Eleven studio albums. Six compilation albums. Numerous awards, film and series appearances, and a recent collaboration with Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Debbie Harry, and Gloria Estefan on “Gonna Be You.” Millions of records sold worldwide. She’s only missing an Oscar to achieve EGOT status.
2023 is a significant year for Cyndi Lauper. The American singer turns seventy, and her career marks forty years since the release of her debut album, She’s So Unusual. Sony Music is also releasing the documentary Let the Canary Sing, directed by Allison Ellwood, which chronicles Lauper’s rise from Queens to becoming one of the most remarkable divas of the 1980s. And as if that weren't enough, this is also the year she was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Although Lauper first emerged as part of the band Blue Angel, it was her 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.
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.
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." 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—Lauper co-founded a non-profit in 2008 to assist homeless LGBT+ youth and 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, recently surpassing one billion views on YouTube. The song itself became an instant classic, reaching number two on the UK chart 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 still resonates 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. In the early days of MTV, which had its own issues with representation, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" was a notable exception.
Cyndi Lauper didn’t just revolutionize the music scene—she also made a lasting impact on the fashion trends of the 1980s.
Though her later albums didn’t dominate the charts as her early work had, her career paved the way for future artists like Lady Gaga, whose work within the LGBT+ community and bold eccentricity in the 2010s echoed Lauper’s earlier contributions. Lauper has acknowledged that this 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, dealing with endometriosis, poverty, and family struggles—all while maintaining an enduring spirit of resilience.
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 have continued to resonate with audiences across generations. In 2025, she announced her farewell tour, but her legacy remains, ensuring the trail she blazed will endure.
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