Cyndi Lauper’s eighth studio album, Shine, has one of the most chaotic backstories in her discography. Originally scheduled for a September 2001 release via Edel Records, it was shelved when the label abruptly folded. Promo copies leaked online and fan forums buzzed with speculation. Despite a limited EP in 2002, the full album didn’t officially surface until 2004 … and only in Japan.
A delayed, disrupted, and digitally leaked rollout
After the collapse of Edel in late 2001 and the abandoned global launch, Lauper was left in limbo. With tracks already circulating on Napster, the buzz began to fade and Shine became an underground bootlegged legend. On 16 July 2002, a five-track Shine EP was quietly released in the US through Oglio Records, but fans had to wait another two years to hear the entire 13-track project, and only Japanese audiences got the full release on 21 April 2004 through Epic Japan.
What makes Shine special?
Despite its rocky history, Shine is one of Lauper’s most interesting, varied and consistently strong records. It continues the sonic experimentation she began on Sisters of Avalon, fusing pop rock with hints of electronica, new wave, and even some unexpected instrumentation, including sitars and fiddles.
Thematically, the album ranges widely and tackles some bold themes. It explores societal double standards on the “Madonna Whore” track, reflects on celebrity culture, and showcases Lauper’s flair for storytelling. The standout title track “Shine” later became an LGBTQ+ anthem and was performed in the US remake of Queer As Folk.
Other highlights include:
- “It’s Hard to Be Me”, originally written about Anna Nicole Smith, was later used as the theme song for Lauper’s own reality TV show Still So Unusual.
- “Eventually”, co-written with Japanese composer, Ryuichi Sakamoto, adds a lush, dreamy quality that highlights her experimental side.
- A new, re-recorded version of “Who Let in the Rain”, from her 1993 album Hat Full of Stars.
Underground favourite or forgotten gem?
Because the album was delayed for so long, parts of Shine felt outdated by the time it came out. Tracks such as “It’s Hard to Be Me” echoed the Avril Lavigne school of early 2000s pop-punk. “Rather Be With You” could easily have been a follow-up to Natalie Imbruglia’s Torn, while the folk-pop stylings of “Madonna Whore” wouldn’t have sounded out of place on a Sheryl Crow record.
Still, for all its shifting styles and sonic throwbacks, Shine is remarkably cohesive. It feels like a complete album, not a collection of leftovers.
Although Shine never received a widespread release in Europe or the US, it still charted modestly:
- #120 on the Japanese Albums Chart
- #42 on Billboard’s US Top Independent Albums
Critics and fans are split. Some, like Classic Pop, call it “one of Lauper’s most consistently strong efforts”. Others feel it’s “all over the place”, a mixed bag of sounds and rehashes. User ratings cluster around a solid 73/100 with no official critic consensus.
Reddit fans are fiercely protective:
“I first experienced Shine through Napster… I was convinced that Shine was going to be one of the greatest chart comebacks of all time”.
Vinyl lovers lament that the full album has never been pressed; even the Japan-only CD is now rare and pricey.
Even with all this mess, the EP version still sold over 41,000 copies in the US, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It has become a kind of cult release — but almost everyone agrees that Shine deserved better.
Track listing
Demo cassette (2001)
- “Higher Plane”
- “Water’s Edge”
- “Rather Be with You”
- “Wide Open”
- “Comfort You”
- “This Kind of Love”
- “Higher Plane” (Eddie X Mix)
EP version (2002)
- “Shine” (Edit) – 3:44
- “It’s Hard to Be Me” – 3:52
- “Madonna Whore” – 3:38
- “Water’s Edge” – 5:22
- “Shine” (Illicit Mix) – 4:33
LP version (2004)
1. “Shine” – 4:33
2. “It’s Hard to Be Me” – 3:52
3. “Madonna Whore” – 3:38
4. “Wide Open” – 3:48
5. “Rather Be with You” – 3:24
6. “Who Let in the Rain” – 4:32
7. “Comfort You” – 4:11
8. “Eventually” – 5:28
9. “Valentino” – 5:10
10. “This Kind of Love” – 3:53
11. “Higher Plane” (Misspelled on CD as “Higher Place”) – 4:13
12. “Water’s Edge” – 5:22
13. “I Miss My Baby” – 3:22
Total length: 55:36
