Bonnie Tyler has died

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

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.