Just an interesting tidbit about her. She is a phenomenal Dulcimer player. If you even know what a Dulcimer is, you are ahead of 99% of the populace. If you can play one, let me know. Other than at a roots music festival I’ve never met another player in “real life.” Here she is in 1995 with Time After Time.
I somehow thought she was English. I like her more now that she sounds working-class American.
Nonthreatening indeed. A moving piece you've written. I hate this culture war, not least that I would like to be allied with the LQBTQ+ crowd, but I feel like I am required as a straight white working poor male to emasculate myself and cower in fear while accepting the hyper sexualization of children, mind-phuckery notions about gender weaponized and the demonization and blacking out of all of history.
I have long admired Cyndi Lauper and her music. I remember getting mocked for it from a schoolmate back in the 80s. Such a strong voice and energetic performer. She sang the song "Shine" in China in 2005. The song didn't make an impression on me until I saw a clip. Dare I link to it? https://youtu.be/BfGbrNb_KpA Is it just me? Heh, I don't care.
May 21, 2022·edited May 21, 2022Liked by Mathew Crawford
Cyndi rules, her songs float in my head still... She has a Soundcloud page, always a great alternative to the boo-tube (edit-official site) https://soundcloud.com/cyndi-lauper-official
Lovely piece!! It’s pretty clear to me now—you can write compellingly about anything. I remember her well from the ‘80s. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun is iconic, but so is some of her other stuff. My teenage daughters danced to her music. BTW are you familiar with Theory of Enchantment? It’s a positive anti racism program that is vastly more compelling to me than teaching CRT or making implicit bias tests mandatory. And it uses a lens of pop culture.
Man.....what a fun walk back through my childhood here! Her Girls Just Wanna have Fun album was pretty much on replay in my cassette player in 3rd grade!
We need more of these connections. I really like the way you view CL’s music. It has been a mainstay in much of my adult life, especially Time after Time. I was pregnant with my youngest when it was released. For most of my 3 sons’ growing up years, it was my anthem and promise to them. Years later I lost my hubby in a motorcycle wreck. Time after Time became my internal image of Rod saying “I’m here, you aren't alone and lost.” I wish we could “be here” for each other more and less lost.
Extremely well-said Mathew. I hear songs and I like them or I don't. I rarely pay attention to who the artist is, or what the artist has done. It was a pleasure meeting Cyndi Lauper, and I am now as much a fan of hers as I am of you.
May 21, 2022·edited May 21, 2022Liked by Mathew Crawford
Beautiful post. 💕🌷 And thanks for that gorgeous rendition of time after time. I've always loved that song.
We could be helping each other with the real suffering of life and of the world. Instead we get sidetracked into ridiculousness, like who is sleeping with who, who is wearing a red maga hat, who owns a gun, and as Bill Maher said- making women sports safe for men to compete in. So many of these reactions are generated in us through media. But we also adopt a belief systems that aren't helpful, I think there they are vehicles for our negative emotions to express through. We don't have the community rituals that in the past enabled people to express the charge of their negative emotions, like dancing around the fire as different animals or spirits.
Most positive bit of cultural commentary that I've read in a very long time. Thank you!!!
Just an interesting tidbit about her. She is a phenomenal Dulcimer player. If you even know what a Dulcimer is, you are ahead of 99% of the populace. If you can play one, let me know. Other than at a roots music festival I’ve never met another player in “real life.” Here she is in 1995 with Time After Time.
https://youtu.be/w5ikJcGm7ps
BTW, Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones played the Dulcimer on most of their big hits. Jumping Jack Flash. Yeah, that all Dulcimer.
This is a beautiful article. I vaguely remember that time when advocacy could exist without being weaponized.
The powerful with (decreasingly) hidden agendas make it so much harder to just have fun.
I somehow thought she was English. I like her more now that she sounds working-class American.
Nonthreatening indeed. A moving piece you've written. I hate this culture war, not least that I would like to be allied with the LQBTQ+ crowd, but I feel like I am required as a straight white working poor male to emasculate myself and cower in fear while accepting the hyper sexualization of children, mind-phuckery notions about gender weaponized and the demonization and blacking out of all of history.
I have long admired Cyndi Lauper and her music. I remember getting mocked for it from a schoolmate back in the 80s. Such a strong voice and energetic performer. She sang the song "Shine" in China in 2005. The song didn't make an impression on me until I saw a clip. Dare I link to it? https://youtu.be/BfGbrNb_KpA Is it just me? Heh, I don't care.
Cyndi rules, her songs float in my head still... She has a Soundcloud page, always a great alternative to the boo-tube (edit-official site) https://soundcloud.com/cyndi-lauper-official
Thank you Mathew, for your insight and for helping me remember just how great CL is..😊
Lovely piece!! It’s pretty clear to me now—you can write compellingly about anything. I remember her well from the ‘80s. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun is iconic, but so is some of her other stuff. My teenage daughters danced to her music. BTW are you familiar with Theory of Enchantment? It’s a positive anti racism program that is vastly more compelling to me than teaching CRT or making implicit bias tests mandatory. And it uses a lens of pop culture.
Man.....what a fun walk back through my childhood here! Her Girls Just Wanna have Fun album was pretty much on replay in my cassette player in 3rd grade!
Excellent post!
We need more of these connections. I really like the way you view CL’s music. It has been a mainstay in much of my adult life, especially Time after Time. I was pregnant with my youngest when it was released. For most of my 3 sons’ growing up years, it was my anthem and promise to them. Years later I lost my hubby in a motorcycle wreck. Time after Time became my internal image of Rod saying “I’m here, you aren't alone and lost.” I wish we could “be here” for each other more and less lost.
Love this 💕
Extremely well-said Mathew. I hear songs and I like them or I don't. I rarely pay attention to who the artist is, or what the artist has done. It was a pleasure meeting Cyndi Lauper, and I am now as much a fan of hers as I am of you.
Beautiful post. 💕🌷 And thanks for that gorgeous rendition of time after time. I've always loved that song.
We could be helping each other with the real suffering of life and of the world. Instead we get sidetracked into ridiculousness, like who is sleeping with who, who is wearing a red maga hat, who owns a gun, and as Bill Maher said- making women sports safe for men to compete in. So many of these reactions are generated in us through media. But we also adopt a belief systems that aren't helpful, I think there they are vehicles for our negative emotions to express through. We don't have the community rituals that in the past enabled people to express the charge of their negative emotions, like dancing around the fire as different animals or spirits.
She was cute.
Looks like we both had The Goonies on the brain today.
https://guttermouth.substack.com/p/torso-pants-update?s=w