Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire

Background and release

Tyler and Steinman had already seen international success with Faster Than the Speed of Night (1983) and its highest charting single "Total Eclipse of the Heart". Steinman wrote four new songs for Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire, two of which were released as singles. The first song to be released was "Holding Out for a Hero", released in 1984 for the Footloose soundtrack. The other, "Loving You's a Dirty Job but Somebody's Gotta Do It", was released as a collaborative single with Todd Rundgren in 1986.

Steinman recruited a number of other songwriters for the album, including Desmond Child. Steinman told Child that he wanted a song about androgyny. "I want a special song. The verses have to sound like Tina Turner, the B Section has to sound like The Police, U2, or Hall & Oates, and the chorus has to sound like Bruce Springsteen," he continued. Child used the verbal guide to write "If You Were a Woman (and I Was a Man)". He also wrote "Lovers Again".

"Ravishing" was originally written by Steinman as an instrumental track on The Wrestling Album (1985), titled "Hulk Hogan's Theme". Tyler also recorded "Under Suspicion" during the album's recording. It was written by herself, her brother Paul Hopkins, and Peter Oxendale. The song was used as the B-side to "Loving You's a Dirty Job but Somebody's Gotta Do It".

Critical reception

Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire received generally mixed reviews from music critics, with much of the criticism being aimed at music producer and hit songwriter Jim Steinman. Steven Wine criticized the length of the tracks, stating that "only Bonnie Tyler's parents would want to listen to her sing the same song for six minutes, but three of the eight tunes on [the album] exceed that span." He went on to describe the album as a "bombastic bore," only crediting one of Steinman's penned songs, "Ravishing". Tom Ford of Toledo Blade stated that "although Tyler proves able to do some interesting things, she is outdistanced by the tiresome ponderousness of the material," concluding that "the prissy, self-indulgence here is just too much to stand." Paul Speelman of The Age opined that Tyler and Steinman were "deeply entrenched in a rut", and found the music to be excessive. "There are banks of synthesizers, layers of percussion, dramatic electronic gimmickry and huge production: no wonder poor old Bonnie had to yell to be heard above that lot," he said, praising Tyler's voice. "The fact that she manages to salvage at least a few tracks attests to her vocal fortitude." He argued that the album was a case of over-indulgence, noting the eight minute and thirty-five second length of "Rebel Without a Clue".

The album did receive some positive reviews as well. Jerry Spangler of Deseret News described the album as "a fine collection of tunes with good musical variety and a lot of energy." Doug Stone of AllMusic stated that the album "depicts a cool portrait of '80s pomposity," but argued that with the album lacking songs like "Faster Than the Speed of Night" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart" from her previous album, Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire becomes substandard to Faster Than the Speed of Night. David Hiltbrand of People (magazine) complimented Bonnie Tyler's voice stating that "Tyler's bluesy roar has enough texture to take the gloss off Steinman's heavy pop arrangements." and "Tyler sings only in capital letters and Jim Steinman produces only at a full gallop pace!"

It should be noted that the album currently has received a 4 out of 5 star rating from music buyers on iTunes.

Singles

The album's lead single, "Holding Out for a Hero", was originally released two years ahead of the album for the Footloose soundtrack (1984). Following the song's initial release, it charted highest in Austria, Canada, Germany and Sweden, peaking at No. 19 in each country, and only No. 96 in the United Kingdom. The song was re-released in 1985 and charted at No. 1 in Ireland and No. 2 in the United Kingdom, where it was certified Silver by the BPI for sales of over 250,000 units.

In 1985, Tyler was recruited by Giorgio Moroder to record "Here She Comes" for the 1984 restoration version of the 1927 German film Metropolis. Following this, "Loving You's a Dirty Job but Somebody's Gotta Do It", a duet with Todd Rundgren, was released as the second single from Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire. The song could not follow the success of "Holding Out for a Hero" or "Here She Comes", but made the Top 40 in Switzerland, France and Belgium.

"If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)" was released as the third single in 1986. The song was most successful in France, where it peaked at No. 6 and was certified Silver by the SNEP for sales of over 200,000 units. "Band of Gold" was released as the fourth single from the album, and the final charting single, reaching No. 81 in the United Kingdom. The last three single releases, "No Way to Treat a Lady", "Rebel Without a Clue" and "Lovers Again" failed to chart worldwide.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic: