Album Review: Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Detour’
Lauper isn’t trying to be anything other than…..Cyndi Lauper. And, at the end of the day, she does that very well indeed.
Much has been made of the fact that Pop icon Cyndi Lauper has recorded a Country album. Yep, another artist from outside of the format wanting to come into Nashville and blend in with our musicians and singers. Well, here’s five words about the project that might surprise you.
She does it quite well.
Detour is not meant to be an attempt to cross over into Carrie or Miranda’s turf. Rather, this is Lauper paying homage to the traditional Country that she heard as a child growing up in New York. Keep in mind that during her formative years, Pop radio played a little bit of everything. Songs by Jim Reeves, Marty Robbins, and Patsy Cline were heard side by side with The Everly Brothers, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles. The music that you hear comes from that generation, and she more than pulls it off.
Lauper’s affinity for the masters of the format is on full display throughout this collection. She tips the hit to Cline with two of her standards, “I Fall To Pieces,” and “Walkin’ After Midnight,” and delivers very faithful covers of both. Robbins – a longtime favorite of the singer – is saluted on his oft-forgotten classic, “Begging To You,” and Lauper turns in a very reverent tribute to Skeeter Davis on the evergreen “The End Of The World.”
The album is also marked with some guest appearances from the finest stars in the format, such as Emmylou Harris on the title track, Alison Krauss on her cover of Dolly’s “Hard Candy Christmas,” and Vince Gill on the hilarious Conway / Loretta gem “You’re The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly,” which stands tall as one of the highlights of the album
At the end of the day, however, Lauper shines brightest on her stunning and evocative take on Wilma Burgess’ hit “Misty Blue,” which she manages to hit out of the ballpark. The track shows the love and passion that she has for this kind of music – making it well worth your time and attention. Lauper isn’t trying to be anything other than…..Cyndi Lauper. And, at the end of the day, she does that very well indeed.
