Cyndi LauperCynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper (born June 22, 1953), better known as Cyndi Lauper, is a singer whose melodic voice and wild costumes have come to epitomize the 1980s, the decade in which she first came to fame. BiographyCyndi Lauper was born in Queens, New York. She began her career in a band named Blue Angel, and in 1983 started dating her manager David Wolff with whom she released She's So Unusual, a worldwide hit which made Lauper a household name. A mixture of teen-friendly pop-rock and edgier, almost punky sounds, the album's biggest hit, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", quickly established itself as a female anthem. Lauper won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards of 1984 for her work on the album. Cyndi Lauper was the first female artist to have four consecutive Top 5 hits from one album, She's So Unusual. The album also included "She Bop", a paean to female masturbation, and the romantic ballad "Time After Time", an instant "standard" which has since been covered by over 70 artists (most notably Miles Davis). Lauper was popular with teenagers, in part because of her quirky image which took the popular late 1970s punk look and marketed it to a mainstream audience. At this stage of her career, she was often compared to Madonna. In 1986, after recording the song "The Goonies 'R' Good Enough" for the 1985 film The Goonies, Lauper released her second album, True Colors. Revealing a more mature sound and sensibility, it reached number 4 on the US album charts. The title song went on to become her second Platinum number 1 hit. In 1988 she appeared as the female lead in the quirky comedy Vibes, which was poorly received by critics and a commercial flop. Her soundtrack contribution, "Hole In My Heart (All the Way to China)", also flopped. Lauper's third album, 1989's A Night to Remember, though critically well-received, was not as commercially successful as its predecessors, spawning just one hit, "I Drove All Night", which was originally penned for Roy Orbison. Orbison's version was not released until 1992, three years after Lauper's version and four years after Orbison's death. In 1990 she joined many other guests for Roger Waters' massive performance of The Wall in Berlin. Lauper took a break from singing at this point, but didn't disappear from show business, and in 1993 she played Michael J. Fox's secretary in My Life With Mikey. She released the critically acclaimed album Hat Full of Stars in the same year, but once again sales were poor. With a smooth new R&B sound and production by Junior Vasquez, she tackled such topics as spousal abuse and abortion. In 1995 Lauper won an Emmy award for "Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series" for her portrayal of wealthy contessa Marianne Lugasso in Mad About You. She also released 12 Deadly Cyns... and Then Some, a greatest hits compilation that included two new tracks, one of which was a remix of her first big hit, newly christened "Hey Now (Girls Just Wanna Have Fun)". The album was released under a number of different titles, packaging and track listings around the world. Her 1997 album Sisters of Avalon brought her back into the limelight. With subject matter even more adult than before, it was quickly embraced by the gay community for its disco and club stylings. The topicality of the album also contributed to its "pink" appeal: the song "Ballad of Cleo and Joe" addressed the complications of a drag queen's double life, while "You Don't Know" tackled the thorny issue of coming out. The album's singles were remixed to great acclaim, and Lauper began performing as a featured artist at gay pride events around the world. In 1999 she co-headlined a tour alongside Cher, and contributed a cover version of the disco classic "Disco Inferno" to the soundtrack of the film A Night at the Roxbury. She also garnered critical plaudits for her roles in several independent films including The Opportunists (with Christopher Walken) and Off and Running. In 2001 Lauper prepared an album, Shine, which saw her returning to her early bubblegum pop sound without losing the "maturity" she had embraced on later records. Just weeks before the album's scheduled release, however, her label, Edel America Records, folded, and, to Lauper's consternation, the tracks were leaked to the public. Although a five song E.P. of the same name was made available through her website and at Tower Records, the full length album concept was scrapped. She undertook her second co-headlining tour with Cher in 2002. In 2003, an E.P. of remixes from the unreleased "Shine" album was sold on the Edel America Records website. Additionally Lauper's former label Sony issued a new greatest hits CD entitled The Essential Cyndi Lauper. She then re-signed with Sony/Epic Records, the label that made her a star, and a new album called Naked City was in the works. She maintains a devoted fanbase and lives in New York with her husband, actor David Thornton, and their child. In November 2003 an album of standards was released entitled At Last (formerly "Naked City"), which became a top 40 hit in the US and Australia. In March of 2004 the full length "Shine" album was finally released, though exclusively in Japan. She was nominated for a 2005 Grammy award for "Best Instrumental Composition Accompanying a Vocal" for her interpretation of the song "Unchained Melody" on her At Last album. Samples
DiscographyAlbums
E.P.s
Soundracks and other albums
Filmography
This page about Cyndi Lauper includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about Cyndi Lauper News stories about Cyndi Lauper External links for Cyndi Lauper Videos for Cyndi Lauper Wikis about Cyndi Lauper Discussion Groups about Cyndi Lauper Blogs about Cyndi Lauper Images of Cyndi Lauper |
|
She was nominated for a 2005 Grammy award for "Best Instrumental Composition Accompanying a Vocal" for her interpretation of the song "Unchained Melody" on her At Last album. Her more notable credits include. In March of 2004 the full length "Shine" album was finally released, though exclusively in Japan. Princess Ai: Volume I was released by TokyoPop in the United States on July 6, 2004. In November 2003 an album of standards was released entitled At Last (formerly "Naked City"), which became a top 40 hit in the US and Australia. Dialogue for Princess Ai's main character, Ai, is taken from Love's song lyrics. She maintains a devoted fanbase and lives in New York with her husband, actor David Thornton, and their child. Princess Ai features the character design of Ai Yazawa. She then re-signed with Sony/Epic Records, the label that made her a star, and a new album called Naked City was in the works. Because of this, she has co-created a manga series called Princess Ai. Additionally Lauper's former label Sony issued a new greatest hits CD entitled The Essential Cyndi Lauper. When Love lived in Japan, she became a fan of the manga animation style. of remixes from the unreleased "Shine" album was sold on the Edel America Records website. This role was revoked due to her problems with narcotics, and instead was given to pop singer Madonna. In 2003, an E.P. Love was cast to star as legendary cowgirl Texas Guinan in the story of her life, called Hello Sucker!. She undertook her second co-headlining tour with Cher in 2002. A lawsuit is pending. of the same name was made available through her website and at Tower Records, the full length album concept was scrapped. Love had agreed to pay (and had been paying) the bill though the board was registered to the head of her fanclub. Although a five song E.P. In August of 2004 Love alienated some fans, when she allowed a bill for a message board tied into her website to go unpaid. Just weeks before the album's scheduled release, however, her label, Edel America Records, folded, and, to Lauper's consternation, the tracks were leaked to the public. Her attorney later said she missed the appearance due to medical problems; later in the month she appeared in court and was sentenced to an 18-month probation and drug rehabilitation program. In 2001 Lauper prepared an album, Shine, which saw her returning to her early bubblegum pop sound without losing the "maturity" she had embraced on later records. On her 40th birthday, July 9, 2004, she missed a scheduled court appearance relating to an attempted break-in at a boyfriend's house and was found in contempt of court. She also garnered critical plaudits for her roles in several independent films including The Opportunists (with Christopher Walken) and Off and Running. Earlier in the night, she appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman and flashed her breasts at David Letterman six times. In 1999 she co-headlined a tour alongside Cher, and contributed a cover version of the disco classic "Disco Inferno" to the soundtrack of the film A Night at the Roxbury. Early on the morning of March 19, 2004 Courtney Love was arrested in New York City for allegedly throwing a microphone stand and hitting a man on the head. The album's singles were remixed to great acclaim, and Lauper began performing as a featured artist at gay pride events around the world. She released her first solo effort America's Sweetheart just eight days earlier on February 10. The topicality of the album also contributed to its "pink" appeal: the song "Ballad of Cleo and Joe" addressed the complications of a drag queen's double life, while "You Don't Know" tackled the thorny issue of coming out. In February of 2004, an arrest warrant was issued for Love after she failed to appear at a preliminary hearing; the warrant was subsequently rescinded when she appeared in court on February 18. With subject matter even more adult than before, it was quickly embraced by the gay community for its disco and club stylings. In 2003, Love pleaded not guilty to felony drug charges related to possession of painkillers. Her 1997 album Sisters of Avalon brought her back into the limelight. Love in October 2001 performed in some solo shows as an opening act. The album was released under a number of different titles, packaging and track listings around the world. Hole broke up in 2001 amid continuing litigation. and Then Some, a greatest hits compilation that included two new tracks, one of which was a remix of her first big hit, newly christened "Hey Now (Girls Just Wanna Have Fun)". With Hole having fallen into disarray, Love attempted to begin a "punk rock femme supergroup" called Bastard during Summer/Autumn of 2001, though this project never reached fruition. She also released 12 Deadly Cyns.. She became known for her criticism of record companies' unfair contracts and mistreatment of artists. In 1995 Lauper won an Emmy award for "Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series" for her portrayal of wealthy contessa Marianne Lugasso in Mad About You. In 2000, she publicly announced her admiration for Napster which, at the time, was being accused of fostering illegal file-sharing. With a smooth new R&B sound and production by Junior Vasquez, she tackled such topics as spousal abuse and abortion. Love has been a strong critic of the recording industry, especially the RIAA. She released the critically acclaimed album Hat Full of Stars in the same year, but once again sales were poor. Larry Flynt, Love received considerable acclaim for her role as Flynt's wife, Althea. Fox's secretary in My Life With Mikey. In the 1996 film The People vs. Lauper took a break from singing at this point, but didn't disappear from show business, and in 1993 she played Michael J. Courtney herself stated that the look was inspired by Christina Amphlett of 1980s rock group The Divinyls. Love's style has since evolved, and she has modelled for more sophisticated designer labels. In 1990 she joined many other guests for Roger Waters' massive performance of The Wall in Berlin. Early on Love also became a fashion trendsetter; in her early career, Love modelled a "kinderwhore" look, which she was accused of having ripped off of Kat Bjelland (Other sources suggest the rip-off was in fact in the opposite direction). Orbison's version was not released until 1992, three years after Lauper's version and four years after Orbison's death. In 1991 Love formed her own band, Hole; the band's debut album garnered little critical or popular attention; Hole's fortunes improved considerably following Love's marriage to Cobain and the publicity following Cobain's death. Lauper's third album, 1989's A Night to Remember, though critically well-received, was not as commercially successful as its predecessors, spawning just one hit, "I Drove All Night", which was originally penned for Roy Orbison. Returning to music in her adopted hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Love co-founded the all-female rock band Babes in Toyland with Kat Bjelland; acrimony between the two led to a quick exit from this band for Love. Her soundtrack contribution, "Hole In My Heart (All the Way to China)", also flopped. Love had more early success as an actress; appearing as the best friend of Nancy Spungen in Alex Cox's Sid Vicious biopic Sid and Nancy in 1986, and in Cox's Straight to Hell in 1987. In 1988 she appeared as the female lead in the quirky comedy Vibes, which was poorly received by critics and a commercial flop. Courtney Love began her professional music career with a brief stint as the lead singer of Faith No More in the early 1980s. The title song went on to become her second Platinum number 1 hit. Lauper was popular with teenagers, in part because of her quirky image which took the popular late 1970s punk look and marketed it to a mainstream audience. Trapped (2002). The album also included "She Bop", a paean to female masturbation, and the romantic ballad "Time After Time", an instant "standard" which has since been covered by over 70 artists (most notably Miles Davis). Beat (2000). Cyndi Lauper was the first female artist to have four consecutive Top 5 hits from one album, She's So Unusual. Man on the Moon (1999). Lauper won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards of 1984 for her work on the album. Larry Flynt (1996). A mixture of teen-friendly pop-rock and edgier, almost punky sounds, the album's biggest hit, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", quickly established itself as a female anthem. The People vs. She began her career in a band named Blue Angel, and in 1983 started dating her manager David Wolff with whom she released She's So Unusual, a worldwide hit which made Lauper a household name. Straight to Hell (1987). Cyndi Lauper was born in Queens, New York. Sid and Nancy (1986). Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper (born June 22, 1953), better known as Cyndi Lauper, is a singer whose melodic voice and wild costumes have come to epitomize the 1980s, the decade in which she first came to fame. America's Sweetheart (2004). 2005 The Naked Brothers Band (currently in post-production). See Hole (band). 1999 The Opportunists. Parker and the Vicious Circle (Cameo). 1994 Mrs. 1993 Life With Mikey. 1991 Off and Running. 1988 Vibes. 1985 The Goonies (Cameo). Sincerely...Mariya Takeuchi Songbook (Various Artists) - 2003 (Vocals on "Winter Lovers"). Blowback (Tricky) - 2000 (Vocals on "Five Days"). Rugrats in Paris - the Movie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Various Artists) - 200 (Contributes track). Southie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Various Artists) - 1999 (Vocals on Wild Colonials track "If By Chance"). A Night at the Roxbury: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - 1998 (Contributes track). Largo (Various Artists) - 1998 (Contributes 2 tracks). Out of Body (The Hooters) - 1993 (Lead vocals on "Boys Will be Boys"). Put on Your Green Shoes (Various Artists) - 1993 (Performs title track, billed as part of "3 Cats 'n Jammers"). A Very Special Christmas 2 (Various Artists) - 1992 (Duets with Frank Sinatra). Tycoon (Various Artists) - 1992 (Contributes 2 tracks). Music Speaks Louder Than Words (Various Artists) - 1990 (Contributes track "Cold"). The Wall: Live in Berlin (Roger Waters) - 1990 (On several songs recorded live). The Bridge (Billy Joel) - 1986 (Duets on "Code of Silence"). Cyndi Lauper & Friends (Compilation with songs by others) - 1985 (Brazil Only). The Wrestling Album (Various Artists) - 1985 (Backing Vocals, billed as "Mona Flambe"). Confrontation (Face to Face) - 1985 (Backing Vocals, billed as "Kindy Lipkey"). USA For Africa - 1985. The Goonies: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack = 1985. What's In a Name? (Henry Gross) - 1981 (Backing Vocals). Shine Remixes - 2003. Shine E.P. - 2002. Wanna Have Fun - 1998. Shine - 2004 (Japan Only). At Last - 2003. The Essential Cyndi Lauper - 2003. Shine - 2002 (Unreleased). Pop Wave - 2002 (Germany Only). Cyndi Lauper - V.I.P. - 2002 (Germany Only). Feels Like Christmas - 2001. Grande Sucesses - 2001 (Brazil Only). Siglo XXI Cyndi Lauper Los Exitos Del Siglo - 2001 (Brazil Only). Media Markt Presents Cyndi Lauper - 2001 (Germany Only). Cyndi Lauper Greatest Hits - 2000 (Colombia Only). Best of Best Gold - Time After Time - 2000 (UK/France Only). Cyndi Lauper - The Best - 2000 (Peru Only). Merry Christmas...Have a Nice Life - 1998. Sisters of Avalon - 1996. Twelve Deadly Cyns...and Then Some - 1994. Hat Full of Stars - 1993. The Best Remixes - 1989. A Night to Remember - 1989. True Colors - 1986. She's So Unusual - 1984. Blue Angel - 1980. Download sample of "Time After Time" from She's So Unusual. |