Bonnie Tyler, the Grammy-nominated singer behind iconic 1980s hits "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out for a Hero," has died at the age of 75. Her death was announced via a statement on her official Facebook page, which described her passing as unexpected and occurring in a hospital in Portugal.
Tyler had been receiving treatment for an illness and was hospitalized in May for emergency intestinal surgery, after which she was placed in an induced coma. While she emerged from the coma last month and her condition was reported to be improving, with speculation even about future tour dates, she ultimately succumbed to her illness.
Her music has left a significant mark on the gaming world. "Holding Out for a Hero" was featured in the final mission of Volition's 2011 game Saints Row: The Third and also appeared in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. Tyler's most famous song, "Total Eclipse of the Heart," played during the intro sequence of Battlefield 4. Her songs have also been included in various music and rhythm games such as Just Dance, Singstar, and We Sing.
Despite the enduring popularity and extensive use of "Total Eclipse of the Heart," Tyler recently shared in an interview that she received minimal financial benefit from the track. She explained that as the song was solely written by Jim Steinman, its publishing royalties go to his estate. The master recording rights are owned by Sony Music, which shares a percentage with Tyler based on her original 1980s recording contract, predating the digital streaming era. Spotify alone reported paying out $1.4 million in royalties for Tyler's back catalog last year. Tyler, however, stated she never tired of singing the song, calling it "evergreen" due to its frequent use in media.
Born in South Wales, Tyler achieved global stardom in the 1980s. She had been living in Faro, Portugal, at the time of her death.