Artist: Cyndi Lauper
Song/Album: She Bop / She’s So Unusual
Writer(s): Lauper, Lunt, Corbett, Chertoff
Year Released: 1984
Genre/Sub Genre: Pop / Electro Pop / New Wave

 

Why it’s a “Penn’s Pick”:

Before there was Ke$ha, Gaga and Britney, there was Cyndi. Released in 1984, Lauper’s She Bop was a groundbreaker of a song that paved the way for today’s Electro Pop stars. The song is characterized by an incredibly infectious fuzzed out synth/guitar riff, memorable vocal melody, a unique and engaging vocal performance from Cyndi, and most notably, controversial lyrics that landed the song on the PMRC’s “filthy fifteen” list (remember them?)

Despite all the controversy, the song performed quite well, hitting #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and landing in the top 5 in five countries. Without songs and artists like Cyndi, the evolution of the Pop genre might have taken a completely different course.

HSD Poll: Are the lyrics edgy and controversial by today’s standards? Cast your vote here!

She Bop Lyrics:

Well I see them every night in tight blue jeans
In the pages of a blue boy magazine
I’ve been thinking of a new sensation
I’m picking up good vibrations

Do I wanna go out with a lion’s roar?
Yeah, I wanna go south and get me some more
They say that a stitch in time saves nine
They say I better stop, before I go blind
Ooh she bop, she bop

She bop, he bop, a we bop
I bop, you bop, a they bop
Be bop, be bop, a lu bop
I hope she will understand
She bop, he bop, a we bop
I bop, you bop, a they bop
Be bop, be bop, a lu she bop
Ooh ooh she do, she bop

They say I better get a chaperone
‘Cause I can’t stop messin’ with the danger zone
I won’t worry, and I won’t fret
Ain’t no law against it yet

 

 

 

 

She bop, he bop, a we bop
I bop, you bop, a they bop
Be bop, be bop, a lu bop
I hope she will understand
She bop, he bop, a we bop
I bop, you bop, a they bop
Be bop, be bop, a lu she bop
Ooh ooh she do, she bop…