In a solo career that’s stretched past 40 years, Cyndi Lauper has gone from unlikely pop idol to one of the genre’s great, enduring voices – not to mention an icon and activist for the LGBTQ+ community. All of those sides of her work are the subject of a forthcoming documentary this summer – and Legacy Recordings, keeper of most of Cyndi’s catalogue (and a producer on the film) – will release a companion album to go with it.
“Let the Canary Sing” bows on Paramount+ on June 4th. Directed by Alison Ellwood, who helmed documentaries on The Go-Go’s and the Eagles, “Canary” traces Lauper’s life story from her upbringing in the New York borough of Queens, raised by a single mother; to her earliest attempts at a singing career which eventually bore incredible fruit with the multiplatinum “She’s So Unusual” (1983) and eight Top 10 hits across the decade of MTV. Her family life, charity work and forays into Broadway (writing the Tony-winning score to 2013’s Kinky Boots) are all covered in Technicolor detail, with Lauper’s signature wit guiding the way in interviews.
“Let the Canary Sing” chronicles Lauper’s meteoric ascent to stardom and her profound impact on generations through her music, ever-evolving punk style, unwavering feminism and tireless advocacy. The documentary takes the audience on an engaging exploration of a renowned and pioneering artist who has left a remarkable legacy with her art.
The companion album to the film, available digitally and on vinyl, is a solid 13-track overview that also serves as the first truly career-spanning compilation devoted to Lauper’s discography. In addition to songs from Lauper’s ’80s material – “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Time After Time” “She Bop” and “Money Changes Everything” from “She’s So Unusual” plus smashes “True Colors” and “I Drove All Night” – the set also includes favourites from Lauper’s work in the ’90s (“Who Let in the Rain,” “Sisters of Avalon”) and ’00s (the Billboard No. 1 dance single “Into the Nightlife,” a cover of Etta James’ “At Last”). There’s even a track from Lauper’s rare 1980 album with the band Blue Angel, the stunning “I’m Gonna Be Strong.”
The “Let the Canary Sing” album hits stores May 31st,
The Fat Angel Sings 