Hello everyone. This week it’s time for another special 80s Countdown — just like the Diane Warren column from a couple of weeks ago. This week, I decided on my favorite female singer from the decade of rad and leg warmers: Cyndi Lauper.
As a quick follow-up to that Diane Warren countdown, Diane lost the Best Song Oscar again — for the 16th time. She is getting closer to soap icon Susan Lucci, who won her trophy after 19 nominations on the Daytime Emmys.
As Casey Kasem used to say, “Now on with the countdown”.
This week it’s time to dive into Cyndi Lauper’s world as we know it. It’s all things Cyndi and a bunch of Cyndi Lauper fun facts! I am going to countdown my favorite songs from her. Which Lauper bop will reign supreme in my mind? Let’s find out.
Cyndi photographed at the American Music Awards.
#5 Written by your purple majesty?
“When You Were Mine.”
This song was not a major hit by any means for Cyndi Lauper, but it did hit the top 30! It was one of two songs at that time that did not crack the top 20. The other song was “Money Changes Everything”. Cyndi’s voice is so amazing on this track. And the guitar riff? Wow!
“When You Were Mine” was written by Prince and appeared on his 1980 album Dirty Mind. I chose this song not only because of the guitar riff and the fact that it was written by Prince, but also because of some cute lyrics like “Kinda, sorta my best friend.”
She’s So Unusual, the album this is from, stayed in the top 40 of the album charts for 65 weeks.
#4 Any more time needed?
“Time After Time”
This song is only number four, you ask?! I have a… distinct taste. For example, the song “Boy in the Box” by Cory Hart is amazing and Dan dislikes it. I think the song is really good, but I prefer my top 3 any day.
Anyways, “Time after Time” was Cyndi’s first #1 single and the second song from her debut album, She’s So Unusual. The album allowed her to win best new artist at the Grammy Awards.
Co-written by Rob Hyman of the Hooters, “Time after Time” is a love song about devotion. The web site About.com placed this song at #21 on its list of the 50 Greatest Love Songs of All Time.
#3 How long could you drive for love?
“I Drove All Night”
“I drove all night, crept in your room… woke you from your sleep to make love to you.” Stalker, much?!
Those lyrics and Cyndi’s incredible vocals make for a great combo for this song. Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly wrote the song which was originally intended for… ROY ORBISON?! When I ready Dan’s tweets about who the song was meant or written for, it blew my mind. I couldn’t imagine Roy singing this, but then I learned that he did record the song before he died. It was released in 1991.
Celine Dion also had a hit with this song in 2003 as more of a dance-pop song.
Of the three versions, I do prefer Cyndi’s version. The song peaked at #8. It received a Grammy nomination for Female Rock Vocal.
Maybe Not-So-Fun Fact: This is Cyndi’s last top 10 single.
#2 Almost my favorite, no controversy needed
“All Through the Night”
I am sure I have created a controversy by putting this at #2, but I will say this: “All Through the Night” is a better song than “Time after Time.” Feel free to post your disagreement in the Comments section!
“All Through the Night” hit the Top 5 and was a huge success for Cyndi. I loved singing this song and holding the note at the end. If I missed, I would do it again (LOL). “All Through the Night” made Cyndi Lauper the first female singer to generate four Top 10 hits on the Hot 100 from a debut album.
I saw Cyndi live in concert this past December. It was a great time and it was such an amazing vibe.
I am posting the video to the original by Jules Shear. No, I am an 80s snob, but I am very judgy on originals and remakes. Cyndi made “All Through the Night” a ballad, thank goodness. Shear said he was surprised that his “folk song” was interpreted by Lauper as “a drum machine and techno thing.” According to Lauper, she wanted it to be just like Shear’s version with a bit more of an acoustic sound. However, she changed her mind, saying that she wanted to remake it in her own style. The rest, as they say, is music history.
#1 Here are the hints:
It was her first hit single and her real-life mom appeared in the music video for the song. The video itself was on high rotation on MTV and the song became an unofficial girl’s anthem. The song peaked at #2.
#1 Girls just a wanna have what?
“Girls Just Want to have Fun”.
This is one of the most fun and danceable songs from the 80’s. How can you not dance and sing loud to this song? Cyndi had a fun video made with her mom and wrestlers, etc.
Until the next record spins
Thanks for learning and reading about my favorite, Cyndi Lauper. I will be back next week to chat on a countdown from Sirius XM!
In the meantime, let me know what you think of this and ideas for a topic! And if you are on Twitter/X, be sure to join our live tweets every Friday night at 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific using the hashtag #80sCountdown to be part of the fun!
Nick
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