The Bottom Line This is a fun album from an underrated artist. It's got some great pop classics.
Full Review
Let me start this out by saying that I'm not specifically a Cyndi Lauper fan. Of course as a child, her odd style stood out to me even over that of the young Madonna. What does make me appreciate Lauper for as an artist is not her voice. To be quite blunt, she's not the best singer. It's her songwriting in many cases that is interesting and is what makes her songs stay with me until this day. Of course, her songs range from the goofy "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and "She Bop" to more serious ones (and for that matter beautiful) "Time after Time" and "True Colors."
In this review, I hope to help others realize that Lauper isn't just a whining crazy-tressed bimbo. Rather, there is some special talent that lies beneath her multi-colored makeup, clothing, and hair. This album is actually her "greatest hits" compilation as of 1995. There are a few omissions from her early 90's albums, but overall it's pretty good so far as greatest hits albums go.
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1. I'M GONNA BE STRONG ('95)
This is a ballad like that Cyndi Lauper is very good at. It's touching and somehow manages to minimize her nasally voice. The only times that it nears her famous ear crunching levels are at the most intense moments like that of the chorous. To be very honest, I don't like this song as much as some of the others. This could be for one of two reasons...either it's not as good a song, or the others are more familiar and thus I am more easily able to appreciate them. Either way, it's a mediocre beginning to a 'Greatest Hits' album.
2. GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN
Lauper broke onto the pop scene with the release of this track. It's goofy, but somehow it managed to achieve it's goal. To unite "Girls" everywhere toward the common goal of "Having Fun." It's been featured in commercials (I think I remember at least one from Kodak) and is ingrained into the collective psyche of Americans forever (at least those of us who were raised in the eighties). The lyrics aren't in the least bit profound...rather, the title is repeated several times in different ways. Fun and pure pop.
3. MONEY CHANGES EVERYTHING
Again, this song has been in multiple commercials. I suppose this is almost definitely because of it's subject matter. I'm not sure that you could say that it's specifically a "great" song, but the idea is what's important. In fact, the idea is that nothing is the same after the addition of money (duh). It's a good, classic Lauper song released in 1984 along with some of her other early popular tracks. It was originally from The Brains.
4. TIME AFTER TIME
This song could be considered a classic. Without a doubt, it's one of her two most touching songs. And, to make it even more special Lauper is given writing credits for the single. She tones down her normally squealing voice to record an 80's synth pop ballad that's been a dentist-office mainstay ever since. The lyrics actually do contain some amount of meaning...something more than can be said for some of her other songs. Here's a taste...
Sometimes you picture me--
I'm walking too far ahead
You're calling to me, I can't hear
What you've said--
Then you say--go slow--
I fall behind--
The second hand unwinds
5. SHE BOP
With an interesting and thinly veiled subject matter, it seems obvious that Lauper was trying to push some buttons. Let's just say that certain Republicans weren't happy about what she was saying. If you can't figure it out, use your junior high imagination to fill in the blanks. Anyway. Lauper's voice is so high-pitched with punk influences that she's almost impossible to understand, but it's an intersting song on the album none-the-less.
6. ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT
The lyrics may be nonsensical, but it's still a decent Cyndi Lauper song. It's funny how underrated she is as an artist. Few people recognize her as little more than a sad version of the early Madonna. Well, this song along with many others prove that opinion wrong. It's one of the Lauper songs that you don't realize you know until you hear it again. A good one, and worth a listen. I promise you'll remember it upon a listen.
7. CHANGE OF HEART
"Oh I am here, waiting for your change of heart..." A good song that could have been sung by any one of the 1980's pop goddesses. Fortunately the one that sang it was the sometimes diverse Lauper. She did use her voice almost fully on this track. It's not campy, rather it is true 1980's pop. It's a good song, and one in which you've likely heard before on the radio. I also believe that this one has been in advertising.
8. TRUE COLORS
Another beautiful ballad. Who knew that someboy like Lauper would have this many tricks up her sleeve? Well, this ones just perfectomundo. It seems perfect that Lauper sang it regardless of her odd tendencies. "Don't be afraid to let them show...your true colors are beautiful like a rainbow..." It's classic so far as ballads of the 1980's go. In fact, it rivals "Time After Time" for the top honors at the dentist's office. This is one of the only songs from Lauper that I can truly say is soothing. Her voice tends to be anything but.
9. WHAT'S GOING ON
This is a slow-groove sort of song unlike all of the others on this disc. I think I heard some horns in addition to lots of real instruments instead of synthesizers. She took a different look at music with this one. It's more artistic in that you can barely even tell who's singing the song. There aren't any of Lauper's regular wailings or anything. In fact, she sounds like the talent that we know her to be.
10. I DROVE ALL NIGHT
Yet another decent song from the crazy lady herself. This time, it's also one of my favorites by far. It's driving with rock guitars in the background. It seems to come from a very different place than pop songs like "She Bop." Lauper's apparent talent shines through wonderfully. She sounds like a diva, like a queen. Apparently, this song was also written initially for Roy Orbison (who turned it down but later recorded it).
11. THAT'S WHAT I THINK
From her "Hatful of Stars" album, this is another one of my favorites. It's a dance tune with ska hints and horns. It's a great, fun song that truly didn't receive enough exposure. Although, it is important to note that since Lauper's initial success critics have sided with her works while audiences generally shied away. A great song. A must-hear. Not everybody knows it, but it's worth a listen.
12. SALLY'S PIGEONS
Written by both Lauper and Mary Chapin Carpenter, this song has wide appeal. Although, it is only with the album that you will ever hear it. And, with those kinds of credentials, it seems only fitting that I include a brief look at the lyrics:
When I was eight I had a friend
With a pirate smile
Make believe and play pretend
We were innocent and wild
Hopped a fence and slammed the gate
Running down my alleyway
In time to watch Sally's pigeons fly
13. HEY NOW (GIRL'S JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN)
This is a sort of remix of the original. It's fun, and actually more so than the original. There are some Reggae beats behind and some great backing vocals. It's more inventive and more interesting than the original could possibly have been. A great song, a must listen. Great job, Cyndi!
14. COME ON HOME
One last song for the masses thanks to Cyndi Lauper. Not much to say. This is one of her own songs. She writes about half of what you hear her sing, although the songs that become the most popular are usually ones she didn't write.
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Lauper does it all. She can sing (obviously) most of the time and plays a number of instruments ranging from the guitar to the recorder (yeah, that flute-thingie you played in third grade). This is a good CD for fairweather fans to pick up. This way, you get all of her hits and none of the really bad crap. I suggest that if you are a 80's music fan, this would be a good addition. I won't promise you'll love it if you don't already kind of like a song or two of hers though. Good luck, and happy listening!
Recommended:
Yes
Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out
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