Lately, Cyndi Lauper is many things: American Idol guest, Lady Gaga sidekick, relevant again. So it's the perfect time for her to make . . . classic blues covers? Memphis Blues is a curveball, but that's its charm. It's fun to hear Lauper go all badass Betty Boop on "Don't Cry No More" and "Rollin' and Tumblin'," squeaking and hollering with help from Ann Peebles, Allen Toussaint and B.B. King. The world might not need another version of "Crossroads." But Lauper's got great sass on "Early in the Mornin'," teasing her band, "What you dooo-in'?" No doubt what they're doin' is listening to her with amusement.

“Youth Knows No Pain”

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”