- Olivia Newton-John performs on never-before-heard song «My Dream» out Sept. 20
- Friend and collaborator Jim Brickman discovered the unfinished song while digging through cassette tapes after her death from breast cancer
- All proceeds from «My Dream» will go to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund for cancer research
Olivia Newton-John‘s voice lives on.
Two years after the Grammy-winner and Grease star’s death from breast cancer at age 73, a never-before-heard song «My Dream» is set to be released thanks to her good friend and musical collaborator Jim Brickman. Sharing an exclusive preview of the new song here and the moving story behind it, Brickman reflects on the friend he loved and lost.
«I met Olivia when I was invited to open for her on concert tour,» he tells PEOPLE. «A really great honor, and a wonderful musical match. She did something that ‘stars’ hardly ever do. She stood backstage and watched my set almost every night, many times with curlers in her hair. It was so supportive and gracious, inspiring me to do my best. It’s a wonderful memory, I can just see her there.»
The two formed a close friendship and began writing songs together. It wasn’t until after she died and Brickman was rummaging through old cassette tapes that he found an unfinished version of «My Dream.»
Courtesy Jim Brickman
Thinking back, «It all happened in one day at Olivia’s house in Malibu,» he says. «First writing in the morning and then recording a quick demo in the afternoon at John Farrar’s, Olivia’s longtime collaborator’s, studio. The version you hear now, is from that original session. A very relaxed and happy day.»
Originally, «It started as a romantic duet,» he says, «but has now become more significant as a theme that resonated with Olivia about her Dream and hope for a cure for cancer.»
Courtesy ONJ Cancer Centre
Newton-John spent much of her life advocating for cancer patients, better research and holistic approaches to cancer treatment. In a video shot for her Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, she says «My Dream is that we will realize a world beyond cancer. And I think we can do it!» Thus Brickman is donating 100% of the proceeds from «My Dream» to the fund, run by Newton-John’s widower John Easterling.
«How generous of Jim Brickman and their whole team for donating all the proceeds from this inspiring song,» Easterling tells PEOPLE. «I mean, it wasn’t an accident that he found this song that they had done and never really put out. And it’s so timely with the results and the things that we’re seeing.»
Courtesy Jim Brickman
With the fund, «we’re sponsoring plant medicine and cancer research. And the beauty of that is that we’re seeing quite stunning results in the early stages,» Easterling says of working with Dr. Kumar at the University of British Columbia. As for the song, «how appropriate the title is,» he adds. «Olivia’s Dream was really to realize the world beyond cancer.»
Brickman, a renowned songwriter and pianist, has Italian trio Il Volo to thank for helping him finish the song, which was originally recorded with Newton-John’s portion of the duet paired with another female singer filling in on the other verses.
Courtesy Jim Brickman
«I wanted the song to be shared on a global level, and it needed an extremely passionate performance. Il Volo brings such an emotional and cinematic quality to it. It just feels intimate, yet epic.»
Aside from raising money and awareness for Olivia’s cause, Brickman hopes «My Dream» is a balm for fans who miss her dearly. «Like so many of us, when I hear one of her songs on the radio,» he says, «It makes me smile, and reminds me how beloved she is, and always will be.»
«My Dream» will be released on streaming platforms Sept. 20. Pre-order here.
