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This week, more than 90 per cent of the Sun was obscured by the Moon, and in some cases in mainland Europe, was completely obscured in the first total eclipse since 1999.
According to new listening data from Spotify, streams of eclipse and space-themed songs surged during the solar eclipse, with Bonnie Tyler leading the way.
The data comparing streams on eclipse day against the 1-11 August daily average shows that the Welsh singer’s hit song ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’ experienced a 14 per cent boost worldwide, including a whopping 94 per cent rise in the UK on 12 August.
The 80s power ballad had already seen a rise in streams following 8 July, the day Bonnie Tyler died “unexpectedly” aged 75 at a Portugal hospital.
Other “celestial” tracks to gain global momentum during the eclipse were:
- Evolfo – Moon Eclipsed the Sun (+1,251%)
- Chris Staples – Dark Side of the Moon (+405%)
- Pink Floyd – Eclipse (+144%)
- Delta Goodrem – Eclipse (+40%)
- Bill Withers – Ain’t No Sunshine (+3%)
Not to brag or anything, but three out of those six spiking songs were in Euronews Culture’s curated eclipse playlist. Just sayin’…
Shannon Carragher, senior editor at Spotify, said: “Cultural phenomena like the solar eclipse naturally bring people together, and we instinctively look for the perfect soundtrack to share that moment.”
She added: “Whether it’s collectively returning to iconic anthems like Total Eclipse of the Heart or seeking out more hidden celestial gems, these massive spikes in streaming show just how deeply we rely on music to elevate and connect us in the real world during shared human experiences.”
Tyler’s ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’ was released on 11 February 1983 and featured on her fifth studio album, ‘Faster Than The Speed Of Night’. The song topped the UK Singles Chart and became the fifth-best-selling single in 1983.
The iconic love song sold more than 13 million copied worldwide. Its music video has surpassed 1.3 billion views on YouTube and has had over a billion streams on Spotify.
Following Tyler’s death, it re-entered the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 29.
Tyler’s funeral service will take place on 17 August at St Mary’s Church in Swansea, Wales.