Bonnie Tyler

Born Gaynor Hopkins on June 8, 1951, in Skewen, Wales, Bonnie Tyler would grow up to become one of the most recognizable voices in rock and pop music. With a distinct raspy vocal quality, likened to a “female Rod Stewart,” and powerful anthems, she forged a music career that spanned decades and earned her worldwide acclaim.

Growing up as the daughter of a coal miner and sharing the house with three sisters and two brothers, Bonnie’s musical journey began in the church choir. Her early musical taste was influenced by the soulful sounds of Motown and artists like Janis Joplin. In the late 1960s, she started performing in local pubs and clubs in South Wales. By her late teens, Bonnie knew that she wanted to take her passion for singing to a professional level.

In 1976, after several rejections and minor breakthroughs, Bonnie Tyler was thrust into the limelight with her hit “Lost in France.” But it was her 1977 song “It’s a Heartache” that made her an international sensation, reaching the top 10 in both the U.S. and UK.

However, the late 1970s and early 1980s marked a challenging period for Bonnie. After undergoing surgery to remove nodules from her vocal cords, her voice deepened, intensifying its gritty texture. Rather than seeing it as a setback, Bonnie embraced her new sound, making it her signature. In 1983, she collaborated with Jim Steinman, who wrote and produced her seminal album, “Faster Than the Speed of Night.” The album featured the unforgettable track “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” which skyrocketed to No. 1 in multiple countries, solidifying Bonnie Tyler’s position as a rock icon.

In 1984 she had another massive hit with “A Rockin’ Good Way”, a duet with Shakin’ Stevens, followed by a new solo single “Holding out a hero”. Both songs were #1 hits in Ireland.

Despite the massive success of “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” the late 1980s saw a waning in Tyler’s chart performance. However, her song “Bitter blue” became a hit in several countries in 1991. A year later she had a massive hit in Norway with “Fools lullaby”.

In 2003, Bonnie Tyler made a comeback with a French version of “Total Eclyps”, “Si Demain (Turn Around)”. The song reached the #1 spot in the French charts and became a hit in Switzerland as well.

In 2013, Bonnie Tyler made headlines again when she represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest with “Believe in Me.” She reached a 19th place with the song in the Grand Final.

In Marc 2019, her album “Between The Earth And The Stars” had already claimed the 34th spot on the UK Albums Chart. The album boasted collaborations with music icons: Rod Stewart, Francis Rossi, and Cliff Richard. She immediately kicked off a 23-show European tour in April. 

December of the same year saw Tyler revamp her 2005 track, “Streets of Stone,” aligning with The World’s Big Sleep Out’s charitable cause. 

The year 2020 wasn’t without its surprises. Collaborating with Lorraine Crosby, Tyler launched “Through Thick and Thin (I’ll Stand by You)” to aid the Teenage Cancer Trust. The track found its place at number 64 on the UK Downloads Chart. By February 2021, she graced her fans with another masterpiece: “The Best Is Yet to Come.”

Fast forward to September 2022, Tyler, alongside Mike Batt, reintroduced “Into the Sunset”—a track once featured in the 1990’s “The Dreamstone” soundtrack. In October, she joined forces with the cast of Tanz der Vampire in Stuttgart, celebrating the musical’s silver anniversary with a live rendition of her iconic “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” For the first time, she embarked on a South American tour, including eight shows in Brazil and a notable performance in Uruguay.