Cyndi Lauper Didn’t Want To Record ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’
Cyndi Lauper’s iconic hit, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” almost didn’t happen. The Grammy-winner, who turns 70 later this month, tells People in a new interview that she was…
Cyndi Lauper performs at the Mission Estate Winery on April 08, 2023 in Napier, New Zealand.
Kerry Marshall/Getty ImagesCyndi Lauper's iconic hit, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" almost didn't happen. The Grammy-winner, who turns 70 later this month, tells People in a new interview that she was against recording the song because of who wrote it.
While promoting her new documentary, Let the Canary Sing, Lauper says of the lead single off her debut album She's So Unusual that she was "trying really hard to make an anthem that would inspire women and open the doors to all women." The Brooklyn native adds, "Not just one group of women, but every little girl could see herself and realize that she too could have a joyful experience in life." However, since "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" was written and originally recorded by a man, she didn't see its potential at the time.
No Man's Land
Lauper's producer at the time, Rick Chertoff, took her to see Robert Hazard, the man behind the original song, perform it live. In the documentary, Chertoff recalled Lauper pulling his ear down toward her during the performance and telling him, "I would never do that f---ing song." This was because she didn't want a song written from a male perspective. She said in the doc, "Every time we want to have fun, we're whores." It took "many demos" of the song before Lauper found a fun sound to sing from a female point of view. "It should be in a trumpet key because we're trumpeting an idea," she said.
Inspiration Behind The Song
Inspired by commercials for Raceway Park in New Jersey and creating the now-iconic guitar lick, Lauper recalled in the film, "All of a sudden, we all heard it." As for the music video, Cyndi was tired of seeing the same race of people, so she wanted to cast a diverse group of women. "It was a good message for kids and teenage girls particularly," said Boy George in the doc.
Lauper also wanted to cast her mother, Catrine, to play her mom on screen. "I told my mother, 'If you do this, it's going to bring mothers and daughters closer.' I got to share my success with my mom. My mom was with me, and I just feel I was really lucky and privileged to do that."
These Celebrities Have A June Birthday
People born in June are either a Gemini (May 21 – June 20) or a Cancer (June 21 – July 22). Geminis are an air sign symbolized by the celestial twins. Geminis’ traits are known to be social, talkative, and whimsical, but they can also be indecisive or nosy. Gemini is constantly juggling a variety of passions, hobbies, and careers. June Geminis tend to be intellectually curious and very much friendship and partnership-oriented.
June 21 marks the beginning of Cancer season, the crab. This water sign is ruled by the moon, so this sign is known to have emotional, maternal and nurturing traits. June Cancers tend to be the caregivers of the people in their life. Compassionate with a goofy sense of humor, you can rely on Cancers.
Some of the most legendary actors and figures were born in the month of June. Take a look below at which of our favorite stars celebrate a June birthday:
Morgan Freeman
Amy Sussman/Getty ImagesThe actor and narrator, whose professional career began in the '70s, celebrates his birthday on June 1.
Heidi Klum
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty ImagesThe German-American supermodel and television host also celebrates her birthday June 1.
Alanis Morissette
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMTYou oughta know the Canadian-American singer celebrates her birthday on June 1 also.
Marilyn Monroe
Baron/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesThe actress, model, and singer was born on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles. She died at the age of 36 on August 4, 1962.
Amy Schumer
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Writers Guild of America EastThe comedian, actress, and producer was also born on June 1, in the Upper East Side of NYC.
Tom Holland
Carlos Alvarez/Getty ImagesThe 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' actor was born on June 1, 1996 in the U.K.
Justin Long
Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for IMDbThe 'Barbarian' star celebrates his birthday on June 2. He was born in Fairfield, CT.
Angelina Jolie
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images for RFFThe actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian was born on June 4, 1975 in Los Angeles.
Russell Brand
Jeff Spicer/Getty ImagesThe flamboyant comedian and actor celebrates his birthday on June 4 as well.
Mark Wahlberg
Gabe Ginsberg/Getty ImagesThe Boston native celebrates his birthday on June 5.
Nick Kroll
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty ImagesThis 'Big Mouth' celebrates his birthday on June 5.
Paul Giamatti
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty ImagesDon't believe this 'Big Fat Liar' if he tells you his birthday is anything but June 6, 1967.
Liam Neeson
Kate Green/Getty ImagesThe Irish 'Taken' star celebrates his birthday on June 7.
Bill Hader
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty ImagesThe 'Barry' star was born on June 7, 1978 in Tulsa, OK.
Michael Cera
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Tony Awards ProductionsThe awkward, comedic Canadian actor celebrates his birthday on June 7 as well.
Iggy Azalea
Jean Baptiste Lacroix/Getty ImagesThe 'Fancy' Aussie celebrates her birthday on June 7, too.
Prince
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesPrince Rogers Nelson, or Prince to all of us, is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of his generation. He was born on June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, MN. He died at 57 years old.
Joan Rivers
Astrid Stawiarz/Getty ImagesThe iconic hilarious yet rude television host was born on June 8, 1933 in Brooklyn, NY. She passed away in 2014 at 81 years old.
Johnny Depp
Guillaume Horcajuelo/Pool/Getty ImagesThe musician and award-winning actor was born on June 9, 1963 in Kentucky.
Natalie Portman
Gareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesThis 'Black Swan' also celebrates her birthday on June 9.
Michael J. Fox
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesThe retired actor was born on June 9, 1961 in Canada. He retired due to his struggles with Parkinson's disease.
Elizabeth Hurley
Noam Galai/Getty Images for BCRFThe English actress and model celebrates her birthday on June 10.
Judy Garland
Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesThe actress, who is widely known for her role as Dorothy in 1939's 'The Wizard of Oz,' was born on June 10, 1922.
Peter Dinklage
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesThe 'Game of Thrones' alum was born on June 11, 1969 in NJ.
Shia LaBeouf
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for HFAThis 'Honey Boy' celebrates his birthday on June 11, 1986.
Gene Wilder
Frederick M. Brown/Getty ImagesBest known for his roles as Willy Wonka and Dr. Frankenstein, the actor was born on June 11, 1933 in Milwaukee, WI. He died in 2016 at the age of 83 due to complications of Alzheimer's disease.
Dave Franco
Amy Sussman/Getty ImagesThe '21 Jump Street' Actor celebrates his birthday on June 12.
Chris Evans
Gareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesThe Boston native celebrates his birthday on June 13.
Tim Allen
Momodu Mansaray/Getty ImagesThe award-winning actor was born on June 13, 1953 in Denver, Colorado.
Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty ImagesThe actresses-turned fashion designers celebrate their birthday on June 13.
Kat Dennings
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesThe 'WandaVision' actress was born on June 13, 1986 in Pennsylvania.
Kodi Smit-McPhee
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Karl LagerfeldThe Australian 'Power of the Dog' star celebrates his birthday on June 13 as well.
Neil Patrick Harris
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesNPH celebrates his birthday on June 15.
Courteney Cox
Jon Kopaloff/Getty ImagesThe 'Friends' alum was born on June 15, 1964 in Birmingham, AL.
Zoe Saldana
Kristy Sparow/Getty Images For DisneyThe 'Guardians of the Galaxy' alum celebrates her birthday on June 19.
Paula Abdul
JC Olivera/Getty ImagesThis "Straight Up" singer was born on June 19, 1962 in California.
Paul Dano
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty ImagesThe 'There Will Be Blood' actor was born on June 19, 1984 in NYC.
Nicole Kidman
David Livingston/Getty ImagesThe Australian-American actress was born on June 20, 1967 in Honolulu, HI.
Chris Pratt
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for DisneyStar-Lord celebrates his birthday on June 21.
Juliette Lewis
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty ImagesThe 'Yellowjackets' star celebrates her birthday on June 21, the first day of Summer.
Cyndi Lauper
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for The Recording AcademyThe singer just wants to have fun on her birthday, which she celebrates on June 22.
Frances McDormand
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesThe talented, indie actress was born on June June 23, 1957 in Illinois.
Selma Blair
Jon Kopaloff/Getty ImagesThe actress and author celebrates her birthday on June 23.
Mindy Kaling
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesThe actress, producer, and screenwriter was born on June 24, 1979 in Massachusetts.
Anthony Bourdain
Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images for TurnerThe beloved chef and author was born on June 25, 1956 in NYC. He tragically died in 2018 due to suicide.
Ariana Grande
Amy Sussman/Getty ImagesThe powerhouse singer celebrates her birthday on June 26.
Aubrey Plaza
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TIMEThe 'White Lotus' star was also born on June 26.
Tobey Maguire
Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Paramount PicturesOur spidey senses tell us that the actor celebrates his birthday on June 27.
John Cusack
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty ImagesThe '2012' actor and producer was born on June 28, 1966 in Illinois.
Kathy Bates
Amy Sussman/Getty ImagesThe award-winning actress, who is regarded as one of the most iconic "Scream Queens," celebrates her birthday on June 28.
Nicole Scherzinger
Ian West - Pool / Getty ImagesThe Pussycat Doll-turned-television personality celebrates her birthday on June 29.
