It’s no secret that “Total Eclipse of the Heart” was a total musical success for Bonnie Tyler in 1983. However, the now 72-year-old is sharing she originally thought no one would take the time to listen.
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Tyler recently revisited the story of receiving the song from songwriter Jim Steinman, and her skepticism on the 7 minute run time.
“Recently a friend unearthed a letter I’d written to her from New York back then,” Tyler revealed in a recent interview with The Guardian. “It says: ‘I recorded an incredible song today. The trouble is, it’s so long, I don’t think anybody will ever play it.’”
She continued, “‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ had to be shortened from seven to four minutes, but everybody loved it so much they played the full album version anyway.”
While reflecting on her love for the song, Tyler was also sure to acknowledge the brilliance of Steinman, who passed in 2021. “I loved every minute of working with Jim and was devastated when he died,” she shared.
“He told me he had started writing the song for a prospective musical version of Nosferatu years before, but never finished it,” she continued before confirming Meatloaf was upset he didn’t get the tune. “I poured my heart out singing it.”
The song continues to hold strong today as it remains highly recognized by music fans worldwide and stands as a lasting tribute to Steinman.