Pop music royalty, passionate philanthropist and super mom, Cyndi Lauper is definitely more than just a girl who wants to have fun. With a successful career that has spanned over three decades, the icon is opening up her unavoidably chaotic, often comical and truly multi-faceted life in WE tv’s newest original 12-part series Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual, premiering on the 5th of September 2013.
Each 30-minute episode gives viewers an all-access pass into the personal and professional life of one of pop culture’s most beloved and influential icons as she juggles her many roles, including rock star, mother, wife, Broadway composer, New York Times best-selling author and philanthropist.
We catch up with Cyndi in this exclusive interview for Hype Malaysia to discuss all things; well, unusual:
It seems like you have been missing in action for quite some time? What’s been up with yourself?
I put out a new CD every few years. I tour almost every year and last year I released an autobiography. I have a show on Broadway and a TV show. Maybe you just haven’t been paying attention – LOL.
I guess we haven’t! So, tell us a little bit more about the show?
I got to meet a few of the executives of Mark Burnett Productions, and I had this idea for a TV show. So over the course of many meetings with them somehow they turned to me and said your life is so interesting. You have so much going on – I was touring, I was writing my autobiography Memoir, I was working on Kinky Boots and they said they needed to document this year of my life. We included my family because, of course, they are a big part of my life, so what you see is me trying to balance all those projects and still be a good wife and mother.
What can your fans look forward to in this programme?
You will meet my family, my business family and you will get a behind the scenes look at me doing what I do – being on TV, making music, writings songs and how I try to keep all these balls in the air at the same time and do my best work and still try and be there for my family Sometimes I fail and sometimes I succeed, and you will see all of that the good and the bad.
What was the most memorable thing during its production?
My family and I had so much fun doing the show. Even though it was definitely work, it was good to have this show to do together and see how we work together. We actually got to spend a lot of time together, which was great.
What is your advice to successful moms, as yourself, who need the balance between family and career?
It’s not easy. The struggle of the juggle as they say. Sometimes I do it well. Sometimes I do it not so well, which you will definitely see on this show. I think most people will relate to trying to be a good parent, a good spouse, a good sister and daughter, a good friend and at the same time keeping your career and business healthy.
What’s in the pipeline/future for Cyndi?
Sony is releasing the 30th Anniversary edition of She’s so Unusual. It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years. It will include audio from live performances that same year, some really cool dance remixes of the hits and demos from that time too. I’m also doing a bit of touring. I will be spending next year writing and recording my next CD and have few other projects I can’t talk about yet because we are still negotiating, but 2014 is going to be another busy year!
Awesome! Something random here. What does Cyndi Lauper carry in her bag all the time?
Lipstick!
What are the top 3 favourite hits you could find on Cyndi’s iPod?
Right now I’m listening to P!NK’s Walk this Way, Jake Bugg, Charlie Musselwhite and Ben Harper.
A shout out to your fans in Malaysia perhaps?
Thanks for tuning in! I promise to come tour there soon so we can have a party together.
You can catch Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual on 5 September at 11pm, WE tv, Channel 738, Astro Select.