Ménage Á Pop is a three times a week intimate discussion between two people and a piece of pop culture.
Friday night sleepovers almost always included a sugar high sing-along to 80s anthem "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." But its punk performer was far more than just some pajama game participant. She was a fashion icon, equal rights crusader and daily presence in the walkman of Bonita Guitierrz (THE WEREWOLF WHISPERER). Now thirty years and a digital revolution later, she is still She-Bopping along to every track as she relates the endearing appeal of Cyndi Lauper's SHE'S SO UNUSUAL.
Bonita Gutierrez is the author of THE WEREWOLF WHISPERER series of novels available for purchase at www.WEREWOLFWHISPERER.com. Read more of her writing at BONITA’S GEEKY BLOG-FU! and follow her on TWITTER follow her on TWITTER @BonitzMG and on INSTAGRAM @bonitamg.
POP NOTES
SHE’S S SO UNUSUAL was released on Friday October 14th, 1983.
The album produced six radio singles which included “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” Time After Time,” “She-Bop” and covers of The Brain’s “Money Changes Everything” and Prince’s “When You Were Mine.”
The album sleeve was designed by graphic artist Janet Perr and featured images by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz.
“Girls Just Wanna Haver Fun” was originally composed by musician Robert Hazard in 1979. His recorded demo features additional lyrics sung from a male point .
“Time After Time,” co-written by Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman of The Hooters, was the last song to be composed for the album. The song was praised by many reviewers as the album’s finest accomplishment and has been covered numerous times, most notably as an instrumental piece by Jazz musician Miles Davis.
The video for “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” was directed by Edd Griles, one of the earliest music video directors whose work includes “Stuck With You” by Huey Lewis And The News, “Party All The Time” by Eddie Murphy and Cyndi Lauper’s own “Time After Time.”
Prior to her solo debut, Cyndi Lauper fronted the band Blue Angel. Founded in 1978, the band released one self titled album in 1980. Cyndi Lauper would later re-recorded their track “Maybe He’ll Know” for her 1986 album TRUE COLORS (with backing vocals by Billy Joel).
Tune back on Monday when screenwriter KEVIN CHESLEY (BLOOD & TREASURE) double parks a bunch plastic outside a conversation on the Kenner toyline M.A.S.K.
This episode of MÉNAGE Á POP was recorded by CAST, an online audio platform that lets you create and record a multi-guest podcast straight from your web-browser. It was then mastered by AUPHONIC, a web-based post-production service. Check out both sights for trial and subscription information.
MUSIC FEATURED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:
“Three Ways To Do That” (opening theme) composed and performed by The Madeline Prior. All rights reserved with Not A Holograms podcasts.
Subscribe to MÉNAGE Á POP on APPLE PODCASTS, SPOTIFY, STITCHER and ANDROID or stream it at www.nahpods.com.
Follow Tim Blevins on TWITTER @subcultist and on INSTAGRAM @subcultist.
Try to understand the present while living in the past with Tim’s weekly podcast 20TH CENTURY POP! at www.nahpods.com/20popcast
For questions, queries or, by random chance, press contact Tim Blevins at subcultist@gmail.com.