TATS QUIBLAT

Cyndi Lauper is working on an album with David Byrne (based on his musical, Here Lies Love,  about the life of Former Philippines First Lady Imelda Marcos)  Here is a bit from his online journal:

Cyndi Lauper came in to the studio last week to sing 1½ songs for the Here Lies Love album. She was about an hour and a half late to the session, so I fully expected to be in for some prime diva behavior. But, as I’d run overtime on the earlier brass sessions, it all worked out great, and Cyndi gave an amazingly fine-tuned performance. Not only is she a wonderful singer from a technical point of view, but she can tailor her attitude and performance to suit the character and the character’s emotional state.

This is exactly the skill set I need for this project. After giving Cyndi the back-story on a particular song and establishing the context of the lyrics, I would give directions like, “Yes, she’s a little angry, but also heartbroken and confused.”  Cyndi would then incorporate these complex emotions into her performance with seeming ease. She’d ask, for example, “You want more anger in this verse?” And sure enough, she’d dial a little more in. Very impressive.

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Here Lies Love

David Byrne – Concept, lyrics & music
With Musical Contributions by Fatboy Slim

Through a series of songs written by David Byrne, with musical contributions from Fatboy Slim (Norman Cook), Songs from Here Lies Love presents Imelda Marcos meditating on events in her life, from her childhood spent in poverty and her rise to power to her ultimate departure from the palace. In particular, the production looks at the relationship between Imelda and a servant from her childhood, Estrella Cumpas, who appeared at key moments in Imelda's life.

Ensemble parts:
Ferdinand Marcos
Ninoy Aquino
Remedios — Imelda's mother
Blue Ladies

STRUCTURE:
Prologue: opening disco number — “Here Lies Love”
Act I: Flashback to Imelda's childhood
Act II: Imelda and Marcos climb to power
Act III: The divide between the Marcoses and the Philippines widens
Act IV: Imelda's downfall

Ensemble parts:
Ferdinand Marcos
Ninoy Aquino
Remedios — Imelda's mother
Blue Ladies

STRUCTURE:
Prologue: opening disco number — “Here Lies Love”
Act I: Flashback to Imelda's childhood
Act II: Imelda and Marcos climb to power
Act III: The divide between the Marcoses and the Philippines widens
Act IV: Imelda's downfall

[Source]