# Who did the song "Total Eclipse of the Heart"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 31, 2001, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638 "2001-10-31T01:15:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/1 "2001-10-31T01:15:13Z")
I say it’s the Bangles. Broccoli! disagrees with me. I know he can’t read or dress himself…but is he right on this one, or is he wrong? ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/2 "2001-10-31T01:16:45Z")
It’s a Jim Steinman song, sung by Bonnie Tyler. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/3 "2001-10-31T01:18:30Z")
Then there was that house version that made the rounds a few years ago by Nikki French. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/4 "2001-10-31T01:28:18Z")
And, if you believe what you get back from Napster, it’s also done by Juice Newton. (?!) ---
**Author:** ![broccoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@broccoli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/broccoli)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/5 "2001-10-31T01:35:03Z")
_ahem_ Just because a person, doesn’t matter _who_ this person is - not that I know anyone like this… but just because a person can’t read or dress themselves doesn’t mean that they can’t remember what songs the Bang-girls sang. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/6 "2001-10-31T01:35:09Z")
Bonnie Tyler. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/7 "2001-10-31T01:38:26Z")
Sorry. [Bonnie Tyler](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000025VF/qid=1004492179/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_11_3/103-8346361-7419054), released 1983 on Sony/Columbia. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_The\_Bold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@Dale\_The\_Bold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_The_Bold)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/8 "2001-10-31T02:04:44Z")
It was done by that chick who did “Holding Out for a Hero.” Both songs are on her “Bonnie Tyler Greatest Hits” album, lol. Are they saying “turn around _bright eyes_?” ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/9 "2001-10-31T03:21:30Z")
Yeah, she had a funky music video that went with it, all angels and choirboys with eyes that glowed in a big old mansion. Very cool. ---
**Author:** ![Sylkyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sylkyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylkyn)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/10 "2001-10-31T03:36:12Z")
I knew it was Bonnie Tyler, too, but for some reason I have a copy of it done by “Blondie”. It’s pretty good, too. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/11 "2001-10-31T03:42:08Z")
Huh. Well, I guess I stand…er…surf, corrected. 😛 Thanks, all. **Broccoli!** , you illiterate, nude green vegetable- you know I still love you. I thought it was by the Bangles because on “Gilmore Girls” last season, Rory and co go to a concert and one of the songs they were playing was “Total Eclipse…” so I assumed it was by them. Maybe I’m just remembering wrong. SIGH. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/12 "2001-10-31T04:24:36Z")
**Zoggie** , the song you heard the Bangles sing on _Gilmore Girls_ was “Eternal Flame,” not “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” “Eternal Flame” was one of the Bangles’ last hits. So you’re wrong all around. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/13 "2001-10-31T04:28:29Z")
Damnit! Now I remember that song. Being wrong is just so painful on one’s pride…Anyone want to pass the Bengay? ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/14 "2001-10-31T12:05:33Z")
My dad’s best man was the drummer, if that helps you any. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/15 "2001-10-31T12:32:13Z")
Your dad’s best man was the drummer for Bonnie Tyler or the Bangles? Because if it was the Bangles, then he has really changed. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/16 "2001-10-31T12:51:56Z")
TMI about the song: Jim Steinman, know for writing songs for Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler, tried writing a musical about Vampires. Nobody would produce it because Steinman had never done a musical, and they didn’t think a musical about vampires would go anywhere. Steinman recycled one of the tunes into “Total Eclipse” for Bonnie Tyler, who recorded it first. Andrew Lloyd Webber hooked with with Steinman to do his show “Whistle Down the Wind.” They had apparently been trying to do a show together for quite a while. “Whistle” was not a success, but someone in Germany heard it and asked Steinman if he had done anything else. Something without the Lloyd Webber name on it. Steinman showed them the vampire musical, they called in Michael Kunze to do German lyrics, and Tanz der Vampyr was born. The song became “Total Finsternis”, the show starred the amazing Steve Barton, and it was huge hit in Germany, still running to this day. Barton recorded some of the songs in English, but died before they could stage it on Broadway. Micahel Crawford, the original Phantom (Barton was the original Raoul) is scheduled to open on Broadway with it next season. Okay, I’ll crawl back into my musical shell now. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/17 "2001-10-31T13:58:05Z")
Ho ho, **Big Girl**. Although the joke would be on you if he really HAD… er… changed. In fact my dad lost touch with him not long after getting married, as it happens. So for all I know the joke’s on both of us. pan ---
**Author:** ![Skip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@Skip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skip)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/18 "2001-10-31T16:49:27Z")
The video to this song with all the people and their glowing eyes totally freaked me out when I was a kid. It’s not like their eyes were softly glowing… there were friggin’ halogen lights in their sockets! ---
**Author:** ![broccoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@broccoli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/broccoli)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/19 "2001-10-31T20:28:45Z")
Yeah, that video gave me nightmares… ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638/20 "2001-10-31T20:46:15Z")
More trivia about this song: it was in the top 10 on the Billboard charts in the same week as 'Read ‘em and weep’ by Barry Manilow, and ‘Out of Nothing at All’ by Air Supply. All three were written by Jim Steinman. I think he’s the only writer to have three songs performed by different people in the top 40, let alone the top 10. This information brought to you by a vague memory of Casey Kasem’s radio program at the time. If anyone can confirm it, let us know. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-the-song-total-eclipse-of-the-heart/90638.md?page=2)