Cyndi Lauper brings her tour to Chicago Theater, 175 N. State St., on Friday, Nov. 1, to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of her solo debut album She's So Unusual. This album catapulted Lauper to stardom, put her in heavy rotation on MTV and led to her Grammy win for Best New Artist. Despite her wild haircuts and thrift-store outfits, Lauper proves that she has a powerful voice and songwriting abilities, too.
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" and "Time after Time" are two of Lauper's career-defining hits from this album. The collection also includes the cover of The Brains' "Money Changes Everything," the ode to self-love "She Bop," the synth-pop lullaby "All through the Night" and the quirky remake of Helen Kane's "He's So Unusual." One of my favorites here is her reworking of Prince's "When U Were Mine." Prince famously does not like people changing the lyrics when they cover his work, so Lauper leaves the line "I know that you're goin' with another guy" intact. She's So Unusual is one of the first albums I bought as a kid and one that I regard as a classic.
This year Lauper branched out into other media outlets with her autobiography Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir and the reality show Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual.
New Orleans bounce star Big Freedia has a self-titled reality show on Fuse. Here, the struggle of being an openly gay singer trying to attract mainstream pop appeal without losing his loyal fan base is captured. The videos to the energetic bounce tracks "Explode" and "Duffy" were recorded in his hometown and are documented during the Fuse program.
There are touching moments, as Freedia shows how close he is to his friends and family. Some of them work for him in some fashion. He also has a presence, delivering inspiration and joy to others. He repeatedly states that his mother, who does his hair, is his heart. Even when he takes to the road to tour, the time away from his mom in the Big Easy is tough for both. Freedia has declared that he is not transgender, although he does sport make-up and weaves.
Scott Free releases the single "Happy Pride Day Moscow" about Russia's barbaric and disillusioned treatment of human-rights issues toward the LGBTQ community. Here, the godfather of Chicago's LGBTQ music scene showcases his knack at narrating current, queer issues, this time with a sarcastic, biting voice over a late '70s punk meets ska feel. Throughout the track, Free's character hilariously relates the hostile acts that have taken place in Russia to homoeroticism and circuit parties.
The piece earned Free a nomination for Best Rock Song at RightOutTV Music & Video Awards. Free has proven to be a musical chameleon, having tackled a variety of genres including folk, rock, hip hop. "Happy Pride Day Moscow" is out now and available for download for an optional donation at thescottfree.bandcamp.com/track/happy-pride-day-moscow.
After her 2012 U.S. tour was canceled, Sinead O'Connor returns with a three-night run at City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph St., starting on Monday, Nov. 4. Her latest, How About I Be Me ( And You Be You )?, finds her being spry and happy on "4th and Vine." But the set's strongest moment is her fiery cover of out singer-songwriter John Grant's "Queen of Denmark," as she belts out the question in the chorus, "Why don't you take it out on somebody else?"
The controversial Irish siren finds herself making entertainment headlines once again with an exchange of tweets and emails with Miley Cyrus. The former Hannah Montana cited O'Connor's iconic video for "Nothing Compares 2 U" as the inspiration to parts of her cringe-worthy clip "Wrecking Ball." O'Connor tweeted motherly concern and advice as a veteran of the industry. Cyrus responded with jokes about O'Connor and Amanda Bynes' public mental-health issues. However, I find O'Connor was mistaken in her initial tweets by saying that Cyrus is talented.
Two new albums that really impressed me more than expected are Natalia Kills' sophomore outing, Trouble, and Lorde's debut, Pure Heroine.
Trouble is loaded with radio-ready electro-pop gems. In a genre that is oversaturated with singers vying for the spotlight, the edgier Kills differentiates herself from the pack. Unlike Robyn's signature sound, Kills' material varies track to track; just compare the heavy electronic jam "Problem" with the pop love song "Marlboro Lights." Newcomer Charli XCX does not have the hooks that Kills has on the catchy "Devils Don't Fly" and "Outta Time." Kills also does not risk the overexposure and backlash that Lady Gaga has received flack for. Kills has made appearances in Chicago to promote Trouble, including a recent stop at SPIN Nightclub. Trouble is out now via will.i.am/Cherrytree/Interscope Records.
I was ready to write off Lorde as a one-hit wonder from New Zealand who looks like the Noxzema girl ( Rebecca Gayheart ). Lorde brings a modernization of the drums n' bass sound to her album Pure Heroine, which contains clever insights and observations as well as pop polish. "Ribs" and "Buzzcut Season" are celestial and "Tennis Court" finds her grounded with her new found fame. Lorde redoes Tears for Fears' '80s hit "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" for the upcoming soundtrack to Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
