Olivia Newton-John Popular Song Rankings [2025]

Hopelessly Devoted To YouOlivia Newton-John8rank/position

Hopelessly Devoted To You (From “Grease”)

If you spent your youth in the late 1970s, there’s a good chance Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta are forever linked in your memories.

Both starred in the musical film Grease, and their performances of the songs featured in the movie became huge hits, propelling Olivia to true global superstardom.

The song introduced here, Hopelessly Devoted to You—also known in Japan by the title “Aisuredo Kanashi”—is a richly romantic ballad and a classic that earned high acclaim, even receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.

If you’ve seen the film, you can probably picture Olivia’s poignant performance of the song on screen.

It’s a quintessential pop ballad with a straight 6/8 feel, and to be honest, trying to emulate Olivia’s style does demand considerable vocal skill.

That said, the beautiful melody is easy to follow, and as long as you don’t worry too much about techniques like fine vibrato, the lyrics use no difficult words or grammar, so overall it should be quite singable.

Listen closely to Olivia’s beautiful tone, and try singing it with heartfelt emotion!

SamOlivia Newton-John9rank/position

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.

Something Better To DoOlivia Newton-John10rank/position

Olivia Newton-John – Something Better To Do

Olivia Newton-John achieved worldwide success as a singer and actress, especially in the 1970s and 1980s.

With her adorable looks, she was also immensely popular in Japan.

Today, I’d like to introduce “Aki Kaze no Ballad” (“Autumn Breeze Ballad”), a classic from the period when Olivia, later famed in the ’80s for a more rock-infused, sexy image, was singing country-tinged pop with a wholesome feel.

Its gentle sound arrangement and melody create a very calm atmosphere that’s perfect for an autumn afternoon.

Interestingly, the word “autumn” never appears in the title or lyrics, and the song isn’t exactly a cheerful one, yet you can imagine how such a Japanese title came about from a certain impression—something that conveys the easygoing mood of the time.

Twist Of FateOlivia Newton-John11rank/position

Twist Of Fate (Remastered 2021)

This is the theme song from the 1983 film Two of a Kind, in which Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, who co-starred in Grease, reunited on screen as lovers.

Like Xanadu, the soundtrack sold well, but unfortunately the film itself failed at the box office.

Twist of Fate—released in Japan as Unmei no Itazura—reached No.

5 on the U.

S.

Billboard chart and became Olivia’s final Top 10 hit in America.

Produced by David Foster, it’s quintessential ’80s pop rock driven by lush synths, and younger listeners who enjoy hits by today’s chart regulars like The Weeknd might even find it feels like the original blueprint.

The lyrics closely follow the film’s plot, and with no difficult vocabulary they’re easy to understand, making the song very approachable for beginners to Western pop.

Including Olivia’s signature high notes, the melody is probably more karaoke-friendly than her earlier country-pop and soft-rock material—upbeat, catchy, and sure to get a crowd going.

You’re The One That I WantJohn Travolta & Olivia Newton John12rank/position

John Travolta And Olivia Newton John – You’re The One That I Want

A track written by John Farrar, who has produced many hit songs.

It’s a duet by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, performed in the 1978 film Grease in which they both starred.

It reached No.

1 on charts around the world.

Summer NightsJohn Travolta & Olivia Newton John13rank/position

Summer Nights (From “Grease”)

For those of us who can’t help but gaze into the distance and think, “Those were the days,” this song is a karaoke staple for many.

Known in Japan by the title “Omoide no Summer Nights,” “Summer Nights” is a duet by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, the stars of the film Grease, and it’s a very fun number used in a memorable scene.

It’s also amusing how the male and female perspectives differ just a bit.

I highly recommend singing this as a duet—ideally with a close male-female pair.

Watching the movie first will help you understand the context of the lyrics and make it easier to sing.

Don’t worry about singing perfectly; it’s guaranteed to be more exciting if each of you gets into character as the film’s protagonists!

Grease — Love Duet (You’re the One That I Want)John Travolta & Olivia Newton John14rank/position

Grease – You’re The One That I Want [HQ+Lyrics]

A high school girl (played by Olivia Newton-John), who used to be a straight-A student, transforms into a fully sexy woman! Travolta is stunned by her, and then the two sing, “You’re the one that I want.” It’s the youth of 1950s America.