The Top-10 Songs of All (My) Time, #4: “True Colors” by Cindy Lauper

As I get into my #4 song, you’re going to realize I love a love song. I love sappy songs (but not too sappy). I like touching lyrics. Not many guys will admit stuff like this, but when the windows are rolled up in my car and a good ballad comes on the radio …oh, baby …I’m singin’ at the top of my lungs.

Cindy Lauper’s “True Colors” came out in 1986 and reached #1 on the Pop Charts in October of 1986.  I was 13. I was in 8th Grade. My brother was in 5th Grade. My sister was in 4th Grade. They were still being forced to take piano lessons. I had been granted the right to quit piano. It broke my parents’ heart that I hated piano lessons and took lessons only for as long as they were forcing me. They said, multiple times, “I wish I had taken piano lessons when I was your age and I wish I could play the piano, now,” and, “you’re going to regret quitting.”

They were right. I deeply regret quitting. I wish I could play. But here’s the thing … I still have time to learn and maybe I will. Maybe I’ll learn to play “True Colors.”

Even though I wasn’t taking piano lessons, sometimes I was still forced to ride along in the car while they took their lessons and, if you can believe it, my Mom, the sibling not inside taking lessons, and I would wait in the car. 

“True Colors” came on the radio and my Mom said, “I really like this song. It’s very pretty.”

Forced to sit in the car while my brother and sister took piano lessons, we listened to Q 95.5 … a Top-40 station …and I was forced to notice “True Colors.” And I was mad. I sat in the car every week angry that (a) I had to sit here in the car and do my homework and (b) that my Mom didn’t want me sitting home alone (in 8th Grade!??!?! … I would be fine home alone), and (c) we almost always got McDonald’s on the way home and if I wanted McDonald’s, I had to be there to tell her my order.  More crap. Like I couldn’t just write down “3 cheeseburgers and a large fry?”

I was oppressed!!!

Sitting there, however, forced me to listen to “True Colors” and I fell immediately in love with the song. To me, it was a song about an underdog. Or about someone shy and afraid to be themselves. At 13, I had days where I felt like that – like we all do. Days where I felt, hey, I’m better and funnier and smarter and cooler than anyone knows. Someday .. someday everyone will know. 

Point is, I noticed it right away … as a 13-year-old. Then the song stuck with me and somehow evolved as I grew older.

A few years later my family moved to Grand Rapids and I left my high school, all my friends, and everything I knew. I left a place where everyone knew me and became someone that nobody knew. As a new kid at a mega high-school, for a while, I felt invisible. My Mom wouldn’t sing me this song or anything like that, but she was always my biggest cheerleader. 

“You should try out for swimming. You’re a good swimmer.” 

I only lasted one practice. I wasn’t a good swimmer.

“You should play soccer. You’re good at soccer.”  I got cut during tryouts.

“You should ask out that Kathy girl.”  I didn’t have the nerve (luckily, eventually, I did develop the nerve and I’m married to Kathy this very day).

It took me a few years at the new school to find my footing, make great friends (including my best friend who’s still my best friend). I made the soccer team the next year. I starred in the musical one year. 

Mom knew my true colors. 

Once I went off to college, I rarely lacked for confidence, ever again. Sure, I have doubts every now and then, but for the most part, I’m probably a little too confident and full of myself, at times. I am fully aware of my true colors and what makes me … me.

As the years passed, and eventually I had kids of my own, countless times, under my breath, when any of them were struggling or dealing with insecurity, I’d sing “True Colors” and try and use the lesson of the song to push them …just like my Mom pushed me. 

Like I often tell one of my kids … “you’re the smartest, nicest, funniest person I know … the only person who doesn’t know it is you.”

*** Note:  I won’t say publicly which of my kids this is.

AN ANTHEM

The fact that “True Colors” became an anthem of the LBGTQ community doesn’t bother me a bit. In fact, I think it’s awesome. I think it’s a perfect song for anyone who just wishes he or she could be themselves and had the guts to just do what makes them feel alive and strong. Back in 1996 as a 13-year-old, if that message was obvious to everyone, well, I had no idea.  

I used the song as an anthem. It’s powerful. And beautiful. Like a rainbow.

In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all
And the darkness inside you
Can make you feel so small

PLUS, THE SONG HAS A GOOD STORY

If you’ve never paid attention and are surprised “True Colors” is my #4 song of all time … the story behind the song is good, too. It wasn’t written by Cyndi Lauper. She got the demo from the song-writing team of Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. Cindy’s brilliance (the second video below) was slowing it down and stripping it down and singing it like a whisper. Like I whisper it under my breath whenever I see someone who I think is awesome and amazing that doesn’t see it in themselves.  

There you go.  My #4 most-favorite-song of all time.

Here’s the original demo … still pretty damn good.

blah blah blah more writing and thoughts

Here’s an article all about the song …as if this long Blog wasn’t enough.

And below is Cyndi talking about how much this songs means to her.

Thanks, Cyndi!  

 

MY OTHER TOP-10 SONGS OF ALL (MY) TIME

#10 – 

#9 – “Der Komissar” by After the Fire

#8 – “Hey Ladies” by The Beastie Boys

#7 – “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye

#6 – “Losing My Religion” by R.E.M. 

#5 – “Say It Ain’t So” by Weezer