A Summer Night with Olivia Newton-John explained

Concert Tour Name:A Summer Night with Olivia Newton-John
Artist:Olivia Newton-John
Album:A Few Best Men
Start Date:24 February 2012
End Date:17 March 2013
Number Of Legs:7
Last Tour:2011 United States Tour
(2011)
This Tour:A Summer Night with Olivia Newton-John
(2012–13)
Next Tour:Summer Nights
(2014)

A Summer Night with Olivia Newton-John was the eighteenth concert tour by Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, in support of her sixth soundtrack A Few Best Men. The tour name drifts from her 1978 hit, "Summer Nights", from the musical film Grease. It is Newton-John largest tour since the Heartstrings World Tour, which runs from 2002 to 2005. It was her first tour in the United Kingdom in over 30 years.

It was followed by a concert tour of similar name, Summer Nights, which is mostly a residency show.

Background and development

The tour first leg began in February in Australia, where Newton-John did seven concerts (two added by popular demand). The West Australian Symphony Orchestra participated to the Perth concerts, Melbourne Pops Orchestra to the Melbourne concerts and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra to the Sydney concerts.[1]

A new medley with some songs from A Few Best Men was added to the setlist.[2] Newton-John also performed on a few dates of her Australian leg the Australian Bicentenary song, "It's Always Australia for Me", from the 1988 album, The Rumour.

Olivia also did an interview by David Campbell to Australian talk show Morning about the concerts and her long career. She and Campbell sang "You're the One That I Want" at a Sydney concert. In Asia, she received extensive exposure by local media and was interviewed to newspapers such as Jakarta Globe, Bangkok Post and The Philippine Star.

The tour North American leg began in August, with a concert at Northalsted Market Days. The medley from A Few Best Men was removed, but "Weightless" continued in the setlist. A new medley with three old ballads by Newton-John was added; it consists of "Suspended in Time" (from Xanadu soundtrack), "Boats Against the Current" (from Totally Hot album) and "Shaking You" (from Two of a Kind soundtrack). The two later were performed for the first time by Olivia. The 2013 setlists doesn't have any songs from A Few Best Men soundtrack, and the ballads medley was withdrawn (only "Suspended in Time" was performed at North American concerts). United Kingdom concerts had a new medley added recalling Newton-John's participation on Eurovision Song Contest 1974, consisted of "Long Live Love" (UK's entrant to that year contest), "Angel Eyes" (another choice to represent the UK) and a cover of "Waterloo" (1974 Eurovision winner by Swedish group ABBA).

Critical response

Ross McRae, from the newspaper The West Australian did a positive review to the first Perth concert, saying that Newton-John "led the enthusiastic crowd through a journey of her extensive 40-year career", but stated the medley of A Few Best Men "seemed misguided and unnecessary".[2] Kittipong Thavevong from The Nation made a mixed review to the Bangkok show, writing: "Those who expected her to perform with the same voice quality as in her heyday left feeling disappointed. But those who simply wanted to a long-time favourite singer perform live were more than satisfied".[3]

About her Singapure concert, Christopher Toh, from Today gave a rave review, wrote that "she hit notes that were seemingly impossible; notes that soared up into the stratosphere" and "was just perfect in almost every sense of the word".[4] Nancy Koh from The Straits Times commented that "her moves were slick, her dancing sexy, and she even skipped like a delighted schoolgirl after receiving a few presents from the audience", but also criticised the medley of A Few Best Men.[5] Nur Aqidah Azizi, from the Malaysian newspaper New Straits Times wrote: "Newton-John made her way to centre stage with her seven-piece band, it was evident that the crowd could not contain their excitement – the arena was ringing with rapturous cheer. [...] Her voice was still as sweet as how many would have remembered it. Heartfelt yet powerful, it was perfect in every way".[6] Mike Bradstone from the Sri Lankan Sunday Observer commented that "Newton-John certainly has not lost the charisma and voice and could easily go on for many more years. I would sum up the evening up by saying 'Elegant, classy, graceful, entertaining and well-choreographed'."[7] Lynda Mills from The Jakarta Post wrote: "With her still youthful looks, a voice that remains clear and pure, and an ability to shimmy and shake with the best of them, Olivia belies her 63 years."[8]

Opening acts

Tour dates

DateCityCountryVenue
Australia
24 February 2012PerthAustraliaBurswood Theatre
25 February 2012
27 February 2012MelbourneRegent Theatre
28 February 2012
1 March 2012SydneySydney Opera House
2 March 2012
3 March 2012
Asia
23 March 2012BangkokThailandBITEC Event Hall 106
27 March 2012Marina BaySingaporeEsplanade Theatre
29 March 2012Genting HighlandsMalaysiaArena of Stars
31 March 2012Quezon CityPhilippinesSmart Araneta Coliseum
2 April 2012Wan ChaiHong KongHKCEC Grand Hall
4 April 2012ColomboSri LankaMusaeus Auditorium
5 April 2012
8 April 2012JakartaIndonesiaGrand Ballroom at Hotel Mulia
North America
12 August 2012ChicagoUnited StatesRivers Casino Stage
3 September 2012VancouverCanadaWestJet Concert Stage
6 September 2012EagleUnited StatesEagle River Pavilion
7 September 2012SandySandy Amphitheater
8 September 2012LaytonKenley Centennial Amphitheatre
10 September 2012San DiegoHumphrey's Concerts by the Bay
13 September 2012San FranciscoGolden Gate Theatre
14 September 2012RenoGrande Exposition Hall
15 September 2012IndioFantasy Springs Special Events Center
21 September 2012RamaCanadaCasino Rama Entertainment Centre
22 September 2012
23 September 2012JacksonUnited StatesPotter Center
24 September 2012MinneapolisGuthrie Theater
27 September 2012MinotAll Seasons Arena
28 September 2012
29 September 2012OmahaKiewit Concert Hall
30 September 2012
3 October 2012NormanShowplace Theatre
5 October 2012GreeleyMonfort Concert Hall
6 October 2012CheyenneCheyenne Civic Performing Arts Theatre
1 November 2012JacksonPerkins Civic Center
2 November 2012ThackervilleGlobal Event Center
4 November 2012San AntonioMajestic Theatre
7 November 2012CarltonOtter Creek Event Center
9 November 2012KalamazooMiller Auditorium
10 November 2012AuroraParamount Theatre
11 November 2012Sault Ste. MarieDreamMakers Theater
15 November 2012HuntingtonParamount Theatre
16 November 2012North BethesdaMusic Center at Strathmore
17 November 2012Atlantic CityEtess Arena
6 December 2012NewberryNewberry Opera House
8 December 2012PittsburghHeinz Hall for the Performing Arts
9 December 2012ClevelandPalace Theatre
11 December 2012NewarkPrudential Hall
19 February 2013DurhamDurham Performing Arts Center
21 February 2013EastonState Theatre Center for the Arts
22 February 2013LancasterAmerican Music Theatre
23 February 2013ShippensburgLuhrs Performing Arts Center
Europe
10 March 2013CardiffWalesMotorpoint Arena Cardiff
11 March 2013BournemouthEnglandWindsor Hall
13 March 2013LondonRoyal Albert Hall
14 March 2013BrightonBrighton Centre
15 March 2013BirminghamNIA Academy
17 March 2013ManchesterO2 Apollo Manchester
Festivals and other miscellaneous performancesa This concert is a part of the Northalsted Market Days.
b This concert is a part of the Pacific National Exhibition.
c These concerts are a part of the Norsk Høstfest.
Cancellations and rescheduled shows

Personnel

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Adam Hills: Olivia Newton-John as Special Guest. . 9 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120224053357/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/adamhillsIGST/stories/s3434842.htm. 24 February 2012. dead.
  2. Web site: The West Australian: Music Review – Olivia Newton-John.
  3. Web site: The Nation: Devoted to Bangkok.
  4. Web site: Today: Concert review – Olivia Newton-John . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120403002402/http://www.todayonline.com/Entertainment/Music/EDC120329-0000106/Concert-review--Olivia-Newton-John . 3 April 2012 .
  5. Web site: The Straits Times: Hopelessly Devoted – Olivia Newton-John Live in Singapore (concert review).
  6. Web site: New Straits Times: Hopelessly Devoted to Olivia . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120511105404/http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/sunday-life-times/hopelessly-devoted-to-olivia-1.71796 . 11 May 2012 .
  7. Web site: Sunday Observer: Olivia Newton-John still strong at 60. 3 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120428072839/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2012/04/22/mon09.asp. 28 April 2012. live.
  8. Web site: The Jakarta Post: Olivia Newton-John – From 'Neutron-Bomb' to... still going strong.
  9. Web site: Blaze & Kelly: Big News! We get to open for Olivia Newton-John!. 24 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043053/http://blazeandkelly.com/big-news-we-get-to-open-for-olivia-newton-john/. 4 March 2016. dead.
  10. Web site: OliviaNewton-John: Olivia's Tour / Personal Appearances. 27 February 2013. 14 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160314084329/http://olivianewton-john.com/tour.html. dead.