Streams of Bonnie Tyler's 1982 hit 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' rose 94% in the United Kingdom and 14% globally on 12 August, the day a partial solar eclipse was visible across the UK, according to Spotify. The spike coincided with the week of Tyler's funeral, scheduled for 17 August at St Mary's Church in Swansea.
Bonnie Tyler's 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' streams rose 94% in UK during partial solar eclipse
Streams of Bonnie Tyler's 1982 hit 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' rose 94% in the United Kingdom and 14% globally on 12 August, the day a partial solar eclipse was visible across the UK, according to Spotify. The spike coincided with the week of Tyler's funeral, scheduled for 17 August at St Mary's Church in Swansea.
Tyler, born Gaynor Hopkins in Neath, Wales, died on 8 July aged 75 at a hospital in Portugal, 'as a result of the illness that she was being treated for,' according to a statement from her family. Her death was described as 'unexpected.'
'Total Eclipse of the Heart' spent two weeks at number one in the UK and four weeks at number one in the United States after its release. Its music video has surpassed 1.2 billion views on YouTube, and the song has accumulated more than one billion streams on Spotify. Spotify previously reported paying out more than $1.4 million for streams of Tyler's catalogue in 2025.
Spotify said 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' was among several 'celestial' songs that saw UK streaming increases on 12 August. The platform listed the largest UK streaming increases during the eclipse as: Evolfo's 'Moon Eclipsed the Sun' (+12,817%), Chris Staples's 'Dark Side of the Moon' (+2,805%), Pink Floyd's 'Eclipse' (+594%), Delta Goodrem's 'Eclipse' (+104%), Bonnie Tyler's 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' (+94%), and Bill Withers's 'Ain't No Sunshine' (+17%).
Tyler's funeral arrangements include her coffin being brought to her Mumbles home on 15 August at 15:30 BST, with members of the public invited to line Newton Road at 15:15 BST to pay their respects. A procession through Mumbles village is planned for Saturday and a tribute concert for Sunday ahead of the 17 August service.
Tyler released her first single, 'Lost in France,' in 1977 and was discovered by talent scout Roger Bell in a Swansea club. She was nominated for a Grammy, represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013, and was awarded an MBE for services to music by Prince William in 2023 after being named in the Queen's last Birthday Honours list in 2022.
- The source does not state the absolute number of streams 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' received on 12 August, only the percentage increase.
- The source does not identify which of Tyler's friends heard the song playing throughout Mumbles during the eclipse.
- The source does not state what illness Tyler was being treated for at the time of her death.
- The source does not specify the date on which the McVitie's Jaffa Cakes advertisement resurfaced ahead of the 12 August eclipse.
- The source does not state the research methodology or source behind the finding that almost half (49%) of Brits did not understand how eclipses occurred.