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How Cyndi Lauper put her stamp on 'True Colors'

Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper performs on opening night of her 2016 concert tour at Ryman Auditorium on May 9 in Nashville, Tenn.
Rick Diamond | Getty Images

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Today's Morning Edition music is from 30 years ago when "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper was No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart.

It was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, authors of several other hit songs including Madonna's "Like a Virgin." Steinberg says he wrote the first verse with his mother in mind. And the original arrangement of the song had a gospel ballad feel, but Steinberg told Songfacts "Cyndi completely dismantled that sort of traditional arrangement and came up with something that was breathtaking and stark."