Cyndi Lauper is a true artist who has a terrific long career. Is there any other artist who could release a pop album (Shine), followed by a Grammy award winning collection of jazz standards (At Last), then an authentic blues cd (Memphis Blues) and then a wicked dance album (anther Grammy nomination for Bring Ya To The Brink)? All while looking cutting edge and inspiring waves of new talent like Lady Gaga.
In her memoir, she talks about the journey to music, and the arc of her career so far. What I found so interesting was her pre-fame days in Queens. She had a hard time in school and left early to try a string of jobs that didn't last.
One of them was as the world's worst secretary at Simon and Schuster, the company that published this memoir!
A third of the book covers these struggles with optimism in the face of obstacles, and while it was written with the help of Jancee Dunn, all told in her unmistakable voice. I remember being that age as well, rooming with friends, eating whenever, wondering what the future would bring, and she tells it so well I could really relate. She gets pretty low down, as low as you can go, sometimes eating whatever they could catch or not eating at all. So many memoirs have a small section of the pre-fame with the majority devoted to after the big break. It was inspiring to read the struggles.
When she finally starts singing in bands, she was doing covers. It wasn't until she sang in her own voice, literally, that she broke out into the mainstream and created a new and dynamic sound with Girls Just Want To Have Fun in 1983.
I was 16 in 83' and painted a t shirt in high school art class with the colourful cover of She's So Unusual. Reading her story now, I can see how she worked with great designers and photographers (Annie Leibovitz), as well as arrangers and musicians to create this new direction in music. It was a whole artistic package blending bits from here and there, and I related to the reinvention of styles.
The last third of the book details more of her struggles with the recording industry, and getting her music out into the world. I have continually bought her music, looking forward to her new releases. Many albums didn't get distributed or promoted properly, or were only available in other countries (I have a beautiful CD of Shine from Japan). It was always worth the search, but I do know many people who think she was just Girls Just Want To Have Fun and True Colours. Like any artist, she has grown and developed.
If you are a fan, you will already be reading this memoir, but I recommend it to anyone, especially artists. Her career has balanced success with struggle and this memoir tells it all very well.
2012 / Hardcover / 338 pages
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