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First thing you’d do if you ran the country Equality for all. Our society will remain unjust until that happens. If we can just all treat each other with respect and dignity the rest of the problems can probably be solved. There is so much time and energy wasted trying to keep people less equal.
Last meal on earth I wouldn’t eat, I’d have too much to do! First time you realised you were famous When I saw little girls dressed like me for Halloween in 1985.
Last time someone criticised your work Yesterday at rehearsals for the tour. My manager wasn’t thrilled with one of the video elements I’m using.
First song you’ll sing at karaoke I went once, in the 80s in Japan. I sang ‘Green, Green Grass of Home’. Probably won’t go again. Last time you exploited your position to get something A friend of mine called to get us into a restaurant. They said they were full. So she said the reservation was for me and they found us a table. I couldn’t believe she did that!
First three words your friends would use to describe you Loyal, honest, cranky.
Last time you made an impulse buy and regretted it Peanut M&Ms from the minibar in my hotel room last night.
First concert you ever attended Janis Joplin and Richie Havens at the Fillmore East. Last time you bought someone flowers On Mother’s Day when I bought roses for my mom, my mother-in- law and my manager’s mom.
First object you’d save from your burning home My son’s baby pictures.
Last funny thing you saw online YouTube link to the Seth Meyers skit ‘At a Baby Shower’ with Melisandre from Game of Thrones. Hysterical. First job I worked at a kind of Woolworths type of store, can’t remember the name now; they sold everything and had a small food counter in the back. I pierced ears. I didn’t do so good. Got fired after a few days.
Last person you fantasized about My husband, actor David Thornton. After 25 years we are still in love. I mean, you ever get a look at him? We aren’t together as much as I like. Both of our jobs keep us away from home.
FIRST&LAST CYNDI LAUPER The 80s superstar and recent debutant in the country charts still just wants to have fun. Here she ponders over pierced ears, peanut M&Ms and Patti Smith in our Q&A
First record you ever bought The first album I bought was Meet the Beatles! with my birthday money when I was ten. It was really the first time I understood an album concept. Like wow, I can have all these songs in one place? And that album had so many hits: ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’, ‘All My Loving’ and ‘This Boy’. And of course look at their photo on the cover! It was like I was really meeting the Beatles in my mind. Last extravagant purchase you made My face creams. They are very expensive but I love them.
First film you saw that really moved you When I was little, I was a huge Joan Crawford fan. I still am. She was such a great actress and so glamorous. I loved all those actresses from the 40s and 50s. Those movies would be on TV and I just loved all of them: Johnny Guitar was one of my favourites. Last lie you told I have no filter, I never lie. I’m not even good at little white lies. I have a bad memory and you really need a good memory if you are gonna lie about stuff.
First crush Davy Jones.
Last book you read M Train by Patti Smith. She’s brilliant. First great piece of advice you were given ‘Stick to your guns’.
Last time you were starstruck I met Dame Judi Dench at the Olivier Awards. WOW! 104 THE LIST 2 Jun–1 Sep 2016
COMING SOON
T T O C S S R H C I
Before you know it, the Edinburgh Festival will be getting into full swing and we are, as ever, fully prepared for the explosion of cultural activity that’s set to ensue. Across the next few months, we’ll publish a Festival Guide (out Wed 6 Jul) and three festival issues (Wed 3, 10, 17 Aug) as well as flooding list.co.uk/ festival with news, reviews and interviews. Once the dust settles on all that festival business, our next issue lands on Wed 31 Aug.
First word you spoke I’m a lead singer, so . . . ‘me’. Kidding! I have no idea. Will have to ask my mother and get back to you on that. First person you’d thank in an award acceptance speech My husband. He has been so supportive of me our entire marriage and been a great father to our son. If it were not for David I would not have been able to do everything I’ve done. He is my rock for sure.
Last thing you think of before you go to sleep Music.
First thing you think of when you wake up in the morning Music. Cyndi Lauper is at Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Thu 23 Jun; her new album Detour is out now. See list.co.uk for more of this