Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer known for 'Total Eclipse of the Heart,' has died at 75. Her official website confirmed she passed away unexpectedly in a Portuguese hospital due to complications from an illness. In May, she was placed in an induced coma after emergency intestinal surgery, and remained in intensive care until her death.
Meat Loaf's Displeasure Over the Hit
Three years before her death, Tyler revealed in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk that Meat Loaf (Michael Lee Aday) was initially 'p***ed off' that she landed 'Total Eclipse of the Heart,' a song written by Jim Steinman. The track, which became Tyler's biggest hit, was originally intended for Meat Loaf but was offered to her after he lost his voice in the 1980s.
In the 2023 interview, Tyler laughed recalling how Meat Loaf would remind her, 'Bonnie that song should've been for me!' She replied, 'Well he didn't give it to you, he gave it to me, so... tough.' She described their exchanges as 'friendly banter.'
Setting the Record Straight
Earlier reports suggested Meat Loaf turned down the song, but Tyler clarified on 2GB Sydney in 2021 that Steinman began writing it for a musical but shelved it. After Meat Loaf lost his voice, Steinman offered it to Tyler. The falling out between Meat Loaf and Steinman eventually healed.
Despite the initial tension, Tyler paid a moving tribute to Meat Loaf after his death in 2022 at age 74. She told People! Magazine: 'It was hearing his Bat Out Of Hell album that inspired me to work with Jim Steinman. I was privileged to later have an album with Meat Loaf and Jim, Heaven and Hell. He was a larger-than-life character with a voice and stage presence to match. I will miss him.'
Bonnie Tyler's Legacy
Tyler, born in Skewen, South Wales, rose to fame with 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' in 1983. The song topped charts worldwide and remains a classic. Her death marks the end of an era for fans of her powerful rock ballads.
