Music Legend, 72, ‘Always Felt Like a Loser,’ ‘Angry at the World’ originally appeared on Parade.
Cyndi Lauper, the iconic ’80s singer behind such hits as “True Colors,” “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Time After Time,” opened up in a new interview with Women’s World about her anxiety as a kid, feeling like a loser and being “angry at the world.”
“When I was younger, I was angry at the world. I was the oddball. Then I learned it was my job to make the world fairer. Sometimes, that’s just smiling at someone. It’s a tiny thing with a big impact. You must enjoy life as best as you can because hey, when you’re not here anymore, you’re not here!'” said the 72-year-old singer, adding, “Making people happy is important. When I was a kid, I didn’t fit in. I always felt like a loser.”
But as an adult, she came into her own and definitely marches to the beat of her own drum.
“I chose a job where I could wear whatever the hell I want. Find the kind of clothes that make you feel strong, inspired and confident. If you find a hat that makes you feel good, wear the hat! Find the shoes that make you feel comfortable, the clothes that make you feel alive. When you do things just for yourself, it will make you truly happy,” said Lauper.
She also said of her upcoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, “I’m really happy. I’m proud to stand on the shoulders of the women who came before me … I started singing when I was 2 after the lady upstairs taught me a song in Italian. Then I sang it, everybody applauded, and I was hooked. The songs tell my story — we should all share our stories in some way. That’s what I focus on: bringing community together.”
Lauper is set to be inducted in the 2025 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her fellow 2025 classmates include Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Outkast, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes in the performers category. Other honorees include SALT-N-PEPA and Warren Zevon in the musical influence category and Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins and Carol Kaye in the musical excellence category.
Music Legend, 72, ‘Always Felt Like a Loser,’ ‘Angry at the World’ first appeared on Parade on Jul 12, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.