Bonnie Tyler has died
News of Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler’s death prompts reminiscences about her signature hits like “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero,” their music videos, extended cuts, covers, and cultural associations from the 1980s through Shrek and beyond. Commenters reflect on her distinctive voice, songwriter Jim Steinman’s influence, and how her songs intertwined with personal memories, from childhood road trips to coding playlists. The thread also surfaces a recurring tension on Hacker News over whether obituaries for widely known artists fit the site’s technical focus, given their strong pull on nostalgia and shared culture.
Remembering the artist and songs
- Many express sadness and nostalgia, highlighting her distinct, raspy voice and “class act” stage presence.
- Key songs repeatedly mentioned: “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” “Holding Out for a Hero,” “It’s a Heartache,” and “Faster Than the Speed of Night.”
- Several share personal stories: childhood cassette road trips, coding playlists spanning decades, kids discovering the music, and a concert shortly before her death.
- One anecdote recounts her winning over a hostile rock-festival crowd with professionalism and attitude.
- Some lament she died “too soon,” blaming complications from surgery and advising caution about major procedures.
Music videos, covers, and analysis
- The “literal video” version of “Total Eclipse of the Heart” is widely praised as hilariously memorable; other “literal” and novelty versions are linked (“Take On Me,” “Bad Apple,” “Safety Dance”).
- “Holding Out for a Hero” is associated with multiple films (Short Circuit 2, Footloose, Shrek 2), with debate over which version is best.
- Various covers and remixes are shared: dance, metal, bardcore, wedding-band, and experimental appliance-based performances.
- A flowchart of the “Total Eclipse” lyrics sparks discussion about professional song structure and how good writers think; some find it a useful visualization.
- The longer 7-minute version of “Total Eclipse” and a podcast breakdown are recommended for deeper listening.
- Jim Steinman’s role as songwriter/producer is heavily emphasized, with praise for his dramatic rock style and his work with multiple artists.
HN relevance and meta-discussion
- A substantial subthread debates whether celebrity obituaries belong on Hacker News.
- One side: such posts are off-topic per guidelines (celebrity news, nostalgia), risk crowding out technical content, and don’t inherently satisfy “intellectual curiosity.”
- The other side: guidelines are flexible, anything interesting to “good hackers” is allowed, obits are long-standing practice, and users can hide or filter threads they dislike.
- Some propose an “obit” category or client-side filters; others note HN’s deliberate minimalism and encourage building tools on top of the API.
- Generational context appears: many users grew up in the 70s–80s, link this music to early computing eras, and argue that cultural context of “computer people” is on-topic.