It’s been 30 years since the MTV generation was introduced to the trendsetting, vintage wearing, shaved head, neon streaked, punk-rock looking, angel voiced, in-your-face, over-the-top, down-to-earth, soul stirring, pixie, sprite, muse, performer, singer and phenomenon named Cyndi Lauper… but reappear she has, and she has never sounded better!
Delivering an amazing performance to audiences across the country, Cyndi speaks to fans with her music and shares intimate stories about the timeless lyrics that have made her a legend. Fans hang on each word and rock out to every beat and are immediately transported back to an era where “girls just wanna have fun.”
Last month while performing in Greensburg at the Palace Theatre, we had the opportunity to talk with the star about the tour, being an ally for the gay community and her work as the composer on the Tony award winning smash hit musical “Kinky Boots.”
“When I began working on “Kinky Boots” I basically went back to all the musicals I loved as a kid growing up. I started to really think about all the different, diverse people who would be coming to the show. I wanted to weave a piece of music from every generation into this show and translate that through the music. I was trying to make a pop musical, and also trying to make sure that the creative team got what they needed within a musical.”
“I realized after performing at the Gay Games many years ago, that nobody was featuring drag queens and I thought why the hell not? The outfits and the shoes alone were amazing and Billy Porter is a sensational singer. He’s one of those really great performers that come along once in a lifetime and he has made the show shine.”
When asked why she became involved with the LGBT community, Cyndi was quick to point out that “First, I’m a friend and family of the gay community. Second, back in 2001, I decided that I could no longer keep my mouth shut, so I teamed up with HRC, PFLAG and The Matthew Shepard Foundation to create the True Colors tour. It became a journey because I saw injustice right in my face, and I thought this is something I could do myself, I could become involved and get behind a project like that.”
THE POLITICIANS AREN’T GOING TO CHANGE THIS COUNTRY, WE ARE! WE NEED TO DO IT OURSELVES. IF WE RAISE OUR CHILDREN TO HATE, YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CHILD TO HATE. BECAUSE IT’S NOT JUST THE KID THAT’S BEING BULLIED, BUT THE KID THAT BULLIES THAT WE’VE LOST TOO. AND WE CAN’T AFFORD TO LOOSE OUR CHILDREN.
“Pride has always been a joyous celebration of bringing people together, and I looked at the True Colors Tour as a way of bringing people together and making a bigger statement about these injustices. When, I met Judy Shepard back stage at an HRC gala, I looked at her and said you look like you could use a drink, and I got her a vodka, and we went and sat and talked quietly for the first time about her coming out on the True Colors Tour and getting her message out to a larger audience and raising awareness about bullying.”
Cyndi also felt strongly after her own son experienced bullying. She shares the song “Above the Clouds” as a message of empowerment and support for him and anyone experiencing bullying.
“Before that tour, I would never have thought that you could make a difference. You have to take a stand. The politicians aren’t going to change this country, we are! We need to do it ourselves. If we raise our children to hate, you will lose your child to hate. Because it’s not just the kid that’s being bullied, but the kid that bullies that we’ve lost too. And we can’t afford to loose our children. We can only afford to nurture them and teach them to straighten up and fly right, morally. We need to raise our kids up and help them understand that we are not all square pegs in round holes.”
While working on The True Colors Tour, Cyndi began to be inspired by the leadership of our country that in her words “evolved” and began to slowly change.
“I always believe that fate, the universe, or whatever god you believe in wouldn’t make it about hatred and it’s sad that there are these religious organizations that make it hateful and hurtful. After the True Colors Tour, I got inspired to continue to work to make a difference, and I realized that I needed to do something else, so we created the True Colors Fund, which raises awareness of LGBT youth homelessness. When I appeared on “The Apprentice” the momentum just kept going. Then I started to recruit straight people to get on board, because everyone—whether straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender—should be allowed to show their true colors, and be accepted and loved for who they are.”
Cyndi’s 3rd annual “Home for the Holidays” concert will take place on Saturday, December 7 in New York City. For more info visit cyndilauper.com or truecolorsfund.org
