SOP 196 - The Cyndi Lauper Conspiracy

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Artist: Bob Tozier
School: North Allegheny

Notes:

Every song Cyndi Lauper writes is pop perfection according to Sam Sanders, host of NPR’s “It’s Been A Minute.” Many fall for “Girls Just Want To Have Fun,” but Sanders's favorite song is the slow burner “All Through The Night,” save for one moment: the synthesizer solo. For Sanders, this solo never fit in. Charlie investigates the source of his musical malady and uncovers how the 80s got its groove.

What do you think about 80's synths? Wow - only 20% of synth owners actually built their own sounds.
How about Disco?
What about realistic sounds vs. sounds people simply like?
What other songs have iconic sounds?
Moog and Prophet - 16"
18" - a sound that defined a musical style.

What other sounds or instruments helped define music?
How about new music of an era?

More

Read Dr. Megan L. Lavengood's research on the DX7

Listen to Dave Smith's (recently re-released) Sequential Prophet 5 synthesizer

Learn about William Wittman's production credits on Discogs

Comments

Sarah Feick from: North Allegheny - posted: December 3, 2020
I foound it interesting that I knew a lot of these songs but I did not know who Cyndi Lauper is.

Luke Hartle from: North Allegheny - posted: December 4, 2020
I did not know that Cyndi Lauper sung all of those songs. I find it so cool that they put a joke into the actual song.

Kassi Barry from: North Allegheny - posted: January 12, 2021
The best part about listening to this was the fact mmy mom walked into my room and asked if we were lsitening to cyndi lauper. I knew most of these were sung by her, but not all of them.

Julia Maletta from: North Allegheny - posted: January 13, 2021
I love Cyndi Lauper and enjoy 80's synths because it adds something really cool to the song when used correctly.

Reka Gotz from: North Allegheny - posted: January 15, 2021
I love the 80's synth sound in the right context, but I hate this particular synth solo. My dad actually made an analog synth for my brother last Christmas! I also am a huge fan of disco. I must say, that although synths deserve a good bit of credit for creating the 80s sound, I think that the percussion/drums of 80s pop is another defining factor.

Vaishnavee Sundararaman from: North Allegheny - posted: January 21, 2021
I really haven't been exposed to synth. But, I do like disco because it's a fun type of style. This SOP was one that really made me realize that there is even more types of music that I hadn't really looked into. I really enjoyed

Nicholas Palermo from: North Allegheny - posted: January 22, 2021
Often times the 80s is defined by the iconic music that was produced throughout the decade. I think the synth is an essential part of 80s music's iconic sound.

Olivia Belcher from: North Allegheny - posted: January 23, 2021
I've listened to these songs for so long, but I never knew that Cyndi Lauper wrote them. Her style is so interesting, and the synths definitely play into that sound.

Rohan Puri from: North Allegheny - posted: January 23, 2021
I do not listen to much synth music, but, in the times I have, I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Nick Brar from: North Allegheny - posted: January 23, 2021
Synth music is very unique and I enjoy it during certain moments.

Eric schaefer from: North Allegheny - posted: January 25, 2021
I love the synth sound and that sound paired with Cyndi Lauper creat a great sound.

Grace Elliott from: North Allegheny - posted: January 25, 2021
Cyndi is a pretty cool person and I really hate the 80s synth. Nothing more cringe worthy than hearing that in a song unless it is a really cool synth part.

Kate Patterson from: North Allegheny - posted: January 25, 2021
I don't really know much about Cyndi Lauper, but the podcast was still very interesting. I think that learning about synths in the eighties is cool because it was the start of its popularity, and we still use them today.

Erik Bloomquist from: North Allegheny - posted: January 26, 2021
80s music is such an iconic sound, immoralized by the sound of the synthesizer. Today, the synthesizer is still used in pop music, alongside 808s, hi hats, and other sounds.

Hunter Badamo from: North Allegheny - posted: January 27, 2021
I actually don't like a lot of 80s music, but like everything, I have my exceptions. Gotta admit though, this one was particularly awful. I guess I'm not finding the hidden beauty or whatever

Bri Cobbey from: North Allegheny - posted: January 27, 2021
I never would have guessed that Cyndi Lauper wrote some of those songs. She has such a unqiue style.

Josi Pietrzyk from: - posted: January 27, 2021
Cyndi Lauper is kind of a freaking legend. She deserves respect and admiration from all. #marryme

Rae Dwyer from: North Allegheny - posted: January 27, 2021
It's amazing how many songs that students knew, including me, but did not know the artist. I wonder why that happens and how many artists are unknown but have a famous song.

Cassandra Pultorak from: North Allegheny - posted: January 27, 2021
I LOVE SYNTHS. Such an underappreciated sound, but I could recognize those patches anywhere. I love that such a popular artist made them a staple in her music, as well as the entire 80s era.

Nick Faber from: North Allegheny - posted: January 27, 2021

I don't know Cyndi Lauper, and I also did not know any of these songs :)

I can appreciate the music, but it definitely isn't something I would listen to voluntarily.

Kai Su from: North Allegheny - posted: January 27, 2021
I have only used acoustic intruments in my music-making, so it is interesting to see how things like tone and timbre are apporached so differently in synthesised music.

Clay Sheleheda from: North Allegheny - posted: January 28, 2021
I have never heard of Cyndi Lauper, but I have apparently listened to a lot of her songs.

Nathan Lam from: North Allegheny - posted: January 28, 2021
It's cool how that over the decades, the synth is still ever present in music

Hyunjun Chang from: North Allegheny - posted: January 28, 2021
I have never heard of Cyndi Lauper before yet some of these tunes I indubitably recognize!

Sophia Elliott from: North Allegheny - posted: January 28, 2021
I didn't know who Cyndi was, but I have heard a good amount of her songs. The 80s synth is pretty outdated but I have a feeling it might come back soon.

Ethan Chen from: North Allegheny - posted: January 28, 2021
Unfortunately, I don't listen to much Cyndi Lauper or synth stuff. I can appreciate it though. I enjoy a cover of "Time After Time" by Stella Donnelly.