Bonnie Speaks to Mix Megapol Before Stockholm Festival
In January, Bonnie Tyler squeezed in an interview with Mix Megapol, a Swedish radio show, amidst her Czech tour dates, discussing her current tour and the upcoming Drömmen Festival performance in Stockholm.
Hi, I got an interview at one o’clock.
And is this Bonnie?
Bonnie Tyler.
Hello, very welcome, Bonnie, to Mix Megapol.
Thank you very much.
My name is Charlotte.
Right, right, Charlotte. Just for you to know, I’m traveling on the tour bus at the moment, so it’s a bit noisy.
Bonnie Tyler apologizes and hopes that the signal is okay, because she’s in her tour bus on her way to the next gig. Before Christmas, she did 30 concerts, and right now she’s in the Czech Republic. She will be 73 years old in June.
I have a loyal fan base, and the shows are always going down so well. It gives you a lot of confidence, and we enjoy it. I’ve got a great band, and we all have fun on the stage.
What is it now, 50 years?
More than that, actually. But I’ve been recording for nearly 50 years, yeah.
How come you decided that you love to sing? How old were you?
Oh, I was quite young. I always used to sing around the house. My mother was always singing. But I was probably about 16 when I really got into it. I didn’t actually sing over a microphone until I was 17 and a half, and I’ve been singing ever since. The only time I haven’t sung was during the pandemic.
The last show that I did before the pandemic was in Sweden. After that show I had a week off, so we decided to go to the Algarve, to our house there, for a week. I ended up there for two years! It was wonderful. It was the first time that I hadn’t worked since I was 17. I was very, very lucky. I know how fortunate I was to be in that situation, because so many families had it so hard, living in apartments with no gardens, for example.
But was your husband with you there?
Yes, of course, he always travels with me, yeah.
You have been married for almost 50 years. Congratulations. What’s the secret?
Well, I love him, and we don’t get fed up with each other, we just enjoy touring. Luckily for me, he likes it. Otherwise I wouldn’t be doing it.
To be honest, I’m enjoying it more now than I ever did, because I was always so busy doing interviews and TV shows when I had songs in the charts. I missed out a lot on the touring side of it. I do so many shows now. I am gonna slow down a bit in the new year, but I’m not stopping all together. I’m just going to take it easy.
It’s always interesting to talk to people who’ve worked in the same profession for a long time, like you have. I’ve worked a long time in my job as well. Ultimately, you have to find something in yourself that makes it worth going to do a new show, to make it worth singing.
You’ve got to love what you do, and it’s hard work. But, when you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like hard work.
So how many times have you sung Total Eclipse of the Heart?
Oh, I don’t know. I’ve lost count, but I never get tired of it.
Why is that?
It’s such an iconic song, isn’t it? And everybody looks forward to hearing it. It was written by Jim Steinman. He’s a legend, and he wrote the most iconic songs ever, and I was lucky enough to have some of them, like Total Eclipse of the Heart, Holding Out for a Hero, and many more.
How do you keep your voice at a “good rasp”, so that it’s not too raspy?
I phone my voice coach every day that I’m working, and sometimes, the day before. He’s fantastic. I’ve been with him for over 10 years. He’s from London, and I do the exercises over the phone with him. He’s helped me a hell of a lot.
What about whisky?
I have one drink before I go on stage, and then after I like to drink red wine.
Of all your hits, which one do you like the most?
I’ve got a big soft spot for It’s a Heatache and Lost in France, but Total Eclipse of the Heart is the monster hit.
Do you have any regards to your Swedish fans?
Yeah, come and enjoy my band and myself. We’re gonna have fun on stage, and I know you’re gonna love it. Come and have a great time!
I wish you all the best for your ongoing tour. It will be nice to see you in Sweden!
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much for today, and drive safely.
Yeah. I’m not driving! (laughs)
For all upcoming tour dates, visit BonnieTyler.com/tour