Video Vault Sundays: June 8, 2025 - Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1983)

In 1983, Cyndi Lauper burst onto the scene with Girls Just Want to Have Fun, redefining the sound and spirit of 80s pop. The track quickly became an anthem of youthful joy and independence, powered by Lauper’s spirited vocals and a melody that still makes people dance today. But it was the music video that forever tied the song to the image of rebel friendly fun.

The video opens on Lauper alone in a dingy apartment when a group of colorful characters burst in to turn it into a party zone. With vibrant outfits, playful choreography, and lots of laughter, the clip delivered exactly the carefree energy the song promised. It was playful without being silly and serious without being down beat. It showed that a music video could be both a performance and a story with attitude.

MTV embraced the video from day one. It was part of the early wave of female pop artistry that shifted the tone of music television toward expressive individuality. Lauper’s bright style and bold fashion sense inspired fans to celebrate who they were.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun climbed the charts in the United States and the United Kingdom. It won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video in 1984, another example of the impact Lauper was having on popular culture.


Fun fact: Cyndi Lauper did not wear a wig in the video. Her trademark dyed hair that fans still try to mimic was her own natural color during that era.