It's known as the Cyndi Lauper Christmas album - but its complete title is "Merry Christmas - Have a Nice Life." It had been 12 years since "True Colors," and Cyndi Lauper was now 45. So in 1998 she asked her fans from the 80s to open their for an album of Christmas songs.

Its first track is surprisingly bittersweet, as Cyndi sings about "sitting in a hotel room, someplace far away," while a cello plays in the background. The Christmas trees "reminds me where I'd be," she sings, talking about missing a pair of twinkling eyes and promising that "I'll Be Home on Christmas Day." It's a poignant track, signaling the surprises to come with both a dulcimer and an electric guitar.

The album tries to keep the variety coming. As the second song begins, Cyndi is accompanied by a children's chorus. The track is over five minutes long, a lilting melody about singing children called "Early Christmas Morning," but it's beefed up by some slow techno drumming and even some chimes. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" sounds like a rejected karaoke number, using a home organ and a beatbox. Cyndi's sassy Brooklyn accent is on full display in a song telling the story of "Minnie and Santa."

The album was a long time in coming. In 1996, Cyndi had recorded a Christmas song for the Japanese release of her album "Sisters of Avalon." And three years before that she'd included another Christmas song for her album "Hat Full of Stars." It was also featured in the Christmas scene in a 1993 movie called "Life with Mikey." (Michael J. Fox played a former child star who takes a struggling new child actor under his wing, and together they celebrate the holidays.) That song - "Feels Like Christmas" - may have inspired the album five years later. In the liner notes, Cyndi says the idea came from a Sony music executive, though she also says that "I've always wanted to make a Christmas album."

Cyndi's always been proud of her singing ability, and she abandons the cheery Christmas songs for some slow and complicated traditionals. There's a sad sakauhachi flute in the background of "In the Bleak MidWinter," and Cyndi closes the album with "Silent Night" (accompanied by some moody synthesizers and another children's chorus.) It seems a little unnecessary to include a cover of the song "Three Ships." But if you're a fan of Cyndi Lauper, you'll enjoy hearing her join in on the holiday spirit.

Learn more about this author, Moe Zilla.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Album reviews: Merry Christmas... Have a Nice Life, by Cyndi Lauper?
We want to hear your view. Write now!