True Colors (song)

"True Colors"
Single by Cyndi Lauper
from the album True Colors
B-side	"Heading for the Moon"
Released	July 25, 1986
Format	7" vinyl, 12" vinyl
Recorded	March 3, 1986
Genre	Pop
Length	3:47
Label	Epic
Writer(s)	Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg, Cyndi Lauper
Producer	Cyndi Lauper, Lennie Petze
Certification	Platinum (RIAA)
Cyndi Lauper singles chronology
"Goonies 'R' Good Enough" (1985) "True Colors" (1986) "Change of Heart" (1986)

"True Colors" is a song written by songwriters Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, additional lyrics by Cyndi Lauper. It was both the title track and the first single released from Cyndi Lauper's second album. It was the only original song on the album that Lauper did not help write. "True Colors" spent two weeks in the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and was the last single from Lauper to occupy the top of the chart. It received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Song information

Billy Steinberg originally wrote "True Colors" about his own mother. Tom Kelly altered the first verse and the duo submitted the song to Cyndi Lauper. Their demo was in a form of piano based gospel ballad like "Bridge over Troubled Water". Steinberg told Songfacts that "Cyndi completely dismantled that sort of traditional arrangement and came up with something that was breathtaking and stark." Other songs they wrote for Cyndi Lauper include "I Drove All Night" and "Unconditional Love", the former of which went on to be covered by Celine Dion, the latter of which went on to be covered by Susanna Hoffs.

It reached number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, 3 in Australia, and 12 on the UK Singles Chart.

"True Colors" also became a standard in the gay community. A choral version of the song was used in a series of TV commercials advertising a variety of Kodak's color photographic film products.

Lauper embarked on a True Colors Tour in 2007 with several other acts including Deborah Harry and Erasure.^{[citation needed]} The tour was for the Human Rights Campaign to promote human rights in the US and beyond. A second True Colors tour occurred in 2008.

Charts

Chart (1986)	Peak position
Australia ARIA Singles Chart	3
Ö3 Austria Top 40	12
Canadian Singles Chart	1
French Singles Chart	49
German Singles Chart	18
German Airplay	6
Ireland Singles Chart	6
Italy Singles Chart	4
Japan Hot 100	59
Netherlands Singles Chart	7
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart	3
Norway Singles Chart	10
Swedish Singles Chart	4
Swiss Singles Chart	17
UK Singles Chart	12
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	1
U.S. Cash Box	1
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	5
Chart (2008)	Peak position
Norway Singles Chart	17

Certifications

Country	Certification	Sales
Japan		11,240
Canada	Gold	10,000
United States	Platinum	1,000,000

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by "When I Think of You" by Janet Jackson	Billboard Hot 100 number one single October 25, 1986 - November 1, 1986	Succeeded by "Amanda" by Boston
Preceded by "The Lady in Red" by Chris de Burgh	Canadian RPM Singles Chart number one single November 8, 1986	Succeeded by "Human" by The Human League
Preceded by "Typical Male" by Tina Turner	Cashbox Top 100 November 1, 1986	Succeeded by "Amanda" by Boston

Official versions

1. Album Version
2. Juniors 12" Vocal Mix
3. Junior's 7" Mix
4. Junior's Gay Pride '98 Mix
5. Junior's Main Pass Mix Edit
6. Junior's Reprise Mix
7. Junior's Romantic Love Mix
8. Juniorverse Mix

Phil Collins version

"True Colors"
Single by Phil Collins
from the album ...Hits
B-side	Don't Lose My Number Take Me Home
Released	26 October 1998
Format	CD
Genre	Pop, smooth jazz
Length	4:34
Label	Atlantic, Virgin, WEA
Writer(s)	Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg
Producer	Phil Collins, Hugh Padgham
Phil Collins singles chronology
"The Same Moon" (1997) "True Colors" (1998) "You'll Be in My Heart" (1999)

In 1998, the song was covered by Phil Collins for his compilation album ...Hits. The version was a smooth-jazz-influenced version compared to the original. R&B singer Babyface provided backing vocals. The song was aired on the radio and music video TV programs to promote it in the mid of August 1998.

The track peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart and at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.

Charts

Chart (1998)	Peak position
Dutch Singles Chart	73
German Singles Chart	35
UK Singles Chart	26
U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles	12
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	2

Cover versions

In addition to the notable Phil Collins cover, the following artists have covered this song.

• Elaine Paige on her 1991 album Love Can Do That.
• Aztec Camera (1993)
• Yuri Honing (1996) (instrumental)
• Tuesday Child (1997)
• Dominique Moore (1999) (Peugeot 406 Advert)
• Leatherface (2000)
• David Young (2000)
• Six Cents and Natalie on their album "When Punk Fell to Earth" (2001)
• Sarina Paris (2001)
• George Skaroulis (2001)
• Save the Last Dance (2001)
• Fredro Starr & Jill Scott (2001)
• Maggie Reilly (2002)
• Maddy Prior and the Girls Bib and Tuck (2002)
• Hunter Foster (Earth Girls Are Easy) (2002)
• American Juniors (2003)
• Voice Male (2003)
• Kasey Chambers (2003)
• Eva Cassidy (2003)
• Fujita Emi (2003)
• Kelly Chen (2004) for the Hong Kong McDonald's Campaign
• Tiffany Evans (2004)
• Emilie Simon
• Kalan Porter & Theresa Sokyrka (2004) (Canadian Idol)
• MYMP (2005)
• Shayna Fox (2005)
• Shirley Clamp I dina ögon (True Colors) (2006)
• Anna Tsuchiya (2006)
• K (2007)
• Lauren Talbot (2007) (Deutschland sucht den Superstar)
• Haley Scarnato (2007) (American Idol)
• Olivia Ong (2007) (Fall In Love With)
• Ane Brun (2008)
• Natasha St-Pier (2008)
• Anoop Desai (2009) (American Idol)
• Celtic Woman (2009) (Isle of Hope Tour)
• Caroline Herring (2009) (Golden Apples of the Sun)
• Staind (2009) (The Howard Stern Show)
• Jenna Ushkowitz (2009) (Glee)
• Play (2009)
• Jotdog - Spanish Version: Colores (2009) on their album Jotdog
• Adam Lopez (2010)
• Lashings of Jam (2010)
• Rama y Vale (2010) (Casi Angeles)
• Amy Diamond (2010)
• Coeur de Pirate (2010)
• Alessandra Maestrini (2010)
• Perpetuum Jazzile (2010)
• Craig Cardiff (2010)
• Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles (2010) (It Gets Better Project)
• Walks of Shame (2011)
• Sabrina Starke (2011)
• Amber Lily (2011)
• Solveig Slettahjell (2011)

External links

• True Colors Second Hand Songs