I see your true colors shining through
I see your true colors and that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
The words of Cyndi Lauper continue to spin through my head. Traveling to Minneapolis last week to see her Final Farewell Tour was more than I expected. Watching and listening to her perform for almost 3 hours, sharing the experience with my sister and niece. Feeling nostalgic.
Cyndi Lauper became well known in the '80s. Known on MTV for her voice and her hair color(s). Yes, you may have labeled her as the woman with pink hair singing ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun.’ She is indeed an entertainer. However, as with so many musicians, there’s so much more. Her first solo album was in 1983. She won the Grammy for best new artist in 1984, wrote the score for Kinky Boots in 2013, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015.
If you have the opportunity, watch her 2023 documentary, LET THE CANARY SING. You will learn her history. Running away from home, from the sexual abuse of her stepfather, at age 17. Being sexual assaulted by one of her band members. Injuring her vocal cords in 1977, and being told she would never sing again. She is indeed a survivor and a powerful voice in so many ways. She’s been married for 22 years and has a son who is also a musician.
This concert was more than the music. Yes, we were reminded of how many songs she’s written and performed during her years on stage. But the most important moments were those between the songs, when she shared her journey, as well as her passion for helping others. I was reminded of why it is more important than ever to be an advocate. To speak and act and never give up the fight for our rights.
Her music makes you think. Her lyrics tell a story, reflecting her life…and the lives of so many others. That’s one of the reasons the audience was there. To show their appreciation. She survived...giving them hope...and inspiration. She gives voice to those who feel alone and isolated. You might not like her music, but you do need to appreciate her powerful voice.
Most noteworthy is her passion for kids in need, those on the fringe. In 2008, she co-founded the 'True Colors United' and in 2022, she started the ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Rights’ Fund at the Tides Foundation. After Roe v. Wade was overturned, to support organizations that advance women’s rights and health, she said, “I never thought I would see the day that a fundamental civil right for half of the population would be taken away in this country. We must push back…I believe in the United States and I believe that we will not only regain the right to choose, but one day actually secure full equality.” In 2015, she testified before a Senate sub-committee to support homeless teens.
The White House recommitted to “upholding the equal and inalienable rights of all people.” The White House Gender Policy Council has been created to advance the rights and opportunities of women and girls across domestic and foreign policy [and] rejoined the United Nations Human Rights Council to highlight and address pressing human rights concerns. They are also working to stop the misuse of commercial spyware, which has enabled human rights abuses around the world as authoritarian governments surveil their populations, and to fight back against transnational repression targeting human rights defenders. I believe Cyndi Lauper was pleased with these actions.
As we move into 2025, her words linger. She reminded me of the importance of advocating for those who don’t feel they have a voice, who feel isolated and alone. She is indeed powerful and inspiring.
Don’t be afraid to show your true colors, time after time, because girls just want to have fundamental rights.
If you're lost, you can look and you will find meTime after time
If you fall, I will catch you, I will be waiting
Time after time
Wonderful words, Mary! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteInspiring words for all of us. Thank you Mary.
ReplyDeleteWell spoken, inspiring and informing. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDelete