Bonnie Tyler, who represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013, has died aged 75.<\/p>\n
Bonnie Tyler has died at the age of 75. She was undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in Portugal and had been placed in an induced coma to aid her recovery. She woke from the coma but remained unwell.<\/p>\n
A statement published on Bonnie Tyler\u2019s official website reads:<\/p>\n
\u201cBonnie\u2019s family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for.<\/p>\n
We will issue a further statement shortly but for now ask for privacy to deal with this tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gaynor Sullivan (n\u00e9e Hopkins), better known as Bonnie Tyler, was born on June 8, 1951 in Skewen in southwestern Wales. After finishing second in a local talent competition in 1969, Tyler was inspired to start a music career.<\/p>\n
In 1975, Tyler was scouted while singing with her band Imagination in a club in Swansea and was offered the chance to record a demo track in London, which led to her signing a record deal. During this time, she adopted the stage name Bonnie Tyler.<\/p>\n
In 1976, Tyler released her debut single \u201cMy! My! Honeycomb\u201d, which failed to chart. Her second single \u201cLost in France\u201d was her first single to reach the top 10 in the UK Singles Chart. <\/p>\n
In 1977, Tyler released her debut album \u201cThe World Starts Tonight\u201d. Shortly after recording the album, Tyler underwent surgery to remove vocal cord nodules and was advised to rest her voice for six weeks. One day, she screamed in frustration, leaving her with a permanent raspy tone. Her first release after her surgery \u201cIt\u2019s a Heartache\u201d, ended up becoming one of her best-selling songs in her career.<\/p>\n
After releasing three more albums; \u201cNatural Force\u201d (1978), \u201cDiamond Cut\u201d (1979) and \u201cGoodbye to the Island\u201d (1981), none of which received commercial success, Tyler left her first labal RCA and signed with CBS in the United States and started to record rock songs. In 1983, she released \u201cTotal Eclipse of the Heart\u201d, the lead single from her fifth album \u201cFaster Than the Speed of Night\u201d. The song became a global hit and sold six million copies around the world, becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time.<\/p>\n
In 1984, Tyler recorded \u201cHolding Out For a Hero\u201d for the soundtrack of Footloose. This became another hit for Tyler as the song reached number 1 in the United Kingdom and Ireland.<\/p>\n
In 1986, Tyler released her sixth album \u201cSecret Dreams and Forbidden Fire\u201d. The most successful single from the album was \u201cIf You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)\u201d, which charted across Europe.<\/p>\n
Tyler continued touring and recording over the subsequent years and found success mainly in mainland Europe. In 2003, she released a duet English-French version of \u201cTotal Eclipse of the Heart\u201d called \u201cSi demain\u2026 (Turn Around)\u201d with French singer Kareen Antonn. It went to number 1 in Belgium and France, where it topped the charts for ten weeks.<\/p>\n
In 2012, Tyler sent her upcoming album \u201cRocks and Honey\u201d to the BBC for feedback ahead of its release. After listening to the third track on the album \u201cBelieve in Me\u201d, Tyler was asked to represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 with the song, which she accepted. She went on to finish 19th in the final with 23 points.<\/p>\n
After Eurovision, Tyler continued touring and releasing new music. Her 18th and final studio album \u201cThe Best is Yet to Come\u201d was released in 2021. In 2023, she released her memoir \u201cStraight From the Heart\u201d. Her final single \u201cOnly Love\u201d was released in March and was performed during her final concert in London. Tyler was due to go on tour again this summer.<\/p>\n
The Eurovoix team would like to express our condolences to Vlado Janevski\u2019s family and friends at this difficult time.<\/p>\n