Stuck In Our Head: "Rocking Chair" - Cyndi Lauper

The other day we booked tickets to see Cyndi Lauper in June. This is very exciting news, as we have always been fond of La Laupz. We're Madonna stans thru 'n' thru but we've never used this as an excuse to not like Cynds. Maybe it's because their rivalry is very much stuck in the Eighties, and for a whole host of reasons it pretty much ended post-True Blue when one lady's star shone a whole lot stronger than the others (sad face) and there was no point in gleefully keeping up the pretence that they were equals. Babes, if you're reading, this is in no way a backhanded insult to you! We love you! We just bought tickets to see you, and are writing this post about you! But yeah...

Cyndi Lauper is cracking. Every single music fan on the planet knows her holy trinity of adult contemporary classics; "Time After Time", "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" and "True Colors". We would use the word timeless, but in actual fact they are very much rooted in and synonymous with the Eighties - not that in any imaginable way this is an insult. Unfortunately, while she has industriously been producing new music ever since, nothing has really come anywhere near as a close as those three to entering the public consciousness. Possibly her strongest effort yet, however, was 2008's Bring Ya to the Brink. Nearly every track on the album is produced by a different dance outfit, and more importantly only the very coolest people were chosen. It would be an honour to be approached by Cyndi, but on the other hand, it is still a testament to her reputation that these very trendy, up-and-coming producers enthusiastically gave her some excellent songs.

"Into the Nightlife" is a soaring, lung-expanding, breath of fresh air which we've had on repeat since we locked onto the album, however it's follow-up "Rocking Chair" is the one that's been stuck in our head. Possibly more so a Basement Jaxx song than a Cyndi one, it reeks of its producers, their signature marks being splashed all over the track like one splashing a substance all over someone else. The samba-like rap/chant in the bridge, the fast-paced Euro dance with more than a hint of island flavour, it's Basement Jaxx at their best with Cyndi's scratchy, tested vocals carrying it all. It's amazing, and we know you'll agree.