How to Sing Like Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John is one of the most recognized pop singers of the 70s and 80s. Her voice is sweet, warm, and often airy. She's well-known for her ballads, but she's also recorded a variety of pop, rock, and country songs, showcasing her versatility as a singer. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced vocalist, here's how to sing like Olivia Newton-John.

Belting technique

Olivia's belting technique is both powerful and smooth, and it helped her attain those unforgettable high notes. Belting is a technique that requires proper breath control and strong diaphragm support. To achieve Olivia's belting style, start by practicing breath control exercises like Farinelli Breathing. Then, practice your mix and head voice, where you'll find the ability to mix a chest and head voice transition in that belt range. Practice lip rolls and high scales on a laughing tone, and practice shifting between your chest and head voice, and then mastering them in a single phrase. Finally, practice belting on appropriate exercises such as the ones in Pitch Training, and once you've developed your technique, try belting Olivia's hits, like "Physical," "Hopelessly Devoted to You," and "Xanadu."

Breath support

Breath support is essential to any singer, and Olivia has mastered it like few others. Proper breath support allows a singer to sustain long phrases, reach high notes, and belt with power and ease. To achieve Olivia's breath support, start by practicing diaphragm support exercises like Breath Support. Another great way to improve your breath support is through Sustain Vocal Exercises. Finally, put your breath support to the test by singing Olivia's hits. Start with her ballads, which require controlled breaths, like "Suddenly", "Magic," and "Have You Never Been Mellow." Once you're comfortable with those, move on to her more upbeat songs, like "Physical," "Let Me Be There," and "Deeper Than the Night."

Articulation and Pronunciation

Olivia's clear and expressive articulation is easy to understand, and helps to convey emotion and meaning in her songs. To improve your articulation and pronunciation, practice exercises such as Finger Bite Articulation Exercise, which can help you loosen up your jaw and get the most out of your vocal tone. Practice enunciating your vowels and consonants with exercises like "me-ma-mi-mo-mu", it’s a great start for any student venturing into singing. Finally, practice Olivia's diction by singing along to her songs. Start with her most popular songs, like "Physical," "Hopelessly Devoted to You," and "You're the One That I Want," and work your way through her catalogue from there.

Conclusion

Olivia Newton-John's unique vocal technique and style can be difficult to master, but with hard work and practice, anyone can learn to sing like this legendary pop singer. By building proper breath control, belting with power and ease, and perfecting your articulation and pronunciation, you'll be well on your way to singing like Olivia. Don't forget to incorporate some of Singing Carrots' resources, such as the Song Search and Vocal Range Test, to help you along the way.