Always home
the idea that these recent collaborations represent Some stars that have succeeded in the industry
any kind of comeback or return to the limelight. in a more traditional way can be bitter about the
She has never really been away, she stresses. merits of such shows and the quality of the singers
for Christmas
that they produce. Bonnie sees things differently,
“I am always working, but it is away a lot of the
however. Her fi rst insight into her potential came
time,” she says. “I’ve been everywhere this year –
when she came second in a talent contest as a
Though a regular visitor to Swansea and famous
to Canada, Australia, BB King’s in New York, and I
teenager, winning £1. Only Men Aloud achieved
for her Christmas parties at her Mumbles
have played loads of summer festivals in Europe,
fame thanks to reality TV, of course, and, as she
home, Bonnie Tyler’s permanent address is in
headlining some. But I have never performed with
points out, shows of this nature are nothing new.
the Algarve in Portugal. Apart from the better
a choir before so that is something new to me,
weather, she says she fi nds it easier to commute
although it’s just a one-off song.” “I won £1 back then – these days you win a £1
from there to gigs in Europe, where she performs
million recording contract. But the principle is the
for much of the time. The single of the epic Total Eclipse should do well,
same,” she says. “We had TV shows like New
especially in the run-up to Christmas. The album,
Faces back then. I think ‘good luck’ to people
“It is a wonderful place,” she says. “We will take
called Band of Brothers, and which is Only Men
if they are good singers. I even voted for Leona
the boat down the coastline and go somewhere
Aloud’s second offering, topped the classical
Lewis and Will Young!
for lunch. I share it a lot with my family – I have
album charts at the middle of October.
three sisters and two brothers and 16 nieces and
“Aren’t we lucky in Wales to have so many good
nephews. They have all spent a lot of time there. “It is a song that has always touched a lot of
singers in such a small area,” she says. “My own
Family is very important to me. I’ve got a big people,” she says. “It was recently number one
family do their fair share. My sister also sings on
family and I love that so much.” in France again for a number of weeks. But this
Cappuccino Girls, and you want to hear my brother
version in particular is just absolutely amazing. The
– he’s the lead singer in a band. My nephew Dean
But she says she would never consider leaving
arrangement that Tim Rhys-Evans [the founder
sings too. I also hear Shirley Bassey’s got a new
Wales permanently. “It’s great to still have a
and musical director of the choir] has done is just
album coming out as well!”
place in Wales. I love it here,” she says. “I’ve
fabulous. The choir boys sound heavenly.”
been outside today at my home [in Mumbles].
She adds that a big
The sea’s coming in and it’s actually blue today The collaboration came
difference between the
which is unbelievable. about in a short space of
time. Only Men Aloud were “I HAVE
industry then and now though
is that there were more
“I’d never sell my house here. It’s beautiful and
due to perform their own
opportunities to sing live. “I
probably one of the best locations in Wales –
version of Total Eclipse at
went from singing into my
overlooking the bay. I’m back quite often, but
Cardiff International Arena BEEN TRULY
hairbrush in my bedroom in
mostly just for a few days at a time. One of my
just days after Tim Rhys
Skewen [where Bonnie was
favourite things is every Christmas morning I
Evans fi rst spoke to Bonnie
born] to going round friends’
have 200 or so people come round the house
about featuring on the song. BLESSED.”
houses with a bag of records
for a big party. We have it every year. I’m always
to sing along to on a Friday
home at Christmas in Wales. I wouldn’t miss it “The boys were doing
night to singing in bands.
for the world.” the song anyway and they thought there was
And you get the experience doing that. It is more
something missing. So they asked me if I would
diffi cult these days.”
appear with them at Cardiff Arena and I said I’d
have to have a rehearsal and see what it was like,”
The band she refers to was called Bobby Wayne &
Bonnie explains. “It seemed to go well, so the next
The Dixies, and she later had another band called
day I had a rehearsal in a hall before the gig and it
Imagination, which performed in pubs and clubs
went so well that I said I’d do it at the concert.”
all over South Wales. When she was discovered
and signed to a label in the late 1970s, initial
No one – including the families of Only Men Aloud
success came quickly through songs such as Lost
– knew she was going to perform that night. The
in France.
arena was sold out anyway and went into raptures
when, three minutes into their performance of Total
But it wasn’t until she signed for a new label in
Eclipse, Tim Rhys-Evans welcomed Bonnie onto
the early 1980s and began collaborating with
the stage.
Jim Steinman that a series of massive global hits
started, including Total Eclipse and Holding Out for
“The whole place erupted and we had a standing
a Hero.
ovation after the song. It was amazing,” says
Bonnie. “It worked so well that they asked me how
“All I have ever wanted to do is entertain people.
I felt about recording it with them on their new
I have been truly blessed with the success I have
album, which is out on the same day as the single.
had, and it is fantastic and exciting to be back in
I’d enjoyed it so much that I said I’d love to do it.”
Wales working on these projects now,” she says.
A reality check
You may also being seen yet more Bonnie Tyler in
the next 12 months. She is also working on her
Bonnie’s latest brush with the limelight comes at
own album, which she hopes to release about 12
a good time for Welsh singers generally, largely
months from now. She says she has completed
thanks to reality TV shows such as The X Factor
six tracks already, but is in no rush to fi nish the
and Britain’s Got Talent. The likes of Paul Potts,
album. “I am aiming for this time next year, but it
Rhydian Roberts and Shaheen Jafargholi all found
will only be when it is right,” she says.
overnight success thanks to such shows.
The secret of youth
Now 58, Bonnie is often complimented on her youthful looks. Unlike many stars though, she is not
shy about revealing one of her secrets: botox.
“It’s no secret that I have it. I’ve been having it for 15 years and I always tell people,” she says.
“The earlier you have it the better because you can’t develop any lines then. And if you keep up
having the botox twice a year then you won’t get any – it’s marvellous. I love it.”
26 swansealife November 2009
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