Cyndi Lauper - 12 Deadly Cyns...and Then Some - Epic

Review by: Jennifer Perkins

As a child when I wasn't working hard trying to cultivate my Boy George look, I was all about the Cyndi Lauper thing. I was a hyper-active right brained 8 year old and she was an energetic pop star in primary colors, it was a perfect match. 19 years later, I still covet her wardrobe and more importantly I like her songs more than ever.

I never got much past "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" in my youth. This is by far her most well known ditty and the one that brought Cyndi Lauper fame and made her a household name. As an adult I am able to appreciate Cyndi Lauper for more than just her wardrobe. She really does have a lovely voice in a very unusual sort of way, take for example the underrated "All through the Night".

Twelve Deadly Cyns, like most greatest hits collections, has some unreleased tracks. The opening track "I'm Gonna Be Strong" a soulful (with a tinge of country) song shows Cyndi is all grown up and sings adult contemporary just as well as she ever belted out party songs. Speaking of party songs there is a previously unreleased dance/reggae mix of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". The entire CD finishes off with yet another reggae inspired song entitled "Come on Home". Although all 3 are fine songs, let's be honest they are not what you are buying this CD for.

This CD is stuffed full of plenty of what you are buying this CD for. From She's so Unusual we have: "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" (duh, like they would leave that one off). "Money Changes Everything", a personal fave. The quirky "She-Bop" that always makes me feel nervous like I am tapped in a video game. "Time After Time", what is the line in that Pavement song about this one?

Is this greatest hits worth the price of admission? You better bet your bottom dollar. Cyndi and her deadly cyns are worth every penny. Any good child of the 80's has this collection.