France .(AFP)-She was an icon for both her outspoken punk attitude and her era-defining hits like “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” Cyndi Lauper, now 71, is embarking on a farewell tour.
The New York-born artist says she wants to celebrate with her fans one last time while she’s still in shape.
The tour will take her through North America starting in October before heading to Europe in February.
Lauper has sold more than 50 million albums thanks to hits like “Time After Time” and “True Colors” and has remained active, winning a Tony Award in 2013 for the soundtrack of the Broadway musical “Kinky Boots.”
He spoke to AFP about his rebellious spirit, growing up Italian-American and his many years fighting for gay rights.
Question: You were expelled from two schools when you were young. Where did that rebellion come from?
Answer: “It wasn’t me. It was them! I disagreed with a priest who said my mother was going to hell. But what kind of person tells an eight-year-old child that his mother is going to hell?”
“And the second time, I asked a nun if I still had my period and they kicked me out. I wanted to go home because at that school… well, certain people shouldn’t take care of children.”
Q: Do the hits still feel fresh when you play live?
A: “Every era is a little different, but what people are really looking for is to click back. They want to hear what they remember. If you can add something, something, that’s good.
“Between the rhythm and the sound, sometimes you can get lost. That’s the best part of performing because I’m of the opinion that people sing to escape, to feel better, to fly.
“When I was a child, the lady who was a couple of meters away, every Sunday she made a salsa, she cleaned the whole house and in the afternoon she sat down to play the accordion and she always played “Volare”. When I was a teenager, I was like ‘Kill me now! How many times do I need to be reminded that I’m Italian?’
“But now I realize what he was really playing: ‘My heart has wings.’ When singers sing at their best, I think they are flying inside.”
Q: What prompted you to campaign for gay rights?
A: “I’m a friend and a member of my family. You don’t stand by and watch your family be discriminated against. There’s been a lot of progress, but now there’s a lot of setbacks and a lot of fear and anger.
“I stand next to my sister Ellen, who is part of the community. I would never have been able to do anything without her.”
Q: What memory do you remember most from your career?
A: “I had to fight for what I wanted because it wasn’t given to me. I didn’t take advantage of opportunities because I wanted things a certain way. I had to keep in mind why I started doing this: feeling.” free, to not be a little bird in a cage.
“The award that meant the most to me was probably the Ms. magazine (woman of the year award) in 1984. The magazine was founded by Gloria Steinem, who was a great civil rights leader. She was very influential to me growing up .
“Of course, the Tony was a big deal, and the Grammys. It’s not like I’ve won many Grammys, probably because I never counted to 10 before I spoke. Maybe that would have been a good idea.”
