How a gospel-inspired demo became an enduring anthem for the LGBTQ+ community
In short: Originally written as a piano-based ballad, Cyndi Lauper transformed True Colors into a stark, breathtaking masterpiece. While critics initially dismissed her vocal style, the song transcended its 1986 release to become a global symbol of acceptance, a chart-topping hit, and a cornerstone of modern advocacy for human rights.
Songwriters Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly initially conceived True Colors as a gospel-style ballad, similar to Bridge over Troubled Water, and even pitched it to Anne Murray before Cyndi Lauper recorded it for her 1986 album. Lauper dismantled the traditional arrangement, opting for a sparse, emotional delivery that polarized contemporary reviewers. While Music Week praised the match between her voice and the accompaniment, Record Mirror famously panned the track as a slushy, dire attempt at an emotional ballad.
Despite the mixed critical reception, the song resonated deeply with Lauper, who connected its message to the death of her friend Gregory Natal from HIV/AIDS. This personal significance eventually led to the founding of the True Colors Fund, which focuses on eradicating LGBT youth homelessness. The song’s cultural footprint expanded significantly over the decades, culminating in a 2022 performance at the White House for the signing of the Respect for Marriage Act and a 2025 ranking by Billboard as one of the greatest LGBTQ+ anthems of all time.
The song's versatility has invited numerous interpretations, from Phil Collins’ 1998 chart-reaching cover to Kasey Chambers’ 2003 version, which served as the theme for the Rugby World Cup. In 2012, a Canadian collective known as Artists Against Bullying re-recorded the track to support youth counseling services following the Amanda Todd case. Most recently, the song’s reach was demonstrated in 2019 when 1,399 children performed it in unison across nine UK towns for the BBC Children in Need telethon, proving the enduring power of its simple, universal message.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: True Colors (Cyndi Lauper song)
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