Twist Of Fate

Album: Two Of A Kind Soundtrack (1983)
Charted: 57 5
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the theme song to the 1983 movie Two Of A Kind, which reunited Olivia Newton-John with her Grease co-star John Travolta. The song was written by Peter Beckett and Steve Kipner. Beckett was previously in the group Player; he co-wrote and sang their #1 hit "Baby Come Back." Kipner also co-wrote Olivia Newton-John's "Physical."

    Beckett explained to Songfacts: "'Twist Of Fate' was a song I was fooling around with in the early '80s and decided to involve Steve Kipner, my main songwriting partner at the time. We had worked on it for a couple of days when we got a call from Roger Davies, manager of Olivia and Tina Turner. He said Olivia was shooting a movie with Travolta and they needed an uptempo song. Steve played what we were working on to him over the phone and he loved it.

    We finished the demo and wrote the lyrics to suit the movie. David Foster produced the record, Olivia sang it. Steve and I were at the vocal session. We met a young guy who was kind of interning (making coffee, etc.) with Foster at the time. It was a young Richard Marx. The film came out at Christmas and didn't do much, but the song went to #5 on Billboard's Hot 100 on January 6, 1984."
  • A "twist of fate" is something that happens by chance. In this song, it's a twist of that brings the couple back together.
  • The video, directed by Brian Grant, incorporates scenes from the movie and also shows her in front of some kind of futuristic tribunal.
  • This was used on the season 2 finale of Stranger Things ("The Gate") when Dustin first arrives at the Snow Ball and Steve watches Nancy from afar.

Comments: 4

  • Esskayess from Dallas, TxLike "Xanadu' and 'Magic,' a hit song from a bomb of a movie. Most rockish song she ever did and her last true 'hit.'
  • Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiI love the song and the video.I don't know where I can find this video!
  • Reza from Shiraz, Irana great song , great video , great voice. i love olivia
  • Karen from Manalapan, NjI love this movie!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Lip-Synch Rebels

Lip-Synch RebelsSong Writing

What happens when Kurt Cobain, Iron Maiden and Johnny Lydon are told to lip-synch? Some hilarious "performances."

Kim Thayil of Soundgarden

Kim Thayil of SoundgardenSongwriter Interviews

Their frontman (Chris Cornell) started out as their drummer, so Soundgarden takes a linear approach when it comes to songwriting. Kim explains how they do it.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Tony Banks of Genesis

Tony Banks of GenesisSongwriter Interviews

Genesis' key-man re-examines his solo career and the early days of music video.

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."