Unveiling Cyndi Lauper's Hidden Songwriting Gems: 5 Tracks You Didn't Know Were Penned by the Iconic Singer
Cyndi Lauper, the renowned American singer-songwriter known for hits like “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Time After Time,” has also co-written successful songs for other artists, as well as for stage and screen. She has received writing credits for tracks covered or sampled by others. Here are five songs you may not have known were written, wholly or partially, by Lauper.
One of the rare instances where Billy Joel collaborated with another songwriter was on the track “Code of Silence,” co-written with Lauper for his album The Bridge in 1986. Lauper also provided backing vocals for the song, with Joel acknowledging her significant contribution.
Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles released a cover version of the song “Unconditional Love” from Lauper’s album A Night to Remember in 1989. Co-written by Lauper, Billy Steinberg, and Tom Kelly, the track became a hit for Hoffs, leading to a single release of Lauper’s original version in Hong Kong.
Mariah Carey’s song “Inseparable” (2009) samples Lauper’s “Time After Time,” resulting in writing credits for Carey, Terius Nash, Christopher Stewart, Rob Hyman, and Lauper. Over 52 songs have incorporated elements of “Time After Time” into their compositions.
Lauper ventured into writing music for stage productions, contributing to SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical. Her song “Hero Is My Middle Name,” co-written with Rob Hyman, was part of the successful musical that later made its way to Broadway.
In addition to her own hits, Cyndi Lauper’s songwriting talents have extended to collaborations with other artists, cover versions, and stage productions, showcasing her versatility and creativity in the music industry.