“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper
The song “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” can be viewed in different ways. In fact, as envisioned by Cyndi Lauper herself, it has actually become akin to a feminist anthem. And fundamentally it is based on the idea of females, particularly working girls, protesting against being restricted from enjoying their lives. In other words, when they come home, they “just want to have fun”. However, they are instead met with parents who criticize them. And the third verse also presents the notion that the singer does not want to be prevented from moving freely by a boyfriend.
So overall we can say that there are always people in the narrator’s life who are telling her what she can and can’t do. And the song does, indirectly, harp back to the feminist ideologies of female liberation, and a woman being more focused on herself than family so to speak. That is the singer appreciates the loved ones in her life but does not approve of having her movements controlled, for there are only two general desires which dictate her actions. One is to work. And the other is to “have fun”.
Music Video
The music video to this song, which was directed by Edd Griles, features Captain Lou Albano of professional-wrestling fame. It also features Lauper’s own mother, Catrine Dominique.
The clip took home an American Video Award (Best Female Performance) in 1983 and the inaugural MTV VMA in the category of Best Female Video in 1984.
Release Date of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”
This is the lead single from Cyndi Lauper’s maiden album titled “She’s So Unusual”. It was released as such by Epic Records on 6 September 1983.
Who wrote “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”?
Amazingly enough the writer of this song is actually a man, Robert Hazard. In fact he recorded his own demo of it in 1979. However, his rendition was from the viewpoint of a man, with the titular “girls” actually being his romantic interests. And he worked directly with Cyndi Lauper in modifying the lyrics to make them more female-centric.
Chart Success
“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” charted in almost 20 nations. And in eight of them it actually did top the charts.
Remixes and Covers
Cyndi Lauper remixed this tune in 1994 and re-released it as “Hey Now (Girls Just Want to Have Fun)”. That version also experienced considerable chart success.
The cast of “Glee” also dropped a cover of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” in 2011 which managed to make it onto the Billboard Hot 100. And a contestant on “The Voice”, Madi Davis, replicated this feat in 2015.
Popular Usage
“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” is a classic American song that has been featured on numerous movies and TV shows throughout the years. In fact in 1985 there was even a movie, starring Sarah Jessica Parker, named after it.
Did “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” win a Grammy Award?
No. However, it earned Cyndi Lauper two Grammy Award nominations in the following categories:
- Best Pop Vocal Performance
- Female and Record of the Year
