Essentials from Olivia Newton-John

1. No Matter What You Do. This was the first single from her self-penned album, "Gaia." Written while she was overcoming breast cancer, this album is surprisingly one of the most positive ones ever recorded. This is a song about the redemptive power of forgiveness and unconditional love. This is my favorite song any artist has ever recorded, and it's upbeat, catchy and deeply moving if the lyrics are observed for the story they tell.

2. Physical. This is one of the most defining songs from Olivia in the public eye besides the "Grease" soundtrack, and it's catchy chorus is unforgettable. Olivia played up the physical fitness aspect of this song, but the lyrics themselves are undeniably raunchy. This was a daring choice for the time, and it established her as a rock star. It's a strong song on its own, and the whole album of the same name doesn't have a bad tune on it.

3. Winter Angel. This is one of the first collaborations that Olivia did with Amy Sky, a singer-songwriter-producer that Olivia would later work on for some spiritual albums. This was a B-side and is a rarity (although there's a music video of it on the HBO special Down Under featuring footage of her with then-infant daughter, now talented singer Chloe Lattanzi). It's worth finding. It's a tale about a woman's feeling upon giving her baby up for adoption.

4. Part of Your World. Yes, Ariel made it famous. This is the song of "The Little Mermaid" fame, but Olivia Newton-John did a celebrity version, and she puts a lot of heart and soul into the song. You truly get the pain of the character, and her need to be a part of a world that she is denied. It's a must-hear version, especially for a Disney fan.

5. Angels in the Snow. Yes, this song is technically a Christmas song. It's from Olivia Newton-John's 2007 holiday release, "A Christmas Wish." However, the lyrics and story are timeless and relevant year-round. The lyrics, production and Olivia's silky voice create a clear image of a storybook experience that is a great escapism through music.

6. Instrument of Peace. Using a creatively (slightly) adapted version of the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, this song is a beautiful spiritual anthem from Olivia's album "Grace and Gratitude." The album title could also be used to describe Olivia herself, as she seems full of both in the songs that fill this album. "Instrument of Peace" is a highlight, heartfully expressing its meaning through her voice.

7. Toughen Up. This is an often-overlooked great song from Olivia from her album "Soul Kiss." It's a song for the broken-hearted, and it's in the realm of "What's Love Got To Do With It," a song that Olivia turned down. It's a great tune (with a hilarious accompanying video featuring different versions of Olivia), and it is what you need to hear when you just can't get over that insidious ex.

8. Take a Chance. You didn't think that I would overlook a duet by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, did you? No, this duet is not from "Grease." It's from the follow-up film that the two did entitled "Two of a Kind." The soundtrack is the best part of the fun flick, and this song is a breathtaking duet. John's voice is at its peak, and Olivia and John's desperate lovers in the song are engrossing and deep. This is a song that should be played at weddings, but it's Olivia's song about star-crossed lovers that don't end up together--"I Honestly Love You"--that gets the most wedding play.

9. Magic. This song is whimsical, like the Greek muse that Olivia played in the movie that boasts this song on the soundtrack, "Xanadu." You either love the roller disco chasing-your-dream skating Greek muse-infested film, or you don't. I am in the former category. I've loved "Xanadu" since I first saw it (about two days after seeing "Grease" and becoming quickly a fan of Olivia). Whether you love the movie, the soundtrack is undeniable, and this song is its highlight. It will make you feel that nothing can stand in your way if you absorb its gently positive lyrics.

10. Please Mr. Please. This is one of the first songs Olivia charted with, and it's a country song with the broken-hearted longing you might expect in a song about a girl longing for the juke box not to play the song that reminds her of that burning lost love.