Eleven studio albums. Six compilation albums. Numerous awards, film and television appearances, and a recent collaboration with Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Debbie Harry, and Gloria Estefan on “Gonna Be You.” With millions of records sold worldwide, she’s just an Oscar away from EGOT status.
2023 was a significant year for Cyndi Lauper. The American singer turned seventy, and her career marked forty years since the release of her debut album, She’s So Unusual. Sony Music also released the documentary Let the Canary Sing, directed by Allison Ellwood, which chronicled Lauper’s rise from Queens to becoming one of the most remarkable divas of the 1980s. And as if that weren’t enough, she was also nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that year.
Although Lauper started with disco songs, she later adopted a Janis Joplin-esque style before becoming the lead singer of Blue Angel, a band that blended 1960s pop with punk and New Wave influences. Eventually, she launched a solo career that left an indelible mark on the music scene. She’s So Unusual became the first debut album by a female artist to achieve four top-five hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Lauper took home the Grammy for Best New Artist the following year. While she didn’t write most of the songs on the album, she made each one distinctly her own, showcasing her prowess as one of the greatest interpreters of songs, with a unique vocal range that set her apart and a chameleon-like musical persona.
Much like her contemporary Madonna, Lauper became renowned for her eccentric, free-spirited image, which became her signature. She brought punk-rock energy into the mainstream with her vibrant, colorful style and retro-inspired outfits, reflecting the playful spirit of her debut album’s title. The album cover itself was inspired by a mix of vintage aesthetics, with Lauper’s theatrical pose and bold colors capturing her unique persona.
Both artists also emerged as feminist pioneers and vocal supporters of LGBT+ rights. Lauper exercised complete autonomy over her music, crafting the enduring feminist anthem "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." Beyond that, she defied gender norms with "She Bop," a song that subtly addressed female sexuality and served as a coded reference to masturbation. In the face of the AIDS pandemic, she extended her advocacy to the LGBT+ community with the hit "True Colors." Her work for this cause didn’t stop there—she co-founded a non-profit in 2008 to assist homeless LGBT+ youth and frequently performed at events supporting the gay community.
Cyndi Lauper played a pivotal role in the cultural shift from records to music videos. Her video for "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" became a defining symbol of the 1980s and recently surpassed one billion views on YouTube. The song itself became an instant classic, reaching number two on the UK charts and securing a lasting place on the Billboard Hot 100. Initially written by Robert Hazard, Lauper’s gender-reversed rendition transformed the song’s originally problematic undertones into an empowering anthem that continues to resonate today.
The music video, which Lauper had a hand in shaping, also stood out for its portrayal of New York City's multiculturalism—a rare feat at the time, when diversity was often lacking in mainstream media, despite the rise of intersectional feminism. In the early days of MTV, which had its own issues with representation, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" was a notable exception. Lauper honored her roots in her Brooklyn neighborhood, where her Sicilian parents had settled decades earlier. She often recalls how diverse the community was, filled with immigrants from all backgrounds. MTV became the sound of a generation, but her secret to breaking through the mainstream bubble was an unexpected partnership with wrestling culture which were witnessing its Rock 'n' Wrestling Era or the Golden Era with participations in the pop culture.
Cyndi Lauper didn’t just revolutionize the music scene—she also left a lasting mark on 1980s fashion trends.
Though her later albums didn’t dominate the charts like her early work, Lauper’s career paved the way for future artists like Lady Gaga, whose advocacy for the LGBT+ community and bold eccentricity in the 2010s mirrored Lauper’s own trailblazing contributions, as well as her chameleon personality in terms of an eclectic repertoire. Lauper has acknowledged that the admiration is mutual, citing Gaga as an inspiration for her continued embrace of individuality.
In 2012, Lauper published an autobiography, using her fame as a platform to address significant issues and further empower herself. She shared personal stories, including her escape from an abusive stepfather, witnessing violence and sexual assault, and struggling with endometriosis, poverty, drug use, and family hardships—all while maintaining an enduring spirit of resilience and connecting once again with more hearts. Beyond that, she also battled challenges with record labels and the media, which tried to mold her into someone she wasn’t. She faced restrictions on creative freedom and even endured a legal battle in the 1980s.
Her contribution to the Broadway musical Kinky Boots in 2013 made her the first solo female artist to win the Tony Award for Best Musical Score. In 2015, she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, further solidifying her legacy.
Despite not always maintaining the same level of chart-topping success, Cyndi Lauper's influence on pop culture is undeniable. Her infectious hits, musical versatility, and passionate advocacy for social issues continue to resonate with audiences across generations. In 2025, she embarks on her farewell tour, but her legacy remains—time after time, she reveals her true colors once again.
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