australian-born British singer who enjoyed immense popularity—was a great artist who stayed true to her life while evolving her musical style with the times.

She has many signature songs, and which one comes to mind when you hear her name depends on your generation and taste.

The song featured here, Physical, is a quintessential mid-80s disco-pop track that marked a new frontier for her and became a massive hit, including in Japan—truly one of her signature numbers.

More recently, in the 2020s, superstar singer-songwriter Dua Lipa released her own hit Physical, notable for its 80s-inspired melody, which in turn brought renewed attention to Olivia’s original Physical.

Not only does it have an instantly memorable chorus you’ll remember after a single listen, but the vocabulary throughout the lyrics is simple enough for middle school students to understand, making it a very singable song.

The chorus does reach slightly higher notes, but go with the momentum of the track and don’t be afraid to belt it out!

XanaduOlivia Newton-John

Xanadu

It’s amazing that you can tell it’s a song by Electric Light Orchestra, a popular British group, just from the shimmering synths and beautiful strings in the intro! This track, Xanadu, was created through a collaboration between Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), and it was produced for the soundtrack of the film of the same name.

The melody is very easy to remember and doesn’t have any unusual quirks, and the lyrics don’t use difficult vocabulary or grammar—especially with the repeatedly used title—so if you listen closely to Olivia’s singing and imitate the elisions and reductions, you can sing it with convincing pronunciation.

Some people might struggle with the pre-chorus, which consists entirely of falsetto, because it can be hard to keep the pitch stable.

I suggest first practicing by sustaining your falsetto without worrying too much about pitch, and once you’re used to that, move on to focusing on accurate intonation.

Don’t Stop Believin’Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John – Don’t Stop Believin’

Even though it’s called “Don’t Stop Believin’,” it’s not Journey’s smash hit—it’s Olivia Newton-John’s own original song! In Japanese, it was titled “Tasogare no Koi” (“Twilight Love”), which has a completely different meaning from the original title, but you’ll understand why once you read the lyrics.

It’s a gem of sophisticated country-pop where you can fully enjoy Olivia’s beautiful voice—her crystalline clarity and distinctive sensuality that earned her the nickname “crystal voice” in Japan at the time.

True to Olivia’s style, it features soaring high notes, a wide vocal range, and dramatic pitch leaps, making it honestly a rather challenging song to sing.

That said, thanks to the easily graspable English lyrics—especially the chorus where the title is repeated—even beginners to Western music may find it surprisingly singable.

Just A Little Too MuchOlivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John – Just A Little Too Much

Included on Olivia Newton-John’s second studio album, Olivia, released in 1972.

Since the album wasn’t issued on vinyl in Japan, it was later released there on CD.

The track, given the very on-the-nose Japanese title Koi no Kibun (“In the Mood for Love”), is actually a cover of a song originally released in the late 1950s by American singer Ricky Nelson, titled Just a Little Too Much.

While the original features a ’50s-style rock ’n’ roll sound, Olivia’s version is arranged as a light, early-career country-pop number.

Being an older song, the range isn’t as wide as in many of Olivia’s tracks, so it may be easier to sing for those who struggle with higher notes.

SamOlivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John – Sam

With this elegant waltz-tempo ballad like “Sam,” you can really savor Olivia Newton-John’s outstanding vocal ability and unique, one-of-a-kind voice.

Since it was released in 1976, sandwiched between “Have You Never Been Mellow” and “Suddenly,” it may come across as a bit understated, but it’s a truly fine ballad that I hope those who haven’t heard it will give a listen.

The high notes and expansive delivery are by no means easy, but the melody line itself isn’t tricky.

If you sing it at karaoke, adjust the key to suit your range and, as mentioned, let yourself sink into the gentle waltz rhythm while you bring out the beauty of the melody.

The vocabulary and grammar in the lyrics are easy enough for junior high school learners to understand, so by grasping the bittersweet emotions expressed in the words, you’ll be able to sing it with real feeling.