Song#: 3984
Date: 08/05/1989
Debut: 96
Peak: 62
Weeks: 6
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: Lauper's third album A Night to Remember got kicked off with the #6 hit "I Drove All Night." It was her eighth Top 10 on the Pop chart. However, despite the single doing well it wasn't quite translating to album sales. As it faltered on the chart, it was hoped that this next single would help turn things around. Unfortunate, the ballad didn't catch on and it failed to make the top half of the Pop chart. The album's title track would be the third single, but it failed to chart. In turn, the album stopped at #37 and missed the gold level sales mark. This single and the album would close out the 80s for Lapuer.
ReduxReview: I was so disappointed when this song flopped. I adored it and was really pulling for it to crack the Top 10. The tune, co-written by Lauper with Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, had a Roy Orbison feel and it was a perfect vehicle for Lauper. Her performance was completely captivating and she sold it to the back rows with her powerful voice. It was such a bummer that folks missed out on this gem. I remained a fan of Lauper over the years as she continued to push out terrific albums like the criminally ignored Hat Full of Stars and her dance LP Bring Ya to the Brink. While her commercial fortunes diminished after the 80s, her talent continued to shine and I'm on board with whatever her next venture might be.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: After the disappointment of A Night to Remember, Lauper took some time to write and record her next album, 1993's Hat Full of Stars. The LP was a more mature effort that shed her kooky persona. The songs were more topical and more alternative sounding. Critics praised the LP and the change, but record buyers stayed away. No singles made the Pop chart and the album stalled at #112. Lauper would get one last single on the Pop chart with a revision of her first hit "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." Done in a reggae style, "Hey Now (Girls Just Wanna Have Fun)," would get to #87. Her 1996 album Sisters of Avalon (#188) failed to gain attention, but a cover's album, 2003's At Last, would fare better getting to #38. Then Lauper's club oriented LP Brink Ya to the Brink would get to #41 and feature a pair of Dance chart #1s. It would also earn her a Grammy nomination for Best Electronic/Dance Album. Another covers album, 2010's Memphis Blues (#26) would get her another Grammy nod this time for Best Traditional Blues Album. Yet her biggest success after her 80s heydays was when she wrote the music and lyrics for the 2013 Broadway musical Kinky Boots. It would be a big success and receive 13 Tony nominations. It would win six including for Best Musical and one for Lauper for Best Original Score. The cast album would also win a Grammy. Over the years Lauper would also appear in several films and TV shows. She would appear four times on the hit TV show Mad About You as the character Marianne Lugasso. In 1995, the role would earn her an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. With an Emmy, a Tony, and a Grammy, Lauper is just an Oscar away from the famous EGOT club.
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