Last night (Dec 10), Cyndi Lauper hosted her annual ‘Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for the Holidays’ benefit concert in Los Angeles. Proceeds from the show go to True Colors United –the non-profit organization she co-founded in 2008 to work towards ending homelessness among LGBTQ+ youth. 

The event, held this year at the Novo in Los Angeles, saw Cyndi Lauper duet alongside a diverse group of artists that included everyone from Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Go’s to Henry Rollins and Marilyn Manson.

The bright yellow mohawked Lauper joined Mason on stage for a surprisingly compelling rendition of the shock rocker’s “The Beautiful People,” after he opened the performance solo with a signature sinister take on Lauper’s 1985 hit, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” 

Cyndi Lauper & Marilyn Manson | “The Beautiful People” [The Novo, LA 12/10/19]

The pair circle each other, as though gearing up for a boxing match, as the song builds in raucous energy. Lauper is a surprisingly perfect match for the song’s theme of rebellion, and it looks, quite possibly, like the most fun Manson’s ever had on stage. They end the performance with a hug as Manson tells the crowd, “thank god girls just wanna have fun.”

In addition to singing other artists’ tracks, Lauper also spotlighted her own hits, performing this beautiful stripped back version of “True Colors” with fellow Eighties star Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Go’s that anchored entirely on their sublime, show-stopping harmonies.

Cyndi Lauper & Belinda Carlisle - True Colors [The Novo, LA 12/10/19]

She also teamed up with Jane’s Addiction frontman, Perry Farrell, who was dressed in a festive red suit when he took the stage to sing Lauper’s 1983 hit, “Money Changes Everything” that led to an old-fashioned dance off mid-song.

Cyndi Lauper & Perry Farrell | “Money Changes Everything” [The Novo, LA 12/10/19]

Brandi Carlile, Lily Tomlin, the Offspring’s Dexter Holland and many more also appeared on the bill at this year’s event; during which, Lauper was presented with the United Nations' inaugural High Note Global Prize award, an award given to artists who use their significant platforms to fight for social justice. 

What a night!

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