(born '''Gaynor Hopkins''' on June 8 , 1951 in Skewen , Neath ) is a Welsh singer.
Born into a large working-class family of six children, her father worked as a Miner while her mother, an Opera fan, shared her love of music with her children. Influenced by the music of Janis Joplin and Tina Turner , as a teen she sang with a group called "Bobby Wayne and the Dixies," following which she formed her own band, calling it Imagination. Adopting different stage names until settling on Bonnie Tyler, for nearly a decade she and her band performed at pubs and nightclubs all over South Wales.
In 1975 Bonnie Tyler recorded her first single for RCA Records called " My My Honeycomb " that failed to make the charts. Her second single " Lost In France ", was a whimsical melody with lyrics that demonstrated how seemingly meaningless words on paper can be rich with meaning in song. The record showcased the potential of her powerful voice and reached the top 10 of the British pop music charts. When it was released later in Europe, it became an even bigger hit. Over the ensuing decades, the song has become one of the favorites of her fans.
Her success with " Lost In France " led Tyler to record her first album in 1977 . Titled ''The World Starts Tonight'', it met with only modest success, but it did well enough that she could tour throughout Europe. Prior to the album's release, Tyler underwent surgery to remove Nodule s on her Vocal Cords . Against doctor's orders, she spoke before she had healed, with the result that her singing voice took on a raspy quality. At first, this made Tyler believe her singing career was over. As it turned out, her next single, where she used all of her husky voice's power, made her an international star. The song " It's A Heartache ", from her second album ''Natural Force'', reached the top 5 in Britain, Europe, and in the United States, leading to her first American tour. The song " Sitting On The Edge Of The Ocean ", again written by Scott and Wolfe, won the Grand Prix in the Tenth Yamaha - World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo in 1979.
Following this success, her ensuing recordings were met with only moderate acceptance, but things changed when she signed with CBS Records in 1982 . Her album, '' Faster Than The Speed Of Night '' proved an international blockbuster and the single " Total Eclipse Of The Heart ", written by Jim Steinman , topped the charts worldwide, remaining at No. 1 for several weeks. "Faster Than the Speed of Night" shot straight into the UK album charts at No.1, making Bonnie the first ever female artist to have achieved this, earning a Guinness Record. The album is regarded by rock connoisseurs as an operatic masterpiece with its thundering Tchaikovsky esque Cannons . The song brought Tyler a 1983 nomination for the Grammy Award For Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and the album "Faster Than The Speed Of Night" earned her another Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance . In 1984 , the year she performed "Eclipse" to great acclaim at the Grammy Awards , she received a Grammy nomination as best Rock Female Vocalist for the song "Here She Comes," a song that was part of the soundtrack for the 1984 restoration of the film '' Metropolis ''.
In 1984 she had another major success with the single "Holding Out for a Hero" from the soundtrack and film '' Footloose '' The albums "Secret Dreams And Forbidden Fire" and "Hide Your Heart" followed. In the early 1990s, Tyler recorded the European hit album, "Bitterblue. This album went quadruple-platinum in Norway, platinum in Austria and gold in Germany, Switzerland and Sweden, amongst other countries. Its success was repeated with the "Angel Heart album". "Silhouette In Red", released in 1993, saw Tyler win Best International Female Vocalist in the ECHO Awards. After that, her live performances continued to draw large followings, but her recordings met with limited market success until the young French singer Kareen Antonn approached her to record a duet. "Si Demain", their French Language version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart", was released in January 2004 and went to No. 1 in France , Belgium , and Poland . The single achieved million selling status in Europe.
Bonnie Tyler has maintained a home in Mumbles in South Wales for many years but spends the better part of the year at her place in the Algarve in Portugal .
- '' Celebrate '' CD+DVD release date TBA
- '' Live Bonnie On Tour '', Bonnie first live cd (released 23/04/2006 in Spain)
- '' Wings '' 2005 (France #133)
- '' Simply Believe '' 2004 (France #18, Swiss #35, Wallonie #25)
- '' Heart Strings '' 2003 (France #75, Germany #41, Spain #41, Austria #32)
- '' Heart & Soul '' 2002 (Norway #29, Sweden #34, Denmark #41)
- '' All In One Voice '' 1998
- '' Free Spirit '' 1995 (Swiss #39, Austria #43, Norway #22)
- '' Silhouette In Red '' 1993 (Germany #28, Swiss #23, Austria #25, Sweden #40, Norway #6,)
- '' Angel Heart '' 1992 (Germany # 28, Swiss #14, Norway #4, Sweden #50, Hungary #39, Austria #9,)
- '' Bitterblue '' 1991 (Germany #22, Swiss #21, Austria #1, Norway #1,)
- '' Notes From America '' 1988
- '' Hide Your Heart '' 1988 (UK #78, Swiss #13, Norway #2, Germany #64)
- '' Secret Dreams And Forbidden Fire '' 1986 (US #106, UK #24, France #15, Austria #23, Norway #1, Swiss #3, Germany #24)
- '' Faster Than The Speed Of Night '' 1983 (US #4, UK #1, France #12, Norway #1, Swiss #19, NL #24, Germany #20)
- '' Goodbye To The Island '' 1981 (Norway #38)
- '' Diamond Cut '' 1979 (US #145, Country Albums #42, Norway #14)
- '' It's A Heartache '' 1978 (US #16, Country Albums #2)
- '' Natural Force '' 1978 (France #40, Norway #3)
- '' The World Starts Tonight '' 1977
- '' Bonnie Tyler Ultimate Collection '' 2006 TBA (South Africa Only)
- '' Collections '' 2006
- '' Bonnie Tyler So Emotional '' 2005
- '' I Plu Grandi '' 2005
- '' Lost In France The Early Years '' 2005
- '' Faster Than The Speed Of Night/Secrets Dreams And Forbidden Fire '' 2004
- '' The Very Best Of Bonnie Tyler '' 2003
- '' It's A Heartache The Best Of '' 2002
- '' Holding Out For A Hero '' 2002
- '' Total Eclipse The Bonnie Tyler Anthology '' 2002 (France re-issue 2004 top compilation #36, mid price #25)
- '' Greatest Hits '' 2001 (UK #18, Sweden #9, Norway #2, France top compilation #6, Spain #20, Denmark #5, South Africa #30, Finland #6, Portugal #15)
- '' Les Indispensables '' 2001 (France Only)
- '' The Very Best Of Bonnie Tyler '' 2001
- '' Total Eclipse Of The Heart '' 2000
- '' Beautys Best '' 2000
- '' Super Hits '' 1999 (France mid price 2002 #26)
- '' Simply The Best '' 1999
- '' Greatest Hits V.2 '' 1999 (South Africa Only)
- '' Power & Passion '' 1998 (Germany #88)
- '' Bonnie Tyler '' 1998
- '' Greatest Hits '' 1998 (Germany Only)
- '' Musica Piu '' 1998 (Italy Only)
- '' 'The Beauty And The Best '' 1998 (Norway mid price 2001 #6, Estonia re-isseu 2003 #17)
- '' Heartbreakers '' 1998
- '' Holding Out For A Hero Best '' 1997
- '' Piece Of My Heart '' 1997
- '' The Love Collection '' 1997
- '' Holding Out For A Hero '' 1997
- '' Faster Than The Speed Of Night/Hide Your Heart '' 1996 (France Only)
- '' Straight From The Heart '' 1996 (Canada Only)
- '' All The Best '' 1996 (Box 3 CD)
- '' With Love From...The Best Of The Ballads '' 1996
- '' Favorite Hits '' 1995
- '' Straight From The Heart '' 1995
- '' The Ultimate Collection '' 1995 (Denmark Only)
- '' Best Ballads '' 1995 (re-issue 99 Portugal #10)
- '' Lost In France '' 1995
- '' Bonnie Tyler '' 1995 (Box 3 CD, France Only)
- '' Lost In Love '' 1995
- '' The Best Bonnie Tyler '' 1995 (UK #93)
- '' Greatest Hits '' 1995 (Box 3 CD, Germany Only)
- '' Rock Giants '' 1994
- '' Comeback Singles Collection 90-94 '' 1994
- '' It's A Heartache '' 1994
- '' Bonnie Tyler The Best '' 1994 (France Only)
- '' The Very Best Of Bonnie Tyler V. 2 '' 1994 (Germany #39, Swiss #22, Austria #38)
- '' Bonnie Tyler Gold '' 1993
- '' A Portrait Of '' 1993
- '' The Very Best Of Bonnie Tyler '' 1993 (Germany #3, Swiss #6, Austria #17)
- '' Bonnie Tyler Original Recordings '' 1993
- '' Definitive Collection '' 1993
- '' Here Am I '' 1992
- '' The Compact Collection '' 1992
- '' The Collection '' 1991
- '' Diamond Star Collection '' 1991 (Netherlands Only)
- '' Castle Masters '' 1991
- '' Love Songs '' 1991
- '' Lost In France ''1991 (Double Collection)
- '' Night Riding '' 1990
- '' Heaven & Hell '' 1989 Meat Loaf /Bonnie Tyler (UK #9, re-issue 95 UK #12, Ireland re 2003 #47)
- '' Greatest Hits '' 1986 (UK #24, Norway #19, re-issue 92 Norway #11, Austria #20, re-issue 94 NL 11)
- '' The Very Best Of Bonnie Tyler '' 1981 (Germany Only)
- '' Bonnie Tyler Best '' 1981 (Japan Only)
- '' Lo Mejor De Bonnie Tyler '' 1980 (Spain Only)
- '' The Best Of Bonnie Tyler '' 1979 (Japan Only)
- '' The Hits Of Bonnie Tyler '' 1978 (France #6, Norway #1, Austria #23, NL #40, Germany #45)
- '' Celebrate '' (promo single + video Louise) 2005
- '' Louise '' 2005 (top 30 french dance charts)
- '' Vergiss Es Forget It '' 2004 Reim & Bonnie Tyler (Germany #64, Ukraine Airplay Charts #10)
- '' Si Tout S'Arrete '' 2004 with Kareen Antonn , (France #12, Swiss #25, Wallonie #7, Poland Airplay Charts #10)
- '' Si Demain Turn Around '' 2003 with Kareen Antonn, (France #1, Wallonie #1, Poland Airplay Charts #1, Swiss #7, Eurocharts #3, World Singles Charts #9)
- '' Learning To Fly '' 2003
- '' Against All Odds '' 2003
- '' Amazed ''' 2003 (Euro Airplay Charts #157)
- '' He's The King '' 1998 (Germany #95)
- '' Heaven '' 1998
- '' Limelight '' 1996 (Germany #76)
- '' You Are The One '' 1996 (Germany #99)
- '' Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad '' 1996
- '' Making Love Out Of Nothing At All '' 1996 (UK #45, NL #12, Belgium #2)
- '' Back Home '' 1994 (Germany Only)
- '' Say Goodbye '' 1994
- '' You Are So Beautiful '' 1993
- '' Stay '' 1993
- '' From The Bottom Of My Lonely Heart '' 1993 (Germany Airplay Charts #86)
- '' Sally Comes Around '' 1993 (Germany #76, South Africa Airplay Charts #1)
- '' The Desert Is In Your Heart '' 1992 With Sophia Apbanith (Greece #1)
- '' God Gave Love To You '' 1993
- '' Call Me '' 1992 (Germany #86)
- '' Fools Lullaby '' 1992 (Germany #29, Norway #6, Austria #17)
- '' Where Were You '' 1992 (Germany Airplay Charts #43)
- '' Against The Wind '' 1992 (Germany #36, Austria #13)
- '' Bitterblue '' 1991 (Germany #17, Norway #2, Austria #5, European Singles Charts #34)
- '' Endless Night '' 1991 (Italy Only #38)
- '' Breakout '' 1990 (Germany Only)
- '' Merry Christmas '' 1989 (France Only, #100)
- '' Don't Turn Around '' 1988 (Brazil)
- '' Hide Your Heart '' 1988
- '' Save Up All Your Tears '' 1988
- '' The Best '' 1988 (Norway #10)
- '' Islands '' 1987 With Mike Oldfield (Swiss #22, Germany #41)
- '' Sem Limites Pra Sonhar '' 1986 With Fábio Jr. (Brazil)
- '' No Way To Treat A Lady '' 1986
- '' It's Not Easy '' 1986
- '' Lovers Again '' 1986
- '' Rebel Without A Clue '' 1986
- '' Band Of Gold '' 1986
- '' Loving You Is A Dirty Job '' 1986 With Todd Rundgren (Swiss #24, Germany #30, France #34,UK #73)
- '' If You Were A Woman '' 1986 (France #6, US #77, Germany #32, Swiss #16, UK #78)
- '' Here She Comes '' 1984 (Austria #13, France #32, Germany #43, US #76)
- '' Holding Out For A Hero '' 1984 (UK #2 (re-issue 91 UK #69), US #34, Germany #11, Austria #19, Canada #12)
- '' A Rockin' Good Way '' 1984 With Shakin' Stevens (UK #5, Swiss #10, Austria #9, Norway #4, Germany #5, NL #8)
- '' Getting So Excited '' 1984 (UK #89)
- '' Tears '' 1983 With Frankie Miller
- '' Straight From The Heart '' 1983
- '' Have You Ever Seen The Rain '' 1984 (UK #47, Germany #63, France #40)
- '' Faster Than The Speed Of Night '' 1983 (Norway #9, UK #43)
- '' Take Me Back '' 1983 (US #46)
- '' Total Eclipse Of The Heart '' 1983 (UK #1, US #1, France #1, South Africa #1, Norway #1, Australia #1, Canada #1, Brazil #1, Ireland #1, Switzerland #3, Sweden #3, Germany #16, Italy #17, NL #24)
- '' Sayonara Tokyo '' 1981 (Japan Only)
- '' Goodbye To The Islands '' 1981
- '' I'm Just A Woman '' 1980
- '' Sola A La Orilla Del Mar '' 1979 (Argentina Only)
- '' Sitting On The Edge Of The Ocean '' 1979 (Japan)
- '' Married Men '' 1979 (UK #35)
- '' I Believe In Your Sweet Love '' 1979
- '' What A Way To Treat My Heart '' 1979 (Italy Only)
- '' Too Good To Last '' 1979
- '' My Guns Are Loaded '' 1979 (US Country Singles #86, France #3)
- '' Louisiana Rain '' 1978
- '' If I Sing You A Love Song '' 1978
- '' Hey Love '' 1978
- '' Here Am I '' 1978 (Germany #18, Norway #4)
- '' It's A Heartache '' 1977 (UK #4, US #3 Country Singles #10, France #1, Sweden #1, Norway #1, South Africa #2, Australia #1, Canada #1, Brazil #1 Germany #2, Swiss #3, Austria #3, NL #3)
- '' Heaven '' 1977 (Germany #24)
- '' More Than A Lover '' 1977 (UK #27, Germany #44, South Africa #7)
- '' Lost In France '' 1976 (UK #9, Germany #3, Austria #12, South Africa #2, NL #24,)
- '' My My Honeycomb '' 1976
Her husband's cousin is David Jones, father of actress Catherine Zeta-Jones
- British Hit Singles 16th Edition - ISBN 085112-190-X
- British Hit Albums 7th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-619-7
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