Born in Queens, New York to Swiss German-American Fred Lauper and Sicilian Italian-American Catrine Dominique, she began her career in a cover band, but soon began performing her own songs (though she almost quit singing altogether due to strained vocal chords in 1977). By 1980 she'd released a rockabilly album on Polydor with the band Blue Angel. Despite much critical acclaim, the album "went lead," as Lauper says, and the band split as Lauper filed for bankruptcy.
In 1983 she started dating her manager David Wolff with whom she released She's So Unusual, a worldwide hit album which made Lauper a household name. A mixture of teen-friendly pop-rock and edgier, almost punky sounds, the album's biggest hit, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, quickly established itself as a female anthem. Lauper won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards of 1984 for her work on the album. Lauper was the first female artist to have four consecutive Hot 100 Top 5 hits from one album.
Subsequent albums (such as True Colors, A Night to Remember, Hat Full of Stars) did not sell as well, but Lauper remains active to the present day and still retains a very strong fan base.
Lauper's latest album Memphis Blues was released in June 2011, premiering at #1 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart where it remained for 14 consecutive weeks. The album also reached #26 on the Billboard Top 200, and was later named the Billboard Blues Album of the year, also earning Lauper a Grammy nomination. This brought her total Grammy nominations to 13 with one win.
Iko Iko
Cyndi Lauper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My grand-ma told your grand-ma: "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire."
Talk-in' 'bout, Hey now ! Hey now ! I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Look at my king all dressed in red I-ko, I-ko, un-day.
I bet-cha five dol-lars he'll kill you dead, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Talk-in' 'bout, Hey now ! Hey now ! I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
My flag boy and your flag boy were
Sit-tin' by the fire. - My flag boy told
Your flag boy: "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire."
Talk-in' 'bout, Hey now ! Hey now ! I-KO, I-KO, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
See that guy all dressed in green? I-KO, I-KO, un-day.
He's not a man, he's a lov-in' ma-chine
Jock-a mo fee na-né
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now! Hey now! I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
The lyrics of Cyndi Lauper’s “Iko Iko” depict a friendly rivalry between grandmothers and flag boys, all while celebrating the joyous spirit of Mardi Gras. The first verse describes two grandmothers sitting by a fire, with the singer’s grandmother boasting that she will "set your flag on fire," which might refer to a ceremonial flag used in Mardi Gras parades. The chorus of “Hey now! Hey now! I-ko, I-ko, un-day” is a traditional chant with its origins in African-American Creole. “Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né” is a Creole phrase that is believed to be a tribute to the Mardi Gras Indian Chiefs. The second verse sees the singer pointing out a man dressed in red and challenges anyone to bet five dollars that he will “kill you dead,” which is likely another reference to the Mardi Gras tradition of mock threatening behavior. The third verse mentions the flag boys sitting next to the fire and one flag boy threatens to set the other’s flag on fire.
The fourth verse describes a man dressed in green who is described as “not a man, but a loving machine”, which most likely refers to a man who is very attractive to women. The chorus repeats itself again, and the phrase “jock-a-mo fee na-né” is repeated several times. The phrase is believed to be a combination of various Mardi Gras Indian chants and is meant to be a playful, upbeat chorus meant for dancing and having fun. Overall, the lyrics of “Iko Iko” represent the festive, lighthearted spirit of New Orleans during Mardi Gras.
Line by Line Meaning
My grand-ma and your grand-ma were sit-tin' by the fire.
The story starts with two grandmothers sitting by a fire.
My grand-ma told your grand-ma: "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire."
One grandmother threatened to set the other's flag on fire.
Talk-in' 'bout, Hey now ! Hey now ! I-ko, I-ko, un-day
The chorus is a conversation between the singers calling out to each other.
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
A nonsense phrase that is meant to sound like Mardi Gras Indian chants.
Look at my king all dressed in red I-ko, I-ko, un-day.
The singer points out a king dressed in red.
I bet-cha five dol-lars he'll kill you dead, jock-a-mo fee na-né
The king is considered to be deadly.
My flag boy and your flag boy were Sit-tin' by the fire.
Two people who carry flags were also present at the fire.
My flag boy told Your flag boy: "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire."
One flag bearer threatened to set fire to the other's flag.
See that guy all dressed in green? I-KO, I-KO, un-day.
Another person is pointed out, this time dressed in green.
He's not a man, he's a lov-in' ma-chine Jock-a mo fee na-né
This person is referred to as a love machine.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Barbara Anne Hawkins, Joan Marie Johnson, Rosa Lee Hawkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
platovaya
I love her voice, always have, since I was a kid. She is just so special!!!
Anna L. Vajda
She's so unusual.
Christopher R. Bessin
YES
Tober and Ben
Her version is the best, she absolutely crushed it 👌😭
Cintia Lima
Música boa não envelhece.
jason reynolds
What a fun, catchy song. Makes me want to be on safari or a tropical island with the beating drums. Just one of a about a dozen songs by Cyndi that I love.
Joseph W
I fell asleep in my car in front of my work one early early morning with this song blasting over and over at 6am. Woke up to my boss knocking on the window worried about me.
Gilmara Sobrinho
Amo essa música
Regina Celia Braga
CINDY LAUPER A MELHOR DE TODOS OS TEMPOS
AMO DEMAIS
Jarod Crazy Indian
Para siempre ella 💖