Cyndi Lauper was always an ’80s icon, what with her ubiquitous hits and famous visage helping define the decade of new wave and synth pop.
But with a bumping hit single from her latest release, historians and critics can now drop the ” ’80s” qualifier. Lauper is an icon, period. Her month-old dance-pop album, “Bring Ya to the Brink,” is Lauper’s return to modern pop music — and it’s lovely to have her back.
The singer smartly collaborated with the right European producers to create a bold, club-friendly return — thus setting the stage properly for Lauper’s second annual True Colors Tour, playing at Red Rocks on Saturday with Lauper, the B-52s, Rosie O’Donnell, Joan Armatrading and emcee Carson Kressley.
Mind you, “Bring Ya to the Brink” isn’t an epic comeback record. It’s as hit-and-miss as Lauper’s LPs have always been. But it does feature a couple of head-bobbing singles — including the popular “Into the Night Life” and the inventive “Echo” — that make it a worthwhile purchase and a staple in the clubs for the foreseeable future.
Lauper has been incredibly busy of late. She recently made a guest appearance on the soap opera “As the World Turns,” a turn that promoted her new record and her passion for gay rights. (She dedicated her song and its festival namesake, “True Colors,” to the show’s gay characters Noah and Luke.) And she also served as the celebrity grand marshal at the 38th annual San Francisco Gay Pride Parade and Celebration last week.
We caught up with Lauper a few weeks ago to talk about her most heated passions.
Q: When you were touring last year, you had no new material to promote. It’s got to be nice to be out this summer with a new record — and with the B-52s, who also have new music.
A: It’s really amazing. I always wanted to work with the B’s, and we all have new CDs. It’s all good, current music, and it’s exciting. I love that we’re partnering with the (Human Rights Campaign) again. And Rosie’s a stitch — and so is Carson Kressley. They really keep the show moving.
Q:Did last year’s tour fulfill your goals?
A: I was proud and happy with what we were able to achieve. We helped the (campaign) get a bill through to this president, and then he vetoed it, of course. But through the tour we were able to bring people together and empower them. Everybody made a living, sure, but it was an extraordinary experience beyond just being a tour.
Q: When did you start working on this year’s incarnation?
A: I started around Christmastime. I was busy trying to finish my CD before the tour.
Q:What are the other important aspects of this year’s tour?
A: We thought that voter registration would be really important this year. I hear a lot of talk about inclusion, but if you wanna be included, you have to vote. It’s not going to be equal if everybody’s not voting. PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays) is coming out, and so is CenterLink. PFLAG was started by parents. CenterLink is an outreach program for the LGBT youth, which is desperately needed, especially because transgendered youth face a lot of discrimination and harassment.
Q:And you’re obviously psyched to showcase your latest album, “Bring Ya to the Brink.” What does this record signify for you and your career?
A: I’m always on the brink of something, and I worked with the Basement Jaxx, Dragonette, you know, reaching out to the dance community to get different rhythms — all different kinds of rhythms. We call it dance music here, but in England, that’s considered pop music. I worked with Rich Morel, and I worked with some Swedish guys. I was able to create a landscape of music that would capture these times that we’re living in.
Q: What was it like collaborating with Dragonette?
A:I went to Shepherd’s Bush to work with Dragonette, and they’re Canadians living in England. It was like going to China and meeting somebody from Brooklyn. But they’re great. Martina (Sorbara) was an interesting person to work with. Her slant was different from mine, but I liked working with her.
Ricardo Baca: 303-954-1394 or rbaca@denverpost.com
True Colors Tour featuring Cyndi Lauper
Pop. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, on Saturday with the B-52s, Rosie O’Donnell, Joan Armatrading and host Carson Kressley. 6 p.m. $50.75-$82.75. .
