One Friday afternoon in May, Cyndi Lauper stepped out of her Upper West Side apartment in New York City, donning glitter-encrusted glasses, sneakers with rainbow soles, and a stack of beaded bracelets. With a rice-paper parasol in hand, she examined the city’s crowds, expressing delight at the various fashion choices she encountered. “Look at these dames, how cute are they?” she exclaimed, her signature New York accent adding color to her observations.
At 70, the pop icon and social justice activist is gearing up for a significant milestone in her career. On Monday, Lauper announced her final tour, the “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour,” set to headline arenas across North America from late October to early December. Additionally, “Let the Canary Sing,” a documentary about her life and career that premiered at the Tribeca Festival last year, is now streaming on Paramount+.
Lauper has not embarked on a major tour in over a decade, citing a desire to perform at her best while she still can. “I don’t think I can perform the way I want to in a couple of years,” she said. “I want to be strong.” Initially hesitant about a documentary, Lauper agreed to sit with director Alison Ellwood, feeling she had already conveyed her message through her work.
Cyndi Lauper, born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, found her earliest musical inspiration singing Beatles songs with her sister. Leaving home at 17 with Yoko Ono’s feminist conceptual art book “Grapefruit” in hand, she navigated various jobs while struggling to find her musical identity. Her breakthrough came when she began writing and arranging songs about the women in her life, despite early career setbacks and a lawsuit with an ex-manager.
Lauper’s iconic song “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” originally written by Robert Hazard from a male perspective, was transformed by Lauper into an anthem of female liberation. The accompanying music video, notable for its inclusivity, became a visual representation of her artistic and political stance.
Despite achieving fame, Lauper faced challenges and criticism, often being compared to other female artists like Madonna. However, she remained steadfast in her unique style and identity, refusing to conform to industry expectations.
Throughout her career, Lauper has continued to evolve, venturing into Broadway and winning a Tony Award for the musical “Kinky Boots.” Her dedication to social causes is evident in her founding of True Colors United, which combats homelessness among LGBTQ youth, and the Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Rights fund supporting reproductive justice.
As she prepares for her farewell tour, Lauper reflects on her legacy and the hard work it entails. She trains rigorously, maintaining a schedule that includes vocal coaching, physical therapy, and a strict diet. “When you’re a singer, you have to be an athlete,” she said.
While Lauper daydreams about her past performances and the innovative ideas she attempted, she remains focused on the future. “Who the hell I am is who the hell I am,” she asserted, ready to take her final bow on her own terms.
