Who knew that Cyndi Lauper--she of the fluorescently Jello-hued hair, Fran-Drescher-on-helium voice, and ratty thrift-stote prom gowns--had such a high standing among the country community?
Maybe it was Lauper's tie-in to world wrestling back in the day (I mean that as no slag; it's a fact that there's at least some tenuous connection between country music fans and pro wrestling fans).
Or maybe it's the fact that she might be the second-most colorfully OTT, Bedazzler'd lady in music...second only to country's own Dolly Parton. (I've long since thought Mizz Lauper should open her own "Cyndiwood" theme park.)
Or maybe it's just because Cyndi's supposedly wacky songs actually translate surprisingly well to different genres.
Anyhoo, whatever the reason, it turns out that at least two of tonight's Nashville Star finalists will be covering Cyndi songs, country-stylee, on tonight's "Pop Goes Country" episode.
On the bright side, seeming frontrunner Melissa "Something To Talk About" Lawson will be tackling Cyndi's tender ballad "True Colors," and I think she's going to do a fabulous job. I can already imagine Melissa's rich, commanding voice making magic out of that track. It'll be real hair-on-end stuff. Fluorescent-orange-hair-on-end stuff, even!
On the minus side, underwear model Justin Gaston--who so far has demonstrated the personality, stage presence, and vocal range of a pair of droopy drawers--has elected to interpret "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." With seriously campy Making Menudo vocal coach David Coury giving him singing tips.
Uh-oh.
Well, girls just wanna have fun, indeed...and I don't know about you, but this girl is sure going to have fun witnessing Justin's trainwreck. My mind boggles at the very prospect of watching him attempt to perform a bubbly new wave number that once inspired a straight-to-USA-Network Sarah Jessica Parker '80s teen comedy.
Here are a couple sneak-preview clips of Justin and Melissa showing their true colors, as they prepare to go straight to Cyndiwood: