Born in Skewen, South Wales, Tyler rose to prominence with her first hit single "Lost in France" in 1976. She signed a management deal with British songwriters Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, who wrote and co-produced Tyler's first four studio albums between 1977 and 1981. "It's a Heartache" became Tyler's first US hit, with worldwide sales in excess of 6 million.
In 1982, Tyler signed with CBS/Columbia and began working with producer-songwriter Jim Steinman. He wrote her biggest career hit, "Total Eclipse of the Heart", and produced its parent album, "Faster Than the Speed of Night" (1983), and the follow-up, "Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire" (1986). Both albums were noted for their bombastic pop-rock production and melodramatic lyrics. Tyler's next album, "Hide Your Heart" (1988), was produced by Desmond Child and included several tracks that later became hits for other artists, including "The Best" for Tina Turner and "Save Up All Your Tears" for Cher.
Tyler leaned further into a commercial pop sound in the 1990s. She signed with Hansa Records and recorded her next album, "Bitterblue" (1991), with an assortment of producers including Giorgio Moroder, Roy Bittan and Dieter Bohlen. Her subsequent albums "Angel Heart" (1992)" and "Silhouette in Red" (1993) were recorded almost exclusively with Bohlen.
Towards the end of the 90s, Tyler moved to East West Records and recorded the albums "Free Spirit" (1995) and "All in One Voice" (1998). She continued to experiment with cross-genre sounds in the 2000s, recording the covers album "Heart Strings" (2003) with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2004, Tyler began recording in Paris with producer Jean Lahcène, beginning with a re-recording of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" which topped the charts in France and Belgium. Tyler promoted her subsequent albums "Simply Believe" (2004) and "Wings" (2005) with a world tour and the release of her first concert film Bonnie on Tour.
Tyler spent the following eight years concentrating on her live work before returning to the studio for "Rocks and Honey" (2013). The album includes her UK Eurovision entry "Believe in Me". In 2018, Tyler reunited with David Mackay, who produced Tyler's first two albums in the 1970s, for her latest releases "Between the Earth and the Stars" (2019) and "The Best Is Yet to Come" (2021).
Tyler has contributed to several film soundtracks. Her most notable recording is "Holding Out for a Hero" which featured in Footloose, and has since become synonymous with action sequences, having later appeared in Shrek 2, Loki, and in numerous movie trailers. In 1984, Tyler sang the track "Here She Comes" for Giorgio Moroder's restoration of Fritz Lange's Metropolis, a recording which led to Tyler's third Grammy nomination.
Sunshine
Bonnie Tyler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I guess that I should try my best and smile again
I was broken down in so many pieces
But now I'm at peace with myself
I'm at peace with myself
I've been caught in the rain
One too many times
I was feeling but I couldn't move, forced like a statue
Running from the truth that I can't feel alone
Now I won't live without my Sunshine
I didn't recognize the face in front of me
The reflection of somebody I didn't want to be
I guess I forgot how good it felt to just be happy
And now there's no turning back
I've been caught in the rain
One too many times
I've been lost with the pain that I had to hide
I was feeling but I couldn't move, forced like a statue
Running from the truth that I can't feel alone
Now I won't live without my Sunshine
I remember the storm but I'll erase all the grey skies
No more grey skies, no
Stop ignoring the rainbows
And just leave me life in the sunshine
Cause we all need sunshine yeah
I've been caught in the rain
One too many times
I've been lost with the pain that I had to hide
I was feeling but I couldn't move, forced like a statue
Running from the truth that I can't feel alone
Now I won't live without my Sunshine
(I've been caught in the rain) Sunshine
(I've been lost with the pain) my Sunshine
(I've been caught in the rain) Sunshine.
The song "Sunshine" by Bonnie Tyler is a powerful statement about the struggle of moving on from difficult times and finding happiness again. The opening lyrics indicate a desire to learn to breathe again and to smile again. The singer describes having been broken down into many pieces, but now feeling at peace with herself. This suggests a process of healing and acceptance that has allowed her to move forward.
The subsequent lyrics describe the challenges that the singer faced, including being caught in the rain too many times and feeling lost in pain that she had to hide. She describes feeling forced like a statue, unable to move or face the truth of her situation. However, she ultimately decides that she cannot go back to living without her sunshine, indicating a newfound appreciation for joy and optimism.
The song encourages listeners to let go of past pain and embrace the happiness that comes from living in the sunshine. It acknowledges the inevitability of difficult times but suggests that we can overcome them and find joy again.
Line by Line Meaning
I guess it's time I finally learn to breathe again
It's time for me to learn to live again after suffering.
I guess that I should try my best and smile again
I should try to be happy and optimistic once more.
I was broken down in so many pieces
I was shattered and completely destroyed emotionally.
But now I'm at peace with myself
I've found inner peace and feel a sense of wholeness.
I've been caught in the rain
One too many times
I've been lost with the pain that I had to hide
I've experienced hardship and suffering that I had to keep to myself.
I was feeling but I couldn't move, forced like a statue
Running from the truth that I can't feel alone
Now I won't live without my Sunshine
I was emotionally crippled, afraid to face reality and be by myself. But now I won't live without the person who brings me happiness and warmth (my Sunshine).
I didn't recognize the face in front of me
The reflection of somebody I didn't want to be
I guess I forgot how good it felt to just be happy
And now there's no turning back
I didn't recognize myself and felt like I'd lost my way, but I've remembered the importance of happiness and won't go back to who I was before.
I remember the storm but I'll erase all the grey skies
No more grey skies, no
Stop ignoring the rainbows
And just leave me life in the sunshine
Cause we all need sunshine yeah
I've encountered difficult times but am determined to focus on the positive and live in the light. Because everyone needs some happiness in their lives.
(I've been caught in the rain) Sunshine
(I've been lost with the pain) my Sunshine
(I've been caught in the rain) Sunshine.
Despite the difficult times I've been through, I've found my happiness (my Sunshine) and won't let it go.
Contributed by Avery N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Philip Kassabian
on Straight From The Heart
Yet another excellent Bonnie Tyler song.
Philip Kassabian
on Holding Out for a Hero
A great and fantastic song by Bonnie Tyler.