Monday, 7/14/97 Cyndi Lauper still wants to have fun, but
motherhood, feminism and spirituality are coming together to add a
mature twist to the popular singer’s life, and it is reflected
through her music.
By Mike Prevatt Daily Bruin Senior Staff While most women
touring this summer are celebrating their prominence in the pop
music world, one is actually celebrating womanhood through her
music. No, it’s not one of the many participants on the wildly
hyped Lilith Fair tour. It’s Cyndi Lauper. It’s hard to believe
that 13 years ago, Cyndi Lauper stormed through pop culture with
her punk-ish image and pop charm with "She’s So Unusual." Lauper
was one of the first women artists in the ’80s to loosen the
stranglehold men had in rock ‘n’ roll, giving the battle cry with
her signature hit, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." Now, four albums
later, Lauper gives us "Sisters of Avalon" (Epic), a mature album
exploring the spirituality and maternal nature of women. Along with
the new record, she plays the part of opening act for one of the
summer’s biggest concert events, Tina Turner’s Wildest Dreams Tour.
And, as if things couldn’t be any more exciting for Lauper, she
announced her pregnancy a few months ago. The baby’s not due until
the end of the year, but for now, Lauper seems to be preparing
herself. "I’m still shocked," says the expecting Lauper. "You know
you’re pregnant and that’s logical, but it’s a science project
because everyday your body changes. You’re looking at yourself
going, "Oh my God!" "Sisters of Avalon," may be the most lush and
spiritual record Lauper has ever recorded. All sorts of
arrangements and synthesized elements give the songs an
otherworldly aura. But everything comes back down to Earth with the
soul-searchingly deep lyrics, written by Lauper and collaborator
and band member Jan Pulsford. "I was dealing with feminine
elements," says Lauper. "As opposed to dealing with the ‘great
father,’ I was dealing with the ‘great mother.’ (Jan) said to me
what really struck her is at one point in everyone’s life, every
single person, every single being has cried for their mother. That
our entrance to the world is through the womb." Lauper is still in
the business of relaying themes of empowerment, something that rang
through on "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" back in the ’80s and now
rings louder than ever. "Any one of the songs … is still about
empowerment. And as long as the energy and the tales kind of move
you and intrigue you and get your mind to think, then we did a
really good job." One of the songs that best exemplifies this is
the single, "You Don’t Know," currently burning up the Billboard
dance charts. Lauper says, "It’s about standing back and looking at
yourself and saying, ‘No, I’m not going along. I’m not going to be
a sheep.’" On the technical side of the music, Lauper and Pulsford
incorporated all sorts of loops, beats and synthesized elements in
the record, something they had won acclaim for in Lauper’s 1993
"Hat Full of Stars" album. "I really love the loops and the hip-hop
rhythm," says Lauper. "I think the invention of hip-hop was a great
thing. I think it has to grow, it can’t stay the same. It will have
to mutate again. But it will, because that’s how music endures."
Recording locations for Lauper’s vocal performances included
Argentina, the Tennessee woods and a centennial, upstate New York
mansion. "We found this place in Tuxedo Park (New York) which was
ideal. It had a view, it had land, you could sing outside. It was
really unbelievable … feeling your feet on the ground, your head
in the sky and singing to your music. You can’t beat that." "Even
now … as I’m touring with Tina," says Lauper, "the time that I
sing is at twilight. It’s amazing to watch the sunset while
singing." Lauper, during the Los Angeles shows at the Greek Theater
with Turner, would often venture out in the crowd while singing,
playfully taking food from the audience. "I figure, they sit there
and there’s that, like, third wall. It’s almost like they’re
looking at a movie. But if you break that wall, it’s hilarious." "I
can go out and grab somebody or take their popcorn. I can’t believe
that they got popcorn and soda and didn’t get me anything,"
continues Lauper. This tour has so far been a memorable one for
Lauper, who commands more audience attention than most opening
acts. But the thing that impresses Lauper most about singing at
twilight? "The birds during those hours start to sing unbelievably.
There’s such magic for me there … Everything compounds itself
just then … I’m pregnant, I’m singing, it’s twilight. It’s
actually an amazing experience." Sony Music Cyndi Lauper, currently
on tour with Tina Turner, has returned with a new album and a new
sound. Related Site: Cyndi Lauper’s Official Site