Billboard chart flashback: That time that ‘Time After Time’ gave Cyndi Lauper her first #1 hit
“If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me / Time after time / If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting / Time after time.”
Those are some of the lyrics from Cyndi Lauper’s iconic song “Time After Time.” Co-written by Lauper and Rob Hyman, it was the second single from the singer’s debut album, “She’s So Unusual.” And 40 years ago this month, “Time After Time” became her first number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Lauper had actually come very close to topping the chart earlier that year. Her debut single, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” made it to number-two in March 1984. (The pop anthem was unable to jump past “Jump” by Van Halen, which held high at number-one for five weeks.)
The soulful “Time After Time” knocked “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” by Deniece Williams from the Billboard top spot. “Time After Time” would remain there for a second week, but its “Time” was up when Duran Duran’s “The Reflex” pushed it aside later that month.
Still, Lauper had quickly turned into one of 1984’s biggest pop music success stories. “She Bop,” the third single from “She’s So Unusual,” bopped its way to three weeks at number-three in September. Then “All Through the Night” made it all the way to number-five in December.
The fifth top-40 hit from the album, “Money Changes Everything,” was shortchanged at number-27 in February 1985.
Nonetheless, “She’s So Unusual” delivered numerous accolades to Lauper.
At the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards held in September 1984, the singer competed for an impressive 10 trophies (six for “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” three for “Time After Time” and one for “She Bop”). She went home with Best Female Video for “Girls,” managing to avoid vote-splitting with “Time” — which contended in that same category. “You Might Think” by The Cars ultimately drove away with the Video of the Year Award, leaving Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” in the dust. You might think it surprising that Michael Jackson’s epic “Thriller” video failed to kill the competition.
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“She’s So Unusual” would also bring Lauper six Grammy nominations. Interestingly enough, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” was cited for Record of the Year, while “Time After Time” was singled out for Song of the Year. Both prizes would go to “What’s Love Got to Do With It” by Tina Turner. Turner’s tune would also trump Lauper’s “Girls” in the race for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. And “She’s So Unusual” was unable to keep up with “Can’t Slow Down” by Lionel Richie, which danced off with the Grammy for Album of the Year.
Lauper did receive a consolation prize in the form of the prestigious Best New Artist Grammy, beating out other notable female acts like The Judds and Sheila E.
Lauper released her follow-up album to “She’s So Unusual” in 1986. “True Colors,” the title track, became her second number-one hit in October of that year. “Change of Heart” then went to number-three in February 1987. A third track, a cover of Marvin Gaye’s classic “What’s Going On,” peaked at number-12 three months later.
“True Colors” would bring Lauper another chance at the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, this time losing to Barbra Streisand for “The Broadway Album.”
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Lauper would never repeat the success of “She’s So Unusual,” though she did continue to accumulate awards. She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Best Comedy Guest Actress for “Mad About You” in 1995. And in 2013 she accepted the Tony Award for Best Original Score for “Kinky Boots” — that year’s Tony champ for Best Musical. At the following year’s Grammy Awards, Lauper would also share the trophy for Best Musical Theater Album for “Kinky Boots.” Thirty years after being named Best New Artist, Lauper finally had a Grammy bookend.
Getting back to Lauper’s first number one hit from 1984, the song continues to be popular to this day. And for all those who remember it during its initial Billboard chart run, I think that these lines sum it up best:
“Flashback warm nights, almost left behind / Suitcases of memories. Time after time.”
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