kristinafh's Full Review: Shine [EP] by Cyndi Lauper
Who Is Cyndi Lauper?
Born in 1953, Cyndi Lauper was destined to become a musician. Starting at an early age, she played guitar and wrote her own songs. In 1980, after playing in several bands, singing cover songs, she hooked up with John Turi and formed a band called Blue Angel. They parted ways shortly after the release of their debut album and Cyndi went on to her own solo career.
In the 80's, Cyndi Lauper was known for her bright orange, half-shaven hair and her high-pitched screeching voice. Yes, she did have some pretty cool songs but that persona of hers was difficult to get through to just enjoy the songs. Was this the fault of her then boyfriend/manager? Who knows. All I know is that when she exited that phase, I began to appreciate Cyndi's music and most of all her luscious voice.
In this EP, Cyndi has won me over in a way that she's never been able to before. Every single track is different yet, I loved all of them. It's fantastic to see that Cyndi has so much talent and that her career of the 80's didn't ruin her artistically.
Tracks
Shine
It's Hard To Be Me
Madonna Wh*re
Water's Edge
Shine (The Illicit Mix)
Shine has this really wonderful string beginning (violins, cello, bass). Twenty seconds into it, Cyndi belts out the lyrics like she owns the world. Once we get away from the opening, the music sounds close to something that the ex- Savage Garden boys would have created. Unlike many of her other songs, she uses a lot of stream of consciousness type phrases instead of singing in a telling-a-story like fashion.
It's Hard To Be Me is reminiscent of an 80's song - not so much anything that she did though. If it only got top 40 air play, this would be considered a strong feminist anthem akin to something that Alanis Morisette or Madonna might put out. It has threads of new wave synthesizers along with that typical punk drum beat. Lyrically, we get a glimpse of some of the bite she feels from her 80's career.
Madonna Wh*re has grown on me tremendously. Before you even think that this song is anything like that other song by Meredith Brooks, know that this one is ten times better both in lyrical and musical content. Cyndi takes the Bonnie Raitt approach to this song and vocalizes the lyrics with a throaty blues type approach. Every woman's a Madonna; every woman's a wh*re. You can try and reduce me but I'm so much more. The music is sensual thanks to some sort of wood instrument and solid base line.
The best ballad I have heard in a long time is entitled, Water's Edge. It's sweet, gentle, and best of all, not one of those Diane Warren formula songs. You know how you have that really deep feeling of sadness but are unable to express it? Cyndi's lyrics are able to capture that spirit of loneliness without coming off like a bad boy band song. Cyndi first performed this for an AIDS benefit in New York back in 2000 and why it hasn't taken off like a skyrocket is beyond me.
The album raps up with a remixed dance version of Shine. The emphasis of course, is on the deep dance base line and less on Cyndi's lyrics.
The End
If you have any interest in good pop music that has solid songwriting and musical arrangement, you have to check out this EP. Extremely impressive. I hope to hear more just like this from Cyndi in the future.
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