What does it sound like?:
Cyndi Lauper singing country! It’s produced by country supremo Tony Brown with the cream of Nashville session men and star guests including Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson and Jewel. So be assured it sounds fantastic. I’ve always thought, right from the first album, that Cyndi had some country music in her blood– there’s a bit of Tammy and Dolly in the way she hits those high notes, and in her vibrato. Here it is fully unleashed. Most of the songs are well known and Cyndi delivers them with verve and obvious joy and typical irreverence and humour too. Country music is misunderstood by many as being either schmaltzy weepies or my dog/truck won’t start clichés. In truth it’s the home of the song, of the tune, of great pickin’ and singing’ and never far from healthy humour. All are present here, and when Cyndi delivers some virtuoso yodelling on a Texas swing take on “I wanna be a cowboy’s sweetheart” this reviewer was whooping with joy.
What does it all *mean*?
Many artists late in their career seem to gravitate to a country album. I’m always suspicious of projects like this as they can smack of dilettante buggering about in the lack of any proper ideas, but when they sound as joyful of this my inner cynical grumpy git is required to STFU and just enjoy. Do you need Cyndi’s version of “Walking after midnight” rather than Patsy Cline’s? No, you don’t. But is it an album you can stick on and enjoy end to end, from a spine tingling “The end of the world”, Willie’s shambolic “Night Life” or the banter with Vince Gill on “You’re the reason our kids are ugly”? Indeed it is. It’s melodic, fun and sounds great.
Goes well with…
I can imagine it an any context – I played it 3 times whilst working from home.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Mmmm, not obvious this. Lovers of her pop stuff who don’t like country probably won’t like it…but country fans who are indifferent to her otherwise will probably love it. But who doesn’t like Cyndi Lauper?
A mate of mine went to see her live last month and reported she was absolutely belting and bonkers, with considerable more verve than erstwhile competitor Madonna can muster these days. Played loads of this, and he’s not a country fan, and he loved it. And all the old singles hold up with better backing than the 80s provided her. She is 63.
Might have to give this a whirl after all. A very convincing review!
In fact I just bought it 🙂
Girls Just Want to Have Fun was my daughter’s favourite song when she was 4 or 5 in the late 80s. In fact she was obsessed with it and played it incessantly on her little cassette Walkman.
When asked her why she loved it so much her answer made perfect sense, “Well dad, I’m a girl and I like to have fun”.
Whilst Mrs W goes to her Pilates later this afternoon I shall fire this up. Can take or leave most of Cyndi’s stuff (with the odd belter here and there) but this sounds intriguing.
Vibrato? Ugh.
Oh. I thought he’d left the “r” off by mistake.
I must have been thinking of She Bop 🙂
Vibrator? Aaaaah.
“But who doesn’t like Cyndi Lauper?”
Me.
I knew there’s be one. Or possibly more. Why on earth not.
Cyndi leads an impromptu singalong at Buenos Aires airport when her plane is delayed.
Ah, I see – it’s a pastiche isn’t it?? It’s not? She is being serious? Even the yodelling is serious? Seriously, she is being serious?
Mrs Wrongness on her way back home so fortunately I will not have to play it again. The track with Alison K is actually quite good but she’s not being serious is she?
Mini – can you get your money back?
Well I could, but I want it!
(Not least because you don’t like it, Wrongness)
Just listening to Drag Queens in Limousines – now that’s what I call country!
“I Drink” remains the best song ever about the demon alcohol (if at times a little too close to the bone)
Your review sells it well and it’s a very nice collection of songs, well sung, but not by any stretch essential listening to me.
If I was at somebody’s house and they put this on I’d enjoy it, but there’s a faintly unpalatable slickness to the production here and there. The way the bass and drums are recorded, I think. Also, hers and Willie’s voices do not mix well at all on “Night Life”. Mind you, harmonising with Willie Nelson is a pretty tough call for any singer. Very impressive yodelling skills on “I Wanna Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart”.
So, I can’t really see myself getting this one.
Yes if you want alt country, move on. Re Willie I have heard many duets and they are all chaotic. He has a unique sense of timing!
“Alt” country = dull country
Or so I’ve found.
Obvs it depends on the act but often they seem to be a bit ashamed of having a decent tune.