Between 6pm and 8:15pm on August 12, the moon blocked 91% of the sun over the UK — the deepest coverage since the 1999 total eclipse. At the same time, one song saw streams spike 94% in the UK on Spotify and 14% globally: Bonnie Tyler's 1983 classic "Total Eclipse Of The Heart." The Welsh singer passed away on July 8, less than five weeks before the eclipse.
Spotify compared streaming data from August 12 against the daily average from August 1–11, uncovering the unexpected soundtrack to what's being called "the best eclipse of the century." The biggest jump, though, wasn't Tyler's — it was a song most people have never heard of: Evolfo's "Moon Eclipsed The Sun," which surged 12,817% in the UK and 1,251% globally. Close behind was Chris Staples' "Dark Side Of The Moon," up 2,805% in the UK and 405% globally.
Pink Floyd's 1973 track "Eclipse" rose 594% in the UK and 144% globally; Delta Goodrem's "Eclipse," her entry representing Australia at the 2026 Eurovision, climbed 104% in the UK and 40% globally; and Bill Withers' 1971 "Ain't No Sunshine" saw a more modest bump of 17% in the UK and 3% globally. The whole list plays out like a nationwide game of free association — hear "eclipse," "moon," "sun," or "dark," and hit play.
But what really gives this data its heart is Bonnie Tyler. Her old friend, singer Mal Pope, told The Independent: "Her voice was extraordinary, she was a wonderful singer, and I believe she'd be smiling and thinking, 'How lovely that people still remember this song' — it was a global hit back in the day." He added: "I imagine from now on, every time there's a total eclipse, people will play this song in the moment, passed down from generation to generation."
Spotify senior editor Shannon Carragher offered a data-driven take on the phenomenon: "It's always fascinating to see how a major cultural moment gets reflected almost instantly in the UK's listening habits. A collective experience like a total eclipse naturally makes people want to find the 'right song' to match the moment." She added that whether people collectively return to a classic like "Total Eclipse of the Heart" or dig up more obscure songs about the sky and stars, these surges show the role music plays in shared experiences.
Ahead of the eclipse, astrophysics PhD holder and Queen guitarist Brian May filmed himself watching the eclipse from Spain and described it to BBC Newsnight as "a life-changing experience": "You suddenly realize you're standing on a rock ball that could fall away at any moment — it's a strange feeling." Meanwhile, in Iceland, Björk threw an eclipse-themed DJ party, marking the sky's spectacle in her own way.
Spotify has not released the full global chart in detail; the figures in this article are based primarily on the UK market.
