Cyndi Lauper has been bringing us amazing tunes and captivating performances for nearly thirty years, never stuck in a single style she’s done pop, dance and adult contemporary and taken on the classics and the blues. She was one of the first musicians to sing about AIDS in her songs and has provided the GLBT community with more than one anthem.
Ahead of Cyndi’s upcoming performance at the Burswood Theatre, we pick our favourite well known and lesser known tunes from Cyndi’s career.
Five Well Known Cyndi Lauper Songs We Love
All Through The Night
Cyndi’s cover of this Jules Shear tune is so sweet. It’s got something in its sound that just encapsulates the mid 1980’s. The song was on Cyndi’s 1984 album She’s So Unusual, but more recently Cyndi’s also recorded an acoustic version with reggae star Shaggy.
True Colours
Written by Billy Stenberg and Tom Kelly, the song writing team who also penned Madonna’s Like a Virgin and the Bangles Eternal Flame. This is a true anthem for anyone who has every felt down-trodden. In 2007 and 2008 Cyndi headlined the US True Colours tour that promoted gay rights and included Rufus Wainwright, Erasure and Debbie Harry.
Time After Time
When Cyndi first started out the record companies didn’t have a heap of faith in her song writing ability. This tune from her debut solo record has been covered by over 100 artists including Miles Davis, Willie Nelson and Cassandra Wilson.
She Bop
One of Tipper Gore’s famous filthy fifteen tunes that led to the creation of parental advisory warning stickers on CDs. As kids we just thought she was singing about dancing, nope it’s all about girls and self pleasure.
Shine
Due to be released in September 2001, Cyndi’s Shine album ended up only being released in Japan – where it has become a collector’s item. The song’s inclusion in the TV show Queer as Folk gave it a whole bunch of gay fans.
Five Not So Well Known Cyndi Lauper Songs We Love
Echo
Cyndi’s 2008 album Bring Ya To The Brink featured collaborations with some of the best dance music producers like Scumfrog, Max Martin and Basement Jaxx. This tune is from producers Johan Boback and Peer Astrom, who have gone on to produce many of the songs featured in Glee.
A Christmas Duel
Cyndi teamed up with The Hives for this free download Christmas tune. The risqué lyrics include a comment about sleeping with your brother and something about your mother.
Early in the Mornin’
Cyndi’s latest album Memphis Blues features the world’s best blues musicians including BB King and Allen Toussaint who guest on this number.
There’s a Hole in My Heart That Goes All the Way to China
Cyndi’s musical contribution to her debut film ‘Vibes’ isn’t on the film’s soundtrack and was only a hit here in Australia – search the Op Shops if you want a copy.
The Ballad of Cleo and Joe
Check out this tune on Cyndi’s 1997 album Sister of Avalon that looks into the complications of a drag queen’s double life.
Cyndi Lauper performs at Burswood Theatre on Tuesday 5 April 2011.
