Way Back WhensDay: She's So Unusual

Yep, that's mine...

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

She's So Unusual isn't just the debut album of Cyndi Lauper, it's a good way to describe this 80's pop star.  I was 10 years old when the album was released.  It didn't take long and I had a copy of it on cassette.  In fact, I still have it.  Thirty years later, a two-disc commemorative set has been released.

Father-daughter moment
Capt. Lou & Cyndi

For those who are old enough to remember the 80's and the music videos featuring Lauper's songs will remember her look.  Her loud clothes, bright red, sometimes checker board style hair, and flashy sunglasses set her apart from other acts of that era.  Even though her big hit Girls Just Want to Have Fun was an anthem of sorts for females everywhere, I loved the song and the video.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it gave us our first taste of the Rock 'N Wrestling Connection as Capt. Lou Albano was featured in the video as Cyndi's dad.

Wendi Richter
She Bop

That of course lead to the pop star being more involved with the WWF and "managing" Wendi Richter to the women's championship.  We also saw Richter as a part of the video for the song She Bop.  Then when The Goonies R Good Enough was released, Richter, Albano, Roddy Piper, Moolah, Iron Sheik, Freddie Blassie, and Nikoali Volkoff all made appearances.  

Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Cyndi Lauper

But I digress.  It wasn't just the involvement in wrestling that made me a fan of Cyndi Lauper.  I liked her music.  It was such an obsession that not only did I own the She's So Unusual cassette, but I also bought the single 33 records of each of her top tunes.  I didn't do that with any other artist back then, including other favorites like Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Van Halen.

I always liked the upbeat nature of She Bop (yes I've heard the rumors of what the song is about) and Girls Just Want to Have Fun and the more mellow Time After Time.  More than 30 years later, I stop to listen to these songs anytime I hear them on the radio.  I also have Cyndi as a channel on my Pandora radio app.  She's so unusual, but so talented too.