Posted: 01/26/2001

Twelve Deadly Cyns… And Then Some: Cyndi Lauper on DVD

(1983-1994)

by Robert Bach

An incredible performer’s most recent output is a must-have for collectors.

Cyndi Lauper hasn’t had a new album since her 1998 Christmas release, and hasn’t had a hit since 1996. But in November of 2000 she released a powerful DVD collection of her music videos ranging from 1983 to 1994. The collection features 14 of her biggest video hits plus an interview and behind-the-scenes look at her music and growth over a decade of musical success.

The DVD is titled Twelve Deadly Cyns…and then Some, after her 1994 greatest hits collection of the same title. The VHS version was released in 1995 in the USA, but the DVD has several bonus features making it all the better. First of all, the entire collection has been digitally mastered and remixed in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. This feature alone gives new life to videos, especially those from the early to mid 1980s like Change of Heart and Time After Time, the difference in sound and picture quality is very noticeable, as it is on virtually all DVDs.

Other bonuses to the DVD are an indepth biography, discography, as well as interactive menus and chapter marks for every video and interview segment which makes it easy to replay your favorite Cyndi video over and over.

I know everybody remembers videos for songs like Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and True Colors, but her lesser known songs are also included on this collection making it that much more interesting. I was able to view some of the videos that I had never seen before or even knew existed - and I was very impressed.

Unlike the playfully fun Girls Just Wanna Have Fun video that started the Cyndi Lauper craze of the early 80s when MTv was just beginning, I was impressed to see the growth of this very talented artist bringing lesser known songs like Sally’s Pigeons (written by Cyndi and country star Mary Chapin Carpenter) to life in the 90s. I was never really sure what that song was about, but the video clears things up…its about childhood friends who go separate ways and its illustrated beautifully and thoughtfully in the video, which was also directed by Cyndi. The colors are faded and Cyndi’s character revisits the streets of her childhood and is flooded with memories of her past and her best friend.

Another powerful video is Who Let in the Rain, the song has always been one of my favorites, but the video gives it that much more power, emotion and meaning. It doesn’t have as much of a story line as Sally’s Pigeons, but the images and camera work a very moving. One of the images that sticks in my mind is a shot of Cyndi looking out a window longingly as the rain streams down the glass. The video makes use of a lot of various shades of blue for emphasis.

Money Changes Everything was one of Cyndi’s first hits as well, apparently there was no studio video, but this collection includes a live cut of the song. The song is performed on a stage which was covered with an abstract painting originally done by Cyndi. The performance is energectic, strong and staged quite nicely - her costuming is, of course, very crative (to say the least).

Among the most powerful moments of this DVD are the segments in which Cyndi introduces the songs and gives some insight behind the music and video. So many times you have no idea what an artist was thinking or what was going on in their lives when they created a milestone hit like True Colors or Time After Time. With this collection you get to hear what the songs and images mean in Cyndi’s own words.

As good as this collection is there are a few things missing. My all time favorite song by her is Hole in My Heart, and I remember the video, vaguely, from when I was a kid - I remember it was very creative and I remember liking it a lot. I had hoped that it would be included on this disc but it was not. Also missing were videos for 1989’s My First Night Without You and 85’s The Goonies’ ‘R’ Good Enough which, I believe, featured the cast of the hit movie The Goonies. Hopefully she’ll release a second volume of video hits that include these and others. As far as creative and visually exciting videos go, I’d say Cyndi Lauper is right up there with Madonna in that neither of them have ever produced anything dull or uninteresting.

I suggest this DVD music video collection to all who loved and love pop music with an edge. And fans of Cyndi Lauper, keep your eyes out as April and May approach for her new album which features some really awesome music, judging from the live performances I’ve heard.

Cyndi Lauper is one of those artists, like Cher and Madonna, who keep reinventing themselves and never seem to go out of style and usually have an impact on what style is in at the moment. And this DVD lets you see the transformation through styles of music and looks of one of pop music’s most legendary stars - Cyndi Lauper!

Robert Bach is a writer and musician and former entertainment editor for an East Coast publication.

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