Posted on 10/21/2020 11:03:12 AM PDT by Impala64ssa
Things have gotten “so unusual” when it comes to one of Cyndi Lauper’s biggest hits.
The pop music legend is peeved that one of her most heartfelt songs is being peddled by an ardent supporter of President Trump, whose mission is to encourage disenfranchised groups to support the caustic commander-in-chief.
“As a gay man in America, I spent most of my life believing that Republicans hated me,” #WalkAway campaign founder Brandon Straka said with the release of his audacious cover of the Lauper staple “True Colors.”
“In the past few years, I’ve received more love, support, and respect from Republicans, Donald Trump supporters, and the president himself than I ever could have previously thought possible,” the red Make America Great Again hat-loving ex-liberal said. “I created the ‘True Colors’ video to offer the same love, support, and respect back to these people who have given me so much,” the activist continued.
The original song, written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, was recorded and released by Lauper in 1986 as the lead single from her “True Colors” sophomore album. The Grammy Award nominated Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping hit has stood the test of time and morphed into an LTGBQ anthem.
Lauper, who launched her longtime career with the 1983 opus “She’s So Unusual,” also used the title of the song for the True Colors Fund nonprofit initiative geared at eradicating LGTB youth homelessness.
So it should come no surprise that the Grammy and Tony Award-winning Brooklyn native has taken umbrage to Straka’s appropriation of the tune — which was immediately blocked from YouTube on copyright grounds.
“I have not heard this version and won’t be listening to it,” Lauper tells The Daily News. “I recorded ‘True Colors’ to be a healing song and it’s not appropriate for anything MAGA related.”
The 43-year-old New York City hair stylist, who hails from Nebraska, said he chose “True Colors” to convey “the unfortunate inability to live and express ourselves freely transcends the boundaries of what is traditionally thought of as just pertaining to minority classes of people in America.” “It also pertains to those who love and support our President, our law enforcement, our military, our sovereign nation, and our flag,” Straka added.
Since 2017, the conservative media darling has been promoting the “WalkAway” hashtag — which began as a social media video/written testimonial campaign. Straka’s efforts has garnered more than 1 million followers on social media platforms.
One of the song’s co-writers said he originally wrote the lyrics for “True Colors” for his mother and had no idea it would be what it has become — especially now.
“Once a song becomes part of society’s consciousness, anything can happen with it,” Steinberg shared. “I wouldn’t have predicted ‘True Colors'’ relevance to the LGBT movement or its use in a political campaign.”
Lauper rerecorded an acoustic version of the song in 2005. Notable covers of “True Colors” included versions by Phil Collins, the cast of “Glee,” Westlife’s Shane Filan, and Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick (for the “Trolls” soundtrack in 2016).
Steinberg said he and Kelly “obviously” are happy that it has continued to resonate emotionally for people.
HEY! No badmouthing my Jersey Grandma while she’s on stage! She has lots of fans.
Sounds like the little Commie whore is a hate-filled homophobe.
Keep your stupid songs, no one cares
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