1980s icon stumbled into their biggest hit with a bit of help from the Hooters

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As a seasoned gamer with a knack for delving into the fascinating stories behind iconic songs, I must say that the tale of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” is one for the books. It’s a testament to the power of music and the collaboration between artists that can lead to timeless hits.

The performer strongly disliked the melody. She flat-out refused to even attempt singing it, despite it being slated for her debut studio album and her lack of freedom to decide which songs to perform or not at that point. Regardless, there was no chance she would endorse a song that could potentially be her most successful hit yet.

The session guitarist’s role was primarily to earn a living and play his solos effectively, having built a respectable career in studio work that supported both him and his band, The Hooters. However, despite their efforts to modify and improve the song, the singer disapproved of the changes made by the guitarist and his fellow musicians. It seemed impossible to alter her opinion on the matter.

During a particular moment, Eric Bazilian – a session guitarist who was additionally the lead vocalist for the band Hooters – got inspired by Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ “Come On Eileen.” He then created the opening riff of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” as his final effort to persuade Cyndi Lauper to sing that song.

How the Hooters’ Eric Bazilian helped make Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” a success

In a recent conversation with Guitar World, Brazilian explained that by capturing the same vibe from “Come On Eileen” and applying it to “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”, he managed to please Cyndi Lauper about the direction of her career’s biggest hit. The song, which was also the title of a successful film, eventually became Lauper’s most recognized tune and even earned a Grammy nomination.

Brazilian shared with Guitar World that Lauper initially disliked the idea, exclaiming “I will never sing that song!” We attempted various approaches – rocking it up, giving it a ska spin – but she remained unimpressed. One day, I was inspired by “Come On Eileen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners and started playing the opening riff of “Girl” with that rhythmic feel. It felt like magic. By the end of the day, Cyndi expressed her long-standing desire to sing that song, viewing it as a powerful anthem for women.

Indeed, some adjustments were necessary in the lyrics. Laupder found Robert Hazard’s words to be overtly biased towards women. It’s ironic that the songwriter intended the tune for a female vocalist, but the lyrics contained sentiments that the potential female performer was uncomfortable with singing.

Regarding Brazilian, he not only collaborated on composing songs with numerous artists like Mick Jagger and penned Joan Osborne’s “One of Us,” but also earned a steady income as a session musician. During the mid-1980s, The Hooters managed to secure some chart success. Overall, it seemed everyone was content, including Robert Hazard who received a songwriting credit for a track that needed significant modifications to become successful.

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2024-08-09 17:00