REVISITING HAT FULL OF STARS 20 YEARS AFTER

ALBUM TITLE               :        HAT FULL OF STARS

ARTIST                            :        CYNDI LAUPER

GENRE                             :        POP

DATE RELEASED             :        1993

——————————————————————

This is probably one of the best albums from Cyndi Lauper and it is quite sad that this record achieved little commercial success despite glowing reviews (Rolling Stone Magazine gave it a 4 star rating.) Part of the reason probably was that this record dwelt on serious topics as part of her songwriting explorations.  You could say that this album did not have the fun aspect that fans found in her “She’s So Unusual” album.  It did have the melancholy ambience which were dominant in her second studio album.

Watch “That’s What I Think Of” here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOx2U3M7eWg&list=PLVwgmSHNOMAysmsgU_m9F6Z_85mvbsl9M&index=1

However, listening to the whole album, you will find that writing more serious lyrics and that is dwelling on some social issues was quite a release from her.  You can really feel that there is certain anger or angst in her vocals while singing about abortion in “Sally’s Pigeons,” talking about racism in “Part Hate” track, confronting incest in “Lies,’ and sharing miseries about marital abuse in “Broken Glass” and “Misery” tracks.

Watch “Who Let In The Rain” here   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uCkK0Eoudw

 

What is even surprising in this record was that it was produced by Junior Vasques who is famous for dance tunes and remixes.  In this record, he used musical loops to weave together the songs, and in here you will observed a combination of alternative music with anger as emotional based.  Reading from the song titles, listeners would think that this is a very sullen record; the whole musical structure was quite upbeat even many of the songs talk about serious things.  It is like listening to an album version of “Till Death Do Us Part” by Madonna.

Watch “Sally’s Pigeons” here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxwDnypJw3Y

 

It is quite a pity indeed that this album was not heavily promoted as it could have ranked up there as one of the greatest albums of all time.  Definitely, a good recommendation for music lovers out there who want to explore Cyndi Lauper aside from her usual fare of music.

 

Ratings Description:

1 star = Ignore it

2 stars= risk it

3 stars = borrow or buy it

4 stars = buy it and keep it

5 = buy, keep, and treasure it