80s, Baby! with Seersha

Suitcase of memories: Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time

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Release Date: September 18, 2024
Name of podcast: 80s, Baby! with Seersha  
Episode title and number: Suitcase of memories: Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time, Season 1, Episode 3

Episode Summary: In this episode of 80s, Baby! with Seersha, we delve into the fascinating story behind Cyndi Lauper's timeless hit, "Time After Time." Seersha shares her personal connection to the song and its influence on her recent single, "Can't Stop Time." She recounts the unexpected inspirations and raw authenticity that led Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman to create this iconic track, from a sci-fi movie title to quirky real-life moments involving alarm clocks and malfunctioning watches.

Drawing from Cyndi's creative process, Seersha offers three key takeaways for creatives: the importance of fighting for your creative vision, a formula for creative magic, and the value of embracing unexpected inspiration. Join Seersha as she takes you on a nostalgic journey through 80s music history, blending fascinating backstory with valuable insights for today's artists and dreamers.

Chapter Markers:
Intro - 0:00
Exposition - 0:57
"Time After Time" Deep Dive - 4:08
Reflection - 9:37
Final Thoughts - 12:37
Credits - 15:05

Show Notes:
Watch the Sweet Dreams music video that inspired Cyndi Lauper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeMFqkcPYcg
Watch the Time After Time music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdQY7BusJNU
Sign up for email updates directly from the studio desk of Seersha, PLUS get two exclusive, iconic cover songs from 80s bands, reimagined in a stripped-down style just for you: https://seersha.ck.page/1576e594fb
Want to share this episode? Send this link to a friend: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375139/15425880 

Want to get in touch? DM @seershamusic on social media, or find Seersha on the web at www.seershamusic.com.

I’m an 80s baby through and through, deeply in love with the decade that defined pop culture like no other. It wasn't always clear how this passion would shape my journey, but my love for both 80s-inspired music and jams straight from the era has led me on a wild journey from depressed corporate girly to embodying the essence of 80s pop-rock on stages across the world with Guardians of the Jukebox.

So whether you're an 80s aficionado, a fellow artist drawing inspiration from this colorful decade, or someone curious about my transformation from mundane 9-to-5 to musician living a retro-tinged dream, you've found your crew. Let’s be kind, rewind, relive, and re-love the 80s together.

Welcome to “80s, Baby!” I’m your host, Seersha.

On our last episode, we explored the story behind “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by Eurythmics. I’m a big planner, and I planned out the topics for season 1 of this podcast months ago – it’s been really interesting to me that the plan I made back then just so happens to be aligning with what’s happening in real time in my life and career – for example, the “Sweet Dreams” episode drop lined up with me being on tour in England with Guardians of the Jukebox, and Eurythmics actually met and formed in London. It was a really cool connection between the podcast and my experience.

I recently found out that the music video for “Sweet Dreams” had a profound impact on the artist that we are going to be talking about today. Here’s a quote from Cyndi Lauper, told to Pitchfork in June of 2022: “It stopped me dead in my tracks–Specifically that close-up of Annie Lennox looking into the camera, and the color of her hair. Annie’s voice and her image—it became a whole different ball game for me.”

So we’ve got a cool segue here between our last episode on Eurythmics and today’s episode on a Cyndi Lauper track. We’re talking about Time After Time today, and I have an additional connection between this track and what’s going on in my world. If you’ve been following along with my social media or if you’re on my email list, you’ll know that I released a single, my first solo original music in over three years, titled Can’t Stop Time, on Friday, September 13. If you’ve noticed the theme music and sonic motifs in this podcast, and you’ve listened to the single, you may have realized that the music is one and the same! The instrumental of Can’t Stop Time is the theme music for this season! And if you asked me the main musical and lyrical influence for my new song, it’s Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time. I wanted the feeling of Can’t Stop Time to be in the same lane as Time After Time, with that wistful, emotional, 80s ballad-meets-anthem feel.

Annie Lennox influenced Cyndi Lauper, and I can’t help but wonder if she knows the impact that she had on Cyndi. I’m happy to go on the record here and say that both Annie and Cyndi have had a huge influence on me. I can’t help but hope that sharing my story via this podcast and my new track… hopefully has a positive influence on someone else’s creative journey, maybe even your own.

Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” isn’t just an iconic track from the 80s; it’s a song that has captured hearts across generations. It’s sitting pretty at a 895 million stream count on Spotify, a testament to the fact that it is still very much in the current pop culture consciousness. But what’s particularly fascinating to me about this classic is the story behind its creation—a blend of cinematic inspiration, literally – personal anecdotes, and raw, unfiltered creativity.

Let’s start with the title, “Time After Time.” You might be surprised to learn that the title wasn’t born from a musical idea but rather a cinematic one. Cyndi found her inspiration in an unlikely place—a 1979 sci-fi movie by the same name, starring Malcolm McDowell as H.G. Wells. She happened upon the movie title while flipping through a TV Guide magazine and added it to a list of potential song titles she was putting together with co-writer Rob Hyman. Cyndi told the Wall Street Journal, “I never meant for it to be the song’s real title. It was just supposed to get me thinking.” It’s one of those moments where inspiration presents itself in a pretty unexpected place.

Let’s talk about the story behind the lyrics, which are infused with Cyndi’s own life experiences. First of all, “Time After Time” was one of four tracks Lauper wrote for her first album She’s So Unusual, the result of her pushing to get more of her own lyrics onto her debut. “I kept fighting to write a song for this record with one of these guys,” said Lauper. “What I thought was great is that we were able to take real-life things, real things that were really happening—things that people said, things that people did—and put them right in the song.”

For example, the imagery of a ticking clock is not just a poetic device; it’s rooted in a very real, very quirky moment from her life. Cyndi had a Betty Boop alarm clock, a gift from her then boyfriend and manager, David Wolff. One night, he accidentally broke it. To make up for it, he replaced it with his mother’s alarm clock—a much louder one. The ticking was so loud that Cyndi had to put it in another room just to get some sleep. This little moment of frustration turned into the opening line of the song: “Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick and think of you.”

But the anecdotal inspiration didn’t stop there. During a studio session, Cyndi’s producer, Rick Chertoff, noticed something strange—his watch was malfunctioning, with the second hand unwinding instead of moving forward. This unexpected, almost surreal moment struck a chord with Cyndi, and it became another memorable lyric in the song: “The second hand unwinds.” It’s a perfect example of how the smallest, most mundane experiences can find their way into art, adding symbolism and layers of depth and meaning.

I don’t want to leave co-writer Rob Hyman out here, either – Hyman was coming out of a relationship at the time of writing this song, and one of the first lines Rob wrote was "suitcase of memories.” Unsurprisingly, Cyndi was struck by and in turn inspired by that line drawn from his own experiences.

Let’s talk a little bit about the recording process. Another detail that makes “Time After Time” so special is that what you hear on the record is essentially the first take—a raw, almost demo-like version. Rob Hyman said of the process, “We didn’t even do a demo, we went right to 24-track multitrack. I always tell people the demo is the record.” The spontaneity of that moment—Cyndi singing, the band playing—created something pure and authentic, something that resonated deeply with listeners from the moment it was released. It’s a rare and beautiful thing when a song captures that kind of magic on its very first try. Keep in mind, Rob Hyman was leading his own band, The Hooters, as Cyndi’s backing band on this project. This group of musicians had been spending so much time together at “the Ranch,” as they called their warehouse recording space, as they finished up Cyndi’s first solo album, She’s So Unusual. Another fun fact: The immediate success of She’s So Unusual helped The Hooters earn their record deal with Columbia.

I’ve shared with you the highlights of the story behind "Time After Time" – now I’d like to offer three takeaways for us as creatives that stood out to me from our deep dive.

First, I’m struck by Cyndi pushing to have her own lyrics, her own writing and voice, on her debut album. Time After Time was the last song written for this album, and I find myself wondering, if she didn’t have the courage and the gumption to push for more of her own writing, would we even have that song today? Let’s take a page from Cyndi’s book – let’s be reminded, my voice matters. My vision matters. And I am going to take a stand for it and push for it – even fight for it if and when I have to.

The second takeaway is a formula, if you will: preparation plus spontaneity plus authenticity equals creative magic. Let me say that mouthful again: Preparation plus spontaneity plus authenticity equals creative magic. The fact that "Time After Time" is essentially a demo speaks to the power of capturing raw, authentic moments, as well as the skill and experience of the musicians to be able to play the song with such command on the first runthrough. This song’s enduring appeal is partly due to its slightly unpolished, one hundred percent genuine feel – I hesitate to use the word unpolished, even, because the track is rock solid; it just has a human feel to it from being played live by the band. As creatives, we absolutely should embrace our authentic selves and let our work reflect that authenticity. AND we should strive for a level of skill and preparation that sets up our ability to be spontaneous and capture that emotion in the moment. And listen babe – that takes time, dedication, training and practice. So let’s stick with it!

The final concept I want to offer is the beauty of unexpected inspiration. Whether it’s a sci-fi movie title or a quirky moment in the studio, inspiration can come from the most random places. As artists, we only stand to gain by staying open to these moments and letting them fuel our creativity. So let’s be free, let’s be in the moment, and let’s let inspiration strike when it will.

Alright, 80s babies and dreamers, let's wrap up our deep dive into Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" with some final thoughts.

This episode has been a wild ride through the creative process behind one of the most iconic songs of the 80s. From Cyndi's push to include her own lyrics on her debut album to the spontaneous magic of that first take in the studio, we've seen how authenticity and raw creativity can create something truly timeless.

Remember, your voice matters. Your vision matters. Don't be afraid to fight for your creative ideas, just like Cyndi did. Who knows? Your persistence might lead to your own "Time After Time" moment.

And let's not forget our formula for creative magic: preparation plus spontaneity plus authenticity. It's about honing your skills, being ready for those spontaneous moments, and letting your true self shine through your work. It takes time and dedication, but trust me, it's worth it.

Lastly, keep your eyes and heart open to unexpected inspiration. Whether it's a quirky clock, a malfunctioning watch, or even a sci-fi movie title in a TV Guide, inspiration can strike from the most unlikely places. As we wrap up this episode, let’s reflect together on our own creative journeys – How can we stay open to unexpected inspiration and let our authentic selves shine through? How can we embrace these unexpected moments and let them fuel our creativity?

So, my fellow 80s enthusiasts and aspiring artists, let's take these lessons from Cyndi and apply them to our own creative journeys. Who knows? Maybe someday, we'll be telling the story behind your chart-topping hit.

Until next time, keep dreaming, keep creating, and remember – the 80s will always be there for you, time after time. This is your host, Seersha, signing off. Shine bright and love on your friends!

And that's a wrap on episode three of our musical journey through the 80s! I hope you feel inspired, moved, and maybe even a little nostalgic after diving deep into the story behind Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time.

Be sure to tune in next time as we uncover the secrets behind another beloved 80s anthem. Until then, keep that creativity flowing, babes!

And of course, a big thank you to our production team for making this all possible:

Written and Produced by: Seersha 

Edited by: Kacie Willis Luaders (Lew-Aiders)

Theme Music by: Seersha and Richard James Smith

Special thanks to Could Be Pretty Cool

For more information, or to suggest a song you'd love us to explore, DM me on social media @seershamusic or find me online at www.seershamusic.com.