Cyndi Lauper

As Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman 1984 seems to be everywhere at the moment we thought we'd take a look back at the wonder women of music back in 1984. DC Comics inspirational character is strong, independent and driven, a quality possessed by our top ten female artists from 1984. Back then the UK had a woman PM (Let's not get into whether she was ever wonderful), the women of Tenko were still plotting their escape, Juliet Bravo was keeping the streets of Hartley safe and Miss Ellie, Sue Ellen and Pam were still keeping the men folk of Dallas in check. 1984 was also the year of Band Aid, Footloose, Ghostbusters and Frankie Goes To Hollywood. All girl groups were more popular than ever with Sister Sledge, The Pointer Sisters, The Weather Girls and Bananarama all making a significant contribution to the music of 1984. Other acts to feature a female lead also made their mark; Annie Lennox as part of Eurythmics, Alannah Currie as part of The Thompson Twins and Elizabeth Fraser (arguably the voice of a generation) with The Cocteau Twins. Today though we are focusing on the individual and wow what an incredible cast we've assembled.

  Madonna in 1984. Picture by James Colburn.  

Madonna. 

Continue reading: Wonder Women 1984: Musical Icons Of Their Age.

How many times in your life have you found yourself listening to a song that you think you know inside out, only to discover that that's not even the original version? We're guessing at least once; indeed, it happens to us all. Most commonly when it's a cover of a cover. Here are ten iconic songs that gained more popularity as a cover than as an original...

Johnny Cash at Glastonbury 1994 / Photo Credit: Empics Entertainment/PA Images

Tainted Love - Soft Cell
Original: Gloria Jones
Other notable covers: Marilyn Manson

Continue reading: Tainted Love, Hallelujah And Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: 10 Covers That You Probably Know Better Than The Originals

Cyndi Lauper is currently planning her latest stage musical venture with an adaptation of the Academy Award winning comedy drama 'Working Girl'. The show will mark the Tony Award winning superstar's second Broadway project following the critically acclaimed 'Kinky Boots' which she debuted four years ago.

Cyndi Lauper at True Colors Benefit

The 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' hitmaker will be composing the music for her forthcoming musical 'Working Girl', based on the 1988 film of the same name which starred Melanie Griffith as a Wall Street professional determined to rise over a patriarchal business. 

Continue reading: Cyndi Lauper To Write Feminist Musical Version Of 'Working Girl'

Cyndi Lauper was inspired by Lady GaGa to wear whatever she ''freaking'' wants to.

The 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' hitmaker disagrees that her outrageous outfits overshadowed her music, but when business-minded people told her she should tone it down in the early 1990s she decided to wear ''plainer'' clothes.

However, when she met with the 'Poker Face' singer in 2009 she ''woke up'' and decided to wear and change the colour of her hair no matter what.

Continue reading: Cyndi Lauper Inspired By Lady Gaga To Be Bold

Cyndi Lauper has been honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame for her work on musical Kinky Boots. The 62-year-old singer was presented with her star by friend Sharon Osbourne, who paid tribute to Lauper’s decades long music career, as well as praising her work as an LGBT activist.

Cyndi Lauper receives her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

"She's had an endless career which spans decades," Osbourne said. "She's a prolific songwriter. She's an incredible performer. Nobody sounds like Cyndi Lauper. She's instantly recognisable. "She's a true original. She's been original from the day she was born with her style.”

Continue reading: Cyndi Lauper Receives Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame [Pictures]

Lady GaGa, Cyndi Lauper and Van Morrison were among the honourees at Thursday night’s Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony, held at the Marriott Marquis in New York’s Times Square. The three-hour ceremony featured plenty of tears and heartfelt speeches, as well as some stunning live performances from artists across the musical spectrum.

Lady Gaga was presented the award by friend and collaborator Tony Bennett.

Gaga was honoured with the contemporary icon award, presented to her by singer and Cheek to Cheek collaborator Tony Bennett. For the occasion Gaga dressed in a black leather look bra and panties cover by a red riding coat. The singer also performed at the event, covering Four Non Blondes’ classic ‘What’s Up’.

Continue reading: Lady Gaga, Van Morrison And Cyndi Lauper Enter Songwriters Hall Of Fame

Cyndi Lauper's Kinky Boots, the Tony award-winning musical about a Midlands shoe factory, is to open in the West End with a British cast. The show was a major hit on Broadway and continues to run at the Al Hirschfeld theatre where it has notched up over 700 performances.

Kinky Boots was a phenomonal success on Broadway

The musical, which retains the Northampton setting from the film on which it is based, won six gongs at the Tony awards in 2013 including best musical, best original score and best choreography for Jerry Mitchell. It tells the story of a young man who takes over his father's failing shoe business before finding inspiration in the form of a cabaret star - played in the movie by Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Continue reading: Cyndi Lauper's 'Kinky Boots' Swapping Broadway For West End

The Tonys don’t really have much to offer in the way of original productions this year, including the big favorite this year, the Cyndi Lauper-scored “Kinky Boots”. The musical has been nominated for a whopping 13 Tonys. It is based on the 2005 British film about a shoe factory, which struggles to find its footing (get it) until it gets in the business of fetish footwear. What really makes this musical come to life though, is Lauper’s score, along with Harvey Feirstein’s writing. The record for nominations remains untouched though, as it was “Billy Elliot” in 2009 and “The Producers” in 2011, who broke it with 15 nominations. The 2012 Daniel Radcliffe starrer “The Book of Mormon” earned 14 nods at last year’s Tonys.

A close second to “Kinky Boots” in terms of nominations is another adaptation and another British import, Matilda: The Musical, which managed to secure twelve nods. “Lucky Guy”, Laura Ephron’s retelling of the story of a courageous New York reporter, comes in third with just six nods. “Lucky Guy” sees Tom Hanks in his first role on Broadway and apparently the stage suits him, because Hanks managed to nab a Best Actor nod as well. Besides Hanks, the leading actor in a play category is populated by Nathan Lane for “The Nance,” Tracy Letts from “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, David Hyde Pierce from “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” and Tom Sturridge from “Orphans.”

If you’re curious to see who wins what, the Tonys will be broadcast on CBS from Radio City Music Hall on June 9th.

Continue reading: These "Kinky Boots" Were Made For Walking Straight To The Tony Awards