in the early 1980s there was a huge backlash against disco and hippies!..the new wave synth-pop of the cars took over...heavy metal hair bands were sexy...(elo members just not sexy in their videos)...sex sells! fashion sells! u-2 are all handsome sexy guys...also duran-duran...m-tv required good looking guys and girls beyond the excellent hit song!...honest...elo was not sexy...(i own all their albums!)
ok...m-tv music videos ronald reagan era fall 1981...m-tv videos are pretty "clean cut" and singers are also handsome popstars with sexy girls!...study elo videos (they look like hippies! like the fabulous furry freak brothers! excellent music but no sexy solid gold dancers or love story acted out in rather "boring" videos...elo was not for m-tv unless they did like zz-top (boy meets 3 sexy nympho girls)...onj was sexy and belonged on m-tv (lets get physical)
I was born in 1965 so I remember events very clearly!...xanadu 1980 (one of my favorite movies and huge fan of both onj and elo) was branded "roller-disco"...disco was winding down...elo was 1970s prog-rock...both were hit by the new wave and m-tv (aug 1981) videos...
late 70's/1980 fickleness led to the shame...listening to good music in the dark. I was 8 in 1980...the very first time I got up on my skates was to "I'm Alive"..the nine sisters transmogrifying from the power of shredded art out of their greco mural somewhere in a Santa Monica back alley. The Xanadu songs pounded ELO and Olivia deep into my subconscious and the magic of watching rollerskates, Gene Kelly, LA 1980, pagan Greece and a little bird in leg warmers will only get better with time...
xanadu1980 had a budget of$20 million...it opened on 8 aug 1980...it made $ 22.7 million gross....main guy character was michael beck...some of the dancers went onto solid gold...sandahl bergman goes to conan the barbarian with arnold...oliva met dated and married one of the male dancers...1980 was the iranian hostage crisis and jimmy carter vs ronald reagan...so everything changes quickly...
xanadu1980 was a remake of the musical down to earth (1947) starring rita hayworth as terpsicore...like most remakes they become confusing hybrid mutations...why gene kelly was in xanadu 1980...etc...xanadu1980 is one of my favorite movies...(the confused critics saw it as an elvis movie without elvis)
I always watch the movie and play the music ...but for weeks and weeks after 11 sept 2001...i turned off all news and only watched xanadu over 1000 times...i escaped back to xanadu 1980...and became so sane and happy and cool and met a beauyiful girl and had wild sex after she saw the movie for the first time..."oh you have to believe we are magic..."
I am 44 ...i was a big elo fan and an onj fan at the time...xanadu1980...was ahead of its time by 18 months...m-tv hits fall of 1981...it confused too many people..(.the new wave replaces disco...also at the time)-milwaukee
Oh, and one last thing I forgot...........Musical tastes changed BIG TIME in the 80's. Even after her HUGE selling Physical in 81/82, ONJ found few hits after that & her next LP Soul Kiss was considered a failure. New acts & musical styles were coming into popularity, MTV & the mass consumption of the video..........there are MANY reasons that ELO had success troubles in the 80's. Xanadu may be one small reason, but is not the only/main cause of their declining popularity.
You guys are FoS. How could good songs like 1. the fall 2. I'm alive 3. Xanadu and 4. Don't walk away.......possibly sink their careers. A good song is a good song, whether on a bad movie or not. How many hits have you written lawrev? 20? ????? No, ....whats that??? Zero you say? Well what contribution have you made to society that gives you the right to criticize them and decisions they made, when you haven't contributed jack. Apparently, they are far superior to your abilities.
Xanadu was a big reason they lost much of their fan base. Go read up on your ELO history, particularly what Lynne and Bevan have said about Xanadu. Then come back and post here.
Just because Lynne & Bevan say that Xanadu tanked the band's career doesn't make it a fact. It's their personal opinion. I think they were embarrassed by the FILM'S failure and blamed their falling fortunes on it unfairly. As stated, the record itself was a big hit and their songs were quite popular that year. I'm Alive, The Fall..........they're hardly Roller Disco songs so maybe YOU should study up on the sounds of the time..........and I'm 42 so I was a teenager when Xanadu came out.
Great behind the scenes. I love this stuff. The movie is fundamentally flawed but has tremendous heart and I make no apologies for loving it and the soundtrack.
That soundtrack tanked ELO's reputation in America, which was at that time its biggest market. Ironically, the title track went to number 1 in England (ELO never had a #1 single in America). Of course, the year before, 1979, ELO had the chance to headline the Knebworth Concert in England. Lynne turned it down, allowing Led Zeppelin to have the fame. I still think these two decisions really hurt the band, never to regain its former glory.
It tanked ELO's reputation in America as a rock band. Lynne and Bevan have said as much. They forever became known as a pop band. Being associated with roller disco hurt their street cred with rock radio in America. If you were at least a teenager in America at that time you know what I am talking about. The Time Tour was partially meant to reestablish the band's rock/live credentials in the aftermath of Xanadu. But hey-it gave ELO it's only #1 single-in the UK. ELO never had a #1 U.S. single.
lol - you think they weren't thought of as a pop band pre-Xanadu? you need to take another listen to their '70s music!
the idea that rock is on one side, pop on the other, and there's no relation between the 2 and that ELO somehow jumped that big gulf with Xanadu causing their hard rocking fan base to desert them is absurd
I suppose you think the reason Gene Kelly never made another dance movie after is that Xanadu tanked his reputation in America? post hoc ergo propter hoc is an error in logical thinking
You obviously are either not American, too young, or don't know your ELO history in the states. They did lose alot of fans. ELO had only one gold album after Xanadu (Time) and no platinum records. I've been listening to ELO since 1975 and their 1970s stuff was definitely harder edged than Xanadu. In 1970s and 1980s America, pre-MTV, there was a gulf between rock and pop. What is absurd is that you are denying the history that even Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan admit.
that they lost a lot of fans in the '80s doesn't mean it was caused by Xanadu - times marched on, people tired of '70s things - there were lots of reasons
ELO hard edged?!?! I may not live in the US, but you must live on another planet if you consider that stuff hard edged!!
anywho, this conversation has begun to bore me ... ta ta!
I love this movie. The only bad thing about the movie was Olivia's co-star. He couldn't act and wasn't very attractive. Olivia held her own and did a great job on acting and singing. I think timing and lack of promotion had more to do with the movie flopping than anything. I didn't hear about it being out until 2 weeks after it was released 2 theatre. If the song Physical came out now, it probably wouldn't hit the top 100, but at the time excercising was a hot subject & it went #1 for 10 weeks.
Anybody remember 16 magazine? I read in there sometime in 1980 that Andy Gibb was considered for the leading male role. Supposedly, they chose Michael Beck because he looked so much like Andy.
in the early 1980s there was a huge backlash against disco and hippies!..the new wave synth-pop of the cars took over...heavy metal hair bands were sexy...(elo members just not sexy in their videos)...sex sells! fashion sells! u-2 are all handsome sexy guys...also duran-duran...m-tv required good looking guys and girls beyond the excellent hit song!...honest...elo was not sexy...(i own all their albums!)
ufoplejarenbarbie 1 year ago
ok...m-tv music videos ronald reagan era fall 1981...m-tv videos are pretty "clean cut" and singers are also handsome popstars with sexy girls!...study elo videos (they look like hippies! like the fabulous furry freak brothers! excellent music but no sexy solid gold dancers or love story acted out in rather "boring" videos...elo was not for m-tv unless they did like zz-top (boy meets 3 sexy nympho girls)...onj was sexy and belonged on m-tv (lets get physical)
ufoplejarenbarbie 1 year ago
I was born in 1965 so I remember events very clearly!...xanadu 1980 (one of my favorite movies and huge fan of both onj and elo) was branded "roller-disco"...disco was winding down...elo was 1970s prog-rock...both were hit by the new wave and m-tv (aug 1981) videos...
ufoplejarenbarbie 1 year ago
late 70's/1980 fickleness led to the shame...listening to good music in the dark. I was 8 in 1980...the very first time I got up on my skates was to "I'm Alive"..the nine sisters transmogrifying from the power of shredded art out of their greco mural somewhere in a Santa Monica back alley. The Xanadu songs pounded ELO and Olivia deep into my subconscious and the magic of watching rollerskates, Gene Kelly, LA 1980, pagan Greece and a little bird in leg warmers will only get better with time...
8trFrmDk8tr 2 years ago
xanadu1980 had a budget of$20 million...it opened on 8 aug 1980...it made $ 22.7 million gross....main guy character was michael beck...some of the dancers went onto solid gold...sandahl bergman goes to conan the barbarian with arnold...oliva met dated and married one of the male dancers...1980 was the iranian hostage crisis and jimmy carter vs ronald reagan...so everything changes quickly...
rocketshipstud2 2 years ago
xanadu1980 was a remake of the musical down to earth (1947) starring rita hayworth as terpsicore...like most remakes they become confusing hybrid mutations...why gene kelly was in xanadu 1980...etc...xanadu1980 is one of my favorite movies...(the confused critics saw it as an elvis movie without elvis)
rocketshipstud2 2 years ago
I always watch the movie and play the music ...but for weeks and weeks after 11 sept 2001...i turned off all news and only watched xanadu over 1000 times...i escaped back to xanadu 1980...and became so sane and happy and cool and met a beauyiful girl and had wild sex after she saw the movie for the first time..."oh you have to believe we are magic..."
rocketshipstud2 2 years ago
I am 44 ...i was a big elo fan and an onj fan at the time...xanadu1980...was ahead of its time by 18 months...m-tv hits fall of 1981...it confused too many people..(.the new wave replaces disco...also at the time)-milwaukee
rocketshipstud2 2 years ago
Oh, and one last thing I forgot...........Musical tastes changed BIG TIME in the 80's. Even after her HUGE selling Physical in 81/82, ONJ found few hits after that & her next LP Soul Kiss was considered a failure. New acts & musical styles were coming into popularity, MTV & the mass consumption of the video..........there are MANY reasons that ELO had success troubles in the 80's. Xanadu may be one small reason, but is not the only/main cause of their declining popularity.
Shakeshack78 2 years ago
You guys are FoS. How could good songs like 1. the fall 2. I'm alive 3. Xanadu and 4. Don't walk away.......possibly sink their careers. A good song is a good song, whether on a bad movie or not. How many hits have you written lawrev? 20? ????? No, ....whats that??? Zero you say? Well what contribution have you made to society that gives you the right to criticize them and decisions they made, when you haven't contributed jack. Apparently, they are far superior to your abilities.
countdeemoney 2 years ago
Xanadu was a big reason they lost much of their fan base. Go read up on your ELO history, particularly what Lynne and Bevan have said about Xanadu. Then come back and post here.
lawrev 2 years ago
Just because Lynne & Bevan say that Xanadu tanked the band's career doesn't make it a fact. It's their personal opinion. I think they were embarrassed by the FILM'S failure and blamed their falling fortunes on it unfairly. As stated, the record itself was a big hit and their songs were quite popular that year. I'm Alive, The Fall..........they're hardly Roller Disco songs so maybe YOU should study up on the sounds of the time..........and I'm 42 so I was a teenager when Xanadu came out.
Shakeshack78 2 years ago
Great behind the scenes. I love this stuff. The movie is fundamentally flawed but has tremendous heart and I make no apologies for loving it and the soundtrack.
mdentari 3 years ago
That soundtrack tanked ELO's reputation in America, which was at that time its biggest market. Ironically, the title track went to number 1 in England (ELO never had a #1 single in America). Of course, the year before, 1979, ELO had the chance to headline the Knebworth Concert in England. Lynne turned it down, allowing Led Zeppelin to have the fame. I still think these two decisions really hurt the band, never to regain its former glory.
lawrev 3 years ago
you're nuts - that soundtrack sold big time and was very popular all that year ... it was the movie that was a dud, not the soundtrack
BernardProfitendieu 2 years ago
It tanked ELO's reputation in America as a rock band. Lynne and Bevan have said as much. They forever became known as a pop band. Being associated with roller disco hurt their street cred with rock radio in America. If you were at least a teenager in America at that time you know what I am talking about. The Time Tour was partially meant to reestablish the band's rock/live credentials in the aftermath of Xanadu. But hey-it gave ELO it's only #1 single-in the UK. ELO never had a #1 U.S. single.
lawrev 2 years ago
lol - you think they weren't thought of as a pop band pre-Xanadu? you need to take another listen to their '70s music!
the idea that rock is on one side, pop on the other, and there's no relation between the 2 and that ELO somehow jumped that big gulf with Xanadu causing their hard rocking fan base to desert them is absurd
BernardProfitendieu 2 years ago
I suppose you think the reason Gene Kelly never made another dance movie after is that Xanadu tanked his reputation in America? post hoc ergo propter hoc is an error in logical thinking
BernardProfitendieu 2 years ago
You obviously are either not American, too young, or don't know your ELO history in the states. They did lose alot of fans. ELO had only one gold album after Xanadu (Time) and no platinum records. I've been listening to ELO since 1975 and their 1970s stuff was definitely harder edged than Xanadu. In 1970s and 1980s America, pre-MTV, there was a gulf between rock and pop. What is absurd is that you are denying the history that even Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan admit.
lawrev 2 years ago
post hoc ergo propter hoc ... look it up
that they lost a lot of fans in the '80s doesn't mean it was caused by Xanadu - times marched on, people tired of '70s things - there were lots of reasons
ELO hard edged?!?! I may not live in the US, but you must live on another planet if you consider that stuff hard edged!!
anywho, this conversation has begun to bore me ... ta ta!
BernardProfitendieu 2 years ago
I love this movie. The only bad thing about the movie was Olivia's co-star. He couldn't act and wasn't very attractive. Olivia held her own and did a great job on acting and singing. I think timing and lack of promotion had more to do with the movie flopping than anything. I didn't hear about it being out until 2 weeks after it was released 2 theatre. If the song Physical came out now, it probably wouldn't hit the top 100, but at the time excercising was a hot subject & it went #1 for 10 weeks.
olivia4058 3 years ago 5
Anybody remember 16 magazine? I read in there sometime in 1980 that Andy Gibb was considered for the leading male role. Supposedly, they chose Michael Beck because he looked so much like Andy.
MadameLil 3 years ago
It was so sad that the movie bombed at the box office. But it was a huge hit as a album soundtrack.
oliviafan1 3 years ago 3
The musical on Broadway was awesome
emmanuelh6198 3 years ago