Studio Album · No. 2
True Colors Songwriting Credits by Cyndi Lauper
Produced by Cyndi Lauper, Lennie Petze · Engineered by Brian McGee, Jon Goldberger, Tim Kramer, Dave O'Donnell, Jason Corsaro, George Marino
Holds writing credit on 7 of 10 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 7 / 10 documented
Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Cyndi Lauper carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Awards & Recognition 2
True Colors leans heavily on Cyndi Lauper's own writing, with co-writes on seven of its ten tracks, while the title-track ballad and two covers come from outside. The number-one single "True Colors" was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, and the album also reinterprets Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" and the standard "Iko Iko." Lauper co-wrote the rest with collaborators such as Rick Derringer and John Turi.
Cyndi Lauper's second studio album, released September 19, 1986, marking her debut as co-producer alongside Lennie Petze. The title track "True Colors" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, though it was written by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg rather than Lauper. Lauper co-wrote seven of the album's ten tracks (a sharp increase from three on She's So Unusual) with collaborators including John Turi, Rick Derringer, and Tom Gray. The album includes covers of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" and the traditional "Iko Iko," alongside the Lauper/Gray original "The Faraway Nearby." True Colors reached number four on the Billboard 200 and was certified double platinum in the United States.
Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Change of Heart
#3
|
Essra MohawkCyndi Lauper | Essra Mohawk | Cyndi LauperLennie Petze | Cyndi Lauper |
| 2 |
Maybe He'll Know
|
Cyndi LauperJohn Turi | Cynthia Ann Stephanie LauperJohn Turi | Cyndi LauperLennie Petze | Cyndi Lauper |
| 3 |
Boy Blue
#71
|
Cyndi LauperStephen Broughton LuntJeff Bova | Cynthia Ann Stephanie LauperStephen Broughton LuntJeff Bova | Cyndi LauperLennie Petze | Cyndi Lauper |
| 4 |
True Colors
#1
|
Tom KellyBilly Steinberg | Tom KellyBilly Steinberg | Cyndi LauperLennie Petze | Cyndi Lauper |
| 5 |
Calm Inside the Storm
|
Cyndi LauperRick Derringer | Cynthia Ann Stephanie LauperRick Derringer | Cyndi LauperLennie Petze | Cyndi Lauper |
| 6 |
What's Going On
#12
|
Al ClevelandRenaldo BensonMarvin Gaye | Al ClevelandRenaldo BensonMarvin Pentz Gay Jr. | Cyndi LauperLennie Petze | Cyndi Lauper |
| 7 |
Iko Iko
|
Rosa Lee HawkinsBarbara Anne HawkinsJoan Marie JohnsonSharon JonesMarilyn JonesBoogaloo Joe JonesJesse Thomas | Rosa Lee HawkinsBarbara Anne HawkinsJoan Marie JohnsonSharon JonesMarilyn JonesBoogaloo Joe JonesJesse Thomas | Cyndi LauperLennie Petze | Cyndi Lauper |
| 8 |
The Faraway Nearby
|
Cyndi LauperTom Gray | Cynthia Ann Stephanie LauperTom Gray | Cyndi LauperLennie Petze | Cyndi Lauper |
| 9 |
911
|
Cyndi LauperStephen Broughton Lunt | Cynthia Ann Stephanie LauperStephen Broughton Lunt | Cyndi LauperLennie Petze | Cyndi Lauper |
| 10 |
One Track Mind
|
Cyndi LauperJimmy BralowerLennie PetzeJeff Bova | Cynthia Ann Stephanie LauperJimmy BralowerLennie PetzeJeff Bova | Cyndi LauperLennie Petze | Cyndi Lauper |