Cyndi Lauper’s Debut Album Released in 1983

Cyndi Lauper released her first solo album in 1983. She was 30 years old when she made the album after her previous group, Blue Angel, had disbanded. The title She’s So Unusual was associated with Lauper’s approach of being different.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun was initially written and recorded by Robert Hazard, and Lauper contributed to reshaping the perspective of the song. Its video used New York streets and bedrooms, featured a cast of various women, and included Lauper’s mother, Catrine. Captain Lou Albano played Lauper’s father in the video.

Time After Time presented a different sound from Girls Just Want to Have Fun and a more introspective performance. She Bop and All Through the Night followed on the album. She’s So Unusual became the first debut album by a female artist to produce four Top Five singles on the Billboard Hot 100.

True Colors was released in 1986 and became one of Lauper’s defining performances. Lauper also wrote music and composed songs for Kinky Boots. The production won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2013, while Lauper received the Tony Award for Best Original Score.