βWant to be a real artist? Keep going!β: Cyndi Lauper at 71 on self-doubt, success β and surviving sexual assault
Sheβs the subject of a new documentary, has just announced her farewell tour, and is about to play Glastonbury. The singer and songwriter discusses Trump, resilience and why she hated being pitted against Madonna
Once youβve had a feature-length documentary made about you, itβs surely time to accept youβve reached legendary status? Cyndi Lauper laughs. βMy dogs donβt think so,β she says, to the sound of barking. Then, to her dogs: βYou gotta stop, guys!β
Lauper is the subject of Let the Canary Sing, a new film by Alison Ellwood. It follows Lauper from her difficult childhood with an abusive stepfather, through the New York music scene and early bands, to the release of feminist anthem Girls Just Want to Have Fun, and beyond. There are clashes with music execs who donβt understand Lauperβs art school sensibility and want her to compete with Madonna, and she survives a career downturn. More recently, Lauper has become a campaigner, and the writer of award-winning musicals.
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