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Song Stories

“Girls Just Want to Have Fun”

Cyndi Lauper | 1983

Although Cyndi Lauper's debut single would eventually become a female anthem of the Eighties, she told Rolling Stone she had to alter the lyrics from Robert Hazard's 1979 original, which was sung from a man's perspective. "It was originally about how fortunate he was 'cause he was a guy around these girls that wanted to have 'fun' -- with him -- down there, which we do not speak lest we go blind," she said. The "Girls" video told of her repressed childhood and featured a colorful cast of characters, including pro wrestling manager Lou Albano as her father alongside her real mother.

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Song Stories

“Oh Sherrie”

Steve Perry | 1984

Steve Perry's girlfriend Sherrie Swafford was actually in the studio when Perry began writing this song--his lone Top Ten hit as a solo act--with two co-writers. The trio began at midnight one night with just "Oh, Sherrie!" and "hold on, hold on." Three hours later, they had a complete song. Swafford, however, had to wait until the next day to hear it. "Sherrie actually got tired and went to bed," Perry said. She also appeared in the video, but their relationship did not hold on for long.

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