There are few musical acts that can say they’ve left an indelible mark on global culture as a whole. Over the course of the past several decades, pop culture has been blessed with wild, eccentric artists that have set the archaic rules of the past ablaze, established the progressive foundation of a generation, and cleared the path for so many that would follow soon after. Of those artists, Cyndi Lauper has been, and will always be, a pioneer of progress and a champion of the forgotten. In her time in the spotlight, Cyndi Lauper has given girls (and boys) worldwide an anthem to belt out to as they defy restrictive expectations, ballads to embrace a world of lonely hearts, and a message to millions and millions of LGBTQ+ people in the world that no matter what, she will always be there.
So now, as the Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award winning artist bids her final goodbye to life on the road, let’s take a look back at all the reasons we have to love, appreciate, and give thanks to the icon, the hero, and the inspiration that is Cyndi Lauper.
Who Is This Girl, Cyndi Lauper? And Why Is She So Unusual?
From the beginning, Cyndi Lauper was destined for a life that defied expectation. Whether that belongs in the realm of what a woman was supposed to be, what a artist was supposed to be, or what a advocate was supposed to be; Cyndi Lauper was made to break the mold and break that mold she did, and damn did she do it well. Like trailblazing women that came before her, such as Debbie Harry, Patti Labelle, Dolly Parton, Stevie Nicks, just to name a few, Cyndi Lauper made it her goal in life to not only break free of past limitations for women, but to empower future generations of women to continue doing the same.
My partner and I had the fortune of being able to attend her stop in Washington, D.C. for her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour and not to mince words, but she left both of us completely blown away. Not only did she sing with the enthusiasm of an artist who truly adores her fans, she made the show heartfelt, personal, and gave each member of the audience an opportunity to connect with her as if coming face to face with a long lost friend like no time had passed at all. She was everything she had ever shown herself to be: she was eccentric, funny, adorable, and a genuine human being that anyone would be lucky to be around, even if only for a moment.
What makes her who she is to her millions of fans all over the world? Why does she deserve notable standing in history as someone who broke down barriers and defied expectation? Well, I can give you five excellent reasons.
Good Enough: It Might Not Be Perfect, But It’s Just What I Need
Matching one of the most iconic singers of the decade with one of the most iconic films could only be described as heavenly. Steven Spielberg definitely knew what he was doing by pairing one of his most beloved films with such an eccentric, wild personality and talent. Behind this song is a deeper meaning of getting by, being together, and coming to terms with the fact that nothing is ever going to be perfect, but if it’s good enough for you, it’s good enough for me.
Time After Time: Cathartic Relief of Grieved Possibilities
Time After Time, one of Lauper’s most beloved, iconic numbers literally stands the test of time for so many reasons. It is a song that resonates with fans so deeply and on so many levels, it has more than established its place in the pantheon of iconic American music. The song breathes life into the acceptance of loss, the process of grieving, and knowing that even when a love fades, it doesn’t mean love is gone forever. Our future is ours to decide.
True Colors: A Kindness That Can Never Truly Be Repaid
In the 1980s, while society had made a great deal of progress since the repression of decades, centuries before it, there was still a heavy amount of work to do in terms of LGBTQ+ people being able to live openly and freely. In those days, the queer community was still looked down on, was told to hide, was shunned, and for the most part, actively chose to live their lives in secret, against their wishes, and not of their true selves. In those days, the community relied on its allies to speak for them, to spread the message of acceptance and love. Cyndi Lauper chose to do more than that, she chose not only to dedicate, but to write an entire anthem for the LGBTQ+ community. And that anthem is True Colors. Cyndi Lauper wrote this song with the intention of it serving as freedom of expression to those that had been outcasted because of their truest selves. And in the song, as she explains in the Paramount+ documentary Let The Canary Sing, it is actually as if it is being sung in a comforting, loving whisper to the people who needed it most. It is truly a kindness she blessed on the gay community that we can never pay back.
Nor would she want us to.
She Bop: We’re Only Human, Get Over It
Cyndi Lauper really struck a chord with tight mainstream media police with this number. The song, yes, is about masturbation and that everyone does. Not only that, however, it’s also a major truth bomb that yes, in fact, everybody bops! Masturbation is healthy for both the physical and mental and it’s completely normal, safe, and an excellent entry for young people to begin exploring who they really are and what they really want. To be clear, Cyndi wasn’t telling everyone to go out and “bop” themselves, she was simply letting us all know that it was okay that we did.
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: F*** Expectations, Be Yourself
I don’t believe there’s a soul alive who doesn’t know this song. And why is that? Because it is the literal definition of iconic. It is a song that defines a generation and has become a staple in the household of every fun loving member of this dazzling mega rock floating in space. This song captures the vibe of the 1980s in ways that others simply can’t touch. After initially rejecting the song due to its demeaning original lyrics, Cyndi took the time to rewrite and reshape what would eventually become a powerful anthem for millions of women all over the world. As time went on, the song became something so much more than that. It’s a message, not just to the women of the world, but to so many others that society doesn’t get to define you.
In conclusion, as a lifelong fan of Cyndi and someone who owes her so much, I just want to say thanks for everything. When I was just starting out as a writer, many years ago, I wrote a similar piece about Cyndi and work she was doing for an upcoming album. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but not too long after, Cyndi herself reposted the article with a remark stating how much she loved what I had written and I’ve always looked back on that as a fond reminder that I’m doing what I was meant to do. So, in the end, I just want to say we’re going to miss you and it has been the absolute pleasure of my life to let your melodies help shape who I eventually became.
Thanks for all the fun, girl. See you when Working Girl opens on Broadway!
