First some background: I grew up with and loved ’50s rock and roll but lost all interest when it got politicized, druggified, obnoxiously loud, and musically minimized to guitars and drums in the ’60s. (I’ve never forgiven the Beatles.)
So my friends were shocked when in the ’80s I became a huge fan of Cyndi Lauper. Why her? Where to begin?
For starters, could anyone be cuter? Her vocal range, power, and expressiveness were extraordinary. Musically her songs were melodically imaginative and richly orchestrated. Her most famous songs had subtle but definite philosophical subtexts (life is good, pleasure is good, love is good). Her stage energy was exhilarating. Everything about her was blatantly, even aggressively, independent and individualistic, with no trace of the nihilism in so many other rock-and-rollers. Her professional dedication was obvious then and is proven by her career longevity. And finally, she has such a wonderful sense of humor. Example:
I once saw her being interviewed by someone who asked “Now that you’re a big star, is there anything you can’t do?” Cyndi’s tongue-in-cheeky reply, in her best Bugs Bunny Brooklynese: “Well, I can’t go out in da winteh widout a coat, and I can’t flap my arms and fly like a boid; nobody can do dat.” How could I not love her?
I say all this in defense of my darling Cyndi against Breathed’s hasty and shallow parody of her in this ancient rerun. He has a right to his opinion (the only thing more personal and individual than musical taste is sexual response), but that doesn’t mean he was right. Maybe he changed his mind later, but I’m just sayin’.
pschearer, i dont think Breathed’s response was as much on Cyndi per se, but back in those years, the WWF had a lame “Rock’n’Wrestling’ gimmick of which she was part of, along with Capt Lou Albano (RIP Cap!), Roddy Piper, Wendi Richter, and the hilarious Hulk Hokum….that was what he was making fun of
(sorry for that last part, I was a die-hard NWA guy in those days who preferred 30-60 minutes of action, even with the Dusty finish, to 5 minutes of punches and kicks followed by 15 minutes of posing…always felt like the original Horsemen could kick the bejabbers out of those WWF guys any day of the week…)
P.W.: I too am a fan of highly dramatized, exaggeratedly emotional displays of conflict between larger-than-life characters. That’s why I like opera.
But you make a good point, P.W. I look at Cyndi’s foray into professional wrestling as a poor career choice motivated by her loyalty to friend and father-substitute Capt. Lou. In my mind I file it all under the category of “Let’s never mention this again”.
I saw Cyndi Lauper in concert at the 100th Anniversary of the PNE (Pacific National Exhibition) in Vancvouer, British Columbia, Canada :-) Cyndi ROCKED! All three stands were full and the area in front of the stands was full of people who cheered, took pictures and had a GREAT time :-) Cyndi still has it :-)
I always thought Cyndi Lauper was just great (I was in the preteen girl target age group at the time), and when I got older, I decided that I made the right choice in liking her. I don’t think Berkeley Breathed is saying anything particularly negative about her in this strip. Actually, I think she and Opus would make a cute match, and Opus should do whatever he can to keep her (even if it means being a pro-wrestler) for however long this lasts! (I didn’t catch this part of the strip the first time ‘round, so I don’t know how it ends).
Ye gods. This is the very first time I’ve seen this particular BC comic arc — why on Earth was it left out of the printed strip collections, back in The Day? It’s a classic ’80’s “two-fer” riffing on Cyndi Lauper AND the World Wrestling Federation, for pity’s sake! Plus, I guess Cyndi was Opus’ first love interest as well? Sheesh!
alviebird over 13 years ago
Cyndi Lauper!
rayannina over 13 years ago
Opus, are you sure that’s a girl?
pouncingtiger over 13 years ago
Hell hath no fury like a woman who has been beaned by a boot.
x_Tech over 13 years ago
A match made in… But with whom or what?
thirdguy over 13 years ago
She seems…………..very nice, I’m sure that Mother will love her!!
Sandfan over 13 years ago
Did she acquire that sophisticated accent and gracious demeanor in Jersey or Brooklyn?
PlaidWolf over 13 years ago
That’s right Opus….”Time After Time”…
pschearer Premium Member over 13 years ago
First some background: I grew up with and loved ’50s rock and roll but lost all interest when it got politicized, druggified, obnoxiously loud, and musically minimized to guitars and drums in the ’60s. (I’ve never forgiven the Beatles.)
So my friends were shocked when in the ’80s I became a huge fan of Cyndi Lauper. Why her? Where to begin?
For starters, could anyone be cuter? Her vocal range, power, and expressiveness were extraordinary. Musically her songs were melodically imaginative and richly orchestrated. Her most famous songs had subtle but definite philosophical subtexts (life is good, pleasure is good, love is good). Her stage energy was exhilarating. Everything about her was blatantly, even aggressively, independent and individualistic, with no trace of the nihilism in so many other rock-and-rollers. Her professional dedication was obvious then and is proven by her career longevity. And finally, she has such a wonderful sense of humor. Example:
I once saw her being interviewed by someone who asked “Now that you’re a big star, is there anything you can’t do?” Cyndi’s tongue-in-cheeky reply, in her best Bugs Bunny Brooklynese: “Well, I can’t go out in da winteh widout a coat, and I can’t flap my arms and fly like a boid; nobody can do dat.” How could I not love her?
I say all this in defense of my darling Cyndi against Breathed’s hasty and shallow parody of her in this ancient rerun. He has a right to his opinion (the only thing more personal and individual than musical taste is sexual response), but that doesn’t mean he was right. Maybe he changed his mind later, but I’m just sayin’.
ReaderLady over 13 years ago
Everybody wants to kiss my Fannie!
PlaidWolf over 13 years ago
pschearer, i dont think Breathed’s response was as much on Cyndi per se, but back in those years, the WWF had a lame “Rock’n’Wrestling’ gimmick of which she was part of, along with Capt Lou Albano (RIP Cap!), Roddy Piper, Wendi Richter, and the hilarious Hulk Hokum….that was what he was making fun of
(sorry for that last part, I was a die-hard NWA guy in those days who preferred 30-60 minutes of action, even with the Dusty finish, to 5 minutes of punches and kicks followed by 15 minutes of posing…always felt like the original Horsemen could kick the bejabbers out of those WWF guys any day of the week…)
wolfintheshadows over 13 years ago
She’s a real keeper!
pschearer Premium Member over 13 years ago
P.W.: I too am a fan of highly dramatized, exaggeratedly emotional displays of conflict between larger-than-life characters. That’s why I like opera.
But you make a good point, P.W. I look at Cyndi’s foray into professional wrestling as a poor career choice motivated by her loyalty to friend and father-substitute Capt. Lou. In my mind I file it all under the category of “Let’s never mention this again”.
yohannbiimu over 13 years ago
I love topical humor, but the problem with it is that 50 years from now, nobody will get it…
steelerman66 over 13 years ago
PlaidWolf itooagree the original 4 Horsemen could whoop any of the jokers in the wwf world wanker federation
they almost got credible because of cindy
cybergal29 over 13 years ago
I saw Cyndi Lauper in concert at the 100th Anniversary of the PNE (Pacific National Exhibition) in Vancvouer, British Columbia, Canada :-) Cyndi ROCKED! All three stands were full and the area in front of the stands was full of people who cheered, took pictures and had a GREAT time :-) Cyndi still has it :-)
NightOwl19 over 13 years ago
I always thought Cyndi Lauper was just great (I was in the preteen girl target age group at the time), and when I got older, I decided that I made the right choice in liking her. I don’t think Berkeley Breathed is saying anything particularly negative about her in this strip. Actually, I think she and Opus would make a cute match, and Opus should do whatever he can to keep her (even if it means being a pro-wrestler) for however long this lasts! (I didn’t catch this part of the strip the first time ‘round, so I don’t know how it ends).
Sherlock Watson over 13 years ago
When the working day is done, and the bandages come off…
lazyphair almost 8 years ago
Ye gods. This is the very first time I’ve seen this particular BC comic arc — why on Earth was it left out of the printed strip collections, back in The Day? It’s a classic ’80’s “two-fer” riffing on Cyndi Lauper AND the World Wrestling Federation, for pity’s sake! Plus, I guess Cyndi was Opus’ first love interest as well? Sheesh!