True Colors (Cyndi Lauper song)

Updated on Dec 07, 2023

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B-side "Heading for the Moon" Format 7" vinyl 12" vinyl Genre Pop		Released August 25, 1986 Recorded March 3, 1986 Length 3:46

"True Colors" is a song written by American songwriters Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. It was both the title track and the first single released from American singer Cyndi Lauper's second album. It was the only original song on the album that Lauper did not help write.

"True Colors" spent two weeks in the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and was the last single from Lauper to occupy the top of the chart. It received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Song information

Billy Steinberg originally wrote "True Colors" about his own mother. Tom Kelly altered the first verse and the duo originally submitted the song to Anne Murray, who passed on recording it, and then to Cyndi Lauper. Their demo was in a form of piano based gospel ballad like "Bridge over Troubled Water". Steinberg told Songfacts that "Cyndi completely dismantled that sort of traditional arrangement and came up with something that was breathtaking and stark." Other songs they wrote for Lauper include "I Drove All Night" and "Unconditional Love", of which the former went on to be covered by Celine Dion, the latter by Susanna Hoffs.

It reached number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, 3 in Australia and New Zealand, and 12 on the UK Singles Chart.

"True Colors" also became a standard in the gay community. In various interviews, Lauper elaborated that the song had resonated with her because of the recent death of her friend, Gregory Natal, from HIV/AIDS. While not directly promoted as a song defending LGBT rights, Lauper is pleased that her song was adopted by that community. Years later, Lauper co-founded the True Colors Fund, a non-profit dedicated to eradicating LGBT youth homelessness.

Tours

Lauper embarked on a True Colors Tour in 2007 with several other acts including Deborah Harry and Erasure. The tour was for the Human Rights Campaign to promote LGBT rights in the US and beyond. A second True Colors tour occurred in 2008.

Official versions

Album Version
Juniors 12" Vocal Mix
Junior's 7" Mix
Junior's Gay Pride '98 Mix
Junior's Main Pass Mix Edit
Junior's Reprise Mix
Junior's Romantic Love Mix
Juniorverse Mix

Phil Collins version

In 1998, the song was covered by Phil Collins for his compilation album ...Hits. The version was a smooth-jazz-influenced version compared to the original. R&B singer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds produced and provided backing vocals.

The track peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart and at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.

In 2004, a live rehearsal version was released on Collins' Love Songs: A Compilation... Old and New album.

Phil Collins – drums, vocals

Babyface – keyboards, drum programming, backing vocals

Sheila E. – percussion

Greg Phillinganes – acoustic piano & Wurlitzer electric piano

Eric Rigler – Uilleann pipes

Michael Thompson – guitar

Cornelius Mims – bass

Kasey Chambers version

In 2003, Australian singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers' cover of "True Colors" became the theme song for the 2003 Rugby World Cup. The song peaked at number 4, was certified gold and went on to be the 76th best-selling single in Australia that year

Track listing

"True Colours"
"If I Could" (Live)
"Lonely"

Other covers

The song has been covered by many artists.

In 1991, Elaine Paige covered it in her album Love Can Do That

In 2004, Kalan Porter, the eventual winner of season 2 of the Canadian Idol and same season eventual runner-up Theresa Sokyrka performed it as a duet in the finale of the season 2 show

In 2006, the Japanese recording artist Anna Tsuchiya covered it in her album Strip Me?

In 2007, J-Pop artist K covered it in the album The Timeless Collection Vol. 1 his first English cover album. A DVD was also released including clips of live performances of the album songs. K's version was used in Sony Ericsson as a commercial theme.

In 2009, Jenna Ushkowitz performed it in the television program Glee, and it was released as a single "True Colors (Glee Cast Version)". The version was included in the compilation album Glee: The Music, Volume 2 released on December 4, 2009. The single charted on Billboard Hot 100, and reached number 15 in Ireland, number 35 in the United Kingdom, number 38 in Canada, and number 47 in Australia.

In Spring 2010, Bonnier Amigo Music Group released the Greatest Hits album by Swedish singer Amy Diamond that included her version of "True Colors"

In 2012, Karyn White covered it in her album Carpe Diem

Also in 2012, American singer songwriter Summer XO recorded it and released it as a single

In 2012, Artists Against Bullying (often styled as "Artists Against"), an agglomeration of seven Canadian musicians re-record the song. It was released during Bullying Awareness Week. The project was inspired by the increase in teen bullying and cyberbullying, especially the Amanda Todd case, with proceeds being donated to Kids Help Phone - a Canadian counseling service for children and youth. The artists involved in the recording were Lights, Pierre Bouvier (from Simple Plan), Jacob Hoggard from Hedley, Fefe Dobson, Kardinal Offishall, Alyssa Reid and Walk Off the Earth. The song entered the Canadian Singles Top 100 chart at number 10 the week it was released.

In 2014, Michelle Chamuel, the eventual runner-up of fourth season of NBC's The Voice performed it the Live Playoffs of the show

On 27 April 2015, the One Voice Children's Choir under the direction of Masa Fukuda released their version with influences of Indian music. The music video was filmed in front of an Hindu temple during Holi, also known as the festival of colours or the festival of love.

On 5 January 2016, Welsh artist Marina and the Diamonds released a cover of "True Colors".

The game Dark Souls III has released a version of the song for the game trailer.

In 2016, Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick released an acoustic version of the song for the soundtrack of the 2016 DreamWorks Animation feature Trolls.

Also in 2016, British American singer Matthew Brookwood did a rendition of "True Colors" in a similar arrangement to version by Phil Collins. When asked about his musical influences, Brookwood quipped: "I absolutely adore Phil Collins. He's British like myself, and he's super talented! It's great to hear a male perspective on this song, and personally I think Phil sings the song much better than Cindy and he shows much more emotion in the song and that's why I really enjoyed singing it." It can be found on his Sound Cloud page

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References

True Colors (Cyndi Lauper song) Wikipedia

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