Disco de Cyndi Lauper: “At Last”

This is intriguing, reading such wildly disparate reviews. And you know what? It's joyous. Joyous that Cyndi elicits such intense emotional reactions, both positive *and* negative. It means she's doing something right. I'm reminded of 2 reviews in the New York Times, published side by side, when Nirvana's "Nevermind" was released years ago. One was titled "It's Brilliant," and the other, "It's Awful." Cyndi's "At Last" is much the same: bound to throw some listeners off, destined to confuse those who finally thought they had Cyndi Lauper figured out. I hated the idea of a covers album at first too. Then I listened to the whole album.

Dear God, Cyndi, what planet are you from? How do you spin hoary clunkers like "Unchained Melody" into stunning little prayers? And who do you think you are, making me cry?

Five stars, and that's only cuz they won't allow me fifty.

It's unfortunate that some armchair critics have criticized the "production," which is in fact stellar (says the studio hack-by-trade.) The subtle violins glisten, the piano sparkles, and the infinite textures of Cyndi's voice leap out. We've grown so accustomed to polish and overproduced dreck that hearing just a voice - and that's all you'll find here, essentially - can be jarring. So can the occasional crack brought on by raw emotion. But Cyndi's got the balls to put it out there, straight from her soul. It's what separates the Cyndis and the Arethas and the Pattis from the rest of the pack - and it's the stuff that lives on long after we're gone.

So embrace your reaction to "At Last." Love it so much you want to devour it, hate it so much you need to post reviews on Amazon.com under different user names, which I've noticed in this case. But let the debate rage on. That's when you know it's art, friends.

Almost exactly 20 years after Cyndi Lauper released her She's So Unusual debut album, she's back on the music scene with At Last. One could say that she was really back on the scene with her Shine EP, but that's more of an appetizer rather than the "main course." I admit that I was a little disappointed at first upon hearing that Cyndi's new album would only consist of cover songs rather than original material; I was hoping for a new album that would continue the flow of her Shine EP. But being the long-time devoted Cyndi fan that I am, I made my way to the record store today and bought At Last. I've heard it twice so far and I've already gotten to love Cyndi's interpretations of these songs. I'm not familiar with most of the original versions so I can't make comparisons, but I have no doubt that Cyndi has done these songs a lot of justice. By far my favorite is her rendition of "Unchained Melody," not only because she sings it so well but because it's one of my all-time favorite songs.

In the inside booklet Cyndi says that these songs are a tribute to Manhattan, where she grew up and obviously has strong memories of. The whole atmosphere of At Last definitely has a "New Yorkish" feel to it, full of grace, sophistication and beauty. The album photos reflect this too, especially the cover photo that has Cyndi emerging from a manhole in the night wearing an elegant black dress with the Manhattan skyline in the background and a full moon. Very classy indeed. The back photo has her raising her arms in praise while looking at the Statue Of Liberty in the background. These photos are simply stunning and complement the music perfectly.

But getting back to the music, I hope the fact that this album is only cover songs will not deter Cyndi fans from buying it. Yes, this album is very different from any of her previous albums and will most likely attract a slightly different demographic population in addition to her long-time fans. But we need to remember that Cyndi is only maturing with her music, and releasing a mellow album doesn't mean that she's "losing her touch." If anything, she's showing her great versatility as a singer and exploring new territory. You won't find songs about "just wanting to have fun" and "she bopping" on this album, but you WILL find songs that speak to you in a much more intimate, personal way. There's certainly nothing wrong with that. So pick up At Last, sit down at night with a glass of wine and candlelight, and let Cyndi take you on this magical and satisfying journey.

I just did a thesis in my music class, on musical inspirations, and included Cyndi Lauper, as one of the "Most influential artists of contemporary music." I feel she is completely underrated, and has a tremendous talent that has been overlooked far too often. For me, she is one of the the most wildy talented singers on the planet. I even brought in a sampling of "At Last" for the class. Needless to say, they were completely in awe of her voice, and couldn't get over her outrageous vocal power and range of emotions. A few already owned it, but for those unfamiliar with it, I think she gained a whole new set of fans. Of course, there will always be a few skeptics out there who don't understand her, or feel the need to criticize her "other worldly voice." Cyndi Lauper is the reason that I'm taking the risk that I am, and planning a career in pursuing my musical aspirations. I recommend "At Last" to anyone who has an open mind and enjoys being challenged, on a musical and emotional level.

I love "At Last" for its originality, sparse yet extremely appealing musical production, and deepfelt emotions. Cyndi has always had a certain flair for interpreting other artists music, as in her wonderful, powerhouse rendition of 50's and 60's crooner, Gene Pitney's, "I'm Gonna Be Strong." She took that particular song to such an emotional level, I still marvel at it more than 24 years after she recorded it, with her former under appreciated band "Blue Angel." That same emotion and vocal rawness can be found on "At Last." She doesn't just sing these songs, mimicking the originals, she re-intreprets them, completely changing the tempo, as in "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood." Nina Simone did a very affective cover, but it is the Animal's that made it famous. They recorded it as a rollicking, rock n' roll tune that conveyed far less emotion than on Cyndi's latest version. She slows the tempo down, giving a frenzied, supercharged reading of it. It's very effecting, and she rips through the lyrics with wild abandonment. I was impressed with so much on this record, from the gorgeous title cut, to the heart pounding energy on "Stay," to the heartfelt yearning on You've Really Got a Hold On Me." This is what REAL singing is all about.

At Last will challenge you to think and to feel, and Cyndi sets a mood with each song. After I listened to At Last all the way through for the very first time, I never thought of it as a covers CD again. Cyndi has re-worked all the music on it, using such instruments as the viola, violin, cello, bass and piano to accompany her remarkably strong voice, which takes center stage here. I always say that if a song is great to begin with, it can be re-structured in many ways, and still keep it's integrity. Cyndi does it here, only improving on the song, such as on Unchained Melody, Walk On By and At Last, with just a shot of those great vocals. I would advise anyone to check this CD out. It's good strong medicine for the soul.