In 1980, Australian singer Olivia Newton-John was, without a doubt, one of the most iconic figures in pop culture. During the '70s, Newton-John had won several Country Music Association and Grammy awards, and notched 19 Top 40 singles in the US - nine of which hit the Top Ten including the #1 hits "I Honestly Love You," "Have You Never Been Mellow," and "You're The One That I want."

The latter had been one of three Top Ten hits Newton-John had from the soundtrack to the 1978 smash movie Grease. The movie had been one of the biggest hits of that year and one of the most successful movie musicals in history, establishing her as a film star in addition to being a pop-singing sensation. It seemed that her career was unstoppable.

So it was a bit of a surprise when her next film, Xanadu was released in 1980 and was savaged by the critics and rejected by film audiences. It might have slowed her screen ambitions, but it had no effect on her musical career. The first single from Xanadu's soundtrack was "Magic" and it was an unqualified success.

With a ethereal feel and a rather sultry vocal from Newton-John, "Magic" exploded at radio upon its release in June. By the following month, the song had rocketed into the Top Ten, where it would remain throughout the summer. It would spend a month at #1 on the pop charts in August and top the adult contemporary chart - where Newton-John was a favorite - as well. Not only one of 1980's most popular songs, "Magic" would only be surpassed by "Physical" two years later as the biggest hit of her career. And, by the mid-'90s, Xanadu would be viewed as a campy classic of the '80s.

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