Following the release of her album ‘Wings’ in 2005, Bonnie Tyler went on hiatus, abandoned her song-writing ambitions and spent time flitting between Wales and Nashville. Now she’s back—and has returned with the country album of her career.

Rocks and Honey plays off Bonnie’s collaboration with country music legend Vince Gill. The two team up on “What You Need From Me”, the only duet on the album. The smooth quality of Gill’s voice compliments Bonnie’s raspy timbre. But the title isn’t just apt there: Bonnie takes other rocks and drizzles them with her own brand of sweetness for the 14 other tracks. She takes ownership of popular songs—including Carrie Underwood’s “Flat On The Floor” and Beau Davidson’s “All I Ever Wanted”—and elevates them beyond mere covers. Nashville colours much of the album. Bigwig Tennessee songwriters like Desmond Child, Brett James, Beth Hart and Frank J Myers contributed the other tracks.

“Believe In Me”, Bonnie’s Eurovision 2013 entry, is the album’s standout track. But other songs such as “Little Superstar”, “Sunshine” and “Crying” deserve praise of their own. Rocks and Honey ranks as Tyler’s best effort in recent years both in composition and lyrical delivery (even if it’s not exactly a commercial hit). It’s a good album by all accounts, and one that inches toward great the more you listen to it. However, Tyler could have been much braver with the execution. Beverley Knight recorded and produced her 5th LP, Music City Soul in Nashville, and she didn’t end up with a country album. Bonnie went beyond drawing inspiration from a place. She emerged with material that was totally predictable, and nearly 30 years old!

If Bonnie Tyler wants to regain relevance and reach new fans, then she needs to embrace modern production techniques, sound and staging. Bonnie shouldn’t just be back. She should be back with a vengeance.

Rating: 3/5

Photo: Dennis Statchel (EBU)

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Shehzad
10 years ago

BONNIE TYLER is still a rock star, she is even doing great at this age. Fantastic album, i really enjoyed listening to each single of this album.

Christian
Christian
10 years ago

Oh dear. Oh dear Bonnie. You were there in front of me in Malmö. You know I have ALL of your albums. And I mean ALL.What happened darling? You moved your lips but no sound came out. You moved your mic away from your face and I could still hear you sing? Strangely enough you could still sing with your mouth shut! Even worse who told you to nod your head as a NO when the song titled “Believe in me”? I know you prefered the song “All i ever wanted”. Bonnie honey next time stick to your gut feeling… Read more »

Anthony
Anthony
10 years ago

Funnily enough Adam, a fellow UK Eurovision fan of mine has recently submitted a national selection show recommendation to the BBC. Sadly, he received a reply stating they’re not interested on that idea.

So the BBC would rather spend £22 MILLION pounds on The Voice UK, which ended up becoming as disastrous as Chelsea’s £50 million signing of Fernando Torres.

Adam
Adam
10 years ago

Why wont the BBC hold open auditions and let their country men/women vote on who they want to represent them at ESC?

adrian
adrian
10 years ago

I really love the album, it has feeling, old music and great lyrics. Love it, she has now a new fan. Greetings from Romania…

Anthony
Anthony
10 years ago

It was either going to be the BBC continuing with their internal selection process David, or let the British public continuing to send such atrocious acts, with the exception of 2009.

David Thielen
David Thielen
10 years ago

>> someone from the BBC thought it was a good idea

When is the last time anyone in the BBC had a truly good idea when it comes to ESC?

Anthony
Anthony
10 years ago

Apparently, someone from the BBC thought it was a good idea to submit “Believe in Me” to Malmö this year. It’s clearly not the ideal choice from this album unfortunately.