Cyndi Lauper

Born Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper in the summer of 1953, in Queens, New York, Cyndi Lauper has become a perfect image of the 80s. From her unique voice to mismatched, outrageous clothes and Madonna-esque stage antics, she was a true idol for a generation of power-pop loving misfits.

Her first album, entitled ‘She’s So Unusual’, with its female anthem ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ became an international smash hit and presented her with a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. The album also included the songs, ‘She Bop’ (a dedication to female masturbation) and the amorous ballad ‘Time After Time’.

Cyndi Lauper was most popular with teenagers during this time, due to her unusual image which was heavily influenced by the punk bands of the late 70s. Her quirky hairstyle was her most recognised feature, and she was seen as a “mainstream rebel” which appealed to those Belinda Carlisle fans who were looking for something less wholesome.

Lauper didn’t follow up on the success of ‘She’s So Unusual’, instead focusing on love-songs and balladry which brought her new (undoubtedly middle-aged) fans and more Grammy Awards.

During 1985 she featured in the cult children’s film ‘The Goonies’, boosting her “cool” image and giving her a Top 10 hit in ‘The Goonies R Good Enough’. However, a flopped film and a couple of middle-of-the-road albums later, Lauper’s career began to lose momentum.

More recently, several Greatest Hits albums have been released and Lauper is set to appear in a new film (currently in post-production) called, ‘The Naked Brothers Band’.

At first, her music was a glittering, multi-coloured new wave fusion of a number of styles, including post-punk, reggae, pop, and funk. Both her music and her appearance helped popularise (and dilute) the image of punk for an unvaried, reserved America, making it an almost acceptable part of pop culture.

by Robyn