“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” Single by Cyndi Lauper from the album She’s So Unusual
B-side “Right Track Wrong Train”
Released October 17, 1983
Label Portrait
Songwriter Robert Hazard
Producers Rick Chertoff, William Wittman
Charted No.2 in US, No.2 in UK, No.6 in West Germany, No.1 in Norway, No.4 in Italy, No.2 in France, No.1 in Canada
The single was Lauper’s breakthrough hit, reaching No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming a worldwide hit throughout late 1983 and early 1984. It is considered one of Lauper’s signature songs and was a popular song during the 1980s.
The release of the single was accompanied by a quirky music video. It cost less than US$35,000 (equivalent to $110,000 in 2024), largely due to a volunteer cast and the free loan of the most sophisticated video equipment available at the time. The cast included Lauper’s close friend, professional wrestler/manager “Captain” Lou Albano in the role of Lauper’s father while her real mother, Catrine, played herself. Lauper later appeared in World Wrestling Federation storylines opposite Albano and guest-starred on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! episode “Robo Koopa/Captain Lou is Missing”, in which Albano portrayed Mario (Albano also played himself in the episode). This collaboration was the catalyst for the “Rock ‘n’ Wrestling” connection that lasted for the following two years. Lauper’s attorney, Elliot Hoffman, appeared as her uptight dancing partner. Also in the cast were Lauper’s manager, David Wolf, her brother, Butch Lauper, fellow musician Steve Forbert, and a bevy of secretaries borrowed from Portrait/CBS, Lauper’s record label. A clip of the 1923 film The Hunchback of Notre Dame is featured as Lauper watches it on television.
