“So, that’s all I wanted to say, the long and short -- mostly long, always long,” are Cyndi Lauper’s final words in Alison Ellwood’s latest documentary, Let the Canary Sing. Exploring the life and successes of the legendary vocalist and pop star, this doc is actually not long at all! Rather, coming in at a tight hour and 36 minutes, it is filled to the brim with energy and information. To entice you to check out this film -- which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June and is making its Minnesota debut as part of the 24th annual Sound Unseen Film + Music Festival on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the Parkway Theater -- here are a few to keep an eye out for in Let the Canary Sing.

The “Who’s Who” singing Lauper’s praises

Let the Canary Sing opens with plaudits for Lauper from Boy George, Patti LaBelle, and Billy Porter, who are not explicitly identified until their appearances later in the film. If you don’t recognize Boy George, what are you doing watching a Cyndi Lauper documentary?

We also hear from Lauper’s siblings Elen and Fred, as well as former Blue Angel bandmate John Turi, and much of the team behind her debut solo album She’s So Unusual. Some firsts they mention: reportedly being the first artist to add closed captioning to a music video and being the first pop artist to mention a magazine featuring nude men in a lyric. One of the most prominent voices in the documentary was her former manager and partner, Dave Wolff, who keenly explains the trajectory of her career along with key decisions they made along the way.

101 fashion influences

It’s no mistake that one of the first things both Cyndi and her sister Elen discuss are all of the people and clothes and styles that inspired them as children. It’s only natural to wonder where Lauper is pulling from and seemingly the answer is everywhere. She describes being enthralled by the navy uniforms she saw while living in her first childhood home, the tomato-red and jet-black dyed hair of the women of her mother’s generation, and most strikingly the elaborate regalia worn by the priest at her Catholic school. Color and movement serve as touchstone elements of her style that reverberate into her music and personality.

1001 musical influences

As eclectic as her stylistic influences are, they are only rivaled in variety and quantity by her musical inspiration. Everyone in the documentary including Lauper herself attempts to rattle off a few and at one point John Turi even presents a list he wrote in 1978. They go by quickly so I’ve taken the liberty of collecting them all here for you: Patsy Cline, the Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, the Chambers Brothers, Sly and the Family Stone, Wanda Jackson, Brenda Lee, Ronnie Spector, Edith Piaf, Frankie Lyman, Tammy Wynette, Roy Orbison, Linda Gale, and Jerry Lee Lewis.

From backup singer to “The Filthy Fifteen”

A worthwhile watch for Lauper loyalists and newcomers alike, Let the Canary Sing beautifully weaves together demonstrations of Lauper’s talent, insights into struggles along the way, and potential explanations for her success. Notable anecdotes include the story of how she lost her voice for an entire year as a new singer, and a ruling made by the judge – which inspired the name for this film -- in a legal dispute between Lauper and her former manager who attempted to restrict her from recording.

Lauper describes her professional ups and downs, calling her decision to sing the result of her “failing at doing everything else as a regular person.” But her success is undeniable as we continue to bask in the glow of hits like “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Time After Time,” “She Bop,” “The Goonies Are Good Enough,” “True Colors,” and Kinky Boots! Furthermore, there’s an enthralling exploration of the sounds and ideas that went into writing and recording her first two singles. It’s so detailed that arguably anyone can walk out of this documentary and be an expert on Cyndi Lauper -- or at the very least her debut solo album.

A duet for the ages

At one point, Lauper claims someone wanted to make her the next Barbra Streisand. Her response: “that’s already taken, isn’t it?” The charming moment comes full circle when the documentary focuses on Lauper performing “Time After Time” as a duet with Patti LaBelle in 1985. It’s a vocal pairing recalling Streisand and Judy Garland’s 1963 duet of “Happy Days Are Here Again.”

“Captain” Lou Albano is NOT her dad!

One undeniably fun part of this documentary is her connections to professional wrestling. David Wolff explains the decision to cast World Wide Wrestling Federation star “Captain” Lou Albano as her father in the “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” music video as a desperate attempt to get attention. There’s more to the success of this move than pure spectacle, though. (My pet theory about pro wrestling is that it’s not all that different from drag performance.) Lauper explains how she saw this choice as Shakespearean, hearkening back to her previous mention of being deeply moved by her visits to Shakespeare in the Park with her family. In this we begin to see how her view of family, community, and her art are intertwined.

Nothing’s more fun than fundamental human rights

Nearing the end of the documentary, Lauper reflects upon seeing signs at women’s marches that read ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Human Rights,’ exclaiming, “Wow, you heard me.” Lauper’s values and commitment to political action are repeatedly highlighted as being an essential part of her work and are reflected in both the subtext of her music as well as her overt political projects like the 40 to None campaign to end homelessness amongst LGBTQ+ youth. As pointed out by both Billy Porter and Gloria Steinem, she’s an unquestionably good ally to have.

Political victory in the post credits

Don’t dash out too quickly after the credits roll, otherwise you may miss a post credit reel of Lauper celebrating the signing of the Respect for Marriage Act alongside President Joe Biden in December of 2022. It will be difficult to resist the urge to go dance and sing along to her songs after spending some time with her, but it’s worth sticking around for the lovely reminder that she continues to fight for what she believes in.

Have some fun, we know you want to, and see the film for yourself. Let the Canary Sing shows Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the Parkway Theater with doors at 6:30 p.m. Find other films screening during the 24th Annual Sound Unseen Festival here.