Total Eclipse of the Heart
Encyclopedia
"Total Eclipse of the Heart" is a song written and produced by Jim Steinman
and recorded by Welsh
singer Bonnie Tyler
for her fifth studio album, Faster Than the Speed of Night
. Released as a single in 1983, it was the first release from the album and became Tyler's biggest hit reaching number one in several countries including the United States, making her the first and, to date, only Welsh singer to reach the top of the Billboard Charts.
, Australia
, Canada
, and the United Kingdom
. At its peak, it sold 60,000 copies per day, and approximately 6 million copies in total. It won the Variety Club award in the UK for best single of 1983. The song also made number 82 of VH1's top 100 love songs.
According to Meat Loaf
, Steinman had given the song, along with "Making Love (Out of Nothing At All)", to Meat Loaf
for his album Midnight at the Lost and Found
; however, Meat Loaf's record company refused to pay for Steinman and he wrote separate songs himself. "Total Eclipse of the Heart" was then given to Bonnie Tyler and "Making Love (Out of Nothing At All)" to Air Supply
.
The song's melody originally appeared as part of the soundtrack for the 1980 film A Small Circle of Friends
.
for "Total Eclipse of the Heart" was directed by Russell Mulcahy
. It was story-boarded by Jim Steinman
and drew inspiration from the 1976 film Futureworld
. The Gothic-themed video features Bonnie Tyler clad in white, apparently having a dream or fantasy about her students in a boys' boarding school. Young men are seen dancing and participating in various school activities such as swim team
, karate
, gymnastics
, football
, fencing
, soccer, and singing in a choir
. The video was shot at Holloway Sanatorium
, notable for its Gothic architecture and distinguished for the multi-arched grand entrance as seen at the end of the video.
version is roughly one minute longer than the radio version, and contains the second verse.
References
Dutch Charts http://www.dutchcharts.nl/
Australia http://australian-charts.com/
Sweden http://swedishcharts.com/
Norway http://norwegiancharts.com/
France http://lescharts.com// http://www.infodisc.fr// http://www.chartsinfrance.net/
Canada http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/index-e.html
USAhttp://www.billboard.com// http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1983/10-01.htm
New Zealandhttp://charts.org.nz/
South Africa http://www.rock.co.za
Irish http://www.irishcharts.ie/?scr=irma.ie
UK http://www.chartstats.com/release.php?release=10248/ http://www.theofficialcharts.com/ / http://www.cashboxmagazine.com/index.htm
US 7" single
UK 12" single
recorded it for episode 17 of season 1
, "Bad Reputation
", and featured vocals from Lea Michele
& Jonathan Groff
.
released a dance cover of the song in early 1995, which was also a worldwide hit. In the United States, French's version peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100
and garnered frequent airplay on CHR
and AC radio. It also reached No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart
after being re-issued in 1995. In June 2006, French released a refreshed version of the track in collaboration with the Diva DJs.
|-
|-
|-
Jim Steinman
James Richard "Jim" Steinman is an American composer, lyricist, and Grammy Award-winning record producer responsible for several hit songs. He has also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer...
and recorded by Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
singer Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
for her fifth studio album, Faster Than the Speed of Night
Faster Than the Speed of Night
Faster Than the Speed of Night is an album by Bonnie Tyler released in April 1983. Her fifth album, and her most successful, it includes her UK and US #1 hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart"....
. Released as a single in 1983, it was the first release from the album and became Tyler's biggest hit reaching number one in several countries including the United States, making her the first and, to date, only Welsh singer to reach the top of the Billboard Charts.
Background
The power ballad remains Tyler's most successful song, peaking at No. 1 in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. At its peak, it sold 60,000 copies per day, and approximately 6 million copies in total. It won the Variety Club award in the UK for best single of 1983. The song also made number 82 of VH1's top 100 love songs.
According to Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
, Steinman had given the song, along with "Making Love (Out of Nothing At All)", to Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
for his album Midnight at the Lost and Found
Midnight at the Lost and Found
- Personnel :* Meat Loaf — lead vocals, backing vocals * Mark Doyle — guitars, piano , bass , synthesizers , vocals * Rick Derringer — guitars , bass...
; however, Meat Loaf's record company refused to pay for Steinman and he wrote separate songs himself. "Total Eclipse of the Heart" was then given to Bonnie Tyler and "Making Love (Out of Nothing At All)" to Air Supply
Air Supply
Air Supply is an Australian soft rock duo, consisting of Graham Russell as guitarist and singer-songwriter and Russell Hitchcock as lead vocalist. They had a succession of hits worldwide, including eight Top Ten hits in the United States, in the early 1980s...
.
The song's melody originally appeared as part of the soundtrack for the 1980 film A Small Circle of Friends
A Small Circle of Friends
A Small Circle of Friends is a film released in 1980 by United Artists starring Brad Davis, Karen Allen, Shelley Long, Jameson Parker, Peter Mark, and an uncredited Craig Richard Nelson, who played Bell in The Paper Chase, another film set at Harvard. The film follows the life of three students at...
.
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Total Eclipse of the Heart" was directed by Russell Mulcahy
Russell Mulcahy
Russell Mulcahy is an Australian film director. His work is easily recognized by his use of fast cuts, tracking shots and use of glowing lights.- Music videos :...
. It was story-boarded by Jim Steinman
Jim Steinman
James Richard "Jim" Steinman is an American composer, lyricist, and Grammy Award-winning record producer responsible for several hit songs. He has also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer...
and drew inspiration from the 1976 film Futureworld
Futureworld
Futureworld is a 1976 sequel to the 1973 science fiction film Westworld. It was written by George Schenk and Mayo Simon, and directed by Richard T. Heffron. The cast included Peter Fonda, Blythe Danner, and Arthur Hill. There is also a cameo appearance by Yul Brynner in a dream sequence...
. The Gothic-themed video features Bonnie Tyler clad in white, apparently having a dream or fantasy about her students in a boys' boarding school. Young men are seen dancing and participating in various school activities such as swim team
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
, gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
, football
Gridiron football
Gridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
, fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
, soccer, and singing in a choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
. The video was shot at Holloway Sanatorium
Holloway Sanatorium
Holloway Sanatorium was an institution for the treatment of the insane, located on of parkland near the town of Virginia Water, Surrey, within the boundary of the Greater London Urban Area, about south-west of Charing Cross....
, notable for its Gothic architecture and distinguished for the multi-arched grand entrance as seen at the end of the video.
Length
The original version of the song, on Faster Than the Speed of Night, was just over seven minutes in length. Thus, an edited version was and still is most commonly played on radio. The radio version is four and a half minutes long, and removes the entire second and third verses and trims the extended fade-out ending. The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
version is roughly one minute longer than the radio version, and contains the second verse.
Personnel
- Bonnie TylerBonnie TylerBonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
- lead vocals - Rick DerringerRick DerringerRick Derringer is an American guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer.-1960s:When he was seventeen years old, his band The McCoys recorded "Hang on Sloopy" in the summer of 1965, which became the number one song in America before "Yesterday" by The Beatles knocked it out of the top spot. The song was...
- guitar - Steve Buslowe - bass guitar
- Roy BittanRoy BittanRoy Bittan is an American keyboardist, best known as a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, which he joined on August 23, 1974...
- piano - Larry FastLarry FastLawrence Roger 'Larry' Fast is a synthesizer expert and composer. He is best known for Synergy, his 1975–1987 series of synthesizer music albums, and for his contribution to a number of popular music acts, including Peter Gabriel, Foreigner, and Hall and Oates.- Biography :Fast grew up in...
- synthesizers - Steve Margoshes - additional synths
- Max WeinbergMax WeinbergMax Weinberg is an American drummer and television personality, most widely known as the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and as the bandleader for Conan O'Brien on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.Weinberg grew up in suburban New Jersey...
- drums - Jimmy MaelenJimmy MaelenJimmy Maelen was a percussionist in the 1960s-1980s, who worked with many artists including Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry, Peter Gabriel, James Taylor, Dire Straits, Barry Manilow, Alice Cooper and John Lennon...
- percussion - Rory DoddRory DoddRory Dodd is a Canadian rock vocalist who has performed many songs written by Jim Steinman. He is probably best known for singing the "Turn around, bright eyes" lyrics on Bonnie Tyler's version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart."...
- 'Turn around' and backing vocals - Eric TroyerEric TroyerEric Lee Troyer is an American keyboardist, singer, songwriter, and occasional guitarist, best known as a member of ELO Part II and its successor, popular live band, The Orchestra. Troyer was a founding member of ELO Part II, having been recruited by band leader Bev Bevan in 1989.-Life and...
- backing vocals
Versions with Bonnie Tyler or Jim Steinman involvement
- In December 2003, a re-recorded French/English duet version called "Si demain... (Turn Around)Si demain... (Turn Around)"Si demain... " is a 2003 bilingual song recorded by Bonnie Tyler and Kareen Antonn, and written by Jim Steinman and Emmanuel Pribys. It was released on 19 December 2003 as the lead single from Tyler's album Simply Believe, and became a huge hit in France, where it topped the chart for three...
" was released. It was sung by Bonnie Tyler and Kareen AntonnKareen AntonnKareen Antonn is a French artist of Greek and Spanish origin.In 2003, she recorded in duet with Bonnie Tyler the hit songs "Si demain... " and "Si Tout s'arrête ". She also recorded "Un Homme se blesse" to help the homeless.-Singles:* 2003 : "Si demain.....
and peaked at #1 in France, Belgium and Poland. - WestlifeWestlifeWestlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
recorded a cover of the song on their 2006 album The Love AlbumThe Love Album (Westlife album)The Love Album is the seventh studio album and second cover album by boy band Westlife from the Republic of Ireland and it was released on 20 November 2006. The songs on the album centers around the theme of "love". During their Face To Face Tour, the band performed "The Dance". The song was said...
. The song would have been released as the album's second single but was cancelled due to their Love Tour conflicts, though a promo release still reached #5 on the radio charts in the Philippines. Three official remixes have been made for their version as well as a remix done by Jim SteinmanJim SteinmanJames Richard "Jim" Steinman is an American composer, lyricist, and Grammy Award-winning record producer responsible for several hit songs. He has also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer...
, which was ultimately rejected by the record label but has surfaced on the Internet. - The song was rewritten in 1997 with lyrics by Michael Kunze as "Totale Finsternis" for the musical Tanz der Vampire.
- BabyPinkStarBabyPinkStarBabyPinkStar are an Electro glam punk band from Sheffield, England, formed in 2004 with original members Tom, Ben, Alice, and Bleepy.-Career:BabyPinkStar's first gig was at a festival in Sheffield called DevJam, held annually on Devonshire Green...
recorded the song with Bonnie Tyler in a punk/electronic remix version that was released in the UK in January 2007. - In preparation for the 2002 Broadway, New York show Dance of the Vampires, a demo of the song, with some modifications in the music and lyric, sung as a duet by Steve BartonSteve BartonSteve Barton was an American actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, stage director and teacher.- Biography :Steven Neal Barton was born on June 26, 1954, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States, the youngest of three children of Tom and Mary Barton...
and Elaine CaswellElaine Caswell-Jim Steinman:Over the years Caswell has sung on demos for composer and lyricist Jim Steinman, many of which have been released to the public. These include demos for the songs "Braver Than We Are", "Vampires in Love" and a minor part on the demo for "In the Land of the Pig The Butcher Is...
became available on the internet. Barton and Cornelia Zenz had sung the German-language song "Totale Finsternis" on the original cast album for Tanz der Vampire. For each cast that performed Tanz der Vampire and each cast recording, in any language, the actors cast as Krolock and Sarah sang "Totale Finsternis." A bootleg recording with Michael CrawfordMichael CrawfordMichael Crawford OBE is an English actor and singer. He has garnered great critical acclaim and won numerous awards during his career, which covers radio, television, film, and stagework on both London's West End and on Broadway in New York City...
and Mandy GonzalezMandy GonzalezMandy Gonzalez is an American actress and singer, who most recently finished a 10-month run as Elphaba in the Broadway musical Wicked.-Early life and education:...
from the original Broadway cast is also available. - Bonnie Tyler released a new version of the song with Welsh choral group Only Men Aloud!Only Men Aloud!Only Men Aloud! is a male voice choir from Wales. The choir came to national prominence in the UK when they won the Last Choir Standing competition run by BBC television during 2008.-Overview:...
backing her. - In 2010, Tyler appeared in a television advertisement for MasterCardMasterCardMastercard Incorporated or MasterCard Worldwide is an American multinational financial services corporation with its headquarters in the MasterCard International Global Headquarters, Purchase, Harrison, New York, United States...
called "Neville" singing a parody of "Total Eclipse of the Heart".
Charts
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Kent Music Report | 1 |
| France Pré-Chart Era | 1 |
| Norway Charts | 1 |
| South Africa Charts | 1 |
| Irish Charts | 1 |
| Canadian RPM 100 | 1 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary | 9 |
| New Zealand Charts | 1 |
| France Infodisc (Sales + Airplay) | 3 |
| Sweden Charts | 3 |
| Swiss Charts | 3 |
| Germany Charts | 16 |
| Dutch Chart | 18 |
| UK Charts | 1 |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary | 7 |
| US Billboard Mainstream Rock | 23 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 1 |
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
| Irish Charts | 32 |
| UK Charts | 57 |
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
| UK Charts | 94 |
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
| Danish Chartshttp://danishcharts.com/weekchart.asp?cat=s | 35 |
References
Dutch Charts http://www.dutchcharts.nl/
Australia http://australian-charts.com/
Sweden http://swedishcharts.com/
Norway http://norwegiancharts.com/
France http://lescharts.com// http://www.infodisc.fr// http://www.chartsinfrance.net/
Canada http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/index-e.html
USAhttp://www.billboard.com// http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1983/10-01.htm
New Zealandhttp://charts.org.nz/
South Africa http://www.rock.co.za
Irish http://www.irishcharts.ie/?scr=irma.ie
UK http://www.chartstats.com/release.php?release=10248/ http://www.theofficialcharts.com/ / http://www.cashboxmagazine.com/index.htm
Formats and track listings
UK 7" single- "Total Eclipse of the Heart" 4:29
- "Take Me Back" 5:05
US 7" single
- "Total Eclipse of the Heart" 4:29
- "Straight from the HeartStraight from the Heart (song)"Straight from the Heart" is a rock ballad, which was the first single from Bryan Adams' first hit album Cuts Like a Knife. The song was Adams' first song to reach the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #10. It also peaked at #32 on the Adult Contemporary chart, the first Bryan Adams single...
" 3:38
UK 12" single
- "Total Eclipse of the Heart" 6:59
- "Take Me Back" 5:22
Cover versions
It has been covered several times, and rewritten with Michael Kunze for the musical Tanz der Vampire as "Totale Finsternis". The Fox TV show GleeGlee (TV series)
Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
recorded it for episode 17 of season 1
Glee (season 1)
The first season of the musical comedy-drama television series Glee originally aired on Fox in the United States. The pilot episode was broadcast as an advanced preview of the series on May 19, 2009, with the remainder of the season airing between September 9, 2009 and June 8, 2010...
, "Bad Reputation
Bad Reputation (Glee)
"Bad Reputation" is the 17th episode of the American television series, Glee. The episode premiered on the Fox network on May 4, 2010. It was directed by Elodie Keene, and written by series creator Ian Brennan. In "Bad Reputation", cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester is publicly ridiculed when a...
", and featured vocals from Lea Michele
Lea Michele
Lea Michele Sarfati , known professionally as Lea Michele, is an American actress and singer. Michele began working professionally as a child actress on Broadway in productions such as Ragtime and Les Misérables. She originated the role of Wendla in the musical Spring Awakening and currently plays...
& Jonathan Groff
Jonathan Groff
Jonathan Drew Groff is an American singer-songwriter, stage, television and film actor. He originated the role of Melchior Gabor in the stage musical Spring Awakening and appeared as Jesse St...
.
Nicki French version
Nicki FrenchNicki French
Nicola S. French is a female English singer and dancer. She is best known for her 1995 dance cover version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart", and for representing the United Kingdom in 2000 at Eurovision in Stockholm.-Career:French provided backing vocals on Rose-Marie's 1992 album, Emotional Exposure...
released a dance cover of the song in early 1995, which was also a worldwide hit. In the United States, French's version peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and garnered frequent airplay on CHR
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
and AC radio. It also reached No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
after being re-issued in 1995. In June 2006, French released a refreshed version of the track in collaboration with the Diva DJs.
Peak positions
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
2 |
| Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart | 14 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 16 |
| Canadian RPM Dance | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary | 17 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 10 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 13 |
| UK Singles Chart | 5 |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary | 20 |
| US Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 2 |
| US Billboard Rhythmic 40 | 12 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 37 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1995) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 19 |
Other versions
- This song was sampled by Scottish band The Beta BandThe Beta BandThe Beta Band were a British musical group who received much critical acclaim and achieved cult status amongst avid followers of the underground and experimental music scene...
on their track "The Hard One", from their self-titled album. They also altered the lyrics to "Once upon a time I was falling apart, now I'm always falling in love". Jim Steinman, took objection and tried to persuade the band to re-record the song without the samples but later had a change of heart. - The song is usually performed as a show-closer by cabaretCabaretCabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
performers Kiki and HerbKiki and HerbKiki and Herb are an American drag cabaret duo. Bond portrays Kiki DuRane, an aging, alcoholic, female lounge singer...
. Their cover incorporates the opening verse of Pat BenatarPat BenatarPat Benatar is an American singer and four-time Grammy winner. She had considerable commercial success particularly in the United States...
's hit, "Love Is a BattlefieldLove Is a Battlefield"Love Is a Battlefield" is a song written by Holly Knight and Mike Chapman, after Pat Benatar asked Chapman to write her a hit song. It was released as a single from Benatar's album Live from Earth. The single has been certified gold and is her highest charting single in the United States...
". A recorded version of this cover can be found on the album Kiki and Herb Will Die for You: Live at Carnegie HallKiki and Herb Will Die for You: Live at Carnegie Hall-Track listing:Act One / Disc One#"Close to it All" – 2:01#Medley: "Note to Self: Don't Die / Flamingo / When Doves Cry" – 5:23#"Opening Remarks" – 2:32#"Why" – 4:05#"Hoochie Coochie" – 4:35#"Sex Bomb" – 3:11...
. - The funk supergroup CameoCameo (band)Cameo is an American soul-influenced funk group that formed in the early 1970s. Cameo was initially a 13-member group known as the New York City Players; this name was later changed to Cameo to avoid a lawsuit from Ohio Players, another group from that era. Since then, Cameo has recorded several...
covers the song frequently in live performances, often changing the lyrics to 'Turn Around... Word Up' - Experimental NorwegianNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
rockers Hurra TorpedoHurra TorpedoHurra Torpedo is a band from Norway that plays songs using kitchen appliances alongside more traditional instruments. They were formed in the early nineties, are part of the artistic collective Duplex Records, and all members of the band also play in a variety of other bands in Norway.During...
did a cover version of the song on the Norwegian television programme Lille lørdag in 1995. A video of the performance, featuring kitchen appliances as percussion, became an internet memeInternet memeThe term Internet meme is used to describe a concept that spreads via the Internet. The term is a reference to the concept of memes, although the latter concept refers to a much broader category of cultural information.-Description:...
in 2005. - On August 21, 2005, Tori AmosTori AmosTori Amos is an American pianist, singer-songwriter and composer. She was at the forefront of a number of female singer-songwriters in the early 1990s and was noteworthy early in her career as one of the few alternative rock performers to use a piano as her primary instrument...
covered the song during a live performance in BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. It is featured on the album The Original BootlegsThe Original BootlegsThe Original Bootlegs is a series of six Tori Amos live albums, recorded during the Original Sinsuality and Summer of Sin tours, both of which were in support of her 2005 album, The Beekeeper. Double-disc sets were released for each complete show, which were initially released in pairs and sold...
, Volume 6: B of A Pavilion, Boston, MA, CD 1, Track 8. - The Dan BandThe Dan BandThe Dan Band is a comedy band from Los Angeles, California, created by actor/comedian Dan Finnerty.The band is well known for its covers of originally female-performed pop songs, with added obscenities and swearing...
released a profanity-laced cover of the song. Two versions of this song are included on the album The Dan Band LiveThe Dan Band LiveThe Dan Band Live is the first album released by The Dan Band. It includes humorous covers of various pop songs.-Track listing:#"Free Your Mind/I Am Woman"#"Gloria/Mickey"#"Abba Medley"#"Shoop/Whatta Man/Never Gonna Get It"...
, a studio version and a live version. A version of this song by The Dan BandThe Dan BandThe Dan Band is a comedy band from Los Angeles, California, created by actor/comedian Dan Finnerty.The band is well known for its covers of originally female-performed pop songs, with added obscenities and swearing...
was featured the film Old SchoolOld School (film)Old School is a 2003 American comedy film released by DreamWorks SKG and directed by Todd Phillips, director of the documentary Frat House. The story was written by Court Crandall, and the film was written by Phillips and Scot Armstrong...
. - The song has been performed three times on American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
by Nikki McKibbinNikki McKibbinKatherine Nicole "Nikki" McKibbin is an American rock music singer-songwriter who finished third in the debut season of the reality television series American Idol. Prior to American Idol, McKibbin appeared in the first season of Popstars...
, Jessica SierraJessica SierraJessica Ann Sierra is an American singer and was the tenth-place finalist on the fourth season of American Idol. She was the third finalist eliminated, on March 30, 2005...
, and Carly SmithsonCarly SmithsonCarly Smithson is an Irish soul/pop rock singer-songwriter and actress from San Diego, California who was the sixth place finalist on the seventh season of American Idol. In 2001, Smithson released her first studio album for MCA Records called Ultimate High. Smithson was dropped from the record...
. Sierra recorded a version that was released on the American Idol Season 4: The ShowstoppersAmerican Idol Season 4: The ShowstoppersSeason 4: The Showstoppers contains one cover song from each of the top 12 finalists during season 4 of the television show American Idol, along with a song that features all 12 of them together.The CD was certified gold on July 26, 2005....
album. - The song and its video were parodied in 2009, in what the fans and makers call a "literal video version", which replaces the original song lyrics with humorous lyrics describing the images in the video. Time magazine listed it as the 6th best viral videoViral videoA viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email...
of 2009. - The song was covered by the Hong Kong actress / pop star Sammi ChengSammi ChengSammi Cheng Sau-Man is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress. Having enjoyed much success in the Hong Kong music industry, Sammi has been known as a diva and has been one of the most successful female singer in Hong Kong since the 1990s. Her albums have sold more than 25 million copies through...
on her 2004 Sammi vs Sammi album of cover versions. - Pop-punk band Straight Outta Junior High covered the song on their 2004 album Kiss of Deaf.
- Lin Yu ChunLin Yu ChunLin Yu Chun ; born March 9, 1986 in Taipei) is a Taiwanese singer, who gained fame by appearing on a Taiwanese talent show, One Million Star , singing "I Will Always Love You" in the style of Whitney Houston's cover version...
performed it with William ShatnerWilliam ShatnerWilliam Alan Shatner is a Canadian actor, musician, recording artist, and author. He gained worldwide fame and became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T...
on an episode of Lopez TonightLopez TonightLopez Tonight was an American late-night television talk show hosted by comedian George Lopez. The hour-long program premiered on November 9, 2009, on cable network TBS. Lopez was the first Mexican American to host a late-night talk show on an English-language network in the United States. The...
. - The American rock band The ProtomenThe ProtomenThe Protomen is an American rock band best known for composing original concept albums loosely based on the popular video game series Mega Man...
have performed the song at various live shows. - The musical comedy TV show GleeGlee (TV series)Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
made a cover of this song in the episode "Bad ReputationBad Reputation (Glee)"Bad Reputation" is the 17th episode of the American television series, Glee. The episode premiered on the Fox network on May 4, 2010. It was directed by Elodie Keene, and written by series creator Ian Brennan. In "Bad Reputation", cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester is publicly ridiculed when a...
" with a performance similar to the music video, as the character Rachel Berry (Lea MicheleLea MicheleLea Michele Sarfati , known professionally as Lea Michele, is an American actress and singer. Michele began working professionally as a child actress on Broadway in productions such as Ragtime and Les Misérables. She originated the role of Wendla in the musical Spring Awakening and currently plays...
) singing the song had simultaneously angered and pushed away three of her ex-boyfriends (in this case, Finn HudsonFinn HudsonFinn Hudson is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. The character is portrayed by actor Cory Monteith, and has appeared in Glee from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009. Finn was developed by Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan...
(Cory MonteithCory MonteithCory Allan Monteith is a Canadian actor and musician, best known for his role of Finn Hudson on the Fox television series Glee.-Early life:...
), Jesse St. James (Jonathan GroffJonathan GroffJonathan Drew Groff is an American singer-songwriter, stage, television and film actor. He originated the role of Melchior Gabor in the stage musical Spring Awakening and appeared as Jesse St...
) and Noah Puckerman (Mark Salling)). - Niki Evans performed the song on the 4th series of the UK version of The X-FactorThe X Factor (UK)The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
, followed by boyband One DirectionOne DirectionOne Direction are a British-Irish boy band, consisting of members Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson. They finished third on the seventh series of The X Factor. Following The X Factor, the group signed a record contract with Syco Music.One Direction's debut single...
three years later on 30 October 2010. - Translated recorded versions of the song include the Swedish "När Känslorna Tystnat För Gott" (1984) by Cotton Club, the Spanish "Eclipse Total del Amor" (1985) by LissetteLissetteLissette Álvarez is a singer, songwriter and record producer from Peru. She is best known for recording a Spanish language version of Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in 1985.-Early life:...
, the Finnish "Tunnen Sen Täysillä Taas" (1992) by Vicky RostiVicky RostiVirve "Vicky" Rosti is a Finnish singer of popular music. Her most famous songs include "Kun Chicago kuoli" , "Tuolta saapuu Charlie Brown" , "Menolippu" , "Oon voimissain" , "Sata salamaa"...
and the Italian "Eclissi del cuore" by L'AuraL'AuraL'Aura alias Laura Abela is an Italian singer, songwriter, composer, pianist and violinist.L'Aura spent two years in San Francisco in preparation for recording her first record titled Okumuki, which was recorded in Italy and released in 2005. She sung part of it in Italian and part of it in English...
(2010). - The actor Zachary GordonZachary GordonZachary Adam Gordon is an American film and television actor, best known for playing Greg Heffley in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid films which are based on Jeff Kinney's #1 New York Times best seller Diary of a Wimpy Kid....
performed a cover of the song in the film Diary of a Wimpy KidDiary of a Wimpy Kid (film)Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a 2010 American comedy film directed by Thor Freudenthal and based on Jeff Kinney's book of the same name. The film was released on March 19, 2010. It was released on DVD, iTunes, and Blu-ray on August 3, 2010.-Plot:...
. - In late 2010, WingWingA wing is an appendage with a surface that produces lift for flight or propulsion through the atmosphere, or through another gaseous or liquid fluid...
recorded a cover of the song for her CD, Wing Sings for All the Single Ladies and Raps for All the Safe Parties. - In 2007, the Mexican TV program, owned by TV AztecaTV AztecaAzteca, is the second largest Mexican television entertainment. It was established in 1983 as the state-owned Instituto Mexicano de la Televisión , a holding of the national TV networks channel 13 and 7 and was privatized under its current name in 1993 and now is part of Grupo Salinas...
, La AcademiaLa AcademiaLa Academia is a Mexican reality musical talent show shown on TV Azteca, premiering in June 2002 and currently in its ninth installment...
, covered the Spanish version, performed by second-place winner, Yuridia. - The song was covered in week 3 of the seventh seriesThe X Factor (UK series 7)The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent; the winner of which receives a £1 million recording contract with the Syco Music record label. The seventh series started on ITV on 21 August 2010 and ended on 12 December 2010. The winner was Matt Cardle and...
of The X FactorThe X Factor (UK)The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
by the boyband One DirectionOne DirectionOne Direction are a British-Irish boy band, consisting of members Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson. They finished third on the seventh series of The X Factor. Following The X Factor, the group signed a record contract with Syco Music.One Direction's debut single...
in 2010.
Use in other media
- Sung by the character Sheena Brannigan in the jukebox musicalJukebox musicalA jukebox musical is a stage or film musical that uses previously released popular songs as its musical score. Usually the songs have in common a connection with a particular popular musician or group — either because they were written by, or for, the artists in question, or were at least...
Back to the 80s: The Totally Awesome Musical. - In the episode "Tundra" from the first series of The Mighty BooshThe Mighty BooshThe Mighty Boosh is a British comedy troupe featuring comedians Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding. Developed from three stage shows and a six episode radio series, it has since spawned a total of twenty television episodes for BBC Three and two live tours of the UK, as well as two live shows in the...
, Dixon Bainbridge (Matt BerryMatt BerryMatthew Charles "Matt" Berry is an English actor, writer, comedian and musician. Berry is perhaps best known for his appearances in The IT Crowd, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace and The Mighty Boosh; he also had his own series, Snuff Box...
) and Bob Fossil (Rich FulcherRich FulcherRich Fulcher is an American comedian and author based in the United Kingdom. He is best known for co-starring in the British comedy series The Mighty Boosh, alongside comedy duo Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding.-Early life:...
) perform an over the top and (somewhat in keeping with the nature of the series) surreal A cappella version. - In the episode "Amazon Women in the MoodAmazon Women in the Mood"Amazon Women in the Mood" is the first episode in season three of Futurama. It originally aired in North America on February 4, 2001.-Plot:...
" of the animated television show FuturamaFuturamaFuturama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
, the alien Kif KrokerKif KrokerLieutenant Kif Kroker is a character from the animated television series Futurama. He is the long suffering assistant to Captain Zapp Brannigan and Fourth Lieutenant on the Democratic Order of Planets starship Nimbus...
performs a karaoke version of the song, singing it to Amy before Zapp takes over to sing "LolaLola (song)"Lola" is a song written by Ray Davies and performed by The Kinks which details a romantic encounter between a young man and a transvestite he meets in a club in Soho, London....
" by The KinksThe KinksThe Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
. - In the 2003 film Old SchoolOld School (film)Old School is a 2003 American comedy film released by DreamWorks SKG and directed by Todd Phillips, director of the documentary Frat House. The story was written by Court Crandall, and the film was written by Phillips and Scot Armstrong...
the Dan BandThe Dan BandThe Dan Band is a comedy band from Los Angeles, California, created by actor/comedian Dan Finnerty.The band is well known for its covers of originally female-performed pop songs, with added obscenities and swearing...
performs a version of this song with words changed to obscenities at Will FerrellWill FerrellJohn William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
's character's wedding. - In the 2004 film Harold & Kumar Go to White CastleHarold & Kumar Go to White CastleHarold & Kumar Go to White Castle is a 2004 American stoner film and the first installment in the Harold & Kumar series...
, characters Harold (John ChoJohn ChoJohn Yohan Cho is an American actor and musician, best known for his roles in the American Pie films and the Harold & Kumar films . He also starred in the critically acclaimed hit film Better Luck Tomorrow...
) and Kumar (Kal PennKal PennKalpen Suresh Modi , best known by his stage name Kal Penn, is an American film and television actor, producer, and civil servant....
) listen to the song (Nicki French version) on a cassette from the Extreme Sports Punks vehicle, which prompt the duo to consider the punks nothing but posers. - Chelsie HightowerChelsie HightowerChelsie Hightower is a Latin ballroom dancer, who is best known for being a regular dance partner, trainer, and choreographer on the ABC competition show Dancing with the Stars.-Biography:...
and Louie VitoLouie VitoLouis "Louie" Vito is an American professional snowboarder.-Early life:Louis Vito was born in Columbus, Ohio and raised in Bellefontaine, growing up outside Mad River Mountain. He attended the Stratton Mountain School in Vermont and turned pro in 2005...
danced the rumbaRumbaRumba is a family of percussive rhythms, song and dance that originated in Cuba as a combination of the musical traditions of Africans brought to Cuba as slaves and Spanish colonizers. The name derives from the Cuban Spanish word rumbo which means "party" or "spree". It is secular, with no...
to it on Season 9 of Dancing with the StarsDancing with the StarsDancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
. - The song was used in the film ThunderstruckThunderstruck (film)Thunderstruck is a 2004 movie starring Stephen Curry , Damon Gameau , Ryan Johnson , Callan Mulvey , and Sam Worthington . The title of the movie was taken from the AC/DC song of the same name.-Plot:...
while the boys were driving in the car and this song came on. - In the 2001 film BanditsBanditsBandits is a 2001 American crime-comedy drama film directed by Barry Levinson. It stars Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett. Filming began in October 2000 and ended in February 2001. It helped Thornton earn a National Board of Review Best Actor Award for 2001...
, characters Joe (Bruce WillisBruce WillisWalter Bruce Willis , better known as Bruce Willis, is an American actor, producer, and musician. His career began in television in the 1980s and has continued both in television and film since, including comedic, dramatic, and action roles...
) and Kate (Cate BlanchettCate BlanchettCatherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett is an Australian actress. She came to international attention for her role as Elizabeth I of England in the 1998 biopic film Elizabeth, for which she won British Academy of Film and Television Arts and Golden Globe Awards, and earned her first Academy Award...
) fall in love with each other after singing the last verse of the song together. - In the film Frequently Asked Questions About Time TravelFrequently Asked Questions About Time TravelFrequently Asked Questions About Time Travel is a 2009 science fiction comedy film directed by Gareth Carrivick from a script by Jamie Mathieson, starring Anna Faris, Chris O'Dowd, Marc Wootton and Dean Lennox Kelly....
, the character Pete sings this song during a sequence with added dance routine in the men's toilets of a pub which somehow sends him back in time. - In the episode "Love is a Weapon of Choice" in season 2 of the HBO comedy series, Flight of the ConchordsFlight of the Conchords (TV series)Flight of the Conchords is an American television comedy series that debuted on HBO on June 17, 2007. The show follows the adventures of Flight of the Conchords, a two-man band from New Zealand, as its members seek fame and success in New York City. The show stars the real-life duo, Jemaine Clement...
, the video accompanying the song "Love Is Your Weapon of Choice" is a direct spoof/homage to the video for "Total Eclipse of the Heart", complete with fencing scenes, soft focus, dancing ninjas and castle background. - In the 1998 horror film Urban LegendUrban Legend (film)Urban Legend is a 1998 horror film starring Alicia Witt, Rebecca Gayheart, Jared Leto, Michael Rosenbaum, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Loretta Devine, Robert Englund, John Neville, Joshua Jackson, Regina King, and Tara Reid...
, the song is used in the opening sequence while being sung by the character Michelle before she realizes somebody's in her backseat. - On Wednesday, March 24, 2010, David ArquetteDavid ArquetteDavid Arquette is an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, fashion designer, and occasional professional wrestler. A member of the Arquette acting family, he first became known during the mid 1990s after starring in several Hollywood films, such as the Scream series, Wild Bill and...
and Chris JerichoChris JerichoChristopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer...
performed the song on an episode of Lopez TonightLopez TonightLopez Tonight was an American late-night television talk show hosted by comedian George Lopez. The hour-long program premiered on November 9, 2009, on cable network TBS. Lopez was the first Mexican American to host a late-night talk show on an English-language network in the United States. The...
. - In the film adaptationFilm adaptationFilm adaptation is the transfer of a written work to a feature film. It is a type of derivative work.A common form of film adaptation is the use of a novel as the basis of a feature film, but film adaptation includes the use of non-fiction , autobiography, comic book, scripture, plays, and even...
of Diary of a Wimpy KidDiary of a Wimpy Kid (film)Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a 2010 American comedy film directed by Thor Freudenthal and based on Jeff Kinney's book of the same name. The film was released on March 19, 2010. It was released on DVD, iTunes, and Blu-ray on August 3, 2010.-Plot:...
, the students sing this song for the singing tryouts. - In the series one "SkinsSkins (TV series)Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death...
" episode "Sid", Abigail sings a few lines of the song to Tony. - In the episode "Bad ReputationBad Reputation (Glee)"Bad Reputation" is the 17th episode of the American television series, Glee. The episode premiered on the Fox network on May 4, 2010. It was directed by Elodie Keene, and written by series creator Ian Brennan. In "Bad Reputation", cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester is publicly ridiculed when a...
" in season 1Glee (season 1)The first season of the musical comedy-drama television series Glee originally aired on Fox in the United States. The pilot episode was broadcast as an advanced preview of the series on May 19, 2009, with the remainder of the season airing between September 9, 2009 and June 8, 2010...
of GleeGlee (TV series)Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
, Rachel BerryRachel Berry (Glee)Rachel Berry is a fictional character and de facto female lead from the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. The character is portrayed by actress Lea Michele, and has appeared in Glee from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009. Rachel was developed by Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad...
(Lea MicheleLea MicheleLea Michele Sarfati , known professionally as Lea Michele, is an American actress and singer. Michele began working professionally as a child actress on Broadway in productions such as Ragtime and Les Misérables. She originated the role of Wendla in the musical Spring Awakening and currently plays...
) sings this song after her boyfriend, Jesse St. James (Jonathan GroffJonathan GroffJonathan Drew Groff is an American singer-songwriter, stage, television and film actor. He originated the role of Melchior Gabor in the stage musical Spring Awakening and appeared as Jesse St...
), breaks up with her, and she loses her friendships with ex-boyfriends Noah PuckermanPuck (Glee)Noah "Puck" Puckerman is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. The character is portrayed by actor Mark Salling, and has appeared in Glee from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009. Puck was developed by Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian...
(Mark Salling) and Finn HudsonFinn HudsonFinn Hudson is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. The character is portrayed by actor Cory Monteith, and has appeared in Glee from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009. Finn was developed by Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan...
(Cory MonteithCory MonteithCory Allan Monteith is a Canadian actor and musician, best known for his role of Finn Hudson on the Fox television series Glee.-Early life:...
). - Leicester City supporter David Henson posted a parody version of the song on YouTube following striker Yann KermorgantYann KermorgantYann Kermorgant is a French footballer who plays for Charlton Athletic. He was born in Vannes, Brittany.-Early career:...
's missed penalty in the Football League Championship play-offsFootball League Championship play-offsThe Football League Championship play-offs are a series of playoff matches contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the Football League Championship table. The semi-finals are played over two legs, with 6th playing 3rd and 5th playing 4th, with the return fixtures following...
match at Cardiff in May 2010. - In the episode of Nip/TuckNip/TuckNip/Tuck is an American drama series created by Ryan Murphy, which aired on FX in the United States. The series focuses on McNamara/Troy, a plastic surgery practice, and follows its founders, Sean McNamara and Christian Troy...
when Matt's meth-lab catches fire. - This song was released as downloadable content for Rock Band 3 on February 15, 2011.
External links
|-
|-
|-