True Colors (Cyndi Lauper song)

"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.^[1]

"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.^[2] 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."^[1] 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.^[3] 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,^[4] 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.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1986)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[5]	3
Ö3 Austria Top 40^[6]	12
Canadian Singles Chart	1
French Singles Chart^[7]	49
German Singles Chart^[8]	18
German Airplay	6
Ireland Singles Chart	6
Italy Singles Chart^[9]	4
Japan Hot 100	59
Netherlands Singles Chart^[10]	14
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart^[11]	8
Norway Singles Chart^[12]	10
Swedish Singles Chart	4
Swiss Singles Chart^[13]	17
UK Singles Chart^[14]	12
US Billboard Hot 100^[15]	1
US Cash Box	1
US Billboard Adult Contemporary^[16]	5
Chart (2008)	Peak position
Norway Singles Chart	17

Year-end charts

Chart (1986)	Position
US Billboard Hot 100	41

Certifications

Country	Certification	Sales
Japan		11,240
Canada	Gold	50,000^[17]
United States	Platinum	1,000,000^[18]

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by "When I Think of You" by Janet Jackson	Billboard Hot 100 number one single October 25, 1986 - November 1, 1986	Succeeded by "Amanda" by Boston
Preceded by "The Lady in Red" by Chris de Burgh	Canadian RPM Singles Chart number one single November 8, 1986	Succeeded by "Human" by The Human League
Preceded by "Typical Male" by Tina Turner	Cashbox Top 100 November 1, 1986	Succeeded by "Amanda" by Boston

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

"True Colors"

Single by Phil Collins

from the album ...Hits

B-side

"Don't Lose My Number"
"Take Me Home"

Released

26 October 1998

Format

Genre

Pop Rock, smooth jazz, R&B, blue-eyed soul

Length

4:34

Label

Atlantic, Virgin, WEA

Writer(s)

Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg

Producer(s)

Babyface

Phil Collins singles chronology

"The Same Moon"
(1997)

"True Colors"
(1998)

"You'll Be in My Heart"
(1999)

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^[19] and at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.^[20]

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

Charts

Chart (1998)	Peak position
Dutch Singles Chart^[21]	73
German Singles Chart	35
UK Singles Chart^[22]	26
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles^[23]	12
US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks^[24]	2

Other covers

The song has been covered by many artists.

In 1991, Elaine Paige covered it in her album Love Can Do That
In 2003, Australian singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers' cover of "True Colors" became the theme song for the 2003 Rugby World Cup^[25] and went on to be the 76th best-selling single in Australia that year^[26]
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, the cast of Glee performed it in the programme 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,^[27] number 38 in Canada,^[28]^[29] 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.^[30] The project was inspired by the increase in teen bullying and cyberbullying, especially the Amanda Todd case,^[31] with proceeds being donated to Kids Help Phone - a Canadian counseling service for children and youth.^[31] 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^[32] 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".^[33]
The game Dark Souls III has released a version of the song for the game trailer.
In 2016, Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick covered an acoustic pop version of the song for the soundtrack of the 2016 DreamWorks Animation feature Trolls.

References

1 2 "True Colors by Cyndi Lauper". Interview with Billy Steinberg about "True Colors". Songfacts. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
↑ http://www.avclub.com/articles/cyndi-lauper,63973/
↑ Burnett, Richard (2014-04-04). "The true colours of Cyndi Lauper". CurtainsUP. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
↑ "Mission Statement". True Colors Fund. Retrieved 2015-08-07.
↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 173. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between 1983 and 19 June 1988.
↑ http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Cyndi+Lauper&titel=True+Colors&cat=s
↑ http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Cyndi+Lauper&titel=True+Colors&cat=s
↑ http://germancharts.de/showitem.asp?interpret=Cyndi+Lauper&titel=True+Colors&cat=s
↑ Hitparadeitalia (1986). "Hitparadeitalia Chart". Hitparadeitalia Charts. Retrieved 2012-02-05.
↑ http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Cyndi+Lauper&titel=True+Colors&cat=s
↑ http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Cyndi+Lauper&titel=True+Colors&cat=s
↑ http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Cyndi+Lauper&titel=True+Colors&cat=s
↑ http://hitparade.ch/song/Cyndi-Lauper/True-Colors-1499
↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/21311/cyndi-lauper/
↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/299876/cyndi-lauper/chart
↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/299876/cyndi-lauper/chart?f=341
↑ Canadian Certification
↑ US Certification
↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/332348/phil-collins/chart?f=341
↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/15815/phil-collins/
↑ http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Phil+Collins&titel=True+Colors&cat=s
↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/15815/phil-collins/
↑ http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/1999-04-17/bubbling-under-hot-100-singles
↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/332348/phil-collins/chart?f=341
↑ "Various – True Colours: Official Album Of Rugby World Cup 2003". Discogs. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
↑ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2003". ARIA Charts. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
↑ "Chart Stats – Glee Cast". Chart Stats. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
↑ "Glee Cast Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
↑ "Glee Cast". acharts.us. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
↑ http://www.chymfm.com/2012/11/12/canadian-music-stars-are-artists-against-bullying/
1 2 http://blogs.montrealgazette.com/2012/11/12/artists-against-remake-true-colors/
↑ http://acharts.us/song/74648
↑ Feeney, Nolan (5 January 2016). "Hear Marina and the Diamonds' Stunning Cover of Cyndi Lauper's 'True Colors'". Time. Retrieved 23 May 2016.

External links

True Colors Second Hand Songs
Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Cyndi Lauper singles

She's So Unusual	"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" "Time After Time" "She Bop" "All Through the Night" "Money Changes Everything" "When You Were Mine"

True Colors	"True Colors" "Change of Heart" "What's Going On" "Boy Blue" "Maybe He'll Know"

A Night to Remember	"I Drove All Night" "My First Night Without You" "A Night to Remember" "Heading West" "Primitive" "Unconditional Love"

Hat Full of Stars	"Who Let In the Rain" "That's What I Think" "Sally's Pigeons" "Hat Full of Stars"

Twelve Deadly Cyns...and Then Some	"(Hey Now) Girls Just Want to Have Fun" "I'm Gonna Be Strong" "Come on Home"

Sisters of Avalon	"You Don't Know" "Sisters of Avalon" "Ballad of Cleo and Joe"

Merry Christmas... Have a Nice Life	"Early Christmas Morning"

Shine	"Shine"

At Last	"At Last" "Walk On By"

The Body Acoustic	"Time After Time"

Bring Ya to the Brink	"Set Your Heart" "Same Ol' Story" "Into the Nightlife"

Memphis Blues	"Just Your Fool"

Detour	"Hard Candy Christmas" "Funnel of Love"

Other singles	"You Make Loving Fun" "We Are the World" "The Goonies 'R' Good Enough" "Hole in My Heart (All the Way to China)" "Another Brick in the Wall" "The World Is Stone" "Disco Inferno" "A Christmas Duel" "Girls Just Wanna Set Your Heart"

Phil Collins songs

Face Value	"In the Air Tonight" "I Missed Again" "If Leaving Me Is Easy"

Hello, I Must Be Going!	"Thru These Walls" "You Can't Hurry Love" "I Don't Care Anymore" "Don't Let Him Steal Your Heart Away" "Why Can't It Wait 'Til Morning" "I Cannot Believe It's True" "Like China"

No Jacket Required	"Sussudio" "One More Night" "Don't Lose My Number" "Take Me Home"

Buster	"A Groovy Kind of Love" "Two Hearts"

...But Seriously	"Another Day in Paradise" "I Wish It Would Rain Down" "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" "That's Just the Way It Is" "Do You Remember?" "Hang in Long Enough"

Serious Hits... Live!	"Do You Remember?" (live) "Who Said I Would" (live)

Both Sides	"Both Sides of the Story" "Everyday" "We Wait and We Wonder"

Dance into the Light	"Dance into the Light" "It's in Your Eyes" "No Matter Who" "Wear My Hat" "The Same Moon"

...Hits	"True Colors"

Tarzan	"You'll Be in My Heart" "Strangers Like Me" "Son of Man" "Two Worlds"

Testify	"Can't Stop Loving You" "Come with Me" "Wake Up Call"/"The Least You Can Do"

Brother Bear	"Look Through My Eyes" "No Way Out"

Going Back	"(Love Is Like a) Heatwave" "Going Back"

Featured singles	"Do They Know It's Christmas?" "Easy Lover" "Hero" "In the Air Tonite" "Home"

Other singles	"Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" "Separate Lives" "Somewhere"

Other songs	"The Man with the Horn" "You Ought to Know..."

Book Category Template

Kasey Chambers

Studio albums	The Captain Barricades & Brickwalls Wayward Angel Carnival Rattlin' Bones (with Shane Nicholson) Little Bird Storybook Wreck & Ruin (with Shane Nicholson) Bittersweet

Extended plays	Ain't No Little Girl

Singles	"Not Pretty Enough" "True Colours" "Pony" "Luka"

Related articles	Shane Nicholson ARIA Award for Album of the Year ARIA Award for Best Female Artist Dead Ringer Band

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