Cyndi Lauper “She’s So Unusual” 1983. Today, June 22nd, is Cyndi Lauper’s birthday (b. 1953). This is one of the earlier vault acquisitions that was not  hand-me-down vinyl: I either bought it or received it as a gift in late ‘83 or early ‘84. She’s So Unusual is Lauper’s debut solo album; it peaked at #4 on the US charts and was one of the best-selling albums of the 80′s and spawned four Top 5 singles.

Relentlessly poppy and infused with synth pop and new wave, She’s So Unusual is filled with Lauper’s chirpy vocals and subversive humor. “She Bop” may seem quaint now, but in the early 80′s it was bordering on scandalous (I’m sure I was pretty clueless about its true meaning at the time). “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” is cute and danceable girl power. “Time After Time” is still a beautiful tear-jerker, as is “All Through the Night” which I recall playing at a junior high dance, me all-pining to slow-dance with some boy.