Bonnie Tyler (1951 – 2026)
Bonnie Tyler (1951 – 2026)
I have been urged this week to produce two blogs: one for Bonnie Tyler and one for Ann Widdecombe, both of whom died this week in unusual circumstances. So I am bowing to the pressure, but will write shortened blogs…
I loved Bonnie’s songs, and her voice, and the passion with which she sang. She lived in Portugal, and underwent emergency surgery some time ago, being put into an induced coma in intensive care. She recovered consciousness later, but failed to thrive. Such a tragedy – she loved to sing right up until her surgery planning tours. She was 75.
Birth Chart
Bonnie had the Sun in Gemini, conjunct Mars (singing with gusto!). Her Sun was exactly trine Neptune, so she was also inspirational and spiritual as well as being very physical. We do not have a birth time for her, to see the total balance of her chart, but the exact sextile of Pluto to her Sun gives away that touch of Scorpio which is heard in her voice. Her Mercury in Taurus (the sign of the Voice) was sextile with Venus, so she would have been good with words, but was not known for writing her own songs. However, she did co-write a handful of tracks for her albums.
The distinctive, raspy huskiness in her voice grew after she had an operation in 1977 to remove vocal nodules from her throat. Apparently, she did not rest her voice enough after the operation. Her voice has branded her “the female Rod Stewart”.
Mars trine Neptune gave her extra sensuality, again marrying spirituality and physicality.
Life and Career
Bonnie left school in Neath, Wales, without qualifications at 16, and it was soon clear that she was destined for a singing career. In 1969, aged 17, she entered into a local talent competition, and came second, but emerged knowing that singing was what she wanted to do for a living. Her favourite song growing up was “River Deep, Mountain High”.
Her debut album “The World Starts Tonight” came out in 1977, and she released the song “Lost in France” from that album.
I was lost in France
In the fields the birds were singing…
[a personal digression: I wrote a poem on the back of that, called “Lost in Tibet in Love”!]
In 1977 she also released “It’s a Heartache”
It’s a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it’s too late
Hits you when you’re down…
Are you singing along, yet?
On 11 February 1983, she released her biggest hit, “Total Eclipse of the Heart”, one of the best selling songs of all time, a result of working with songwriter Jim Steinman.
The chart of the song’s release has a sensuous conjunction of Venus and Mars, and an entrepreneurial conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus, contributing to its huge success. Saturn conjunct Pluto might suggest a total eclipse of something…and it bridges the cusp of Libra and Scorpio.
Pluto was sextile her natal Chiron – it was a profound healing and expression for her. Her career had been flagging a little before that point.
Uranus was trine her natal Jupiter – Sudden Success!
The South Node was on her natal Chiron – emphasizing a cathartic healing
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit lonely
When you’re never coming ’round…
That was followed by “Holding Out for a Hero” in 1984:
Where have all the good men gone, and where are all the gods?
Where’s the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds?
That contains all the warrior fire of her natal Sun conjunct Mars!
Bonnie married Robert Sullivan, a property developer in 1973. She miscarried at 39 (her Uranus Opposition), and had no children. They lived in Albufeira, Portugal.
Her last months
In early May of this year, she underwent emergency intestinal surgery. Her transits at the time included Saturn on her natal Jupiter and squaring her natal Uranus. Saturn squaring Uranus particularly can result in personal earthquakes.
She was placed in an induced coma, and on 12th May was said to be seriously ill but stable. She woke from the medically-induced coma on 15th June, but died on 8th July from complications. Chiron was trine her natal Chiron at that moment in time, suggesting that to pass over was a merciful healing for her at the time.
Her death would bring heartbreak all over the world – she was a particularly successful artist in America. But what a body of beautifully rendered songs she has left…
Tyler’s music represented “fighting and power and living life without apology”
~ Carol Vorderman
Stay tuned for my second blog of the day…
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