Change of Heart (Cyndi Lauper song)

"Change of Heart" is a song by American singer and songwriter Cyndi Lauper, released on November 11, 1986 as the second single from her second album, True Colors (1986). It went gold in the US, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by singer-songwriter Essra Mohawk. Popular remixes by Shep Pettibone were also released. A music video was produced for the song, filmed in Trafalgar Square in London. It features Lauper and her tour band (including David Rosenthal on keyboards) performing the song in front of a large group of people. The Bangles sang background vocals on the original recording. A live version of the song was released on Lauper's live album/DVD, To Memphis, with Love.

"Change of Heart"
Single by Cyndi Lauper
from the album True Colors
B-side"Heartbeats" "Witness" "What a Thrill"
ReleasedNovember 11, 1986
Recorded1986
GenreDance-pop[1]
Length4:22
3:58 (single edit)
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Cyndi Lauper singles chronology
"True Colors"
(1986)
"Change of Heart"
(1986)
"What's Going On"
(1987)
Music video
"Change of Heart" on YouTube

Critical response

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Jimmy Guterman of Rolling Stone magazine said of the song in his album review for True Colors, "...Lauper's trademark hiccuped syllables rest on a cushion of harmonies supplied by The Bangles and transform what is little more than a sophisticated rhythm track with nominal lyrics into a heartfelt declaration of fidelity."[2]

Cash Box called it "tough and tender" and praised the "punchy" guitars and rhythm track.[3] Billboard called it "solid rock" that's "neither wacky nor idiosyncratic."[4]

Chart performance

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"Change of Heart" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 67 and reached a peak position of No. 3 on the issue dated 14 February 1987, spending a total of 17 weeks on the chart.[5] It had similar success in the Hot Dance/Club Play Songs chart, hitting No. 4.[6] The song placed at No. 61 on the year-end chart of 1987.[7] In Canada, the song debuted at No. 88 on the RPM issue dated 13 December 1986.[8] After 10 weeks, it reached a peak position of No. 13[9] and spent a total of 17 weeks in the chart.[10] In the United Kingdom, "Change of Heart" debuted at No. 96 on the UK Singles Chart and was Lauper's least successful UK single to date, only reaching No. 67.[11] Across Europe, "Change of Heart" peaked at No. 8 in France.[12]

Music video

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The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan.[13] It features Lauper and her tour band playing informal gigs in public locations in London, including Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square (with a clear shot of the poster for A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge being visible at the Odeon), Covent Garden, and Westminster Bridge / The Queen's Walk, where the London Eye is currently located, 13 years before its opening.

Track listing

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Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the album liner notes.[18]

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ Breihan, Tom (January 11, 2021). "The Number Ones: Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors"". Stereogum. Archived from the original on October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022. Lauper followed "True Colors" with the heartsick dance-pop track "Change Of Heart"...
  2. ^ "True Colors". Rolling Stone. 25 September 1986. Archived from the original on 9 March 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  3. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. November 29, 1986. p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  4. ^ "Reviews". Billboard. November 29, 1986. p. 61. Archived from the original on 2023-01-24. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  5. ^ a b "Hot 100: Week Ending February 14, 1987". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on 2013-03-13. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  6. ^ a b "Hot Dance/Club: Week Ending February 14, 1987". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on 2023-01-24. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  7. ^ a b "Billboard Hot 100 1987". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1987-12-26. ISSN 0006-2510.
  8. ^ "Top Singles". RPM. Vol. 45, no. 12. RPM Music Publications Ltd. December 13, 1986. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  9. ^ a b "Top Singles". RPM. Vol. 45, no. 21. RPM Music Publications Ltd. February 28, 1987. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  10. ^ "Top Singles". RPM. Vol. 46, no. 2. RPM Music Publications Ltd. April 18, 1987. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  11. ^ a b "The Official Charts Company - Cyndi Lauper - Change of Heart". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 2015-04-05. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  12. ^ "Cyndi Lauper - Change of Heart (song)". Ultratop 50. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 2012-11-02. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  13. ^ Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - Cyndi Lauper - "Change of heart"". Music Video DataBase. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  14. ^ Change of Heart (US 12-inch Single liner notes). Portrait Records. 1986. 4R9 05974.
  15. ^ Change of Heart (US 7-inch Single liner notes). Portrait Records. 1984. 37-06431.
  16. ^ Change of Heart (US 12-inch Single liner notes). Portrait Records. 1986. CYNDI T1.
  17. ^ Change of Heart (US 7-inch Single liner notes). Portrait Records. 1984. CYNDI 1.
  18. ^ True Colors (LP, Vinyl, CD). Portrait Records. 1986. R 40313.
  19. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 173. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between 1983 and 19 June 1988.
  20. ^ "Cyndi Lauper - Change of Heart". 2004-01-02. Archived from the original on 2004-01-02. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  21. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Cyndi Lauper". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 143. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  22. ^ "Cyndi Lauper - Change of Heart (song)". lescharts.com. Archived from the original on 2022-08-28. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  23. ^ "New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  24. ^ "Cyndi Lauper". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  25. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending February 7, 1987" (PDF). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved June 15, 2024.