SimplyAbuDhabi XLVII

Our 3 Questions for Cyndi Lauper Simply Abu Dhabi: You’ve carved out such an interesting and iconoclastic career since your initial rise to fame with She’s So Unusual . Could you tell us more about your trajectory from that first commercial success? I think I scared a lot of people, and the “suits” didn’t understand that I wanted to live an artist’s life. It was a hard time. I was a radical and I wanted to live radically. I wanted to express my art and live it. (laughs) It probably took me way too long to realise I had no filter! Since then, you’ve done numerous studio albums across all kinds of genres, plus taken detours into musical theatre and acting. What’s the one unifying theme in your work? I was always anxious not to make disposable music. I wanted to make music that had courage and would provide light in the dark. You’ve recently embarked on a “farewell tour” – but is it really farewell? Yes, it’s a farewell, but only to a specific kind of giant arena tour. The show I do right now? I can do it, but I’m 71, so I don’t know how I’m going to be in four years’ or five years’ time! And I’m also bringing a musical based on the Melanie Griffith comedy Working Girl to Broadway. There’s only so much time in the day! Simply Abu Dhabi | 149