Not just any performer… Cyndi Lauper!

Not just any concert… her farewell tour!

Not just any night… the last night of the U.S. leg of her tour!

Her setlist was pretty phenomenal (courtesy of setlist.fm):

1. She Bop
2. The Goonies 'R' Good Enough
3. When You Were Mine (Prince cover)
4. I Drove All Night
5. Who Let in the Rain
6. Iko Iko (Sugar Boy and His Cane Cutters cover)
7. Funnel of Love (Wanda Jackson cover)
8. Sally's Pigeons
9. I'm Gonna Be Strong (Frankie Laine cover)
10. Sisters of Avalon
11. Change of Heart
12. Time After Time
13. Money Changes Everything (The Brains cover)

Encore:

1. Shine
2. True Colors
3. Girls Just Want to Have Fun (with Gayle)

11 original songs by Cyndi and five covers that, as she explained in extended interludes between songs, were ones that inspired her in some way or another.

You’ve gotta understand that Cyndi Lauper is one of my fave voices ever. The song “Time After Time” is a top-five favorite song by anyone. It still makes me a little weepy 40 years on.

If there was a show that could make me return to live music for the first time since the summer before the COVID-19 pandemic, this was it and I’m glad it was.

This was also Nate’s introduction to live music and he loved it. He knew several songs and discovered that he actually k ew the opening act, Gayle, from the final track she played “A-B-C-D-E-F-U,” the expletive-laden, audience singalong line we allowed him to belt out with pride.

I fear we may have created a monster. We may try Summerfest next year.