True Colors

"True Colors"
Single by Cyndi Lauper
from the album True Colors
A-side	True Colors
B-side	"Heading for the Moon"
Released	1986
Format	7" vinyl, 12" vinyl
Recorded	1986
Genre	Pop
Length	3:47
Label	Epic Records
Writer(s)	Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg
Producer	Cyndi Lauper, Lennie Petze
Certification	Platinum (RIAA)
Cyndi Lauper singles chronology
"We Are the World" (1985) "True Colors" (1986) "Change of Heart" (1986)

"True Colors" is a song written by songwriters Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. It was both the title track and the first single released from Cyndi Lauper's second album. It was the only original song on the album that Lauper did not help write.^[1]

Song information

Billy Steinberg originally wrote True Colors about his own mother. Tom Kelly altered the first verse and the duo submitted the song to Cyndi Lauper. Their demo was in a form of piano based gospel ballad like "Bridge over Troubled Water". Steinberg told Songfacts that "Cyndi completely dismantled that sort of traditional arrangement and came up with something that was breathtaking and stark." ^[1] Other songs they wrote for Cyndi Lauper include "I Drove All Night" and "Unconditional Love", the former of which went on to be covered by Celine Dion, the latter of which went on to be covered by Susanna Hoffs.

It reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #3 in Australia, and #12 on the UK Singles Chart.

"True Colors" also became a legend of its own in the gay community. Lauper embarked on a 2007 annual True Colors Tour 2007 with several other acts including Deborah Harry and Erasure. The tour was for the Human Rights Campaign to promote human rights in the US and beyond. A second True Colors tour is currently underway in the US.^[2]

Music video

In an article from the New York Times, detailing the making of "True Colors" and the time right before its release, Lauper described the True Colors video:

In the beginning, she's a storyteller pounding on an African drum; a girl moves through childhood and adulthood, with the shell symbolizing the turning of tides and so forth; Cyndi then walks through that desert with the new group of children in the background; the last shot is of Cyndi pounding on the drum a final time. Then she of course spoke of loving yourself, and accepting who you are.

Chart performance

Certifications

Official versions

1. Album Version
2. Juniors 12" Vocal Mix
3. Junior's 7" Mix
4. Junior's Gay Pride '98 Mix
5. Junior's Main Pass Mix Edit
6. Junior's Reprise Mix
7. Junior's Romantic Love Mix
8. Juniorverse Mix

Covered versions

• Elaine Paige on her 1991 album Love Can Do That.
• Aztec Camera (1993)
• Yuri Honing (1996) (instrumental)
• Tuesday Child (1997)
• Dominique Moore (1999) (Peugeot 406 Advert)
• Leatherface (2000)
• David Young (2000)
• Sarina Paris (2001)
• Save the Last Dance (2001)
• Fredro Starr & Jill Scott (2001)
• Maggie Reilly (2002)
• Maddy Prior and the Girls Bib and Tuck (2002)
• Hunter Foster (Earth Girls Are Easy) (2002)
• American Juniors (2003)
• Voice Male (2003)
• Kasey Chambers (2003)
• Eva Cassidy (2003)
• Kelly Chen (2004) for the Hong Kong McDonald's Campaign
• Emilie Simon
• Kalan Porter & Theresa Sokyrka (2004) (Canadian Idol)
• Shirley Clamp I dina ögon (True Colors) (2006)
• Anna Tsuchiya (2006)
• K (2007)
• Lauren Talbot (2007) (Deutschland sucht den Superstar)
• Haley Scarnato (2007) (American Idol)
• Ane Brun (2008)
• Natasha St-Pier (2008)
• Anoop Desai (2009) (American Idol)
• Celtic Woman (2009) (Isle of Hope Tour)
• Caroline Herring (2009) (Golden Apples of the Sun)
• Staind (2009) (The Howard Stern Show)
• Jenna Ushkowitz (2009) (Glee)

Phil Collins version

"True Colors"
Single by Phil Collins
from the album ...Hits
B-side	Don't Lose My Number Take Me Home
Released	October 5, 1998
Format	CD single
Genre	Pop, Smooth jazz
Length	4:34
Label	Atlantic, Virgin, WEA
Writer(s)	Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg
Producer	Phil Collins, Hugh Padgham
Phil Collins singles chronology
"The Same Moon" (1997) "True Colors" (1998) "You'll Be in My Heart" (1999)

In 1998, the song was covered by Phil Collins for his compilation album ...Hits. The version was a smooth-jazz-influenced version compared to the original. R&B singer Babyface provided backing vocals.

The track peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart and at #26 on the UK Singles Chart.

Charts

References

External links

• Covers