Cyndi Lauper Toys with the Country Greats

Songwriting icon, pop genius…rockabilly queen? Cyndi Lauper tests her country and western skills on her latest record Detour, covering old classics from the likes of Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline and Patsy Montana, to name a few. And because Lauper can do just about anything she sets her mind to, and do it well, Detour is a quirky gem. Lauper brings her signature larger than life personality to some of our favorite country tunes, and it rarely feels out of character or inauthentic. Instead, it suits her.

Lauper has always been hard to pin down. Her voice is soulful and buttery, with a slight rasp and warmth, giving her ample space to experiment with blues, rock and roll, R&B, pop and country. Many of the songstresses she covers on Detour are known for expertly conveying drama and emotion with their vocals (isn’t that what a good country song is all about), and Lauper herself is a master, too. You can feel every ounce of pain and sorrow and longing in her deep, rich runs. “Misty Blue” (originally performed by Dorothy Moore, but written by Bob Montgomery) is perhaps one of Detour’s most epic tunes, escalating Lauper’s abilities to new heights as she belts the ballad out.

Lauper brings a little bounce to the pacing of some tracks, specifically Patsy Cline’s popular tune “Walkin’ After Midnight”. Here, Lauper plays up that delightful scratch in her voice, allowing the imperfections to make the song shine. Similarly, her take on Wanda Jackson’s “Funnel of Love” is a blast, with Lauper fully expressing her wacky side. This one may leave you wondering why Lauper doesn’t just do a collab album with Jackson. Surprisingly, their sensibilities align more than expected.

In addition to covering the country greats, Lauper teams up with a few of them, too. Vince Gill joins her on the Conway Twitty-Loretta Lynn classic “You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly”, and Emmylou Harris pops up on the album’s title track. With appearances by Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss, Lauper’s Detour is a stacked tribute that makes paying homage to your heroes sound like way too much fun.