Cyndi Lauper Sings The Blues

TODAY IS SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

December 6, 2011 at 11:00 AM

Cyndi Lauper Sings The Blues

“True Colors” Grammy winner Cyndi Lauper on life, activism, and now singing the blues.

Cyndi Lauper performs on ABC's "Good Morning America" show in New York, Wednesday, June 23, 2010. (AP)

In the mid-1980s, Cyndi Lauper exploded to the top of the pop music charts with her bright, girlish voice, ragtag post-punk flash, and a pop anthem to young women’s self-expression – to fun.

She was huge, jostling at the top alongside Prince and Madonna. Then she took her own feisty turn. To activism, proud motherhood, a turn with Donald Trump, and now – Memphis blues.

This hour, On Point: the one and only, Cyndi Lauper.

-Tom Ashbrook

Guests

Cyndi Lauper, singer, actress, and activist. He new DVD is To Memphis, With Love.

Rich Juzwiak, Pop culture writer for The Daily.

From Tom’s Reading List

The New York Times “Cyndi Lauper can talk underwater with marbles in her mouth. Especially when it comes to appearances. The Moment caught up with the endearingly loquacious diva to talk about her misadventures in style and her recent turn as a M.A.C. model and spokeswoman for its AIDS fund.”

Playlist

Early in the Mornin’ (Live DVD, 2011)

Girls Just Want to Have Fun (She’s So Unusual, 1983)

Don’t Cry No More (Memphis Blues, 2010)

Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Live DVD, 2011)

Down So Low (Memphis Blues, 2010)

I Drove All Night (A Night to Remember, 1989)

Down Don’t Bother Me (Live DVD, 2011)

Home for the Holidays (w/Norah Jones) (2011)

Early in the Mornin’ (Memphis Blues, 2010)

True Colors (Live on “The View,” 2007)

The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough (1985)

Blue Christmas (2011)

Romance in the Dark (Memphis Blues, 2010)

Who Let In The Rain (Live DVD, 2011)

Hole in My Heart (All The Way To China) (1988)

Time After Time (1983)

http://www.bridgeviewdental.com/tarrytown Tarrytown Dentist

I like her how she sang this song. Quite good and cool.
Brett

A powerful singing voice…and a great Queens, N.Y. accent to boot!
- Modavations
  
  It’s only schtick
Terry Tree Tree

The lady is a singing talent. If she wants to sing Blues, I’m sure she can. Not sure what she has to sing the blues about?
- Modavations
  
  She’s one of those greedy rich,you incessently cry about.
  - Terry Tree Tree
    
    How so?
  - Rose Heredia
    
    What the heck is wrong with you. I know Cyndi personally and she has NEVER been greedy – she worked hard for her wealth and she shares it with her family and with her organizations. If she’s a businesswoman it’s because she has a staff of people she is supporting who work for her – but greed, never. She was poor one time and she deserves all that she has earned through hard work.
Christine

Thank you, Cyndi, for blazing your own trail and staying true to yourself. I’ve always loved your work and positive messages to women, and now my teenage daughter does. You’re an inspiration to many. –Christine
Modavations

I’m old enough to know who Charlie Musselwhite is.The Tracey Nelson hit was her one and only and it was in my opinion, one of the greatest songs in the cosmos.Why do another,when you’ve already reached perfection.
- tired of hate
  
  The reason to sing an old hit of Tracy Nelson’s is because those younger, may not remember her. Charlie Musselwhite is still out there and so is she.
  - Modavations
    
    I meant Tracy Nelsons one hit.Touchy arn’t we.
Stephen

True Colors always sets a tear in my eye every time I hear it and I don’t tear up for many pop songs because they are not honest enough to warrant one but True Colors is a very hear felt song in the tradition of John Lennon’s Imagine
cg

Cyndi you rock! and your voice is still great! Much love and support. Hey I was trying to remember a philosophy or rules to live by that you had with Lou Albano, I think it was spelled out with 3 letters but I could not find it with an online search? Does anyone else remember?
Ray in VT

I work at Johnson State College, and there have been stories floating around here regarding Ms. Lauper for years, and we never really knew whether or not to believe most of them.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_C2STBLZJK4VKQBV27DVQX3I6CU FAX68
  
  Gossips
Omeryl

I remember sneaking into bars down the Jersey shore to hear Cyndi play with Blue Angel in the very early 1980s. I was 17 with an older boyfriend and a fake ID. Those were some great concerts! Thank you, Cyndi!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_C2STBLZJK4VKQBV27DVQX3I6CU FAX68

The only remaining 80′s pop star singer that is still popular or should I say working so hard for the money. Cyndi Lauper made it and will remain with us forever in the 21st Century
Terry Tree Tree

Thanks!! Thanks for the snippets of the wide-range of talent of the lady! She does quite well, with ANY of the styles that I heard her sing!
Adibla2

I met Cyndi Lauper (my idol since I was 7 years old) on a NYC cross-town bus in 2001. It was one of the most memorable days of my life! We had a great conversation and she couldn’t have been a nicer person!
Terry Tree Tree

THANK YOU CINDI!! For pointing out the HYPOCRICY of the Catholics, that promote Child-Molesting, and Child-Abuse!
- Modavations
  
  What percent of Pervert priests were Democrat.What % were Republican.Answer=100% democrat
  - Tagubajones
    
    political affiliation makes someone a child molester?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Cyndi-Lauper-Daily/100002090737211 Cyndi Lauper Daily

WOW! An AMAZING interview from a truly INCREDIBLE human. Cyndi’s talent and her heart are magnificent!
Griffin Geoff

Great to hear from this musician and activist! Here’s a link to the coloring book that a listener mentioned today… http://www.etsy.com/listing/87568745/girls-rock-rhode-island-women-who-rock
Stillin

It was great to hear from an artist/musician that has followed her soul. As an art teacher and artist, I hope to hear those stories from past students down the road. The art room in every school is a cooking pot, it sizzles, it is jumping, it’s where everybody comes together to say what they think and create what they can. I love it and I love hearing how critical that is to youth.
http://whilewestillhavetime.blogspot.com/ John Hamilton

I’m not much of a blues fan anymore, it’s done so badly so often. That includes “recitation of the blues” Eric Clapton. I was stunned at how good Cyndi Lauper is. I think she has the kind of voice that she can sing in any genre. At some point she will likely try doing Patsy Cline songs. The sooner the better.

Tom Ashbrook is in over his head for the umpteenth time. A good example is when a clip was played of Cyndi Lauper doing Blue Christmas, and he remarked that the song was done by eveyone from Elvis to Ernest Tubbs. Right. Céline Dions sang it too. Whatever became of Jane Clayson?
remelie

i love cyndi since i was in high school now im a lola…..and still loves her a lot!
Lisa

Truly Amazing! What a talented artist Ms. Lauper really is! Had a chance to see her in concert last year. She was incredible!! Her Blues album is awesome!
Greg Marmai

Classy. Sassy. Creative. Innovative. Strong. Woman. And even though we’ve never met…a friend. Thank you for being there for me though your music. I’m so grateful for the strength, as a gay man, it continues to bring.
Best,
Greg
Helma

I love, love, love Cyndi..
zlatt

Wonderful interview, also people that they call in studio to say something to Cyndi are so positive.The long trip with Cyndi all this years i think made us also better people. Memphis Blues is exellent, voice never better, and energy going out from Cyndi with this album is spreading from USA,Europe,Japan.I saw her in Berlin, she fired place totally,I’ve never seen before germans like that.On song All trough the Night,on finsh of applause lasted for 5 min.and cring faces around.Never enough of Cyndi

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