Released November 1991 Recorded Los Angeles, 1991 Length 3:48 | Format Maxi CD Genre Soft rock Label Hansa Records, BMG | |
"Bitterblue" is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler for her eighth studio album of the same name (1991). It was released in November 1991 by Hansa Records. The song was a European hit, missing the number one spot in Norway to Michael Jackson's song "Black or White". The song was written and produced by Dieter Bohlen.
Contents
"Bitterblue" has appeared on several of Tyler's compilation albums including The Very Best of Bonnie Tyler: Volume 1, Comeback: Single Collection '90–'94, Greatest Hits, Total Eclipse Anthology and Ravishing - The Best Of.
Composition
Dieter Bohlen wrote and produced "Bitterblue" as a direct response to the success Rod Stewart had with his early 1991 single "Rhythm of My Heart", written by Marc Jordan and John Capek. Bohlen attempted to emulate the song by composing for instruments such as bagpipes and accordion, and incorporating elements of Scottish folk music.
Chart performance
"Bitterblue" was hugely successful in Europe. In Norway, the song debuted at number 7, and remained in the Top 10 for sixteen weeks. It reached its peak of number 2 on its fourth charting week, maintaining this position for a second week behind Michael Jackson's "Black or White". "Bitterblue" spent a further six weeks at number 3.
The song also spent twenty weeks in the Top 30 Singles in Austria, where it peaked at number five. "Bitterblue" also spent 17 weeks[1] in the German charts, where it reached number seventeen.
Critical reception
Billboard gave the song a negative review, stating, "bombastic production, with a rush of bagpipes and a choir of chirping children at the forefront, overpower Tyler's distinctive raspy voice."