The title said it all: everything about Cyndi Lauper’s debut was unusual. From her punk-style outfit and garish make-up to her natural, non-conformist demeanour, energy and singing style, she exuded power. "She's So Unusual" is the perfect synthesis of the elements that suddenly worked together the 1980s: pop, rockabilly, punk and doo-wop. With its skilful blend of cover versions and original compositions, the album is essentially a collection of singles. Six of the songs were released as singles and charted. 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' and 'Time After Time' became pop classics. The dedicated backing band The Hooters and producer Rick Chertoff played a major part in the album’s phenomenal success, shaping its sound. The Hooters’ frontman, Rob Hyman, co-wrote Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Time After Time’ and provided backing vocals. 'Money Changes Everything' and 'She Bop' in particular sound very similar to the style that the Hooters would present on their major-label debut, 'Nervous Night', two years later. However, the backing band isn’t the main focus. Cyndi Lauper launched her global career as a flamboyant punk princess of pop. "She's So Unusual" is simply a joy to listen to, establishing a new, self-assured type of woman in the 1980s. Cyndi Lauper would never again achieve such consistency in diversity across an entire album.
