In my family, it was a rite of passage to see a first concert with my father when we turned 12. My sister saw the Go-Go’s. I saw Cyndi Lauper. When I agreed to go see Cyndi in concert this past weekend (30 years later!) with my girlfriends, I had low expectations. I didn’t doubt her amazing talent — look at what she did with Kinky Boots. I think it was more about feeling old myself and not wanting to be disappointed if she wasn’t as energetic and funky as I remembered her. What would that say about me?
Imagine my delight when Cyndi burst onto the stage singing “Money Changes Everything” looking and sounding current and relevant. And the crowd stayed on its feet for the entire concert. She did a good bit of storytelling between songs and answered a lot of my questions about why she would perform a concert of songs that were popular 30 years ago. With the exception of “Sex is in the Heel” from Kinky Boots, she stuck to the “She’s So Unusual” album. She called the tour a “gift” to her fans. She’s been asked to do an 80s flashback tour over the years, but like many artists who realize early fame hesitated to repeat herself. But now that she’s been successful in other areas (first Tony award at age 60), she felt it was time.
She also shared that the studio where she recorded “She’s So Unusual” was only a block from where Kinky Boots is now playing on Broadway. She said, “I suggest you go stand in the same spot you stood 30 years ago. Something magical might happen.”
I left the concert feeling inspired and optimistic. It was great to be reminded that you can make exciting things happen at any stage of your life. This morning, as I got my daughter ready for her first day of summer camp, I thought to myself, “I wonder where my spot might be — the one where I should return to in 30 years to see if something magical happens.” Then I realized I was standing in it last night.