Olivia Newton-John

Soul Kiss

Experimental ONJ

Review Score:

(10/10)
I love this cd! I think it was years ahead of its time when it was released, and the critics and public slammed it because it was not typical ONJ material. I mean, to go from doing classic 70s country songs, to Grease and Xanadu, to then in the mid 80s with this album that deals with things like sexual threeways and doctors who sleep with their patients is quite the broad spectrum for her. ONJ was brave to put out this release. She was being experimental, both in the subject matter of the songs and the way she delivers them. Personally, i always thought that "Soul Kiss" was one of her ten best songs ever. If you look at the cover and inside photos of Olivia in a tight spandex body suit and big hair and listen to all the songs, you'll see that this is either a cleverly marketed package designed to give her a bit of a trashy edge, or she's in on the joke and is having as much fun with it as she can. I'd like to think it's a bit of both. The video for "Toughen Up" is hilarious, as Olivia plays the role of some kind of dominatrix teacher wearing a tight equestrian outfit and carrying a riding crop as she schools the other girls in her class about toughening up and not letting men get to them. The song "Overnight Observation" was the one i'm most curious about. I'm wondering what was going on in ONJ's head when she decided to put in a song about her doctor wanting to sleep with her? Or "Culture Shock", which talks about how she's not gonna give up her other lover and "why can't the three of us live together?"It's trashy good sleazy fun at ONJ's best. Or how about the song "You Were Good, How Was I?" Good line there, eh?The rest of the songs are a mixed bag. "Queen Of The Publication" is a bit of a silly song about how she's a sleazy tabloid journalist who will stop at nothing to get the ultimate headlines and stories. "Driving Music" is about how she's a cab driver. It comes across more as a filler song than integral to the album. The last song, "The Right Moment" is a great ballad that will blow you away! Too bad it's the closing cut on the album. Her voice on that song reminds you of why you enjoy ONJ's voice so much. It's a beautiful and haunting song that is probably the best song on the entire disc. If you're a fan of ONJ, you will want to own this cd. If you are new to her, i'd not recommend this right away, as the songs might turn you off her a bit with their weirdness, and then you might not give her earlier classic stuff a chance.

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