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Bonnie Tyler – The Best Is Yet To Come

Florian Buechting Media Review No Comments

Bonnie Tyler - The Best Is Yet To Come

Bonnie Tyler - The Best Is Yet To Come
3.5

Rating

 3.5/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Bonnie Tylers amazing voice
  • A nice travel back in time
  • Some really nice songs

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Overall, a bit too weak and disappointing

Album #18 by Bonnie Tyler. I was really looking forward to hear new stuff by the Welsh characteristic rock voice, when I reviewed her The Best Is Yet To Come. The album has been released on 26th February 2021.

 

Bonnie Tyler – About The Artist

Bonnie Tyler is a British pop and rock singer, who is originally from Skewen, Neath in Wales. She was born there on 8th June 1951, her civil name is Gaynor Hopkins. She initially acted as “Sherene Davis” in order to avoid name confusion with a Welsh folk artist. Under that name, a talent scout spotted her in Swansea in Wales and finally gave her her today’s artist name, Bonnie Tyler. Just one year after that, in 1976, her second single Lost in France went Top 10 in Germany and the UK. Even though there was another charted track, her debut album, the World Starts Tonight (1976), had limited success. At least, it was #2 in Sweden. It took Tyler five albums to have a chart placement in her own country, though. Faster Than the Speed of Night (1983) was a global success though, topping the UK and Norwegian charts and being Top 10 in Australia, Sweden and the USA. The driver for that was her first globally massive single, Total Eclipse of Heart, which was #1 in many markets.

One year later, in 1984, two more singles made it to the Top 10 in several markets. The more well-known one was Holding Out for a Hero taken from the Footloose soundtrack. Since then, her career is fading a bit, but her albums are regularly leading to chart placements worldwide. the last #1 album was Bitterblue in 1991, though, topping Austria and Norway. On top of the 17 studio albums so far, Wikipedia lists four EPs and 63 compilations. Truly a stat which states that Bonnie Tyler is a global music legend.

 

Bonnie Tyler – The Best Is Yet To Come – Track by Track

The twelve track album lasts 45 minutes.

1. The Best Is Yet to Come

The title track is the opener of the album.

Whoa, the best is yet to come
We’ve got the bad days on the run
Turn your head up to the sun
And the best is yet to come

I initially struggled with the beginning of the song. It felt as if Tyler’s voice just lost too much of its power. It took me until the chorus until I knew I was wrong. At least a bit. A nice start, better than average – but still a bit weak-ish for a legend.

2. Dreams Are Not Enough

Oh no, dreams are not enough
I’m in need of your loving
I’m in need of your touch

That’s how it feels when you do Bon Jovi-alike songs with Bonnie Tyler. The catchy chorus and the powerful-rocking atmosphere is just magic. Bad luck that they did not even dare to to do the guitars harder in the studio.

3. Hungry Hearts

Hungry Hearts is rather a light popper with a lot of sunshine touch, which still comes with Bonnie Tyler characteristic sound. A song which gets you from the very beginning. Strong bridge, which changes the character of the songs for a bunch of seconds.

4. Stuck to My Guns

Stuck to My Guns starts with some panpipes tunes, before the the track rather turns into a rhythmic soft rock track. It is not my favorite track of the album, to be honest.

5. When the Lights Go Down

Doesn’t the beginning of When the Lights Go Down have a touch of More Than a Feeling by Boston? Indeed, Bonnie Tyler makes me travel to the favorite songs of my life. The chorus finally is much more pop-ish and and rather a feelgood sound than the reference.

6. Stronger Than a Man

You gotta be stronger than a man
Brighter than the sun
Taller than a skyscraper, tougher than anyone
Til the day comes you don’t gotta be
Unquestionably
You gotta be stronger stronger stronger
Stronger than a man

Stronger Than a Man is a slow track, which comes with (a bit of too humdrum) keyboard sounds in the background. Overall, there is a strong touch of soul in the song as well.

7. I’m Not in Love

I’m Not in Love – hasn’t there been a 1980’s classic by 10cc? Yeah, that’s the Bonnie Tyler version of the song. With The Best Is Yet To Come, Bonnie Tyler travels back in time – and meets songs from that time. It feels a bit too nostalgic.

8. Somebody’s Hero

Somebody’s Hero is a very characteristic song of the album to me: it is a nice 1980’s reference. Unfortunately, it just feels like a weak 1980’s copy. Bonnie Tyler feels too weak in this song. And the song is rather outdated than nostalgic.

9. Call Me Thunder

What would you expect of a song called Call Me Thunder? Poweful riffs? A rising desire to do some headbanging, especially with your long, hairdresser-lockdown haircut? There is a touch of that in Call Me Thunder – but then it feels like that it also tries to catch people who don’t want to rock that hard with Tyler any more. The song is not bad at all. But it feels like an Italian sports car which you just drive at 50kph speed on the motorway.

10. I’m Only Guilty (Of Loving You)

When the night closes in
And the heartache begins
Just remember I’m only guilty of loving you

The raspy signature voice of Bonnie Tyler turns I’m Only Guilty (Of Loving You) into the most beautiful ballad of the album. Just a special touch. What a legendary vocal sound.

11. You’re the One

You’re the one has a damn good touch of a power ballad and is thus one of my favorites of the album. Dare a listen.

12. Catch the Wind

The finisher of the album is another one to drop some tears while listening. A lovely acoustic guitar sound with some electric guitar riffs and light bass and rhythm. Close your eyes, listen and sway to the music, which has originally been recorded by Donovan.

 

Bonnie Tyler – The Best Is Yet To Come – Spotify

Here is The Best Is Yet To Come on Spotify:

Bonnie Tyler – The Best Is Yet To Come – My View

If you loved Bonnie Tyler in the 1980’s or are a big fan of her, you will love The Best Is Yet To Come from the very first song. If you haven’t been a fan (or if you have been born later), the album will give you a tough time. The power of her voice has faded – and the power of her songs somehow as well. I feel it is still a solid album, but it is not a great one. Her promotion tagged it as Schlager on the platform I could listen to it a few hours before the release. I wouldn’t be that harsh, though.

 

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