Cyndi Lauper: One of A Kind... But Not So Unusual

Her remarkable career has spanned more than 30 years. Raw talent, unrelenting drive and a unique vision propelled this gifted woman deeply into our consciousness, forever establishing her not only as one of the world's true pop icons, but as a brilliant storyteller, songwriter, actress and activist. Well-earned monikers, as reflected by her recent induction into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 2015... Not to mention her multiple Grammy, Emmy and Tony Awards, as well as her New York's Outer Critics Circle, MTV VMA, Billboard and AMA awards.

Lauper's insightful take on the world and the human condition made us all feel a little less "unusual" as she expressed a bit about what it was to be living outside the box of convention with her rendering of the Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly song "True Colors," who said of it, "When we got a copy of her version of 'True Colors,' it took our breath away because Cyndi's recording was simply brilliant and original."

The song, from her second album of the same name, has became an anthem for a generation and spurned a movement. One that reflects her tireless advocacy for the LGBT community and in particular for LGBT homeless youth, similarly named the True Colors Fund. Like the title song says, "If this world makes you crazy and you've taken all you can bear... You call me up, because you know I'll be there..."

Lauper's true colors have always been there, front and center and thankfully, they continue to be.

I love to start interviews by asking what a performer's earliest memories of music are. Could you please share yours?

I come from a family of music lovers. My entire family adored music and my taste is so eclectic because so many shared their favorite music with me growing up. At my Mom's house it was Broadway musical cast recordings, at my Grandfather's it was Italian crooners like Louis Prima and at my Aunt Gracie's house it was Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Kitty Wells and Johnny Cash on the AM radio she listened to while she was working in the kitchen.
Back then, no one labeled it "country" music, it was just hit music. It wasn't until FM radio came along that radio became so categorized.

I was listening to all genres of music from a very early age. When I got a bit older, my cousins and I would hang out in their room listening to '60s rock and roll, and from there I first heard the blues. So, my memories from my childhood and teenage years were filled with music.

When I first found out that you grew up in Queens many years ago, I was surprised. For some reason before that I'd associated you with European origins. I guess it's because of the early punk influences. How much did that movement impact your music?

(Laughs) That's funny, because I have such a strong Ozone Park accent. I'm a N.Y.C. girl through and through. Punk definitely had an influence on me, not just U.K. punk but the U.S. punk scene too. The attitude more than the actual music influenced my sound-if you know what I mean-Punk taught me to be brave and listening to the music was so freeing. I want to have that abandon in my own music and I wanted my audience to feel the power that punk fans felt listening to it.

For me, one of the appeals of your music is that there is a underlying sense of pain and empathy that runs through your work. What do you look for in a piece when writing and has that changed over the years?

I always try to be honest when I write. I don't always write songs based on my own experience; sometimes the experiences of friends and those around me inspire me too. The funny thing is, we all have similar struggles and experiences. Love and loss is something everyone has, so I kind of feel like I tell universal stories in my music.

You made many attempts at success early one with various bands. Flyer and Blue Angel are two that I came up in my research. How much did they define your early style?

We are all made up of our experiences. So, I'm sure there's a little Flyer and Blue Angel still in me. (Laughs)

"She's So Unusual" was such a runaway success, the first debut female album to chart four top-five hits and then winning a Grammy. Can you describe what that time was like and was there a moment when you thought, "I have entered a completely new world?"

Making that record was magical, it just felt so right and when it was received so well, it was just remarkable. I was 30 when the album came out and had a record deal before it with Blue Angel, so just because you have a deal, it doesn't mean you are across the finish line. It was so exciting to hear the music on the radio, see the videos on MTV and play in front of really big audiences. It was such a magical time, and was just great, since I had been working hard at it for so long. To have it pay off and be commercially successful was completely and utterly satisfying.