THE DIVAS OF THE RING

INTERVIEW WITH CYNDI LAUPER

Photos, above: Lita, Queen of wrestling, below: Victoria.

ML: You seemed to be having fun singing. You sang 4 more songs than anyone else.

CL: You mean I could've gotten away with just one? (laughs). I'm having fun here. It's a hot day, [Japan] very sunny. Very beautiful here.

ML: Your new CD, 12 Deadly Cyns has one of the more creative titles next to Bette Midler's Bette of Roses. You've redone several of the songs like Time After Time and Girls Just Want To Have Fun in a different musical style.

CL: A friend came up with the title, after my name. We had a great time, changing the presentation and there's some new songs I'm proud of on the album. It was only recently released in this country, but it's sold well like my other albums abroad.

ML: Did you know it's already sold 3 million copies and has eclipsed Michael Jackson's History on the billboard charts?

CL: Thank you. That's great! I don't usually read that stuff because I'm too busy writing songs. I don't read the papers much either-too much negative out there. I'm just really unaware on some levels and on others I'm like a sponge.

ML: Wasn't Hatful of Stars your most moving, personal work that few people heard? And what are your latest projects?

CL: Yes, thank you. I was frustrated, but I've just added songs to the new To Wong Fu, Julie Newmar movie. I wrote a song for Cassavetes son's movie starring his wife Gena Rowlands and for a new movie I Love You, I Love You Not. . I've been writing a lot and I've been nominated for an Emmy twice for Mad About You. They let me go and play with them, but I can't stop doing the music. That's who I am. Sometimes I feel a little odd being a celebrity by day and doing my music at night.

ML: Evan has some questions... EG: I'm from WBAI-FM in New York.

CL: Oh, that's a great station!

EG: Thank you. Can you tell us about some of your musical influences? You mentioned Ella, Billie, Sarah Vaughn.

CL: Lester Young. Charlie Parker. That was my foundation.

EG: You sing with a lot of soul also. Are there any R&B singers that influenced you?

CL: When I was young, I couldn't tell the difference. I listened to just great voices. I was lucky enough to learn and listen to Patty Labelle, Aretha Franklin. Even the Supremes, and the Beatles.

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