Pop / New Wave · 1980s Career
Cyndi Lauper became one of the decade’s most distinctive pop voices through a combination of theatrical personality, emotional range and songs that balanced fun with vulnerability.
She’s So Unusual
The 1983 album produced “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Time After Time” and “All Through the Night,” establishing Lauper as far more than a novelty image.
Voice and individuality
Her elastic voice could move from playful pop to intimate ballads, while her visual style made individuality itself part of her appeal.
Why she matters
Lauper helped expand the range of female pop stardom in the MTV era by making eccentricity, humor and emotional sincerity equally central.