26 years after conquering the world with her girl-power anthem "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" - pop diva Cyndi Lauper is at the point in her career where can do just about anything she pleases. So when she decides she'll go down to Memphis and cut a record with blues harpist Charlie Musselwhite and superstars like B.B. King and Allen Toussaint - it will happen. And thanks to a little momentum from her turn on TV reality show "Celebrity Apprentice" - "Memphis Blues" has become her highest charting album since 1985's"True Colors."
Those trekking down to the Arsht Center tonight should not expect faithful renditions of Lauper's synthesizer-heavy 80s material. Rather, she is playing almost the entirety of "Memphis Blues" and then sprinkling in roadhouse reworkings of her hits. It's an approach that may confound some of her fans - especially in a posh joint like the Arsht Center's Ziff Ballroom.
However, if Lauper's fans have the patience to sit through her version of Little Walter's "Just Your Fool" - they may find themselves getting a musical appreciation course worthy of college credit. And if they can't stand to see their beloved synth-pop memories deconstructed into roots music, the lobby bar is there to provide beer goggles.
amazing performance. beyond words. cyndi lauper's vocal gift is a national treasure and last nights performance at the James L. Knight center was a rare and memorable performance demonstrating her passion and talent for her music.
Posted by: mark t. | 08/04/2010 at 01:03 PM