Cyndi Lauper at the O2 Arena

Words like legend and icon are frustratingly overused these days but with Cyndi Lauper, they are more than justified. Bursting onto the scene in 1983 with the aptly titled She’s So Unusual, we quickly came to realise she wasn’t your run-of-the-mill pop star.

The 80s was brimming with serious talent. Prince would release definitive albums in Purple Rain, Parade and Sign o’ the Times. Michael Jackson’s Thriller would forever change the industry. Whitney Houston was on her A-game and Madonna was about to make waves. This time saw so many incredible artists achieve success, while being completely different to one another. There was room for all and that’s where Lauper comes in.

Eccentric, opinionated, honest and inherently artistic – she has always remained true to herself. An inspiration for women and the LGBTQ+ community in particular, Lauper has always served as a voice for the underdogs who perhaps don’t fit into society’s prescribed boxes. One can’t help but admire an extensive back catalogue of hits to boot and that is, of course, what tonight is all about – revelling in great music!

Billed as the Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour, this is a complete celebration. She Bop with its 80s synths is a fitting opener. A cover of Prince’s When You Were Mine is another crowd pleaser, as is fan favourite, I Drove All Night. Who Let in the Rain slows things to mid-tempo. Iko Iko by Sugar Boy & His Cain Cutters switches things up once more before the funky Funnel of Love, with its blend of blues and country, delights. Lauper’s understanding of music – both in terms of her natural ability to play it as well as her deep knowledge of so many genres – is shown here.

With the band on point, we are also gifted various art installations to complement the music, courtesy of Yayoi Kusama and Daniel Wurtzel. We’d expect nothing less. Lauper’s trademark talks with the audience also add to the evening. Witnessing her go off on some tangents only makes her more endearing. One can’t help but chuckle at one of these digressions when she suddenly realises, she forgot to sing a song!

The classics Time After Time and True Colors are inevitably highlights and really showcase the strong vocals of the star. It feels fitting that Boy George – a game-changer in his own right – unexpectedly joins his friend on stage for the final number. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun has everyone on their feet – its playfulness providing the boost we could all do with right now. A memorable, at times chaotic but always entertaining evening from a true great.

Jonathan Marshall
Photos: Virginie Viche

For further information and future events visit Cyndi Lauper’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Girls Just Want to Have Fun here: