Cyndi Lauper held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of October 25, 1986, with ‘True Colors,’ the title track of her sophomore album. This was Lauper’s second #1 hit, following 1984’s ‘Time After Time,’ and her last.
The song was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, a prolific songwriting duo who had tremendous success penning #1 hits for women artists. They were also responsible for Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin,’ Heart’s ‘Alone,’ Whitney Houston’s ‘So Emotional,’ and The Bangles’ ‘Eternal Flame.’
This song, and its accompanying album, were Lauper’s last major hits. She did reach #6 with 1989’s ‘I Drove All Night’ (also written by Steinberg and Kelly) but its album, A Night to Remember, underperformed.
She went on to become a much more interesting artist, and a Tony award-winning Broadway composer. Her brief 80s superstardom might be the least compelling phase of her career.
Old songs. Great memories.
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You with the sad eyes
Don’t be discouraged
Oh, I realize
It’s hard to take courage
In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all
And the darkness inside you
Can make you feel so small
[Chorus]
But I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that’s why I love you
So don’t be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors
Are beautiful like a rainbow
[Verse 2]
Show me a smile then
Don’t be unhappy
Can’t remember when
I last saw you laughing
If this world makes you crazy
And you’ve taken all you can bear
You call me up
Because you know I’ll be there
[Chorus]
And I’ll see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that’s why I love you
So don’t be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
Your true colors
Are beautiful like a rainbow
[Interlude]
Can’t remember when I last saw you laugh
[Refrain]
If this world makes you crazy
You’ve taken all you can bear
You call me up
Because you know I’ll be there
[Chorus]
And I’ll see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that’s why I love you
So don’t be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors
True colors are shining through
I see your true colors
And that’s why I love you
So don’t be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors
Are beautiful like a rainbow
