Cyndi Lauper And the Art of Appreciation

Cyndi Lauper just finished her North American portion of the “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour”. In her first arena tour since 1986’s True Colors World Tour and first world tour since 2016, she masterfully combined art, storytelling, fashion, and music into a harmonious and perfectly curated end of an era. She also gave us a lesson in the art of appreciation and a reminder that everyone matters.

Why the Goodbye Tour

Is Cyndi Lauper Ending decades decades of creating, writing, and singing? No.

In June of 2024, Cyndi appeared on the Jimmy Kimmel show and explained the meaning of the tour. While she clarified that she’s by no means retiring, Lauper has ruled out “the trains, planes and automobiles.” She also said: “I want to do an arena tour… I’m strong now, but I don’t know what I’m going to be like in four years.”

Later in the interview she further said, “For me, I wanted to have a chance to do this when I’m feeling strong. I want to celebrate with people. Really celebrate with people, and make it fun.”

What is Cyndi Lauper’s Doing?

Fans will still be able to enjoy her art and work with her in making the world a better place. On the heels of the critical acclaim of the stage musical “Kinky Boots”, she is working to bring a Broadway production of the musical “Working Girl” to life. The musical is based on the 1988 film of the same name. There is also a full sensory immersive experience in the works that is reported to take you through her career, her body of work, and NYC.

For those who want to work with Cyndi to make the world a better place, there are opportunities to help as she continues her important work. There is True Colors United fighting to end LGBTQIA+ homelessness. Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Rights working to not only restore what women have lost, but move women’s medical and human rights forward. Fans can also join her in supporting She Is The Music, a group dedicated to advancing women in the arts.

Lauper has never been just about music, it has always been about a better life for her and for others.

The Farewell Show

I arrived at the doors 45 minutes before they opened the venue to ensure I could beat the crowds to the merch stand. There were 4 people ahead of me who traveled far to see the show.

One was a couple from a small town in Missouri. They had never been to a city as large as Chicago before. They had been dating for about a year. Her name is Cyndi, she had it legally changed from Cindy to Cyndi due to her fandom. They were overwhelmed by the sights and sounds and food of Chicago, but this was the main event. Cyndi has been a life long fan, but has never seen her in concert. The boyfriend knew this was their last chance, so they made the journey.

The other couple was a mother and a daughter. A Millennial mom and a first year Gen Alpha. They were from LA and had never experienced a December in Chicago. But both were so excited to be there, especially the teenager who told me she grew up listening to Cyndi’s music from her mother.

All four had “nosebleed” seats but were happy to be there.

We’ve already written about how Cyndi Lauper passes the torch to other female artists, this show was no different. The 30 minute opening act was 20 year old Gayle who first hit the charts in 2021 with her song  “ABCDEFU“. Gayle stormed the stage with a guitar in hand. With a powerful mix of storytelling, original songs, and covers that would make Elton John proud, she set the tone and took the torch with appreciation to Cyndi and the audience.

Then came Cyndi Lauper.

This was not a greatest hits, this was a carefully curated collection of her favorites that she wanted for herself and her fans in her final tour. A lot of the songs came from her album Hat Full of Stars, which was her most personal album. It was far more than the music.

It was not just the songs. There was storytelling. Sometimes her and the audience cried, sometimes we all laughed, and in other moments we were entertained and moved. This was truly Cyndi Lauper doing what she does best in smaller venues. To see this level of intimacy transferred to the stadium is something that only decades of experience and connection with people could make happen so well.

For a stadium show you expect pyrotechnics and grandiose effects that are larger than life. This show contained larger than life, but it was visual art as opposed to mere lasers and explosion for wow factor. Colors, lighting effects, virtual waterfalls, and beautifully flowing tapestries in the center of the stage during two of the most emotional songs, “Sally’s Pidgeon’s” and “True Colors”.

I have been to far more stadium shows than the average mortal, and I can truly say I have not seen this level of immersive visual arts incorporated into the music and storytelling so seamlessly and beautifully. This caliber of visual beauty is something you would see at the Met, The Art Institute, MOMA, or even the Chicago Museum of Modern Art, not the United Center in Chicago.

With A-lister fashion designers like Christian Siriano and Geoffrey Mac the fashion blended seamlessly with the visual art and the music. The outfit changes were clever and swift and with each outfit and wig for every song, Cyndi embraced different sides of her that made every song poignant. She even used one of her onstage costume changes to showcase her inclusivity and love of her queer fans and how they inform her fashion choices.

Feminism and female empowerment are integral to who Cyndi Lauper is. In her storytelling, music, and art, empowerment was interwoven into the show in the most positive of ways. She leans into her values and in the final encore act, she closed strong. Bringing Gayle onto the stage for the final performance of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” Cyndy added into the lyrics, ‘Girls just want to have fundamental rights’. It was the best that feminism and the power of women can be showcased the entire night.

Gen X Watch’s first Fem Friday feature was Cyndi Lauper. The difference she has made and the voice she has had for women has always been rooted in her strong feminist foundation. It was why we made her the first Fem Friday Feature. She was one of the seeds in the garden of my heart that set the stage for all we do in Fem Friday’s that has led to collaborations with 2 women run enterprises as we convert these stories into a YA series.

But I wanted to take a moment to focus on one fan who has been influenced by Cyndi. All of the photos in this article are taken by one remarkable person. Now it is time to meet the photographer, the fan, and a new friend to Gen X Watch. Let’s get to know Tina!

Tina

There were some wonderful photos taken by other Cyndi Lauper fans who were also at the Chicago show. I wanted to use some of them in this story. My in box was flooded with other photographers, including Tina. Tina was not at the Chicago show. She was at the Minneapolis show just a day before the Chicago show. But there was something about Tina that grabbed my heart strings and I asked her if we could do an interview. She said yes.

GENXWATCH: Tell me a little about yourself.

Tina: I had a photo business out of my home. But covid and good camera phones killed that. I was working as a machinist but recently lost my last job. Now looking! My partner and I of 32 years have 5 dogs, at one point it was 9, mostly rescues. I lost my Dad at 51 in 2003 to cancer. Lost my sister at 31 to a car accident with a deer in 2006.

GENXWATCH: How did you discover Cyndi Lauper and what has she meant to you?

Tina: I was a shy and kind of an outcast kid. Her quirkiness and weirdness inspired me. Reminded me of myself. I’ve loved her since ’83. I’m 53 now.

GENXWATCH: In your amazing photos you shared with us, there are some of you and Cyndi together, how did those moments come about?

Tina: My 1st Cyndi live concert in 86 Eddy Money opened. I was standing outside the loading area at the Kohl center in Madison holding up album covers. Her limo pulled up. And she came down and she said “What are those for?” I was trembling and nervous. Pulled out a pen and then a sharpie. She signed them. The staff must have said something, she yelled out the window “Keep yer shirt on…..I’m coming!” Others started coming to the limo and they drove away. I was in awe!

2nd time I was outside space night club in Detroit, Michigan. I was holding other albums and she pulled up and asked if I had her Christmas album. I said I have the CD in the car and she asked if she could borrow it. Then she went in. I got the CD and took it to staff at the venue told them she wanted it. After the show I was invited back stage. She gave me the CD and a hug we did a couple pictures and she thanked me.

I have seen and met her several times in the last 40 years. Most of which she didn’t want photos taken. I was happy just talking with her and her band which included a dinner table in Atlantic City. We would page through tour books as she told stories. It was so fun for me. She’s so personal and she even remembered my name the next year when I saw her at different venues in Chicago or Ohio or New York, New Jersey, Moline, Illinois….I wish I kept a list.

GENXWATCH: What do you wish others knew about her and her impact?

Tina: Cyndi loves everyone for who they are and wants us to be true to ourselves. Her music, acting, art has saved me in so many ways. I couldn’t imagine not having her in my life.

GENXWATCH: Any thoughts on her last concert?

Tina: Her farewell tour is for big arenas. I believe she likes the smaller venues. She is still working in Broadway, which she said in Minneapolis. I think she may do more of the small stuff. If not, I still have all the CD’s, VHS’s and DVD’s.

GENXWATCH: If there was a question you wish I had asked, what would it have been and what is your answer?

Tina: I love it that you want to know my story.

We want to know more about Tina’s story and we hope you do as well. In 2025 we will be featuring more of Tina as a Fem Friday Feature.

As someone far more involved in the Cyndi Lauper fan community, Tina told me of many other people who are, in Tina’s opinion, far more inspiring. But Tina is only a year younger than me and a fellow outcast. I think most of us know what that feels like and even if we do not think we are inspiring, a Cyndi Lauper will remember our names and remind of us the simple truth, we matter.

On a personal level, if there had been no Cyndi Lauper, I would have never been the middle aged male feminist I am today. I may not be the supporting father I am today to my queer adult child and their friends who don’t have loving dads. Fem Friday would not exist. Stories of women who matter would not be told by Tawnlandia, and an amazing team of people would not be working with me in developing the “Hearts of Glass” YA trilogy celebrating young women who fought impossible odds in the late 80’s. Also, I never would have met Tina. And based on Tina’s interests and geography, Fem Friday Heather and I were likely having misadventures in the same spaces Tina was in the 80s and 90s.

Think about how many Tina’s are out there in the world inspired by Cyndi, how many queer young adults are living better lives now having once been homeless, how many lives we have impacted by fellow outcasts after having been impacted by a musician and an activist.

This is a season of giving and of love. In a time where everything feels so fucked up, spread some concentric circles of love. Inspire someone, help someone, invite them to your table. And listen to some Cyndi Lauper while doing so.

Stay totally awesome!

Stay True to you!

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