Tina Turner’s 6 Most Memorable Songs & The Stories On How They Came To Be

May 25, 2023

Tina Turner was one of our time's most recognized and celebrated music artists, and we are sure that her 5-decades-long, highly successful career will be remembered for years to come as well. Though she had a prodigious musical career, she also had to battle a lot of hardships and difficulties in her life, and the path to happiness had not been easy. 

She found a peaceful pairing with her husband, Erwin Bach, with whom she lived in Switzerland. The pair had been together for over two decades before they tied the knot in 2013 when Tina was 73 and Bach was 57. Their age difference had done nothing to deter them from having a blissful relationship. Together, they faced the joys and grief of life hand in hand and stayed in love until Tina’s final days.

While Tina is a celebrity in her own right, Bach is also a highly successful man. The two of them first met in 1985 at the airport, which Tina described as a "simple meeting," according to Closer Weekly.

At 83 years old, Tina passed away peacefully in her home in Switzerland, according to her official Instagram. With a long, impressive list of iconic hits and international successes, the singer had undeniably left her mark on the world. Behind each memorable song was a heartfelt story. We're taking a look back at the remarkable life of the iconic musician in light of her passing on May 24, 2023, and some of her songs that can only be described as simply the best.

“River Deep, Mountain High”

In 1966, Tina went on to release one of the most iconic songs: “River Deep, Mountain High.” She worked with producer Phil Spector on the track. Much to Tina’s delight, Spector didn’t want to work with Ike Turner in the studio, and Tina was surprised to see what Spector created on his own terms.

"I was just a girl from Tennessee who got caught up with Ike and became a singer," Tina wrote in her autobiography, according to The Celeb Post. "Never, ever had I seen anything like this, except in a movie."

“Proud Mary”

While the song “Proud Mary” was originally released by the rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1969, Tina and Ike released their own version two years later. It became an instant success, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and even winning a Grammy Award. The song still resonates with musicians and fans today. In 2005, Beyoncé sang “Proud Mary” at a Tina Turner tribute concert at the Kennedy Center Honors.

“Private Dancer”

Almost a decade after Tina and her first husband, Ike Turner, went their separate ways, Tina released the 1984 song “Private Dancer.” In her autobiography, “My Love Story,” Tina talked about how she related to the song’s protagonist. She said:

“I never had to stoop to that in my life. But I think most of us have been in situations where we had to sell ourselves, one way or another. When I gave into Ike, when I kept quiet to avoid an argument, when I stayed with him despite longing to leave, that’s what I was thinking about when I sang the song, the sadness of doing something that you don’t want to do, day in, day out.”

“What’s Love Got to Do With It”

There’s no denying that Tina was a brilliant performer, but she also easily lent her vocals to ballads. According to the American Songwriter, the 1984 track “What’s Love Got to Do With It” took a different approach to what a love song typically entails. Rather than looking for everlasting romance, Tina sang about finding that dynamic chemistry with someone, explaining that love didn’t really have much to do with a connection.

“We Don’t Need Another Hero”

The 1985 song “We Don’t Need Another Hero” helped Tina’s career as it came out shortly after her hit “Private Dancer,” according to Song Facts. Fortunately, Tina had the support of some of the industry’s best, including David Bowie and Mick Jagger. The song appeared in the film “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome,” which starred Tina alongside Mel Gibson. Tina praised her character in the film as inspiration for the song, explaining:

"She lost so much, and then she went through so much to get the men in her world to respect her. I related to her struggles because I lived them."

“The Best”

While many people continue to sing the anthemic line, “you’re simply the best,” the iconic song from 1989 is actually just called “The Best.” And we have to say, the title describes Tina pretty well. The song was originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler but was a minor hit in the majority of the world. However, when Tina released her own version of the song just a year after Tyler’s version was released, it went on to become an international success. She even re-recorded the song with Australian singer Jimmy Barnes in 1992.

What is your favorite Tina Turner song? What will you do to remember her legacy? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your family, friends and any Tina Turner fans you know.