Song Spotlight-Total Eclipse of the Heart

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Abstract

ament to its popularity, <i>Total Eclipse of the Heart<b> </b></i>has been covered several times by acts including Westlife, Nicki French, and The Cast of Glee.</p><figure id="1ca1"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*MTSofgHjuC5CSEa4TNEu3w.png"><figcaption>Screenshot from the official Bonnie Tyler YouTube channel.</figcaption></figure><p id="e520">Watch the video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcOxhH8N3Bo">here.</a></p><h1 id="6e01">What makes it great</h1><h2 id="4d2c">The famous piano intro</h2><p id="d83a">If you’re familiar with the song, you’ll hear the intro in your head now. The piano introduction was played by session musician Roy Bittan, perhaps best known for his work with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.</p><h2 id="5c17">The BIG sound</h2><p id="b79f">Bonnie Tyler reportedly wanted a “wall of sound” type production as made famous by Phil Spector. She enlisted Jim Steinman for the job, after watching Meat Loaf perform <i>Bat Out of Hell. </i>The Wall of Sound technique meant overdubbing sections to layer up sounds and make the sound mega-powerful. As a rock star, Bonnie Tyler was attracted to big noise. On paper, the collaboration with Jim Steinman might not have worked but in reality, her rock went well with his roll.</p><h2 id="d471">Rory Dodd’s vocal</h2><p id="7e65">Rory’s vocal duet with Bonnie in the intro is iconic.</p><blockquote id="c25b"><p>“Turn around bright eyes”</p></blockquote><p id="817c">Rory Dodd was a backing singer for several big names in the eighties including Meat Loaf,

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Billy Joel, and Barbara Streisand. Rory’s vocal duet with Bonnie in the intro and outro adds to the magic of the song.</p><h2 id="a6ac">Lyrics</h2><blockquote id="dcc4"><p>I don’t know what to do and I’m always in the dark We’re living in a powder keg and giving off sparks I really need you tonight Forever’s gonna start tonight Forever’s gonna start tonight</p></blockquote><h1 id="eb88">Did you know?</h1><p id="c4a1">Part of <i>Total Eclipse of the Heart </i>was originally written for a musical based on the vampire story Nosferatu. The original working title of the song was <i>Vampires in Love.</i> Jim Steinman later included the song in his 1997 musical <i>Dance of the Vampires. </i>Some of the lyrics make more sense with that knowledge in mind.</p><h1 id="f46f">See also:</h1><p id="03d5"><i>Total Eclipse of the Heart </i>— live 2023</p><figure id="295b"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*z-nFI0U7FQshIt5J1VagDQ.png"><figcaption>Screenshot from HEY-U Mediagroup YouTube channel</figcaption></figure><p id="0473">Watch the video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjK7iS79aSY">here.</a></p><h1 id="f2c5">Thanks For Reading</h1><p id="d7bd"><i>If you like my words, please give a clap or a few dozen.</i></p><h1 id="6dbc">What do you think of the song?</h1><p id="7c09"><i>Let me know in the comments.</i></p><h1 id="1b0c">Want to write for Peace, Love & Crappiness?</h1><p id="728f"><i>Find out more <a href="https://readmedium.com/write-for-us-peace-love-crappiness-870ebdc3eea5">here</a>.</i></p></article></body>

The number 1 song in the UK charts when I was born

Photo by Vitaliy Shevchenko on Unsplash

I had an idea that I would like to write about classic songs and albums. As an avid New Musical Express (NME) reader through my teenhood (I had baskets full of magazines under my bed), I not only loved the music and the bands they wrote about, but the way they played with words. While music journalism never specifically crossed my mind at the time, now that I’m here leaving words on the internet, it seems like a good time to splice my love of writing and my love of music.

The song’s origins

As I celebrated my 41st birthday on 6 March, my thoughts turned to the song that was number 1 in the UK charts when I was born. Had it been a crap novelty song by the popular puppets or cartoon characters of the day, I wouldn’t have bothered, but Total Eclipse of the Heart is an absolute tune.

Total Eclipse of the Heart was written by Jim Steinman, probably best known for his long-term collaboration with Meat Loaf. Steinman certainly knew how to write a good song. It was performed by Bonnie Tyler, a husky rocker from Wales.

The single went on to sell more than six million copies worldwide.

Side note: As a testament to its popularity, Total Eclipse of the Heart has been covered several times by acts including Westlife, Nicki French, and The Cast of Glee.

Screenshot from the official Bonnie Tyler YouTube channel.

Watch the video here.

The BIG sound

Bonnie Tyler reportedly wanted a “wall of sound” type production as made famous by Phil Spector. She enlisted Jim Steinman for the job, after watching Meat Loaf perform Bat Out of Hell. The Wall of Sound technique meant overdubbing sections to layer up sounds and make the sound mega-powerful. As a rock star, Bonnie Tyler was attracted to big noise. On paper, the collaboration with Jim Steinman might not have worked but in reality, her rock went well with his roll.

Did you know?

Part of Total Eclipse of the Heart was originally written for a musical based on the vampire story Nosferatu. The original working title of the song was Vampires in Love. Jim Steinman later included the song in his 1997 musical Dance of the Vampires. Some of the lyrics make more sense with that knowledge in mind.