Cyndi Lauper: "The media invented that rivalry with Madonna"

On April 1, Cyndi Lauper will release "She's So Unusual: A 30th Anniversary Celebration," a deluxe, two-disc reissue of the landmark album that turned the quirky little redhead with the big, big voice into a pop icon, and turned "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" into a feminist anthem for the new wave age.


Lauper recently dished with Yahoo Music about the evolution of "Girls" from lothario's party song to feminist's call-to-arms, and she also discussed Madonna, Miley Cyrus, "American Idol," and why she never tires of singing "Girls" live.


At the time that "She's So Unusual" came out, you got a lot of comparisons to Madonna, who was coming up around the same time. How did you feel about that?

"The media invented that rivalry. We really didn't even know each other. We had a lot of friends in common, but we never really even met except for a few quick times at award shows. We both came out at the same time, we both were very into fashion, we were both very opinionated and demanded to be heard, but our music wasn't and isn't similar. They don't compare men who have successful albums in the same year, do they?"


You never seemed to use your sexuality to sell your music. It just wasn't part of your image. Were you ever pressured to sex it up more, especially since it was the advent of the MTV and the Madonna era?

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"You know, I think it's pretty well-known that I really don't "do" pressure. I've always walked to the beat of my own drum, and that has worked for me — and I guess in some cases against me — but I wouldn't change a thing. I love art and fashion and making statements visually, so that is what I always focused on."