"Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Jim Steinman and Bonnie Tyler
Strong Songs
The Art of Backup Vocals and Dramatic Musical Elements
This chapter delves into the complex dynamics of vocal arrangements, spotlighting the delicate balance between lead and backup vocals. It culminates in an analysis of the final verse, showcasing how intricate drumming and vocal layering create a rich, dramatic sound.
Turn around... every now and then I get a little lonely and the snare is sounding small
Turn around... every now and then I get a little bit tired of listening to the sound of sleigh bells
Turn around... every now and then I get a little bit nervous that the cannons will not fire
Turn around...
...every now and then Kirk decides to take on a classic 80s power ballad, and winds up learning a thing or two about when to use castanets and how to pull off an elegant key change. (Are you still singing along? Wow.)
Written and Produced by: Jim Steinman
Featuring: Bonnie Tyler and Rory Dodd, co-lead vocals
Album: Faster than the Speed of Night, 1983
Listen/Buy via Album.Link
ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
- The "Literal Version" of the Total Eclipse music video
- Warren Huart's terrific "Produce Like a Pro" article and video about the song
- “Lost in France” and “More Than a Lover” by Bonnie Tyler from The World Starts Tonight, 1977
- “Bat Out of Hell” and “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” by Jim Steinman as sung by Meat Loaf and Ellen Foley on Bat Out of Hell, 1977
- “Making Love Out Of Nothing At All” by Jim Steinman and recorded by Air Supply, 1983
- ‘One-Hit Wonder’ Bonnie Tyler Resumes Her Singing Career with a ‘Total Eclipse’ of the Charts, People Magazine, November 1983
- “For Those About To Rock, (We Salute You)” by AC/DC, 1981
- Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukrane, 2005
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