Welsh men’s choir Only Men Aloud paid tribute to Bonnie Tyler during her funeral service in Swansea, Wales, performing her signature 1983 ballad “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” The emotionally resonant rendition took place near the conclusion of the ceremony on August 17, with the group accompanied by a small string section that underscored the song’s dramatic intensity.
The performance held particular significance given Tyler’s long-standing relationship with Only Men Aloud. The choir, which rose to prominence after winning the BBC competition Last Choir Standing in 2008, had previously collaborated with the singer on her 2009 album Band of Brothers, which featured a joint version of the same iconic track. The two had also performed together on several live occasions.
Beyond their rendition of “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” Only Men Aloud also honored Tyler earlier in the service by singing Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” a song Tyler herself had recorded for her 1995 album Free Spirit. The dual performances highlighted the deep musical connection between the legendary vocalist and the Welsh ensemble.
Tyler, a Welsh singing legend, passed away in early July at a hospital in Portugal following complications from emergency intestinal surgery. She had spent over a month hospitalized and was placed in a medically induced coma to facilitate recovery before her death several weeks later. An official cause of death remains undisclosed.
Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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