Search - Bonnie Tyler :: Bitterblue

Masterpiece marked comeback in Germany

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 08/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In Britain and America, Bonnie Tyler is mostly remembered for It's a heartache and Total eclipse of the heart, though she had a few other hits. In the mid eighties, the hits dried up despite some brilliant original songs. Most notable of these was The best - it was covered a year later by Tina Turner and became a huge worldwide hit using the title Simply the best. Forgotten in Britain and America, Bonnie signed for a record label in Germany, where she recorded a series of brilliant albums, beginning with this one in 1991. Despite being recorded in Germany for German fans, the album and those that followed were all recorded in English.The title track is an outstanding bittersweet song that provided Bonnie with a German hit. Many of the other songs are also originals, although there is a brilliant cover of Roy Orbison's Careless heart. Roy's original was a track on his Mystery girl album that included many great songs including You got it, California blue and She's a mystery to me. Careless heart is the only song that I can definitely say is a cover, although a couple of other songs may be covers. Dan Hartman joins Bonnie for a duet on Till the end of time.Overall, this may be said to be typical Bonnie Tyler, but the songs are great and Bonnie is in top form. If you enjoy Bonnie's earlier music, you should enjoy this - definitely one of her best albums."

Power vocals and sounds help out Bonnie

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 11/03/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Several producers back Miss Tyler's album and proves beyond doubt she has a sound and voice without totally relying on Jim Steinman. Since she was dissed by the US following the failure of Secret Dreams And Forbidden Fire, she went back to the UK, enlisting some ace songwriters, including Diane Warren and Holly Knight.She hits pay dirt with the title track, which has Irish pipes and keyboards. Her voice has that familiar scratch, which has intensified especially when she belts things out, and which has led many to equate her as a female Rod Stewart. Speaking of Rod, I wonder if she got the idea after he did the Celtic-sounding "Every Beat Of My Heart.""Against The Wind" is not the Bob Seger song but a power ballad where strings enhance the sadness of this number, where she says of love: "It's hard for me, but it's harder to ignore it." She really belts it out in the chorus. Whew! And while her voice has limited range, it is unlimited in sheer power.The mid-paced rocker "Careless Heart" is a Warren/Albert Hammond/Roy Orbison number where her careless heart let her loved one slip away. "I wouldn't have this hurt inside/I wouldn't have these tears to cry" she sings. This is one of three songs produced by and with keyboards "Professor" Roy Bittan, with drums by Kenny Aronoff (Mellencamp) and guitars by Waddy Wachtel (Stevie Nicks) and bass by Randy Jackson (Journey)."Whenever You Need Me" is a Loverboy-style rock, heavy on guitars and power vocals.With the same production and musicians from "Careless Heart", the Albert Hammond/Holly Knight-penned "Where Were You" is a mid-paced country-ish rock song accusing the other party of lack of moral support, i.e. shoulder to cry on, someone to lean on, making her realize "guess I was walking down a one-way street." "Save Me" has the same sound and team and a real soul-baring chorus: "My heart is in distress/I need some tenderness so take me."With instruments and production by Nik Kershaw, "He's Got A Hold On Me" is awash with guitars and keyboards sporting a more mechanized touch, and some power backing vocals.The mechanized industrial-sound of Giorgio Moroder is apparent in "Keep Your Love Alive", sporting effects and some sax throughout.The majestic Pet Shop Boys-style techno/disco of "Tell Me The Truth" is yet another sound Bonnie does effectively, showing that Dusty Springfield doesn't have the monopoly in the genre. And in return, Bonnie swears "I'll never hurt you."Not content with producing four songs, Giorgio Moroder duets with Bonnie on the wishful lullaby-like power ballad "Heaven Is Here". A timeless message is "Free me from this time lonely/cause this life is too short to pass by." However, things get going on the swift keyboard exercise and grinding power sounds of "Love Is In Love Again."The best ballad here is "Til The End Of Time", a duet with Dan Hartman, also produced by Moroder and the rhythm of the chorus reminds me of "The Legend Of Babel" instrumental, which he did on the Metropolis soundtrack.The racing "Too Hot" awash with its vibe-like keyboards and hard rock guitar is another standout cut. Then comes "Why?", another poignant power keyboard ballad, with haunting operatic chorus, another shoulder to lean on song, especially when one's "heart feels like, oh, a motherless child." She really lets loose in the chorus.With Bonnie's voice accompanied by a wall of power keyboards and hard rock guitars, Bitterblue proves she's still got the stuff beyond her 80's Steinman albums. She gave her voice such a workout, I hope she gave it plenty of TLC afterwards, which I did to this album."

Bonnie's dance side

Daniel J. Hamlow | 01/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bonnie Tyler has done many different styles, and even this is quite different from albums such as Faster Than the Speed of Night and Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire. Bonnie has taken on a bit of a pop/dance style on Bitterblue. Perfect examples of this are the tracks "He's Got a Hold on Me," "Keep Your Love Alive," "Tell Me the Truth," "Love Is in Love Again," and "Too Hot." There are also powerful ballads such as "Against the Wind," "Careless Heart," and "Why," which show off Bonnie's excellent emotional voice. This is one of my favorites out of Bonnie's extensive catalogue. A must have for fans of Ms. Tyler, or pop and rock in general."